I didn't know about this totally awesome website until way late in the ordering process and (I guess fortunately for me), as of yesterday my MINI had already been through the VDC. So, the long and the short of it is that I should have found this site about a month ago instead of a week ago!

But anyway, I can no longer get stuff done at the VDC. Even though that kind of sucks based on what you were saying, at least I'm that much closer to driving my MINI!

Maybe I'll hold off on additional accessories if the dealer is pricey and not as proficient at assembling the parts.

 

The work quality depends on the person performing the work. At the VDC the people there do the same installs all day long so get very good at it. Your local mechanic may put stripes on once/ twice a week.

If you are mechanically inclined you should be able to do a lot of installs yourself. Items like rally lights I would let the dealer do. Stripes I would search the net for ones you like and have them installed at a rally. The possibilities are endless in the aftermarket world.

 

Now that I am (hopefully) in the last few days of waiting, each day seems to last forever.

 

My Clubman S is still at sea but due to arrive in Oxnard on June 16. Getting closer!

Very nice Stacie!!!

 

Those are the worst days. You know the car could be here any day and are just wishing for the truck driver to get here quicker. Then you get the magic call and now you can not get to the dealer quick enough.

 

Luckily I am only about 5 miles from the dealer, so once they call I can be there pronto.

 

Thanks so much gang!!!

 

OMG, you're getting VERY close!!

 

Both of my MINI buying experiences were BY FAR the easiest car buying experiences I've ever had on delivery day. He started going over the warranties and what not - asked if I knew what it was and if I wanted it. If I said no, he just went to the next one. Didn't try to sell me on anything at all...just wanted to be sure I didn't want any of them.

I got the key, signed, drooled over the car for a bit, cried happy tears, took pictures, and then drove away...

 

I had ordered a couple of the "dealer installed options" that are usually installed at the VDC (like Stripes), but the car arrived without any of them installed. My MA said that there must have been some mix-up at the VDC. I believe that when things get too busy at the VDC they just send the cars through for the dealer to do the option installs.

I think the VDC would do the better job because they do it all the time, everyday. If you do something often enough you get good at it.

My 2 cents, Cheers

 

I'm completely thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!! AHHHH!!!!!!



The photos are here:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...Mini%20Cooper/







here's a link to a page with all of the images and info on it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...er/jazzbot.jpg

 

Looks great, Jazz! I love the brown theme on the inside. Very sharp...

 

Looks awesome!

 

I also like the brown interior and top.

 

My car rolled off the boat today! So excited!

[quote=JAZZ307;3062888]I'm completely thrilled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!! AHHHH!!!!!!

Nice color combo Jazz!

 

Yep, the dealer had a slot reserved for a build and overrode it with my info. At the time, I didn't realize it was a way to get me the car faster. I was annoyed because my MA and the sales manager guy were talking in codes to me and telling me that they going to build some other MINI in a completely different color and then make it mine. I was totally confused and when I didn't understand what was going on exactly, the manager guy was really rude. I almost walked out but then I thought, "where in the world am I going to go to get a MINI if I leave?!?" I'm glad I didn't though because even though the one dude was kind of a jerk, they actually did me a big favor by overriding a MINI scheduled for development.

So, it left the VDC sometime between May 28 and May 31 according to the OL. It should be here soon!

 

At least I thought it did! Wallenius Wilhelmsen's site doesn't say my car was off loaded. I hope it didn't fall asleep in the back of the ship and miss its stop.

 

Ugh,

I checked the OL last night and it said the delivery date to dealer was today, June 3.

I check this morning, and it had changed to June 15.

I emailed my dealer to see if the delay is true, I hope not.

 

Oh, that's painful. I hope it was just a glitch!

 

I hope so too. Especially as I ordered 8 weeks ago, so if it is true it'll be 10 weeks from ordering to delivery, which seems pretty long since some people here have only had to wait 6 weeks.

 

Ouch. I hope they did not drop it in the water.
Most likely it is a glitch and it is at the VDC or already on its way to you.

 

Hopefully.

I know it was unloaded off the boat in Baltimore around May 20, so there's no reason it shouldn't be here soon. Unless it got really beat up on the way.

 

It was unloaded on May 20 and it isn't at your dealer yet?!? That sucks!

Did it have to have a ton of repairs at the VDC?

 

Actually according to www.2wgloabal.com it was unloaded on May 19, so either they are having to do repairs or perhaps there is a backorder on one of the VDC installed accessories.

Still waiting for my dealer to reply to my email.

 

Screw email, give those guys a call! I hope that the system is incorrect. But, yeah, call them. Sometimes they respond a little better when they actually have to talk to you.