No, Noddy's just the loudest.

Look back at post #305.

 

My MA tells me the vehicle is scheduled to be delivered to SF MINI on Friday, 2/27. And at best I could take delivery on Saturday. I was hoping to get it by this week but apparently the striping at the VCD is taking longer than expected (it better be good). I was concerned that the long delay may be in part due to the vehicle being damaged but she assures me that it was not.

 

Your MA may not know.

From the "Inside The Port Hueneme Vehicle Distribution Center" thread...

"If the car suffers damage in excess of 3% of it's value it has to be disclosed to the dealer. As I understand it, if BMW replaced the engine in your car at the VDC, that would not have to be disclosed to the dealer. This is because all BMW parts are being used and installed to BMW spec. However, repaired body damage (something on the order of the MINI's roof, not like a replaced bumper cover) would be declared to the dealer."

 

fishbert: thank you for that comforting bit of information. Now I can rest easy.

 

LOL fishbert... you're right... you and svtcobra had already mentioned it... my bad... :-/
Since I am in LosAngeles, I am really hoping Wednesday is gonna be my turn =)

In any cases: I find it amazing that some of you guys hear from your MA... I am thinking that mine is more like MIA...

Chris.

 

Well I went in and spoke with my MA... I'm not sure what I'll do now. They tell me they found out on the 21st, and emailed me immediately. I'm not sure what to think, but I can't help but feel a little jerked around. My car was scheduled to come in on the 12th, and the boats that were scheduled in on the 12th came in on time. On the 19th, I received an email from my MA saying my car was still at sea. That didn't ring true to me, as the boats from the 12th had come in on time, but I tried not to think about it too much. Then, on the 21st, I received an email from my MA saying to car had been damaged in transit, that they have been looking around the country for a match to my car, that they hadn't found one, and that they could put in a rush order in to get a replacement built immediately...

I just don't understand how my car could have been scheduled in on the 12th, come in damaged, have my MA tell me the car was still at sea on the 19th, then wrecked on the 21st... I just can't stop feeling like someone (MA, MINI USA, The shipping line) has lied to me, and that really unsettles me. Either my MA lied to me, MINI USA withheld the information from her, or the shipping line hid the problem. Unfortunately, what I am left with is the feeling that I don't trust any of them.

The options, as were given to me today, are as follows:

1. Order a new vehicle, and they try to build it fast (they hinted they could have it in Cincinnati in 3 weeks, but I don't see how. It takes a week to build the thing and 2 weeks to get it to South Carolina).

I'm not sure what to think of this option. Having a replacement built just doesn't feel like enough of a "sorry your car got jacked." With that option, MINI doesn't really do anything but bump a car back.

2. Agree to purchase what they can find already in the U.S. that's similar. (apparently, with up to $1000 in additional options)

The kicker on option 2 is that I won't find anything in the U.S. with an LSD. I'm not sure why no dealerships order vehicles with LSD, but they don't.

Then, there's always option 3, which is to save a lot of money, lose some of that MINI style, and look more into the Mazdas, Subarus, and VWs.





....Thoughts? I'm not sure the options given to me from MINI quite say "we're so sorry, let us make this right." Am I too pissed to see they're being fare? Am I too pissed to realize I should totally trust no one lied/withheld information from me for over a week?

I'm annoyed I'm back at square one. I'm pissed that I feel I can't totally trust my MA and my dealership.

 

Maybe yours isn't out of the VDC yet. (see my post above regarding the Port Hueneme thread)

 

mongorama: so sorry to hear about your situation. I'd be pissed too.

Re. Option 3, a thousand times NO! Stick with a MINI, you won't be disappointed.

Your build is so loaded with options, any dealer would kill to have that order. I would go with option one or two, but I'd be super aggressive on a negotiated price given the economic climate. One of the things I don't quite get is why you need LSD when you already get DTC with the sports package. That's a lot of traction! Perhaps the vehicle in Option 2 would be adequate? Good luck to you, whichever you decide.

 

Fishbert... I know what you are hinting at ... and I really don't wanna think about that , especially when I read Mongorama's nightmare (I am also starting to consider the VW GTI as a sweet option... or the Jetta TDI...)

