My first MINI, there was no choice. There were no MINIs in stock to be had. ALL were being ordered at the time.

Those three months that I had to wait were excruciating. Between waiting for it to go into production, and waiting for it to make a boat, and waiting for the voyage, VPS, then finally to the dealership. It was so exhausting!

And I wouldn't have traded it for the world. In fact, I loved looking back on the experience so much that I did it again! There were about 30 MINIs on the lot that they ordered for a special blowout. And I didn't care to consider a single one of them. ;-)

I knew exactly what I wanted, and this way, nobody will test drive it or mess with it. And again, it's been frustrating and exhausting to wait like this...and again, I wouldn't trade it for the world. ;-)

If time is on your side, I highly recommend ordering as opposed to driving off the lot. It's a great experience.

 

I'm not buying it. If the dealer had exactly what I wanted I would have driven off in it.

And I won't be buying it during the next three weeks while my MINI is sailing the seas without me.

So there.

 

haha - your experience has been unique. I hope that in the long run, you will look back upon this time with fondness and nostalgia.

 

I had no choice in the matter. I fell in love with the Limited Edition 50th Anniversary "Mayfair" package on the car in the showroom (which was already sold) so I had to order my car. Fortunately, the dealer already had two Mayfairs on order , so I was able to shorten the wait to about a month or so. It is scheduled to arrive on the dealer's lot this week.

 

I agree...if somehow "exactly" what you want is the dealer inventory...buy it...otherwise order and get what you want.

Our first MINI...my wife's...we had no choice we needed to replace another car right away so we bought from stock. It's a great car...but there are a few things that I think would have been nice to have had included.

My currently purchased MINI I had the time and ordered...well worth the wait to have it set up just the way you want. I have very few regrets about what I ordered.

 

For us, Ordering was the only way to go, we got EXACTLY what we wanted and didn't even consider what the Dealership may have had...My 45th Birthday was SUPER Special...and I will NEVER forget that!!

The waiting and all was nerve racking of course, but knowing and watching my Molly sail through the Panama Canal w/Pics. how can you beat that...you can't!!

 

"watching my Molly sail through the Panama Canal w/Pics. how can you beat that"

I respectfully resubmit that being onboard would beat the crap out of it.

 

haha - I can see you sitting in Molly in a lower deck...

 

Yes, well, as one who did buy off the lot, there was something to be said for instant gratification as well...and I actually ended up being a little more adventurous than I might have been if I ordered and I've never regretted it! I guess it's all good...


09 Laser Blue MCS

 

I've done both.......

My first MINI - an EB/EB '03 JCW was exactly what I wanted, even tho I didn't know it at the time.......

My second MINI, an '09 LB/LB Clubman S I ordered so I could get exactly what I wanted, without getting things I didn't, and so it would fit my budget. It took 6 weeks from order to my door, which went by faster than I thought it would.

My next car will probably be off the lot, as they're getting too expensive for me to buy new anymore.....

 

That makes sense...and frankly I would be far less picky buying a used car.

I guess I figure if I am going to buy a new car and eat all of the loss in value you take the moment you drive it off of the lot...I'm going to make sure that I get something of value for it to me.

 

Ordering has been a huge, stressful, trying PITA and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. That said, am I the only one who finds themselves with mixed feelings when reading about people buying off the lot - as if they're not a "real" member of the "club"...? Something about shared traumatic experiences, maybe, that makes you feel a bond with others...?

Maybe it's just human nature, or maybe I'm just messed up... I dunno.

 

Both of our MINI's were ordered. I thought that was the right thing to do as we wanted some special order type items the dealers do not stock. I intend on doing it again when my 08 needs to be replaced.

 

If the dealership had a car on the lot with the one option that every single one of them was missing, I probably would have just picked it off the lot. If some of them didn't have a particular option that every single one of them had, I might have picked one off the lot. Unfortunately, I was not willing to budge on 2 specific options and that forced me to order. I think it's been fun to commiserate with others who have been waiting. I've truly enjoyed and relished the support. However, I don't consider those who drove off the lot to not be members of the club. Maybe that's because I'm still a noob. Hopefully, I'll enjoy my Mini so much that I'll want another when its time to retire her. Then I have a whole new set of decisions to make.

 

To each his own. We've purchased one off the lot, one that was unassigned at the US port of entry pending VPN, and ordered two. All purchased the way they were for different reasons. They all met/meet our needs but I had to be very careful when ordering. Careful when ordering - I had to put myself in check several times because it was easy to tick that little sticker total up to quite a number.

It was fun and painful tracking the car and bonding with others. I don't think it made a bit of difference in any of the purchase as far as feeling like part of the MINI family. I wouldn't want anyone that bought off the lot or who purchased a used MINI to feel any less a part of the MINI family. That's not how MINI owners treat each other...at least not in my experiences.

 

Lower Deck??...Ummmm...NO...Molly and I were Sunning ourselves on the Upper Deck with those Cute Umbrella Drinks in Hand and the Dark Skinned Towel Boy at our beck and call...Yeah...then I woke up!!

 

That's not very nice and NOT Funny!!

She was aboard the Trianon March 11th '08, I waited 8 Long Weeks from Order to Delivery. We visited the Day she was Delivered at the Dealership and so if there had been a mishap I would have seen it.

 

You misunderstand. I meant being personally onboard the ship with one's MINI would beat the crap out of watching a webcam from home. See my first post about my MINI sailing the seas without me.

 

I bought off the lot, I have no patience, The car had only one option I didn't want, the cold weather package, but those heated seats this winter made me glad that I had to "take it''.

 

You didn't want Heated Seats in SLC...are you NUTS??!! A drier weather climate than the PNW for sure, but much much Colder...and you didn't want Heated Seats??!!