I am thinking more & more that MINI is taking us for a ride first (this would also be true of BMW, and I am talking from experience too)... then comes our turn with the car... maybe...

Chris

 

Wow, I am so sorry to hear about that Mongorama...I totally understand your frustration. Even though I have taken delivery, my car is still in the shop and they had to pull off the bumper to find the leak. My husband is of the same frame of mind as the other doubters...I love the car and I have faith they will make this right! At least you haven't signed the paperwork and actually own the car. We are stuck!

I picked it up on 9th, and they picked it back up on 16th and I am still driving a loaner. A part was supposed to come in today. We will see...

 

4:12, Monday, Feb. 23... my Pacific Breeze MINI is in Denver!
(too bad I am not)

 

Awesome - mine should be arriving very soon then! I asked my MA to get some pictures when he arrives Something to drool over until Saturday morning....

 

thing is, I may not be able to get out to pick it up until the weekend after next.

 

Fishbert, I cant believe your giving me a hard time, I'm just having a mid life crises

I have just got back from the dealer with the car, very happy with it but I do have a few small problems. The ipod is loading data but no sound and there seems to be a small mark / spill on the hood where the stripes are.

I really hope everyone else gets the call soon (fingers crossed)

 

Fishbert... I'll go and pick up yours... and you keep on waiting for mine

Spoke with my 2nd MA tonite... I should be getting an ETA tomorrow afternoon... <sarcasm ON>I am hoping it is for the delivery<sarcasm OFF>

Chris.

 

mongorama,

In a year or two from now, would you be happy with option 2, or even 3?

 

You know, I was told a couple days ago that it would be in on Thursday... just this morning (Monday) my MA said she thought she saw it was due later the same day (which she confirmed was true in the afternoon).

I suspect you'll pick yours up before I see mine. I have been trying to get my loan papers in order for this weekend, but I've just come down with a cold today, so it looks like I may be waiting until the 5th or 6th to get out there.

What's worse: biting your nails in anticipation of your MINI's arrival, or knowing it's sitting there and being unable to go collect it?

 

Ahh - the OL changed my estimated delivery date from 2/25 (today) to 3/4!!!
My MA just called and said the car is still at the port with an shipping date of 3/1, so perhaps something happened and they are repairing it there.

This stinks

 

I fear I have the same fate.. why is it that my dealership seems to not really know anything? They say the latest they know is that it was released to the shipper (truck), but thats all they see, it means it either is waiting to be on a truck, or is on one. And they have no idea when to expect delivery

I guess I will cancel my time off for this weekend, and hotel reservations..

 

mrdirosa, svtcobra281: I don't believe the the OL is correct. The OL says my delivery date is today and yet, instead of motoring, I'm here waiting just like the rest of you. My MA told me on Saturday that my mini was scheduled for delivery to their dealership on 2/27 and I could pick it up on Saturday. I had the same reservations about damage during shipping but she assures me it's fine, that the delay is due to the sports stripes which are done at the VCD.

She did say there are no truck deliveries on weekends (to SF). I suspect that if our minis are on a truck by thursday/friday, we should be motoring by this weekend. Let's hope so.

 

My dealership in Mountain View called yesterday to tell me it was here and they would have it ready to pick up by 2pm today - can't make it until Friday but it's great to know that it's here!

Good luck to the rest of you.

 

What's an OL again?

 

I really feel for you guys that are still waiting. I dont know what is worse waiting or taking delivery on Monday and then taking it back less than 24 hrs later and still being stuck in a Avis rental

The aux/ usb port has gone bad and they are waiting for the part to come in. I did upload a couple of photos to my gallery to show I did have it for a while

 

I appear to be the only one from the Pacific Breeze whose car arrived on time (early, even)... but I'm laid up sick and can't fly in to pick it up. =(

 

That's what I was hoping, although after talking to my MA this morning it seems that my car is still sitting at the VDC...I donno.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it shows up this week, but I won't hold my breath...

OL is the MINI Owners lounge website at http://ol.miniusa.com - you can use it to see the status of your car, although it lags a few days and is pretty useless once the ship drops your car off.