Thank you all!!! Driving this car is extremely addictive

Yes, the interior really turned out well. Initially I wasn't sure we did the right thing not taking the tech package and instead put more money on the interior but in the end I am so happy we did it that way. It makes the "motoring" experience even better! The interior is really something. I'll take a few more pictures. It's worth the details
My wife could not care less about tech gizmos that take anyway from enjoying the drive . . . I understand the attractiveness of the tech package though... So no one should take this the wrong way

As far as our wait . . .
When we came in the store they had been out of computer all morning (power outage) so they were a bit busy with paper work I guess, but then it took for ever for someone to take a look at the trade-in we had. We had to go back and forth a little on the price. They wanted to give us $700 for the old car. My wife, being always her natural self, expressed our shock out loud and on our face ... which I think help the deal in the end but I'm so so so tired of the old trick of going back to talk to someone for 5 minutes, pointless, waste of time, annoying as hell... then we had to further wait to see the financial person wish actually turned out to be the more pleasant part of the all ordeal. Then we had to go through a little bit of initial review on how things work with somewhat of a lack of awareness on how long we had already waited, than they took our trade-in to an other lot and forgot to take the plate out of the old car to transfer it to the MINI. So we had to wait an other 30 min at least for someone to go to the lot and remove the old plate with a bit of a rusted bolt situation. Young guy, no tools, etc... anyway, wait after wait, after wait.... We were there 3.5 hrs and might have actually do something for about 45 minutes in total, if even that!. For someone that runs everywhere very fast to do what needs done, it was a bit gruesome I tell you!!!
Anyway, it's past us now. DONE.


And CR you were totally right. Just before we left the place we got the survey rating speech . . . and how anything lower than a 10 is considered a failure on some website... I'm not sure what I'll do... I don't want to sack them but it wasn't the smoothest purchasing experience by a long shot...


.

 

Don't send in the survey until your MA calls you to remind you about it. Then the door is open for discussion about making everything right before you send in the survey.

Congrats on the new ride!

 

For all of you that care (or don't for that matter), I'm supposed to FINALLY get my green vinyl samples today! Of course, actually getting something installed is further off, but knowing I could be thisclose makes me all giddy!

 

Good luck with the vinyls samples, 01. Hope one of them is a good match for the color you have in mind !

 

Hey, 01 - Do you get Modern MINI magazine? (You should, if you don't; the electronic edition is very reasonably priced.) This is from the latest issue.

 

Why I left work early today...

 

Very nice

 

Too yellow, but thanks for the help. And congrats on full throttle mode!

So, I'm looking at these samples and just like everyone said, I've looked at them in the shade and in direct sunlight and wouldn't you know it, they look completely different. One color looks perfect in the sun, while another looks perfect in the shade. I think I'll go with the one that works with the direct light, but will ask my better half even though she don't care and thinks I'm crazy.

 

Spa is THERE !! Time for Full Throttle Fun !!

 

Fantastic!

 

It looks great! I didn't know I liked Kite Blue until I saw yours - love the color combo.

LSLMINI

 

Lana is popping more each day. How long before the stupid grin disappears from my face?

 

That grin will never leave your face!! Im always grinning

 

That's awesome about your samples.. Lets us know if you find one that catches your eye!! Im adding little bits to mine finally...its taking shape ha ha

 

Color has been picked and stripe design approved! Ordering brake ducts today so I can get them painted now that I have a color.

Windows tinted tomorrow and hopefully clear bra on Friday.

Hope to have stuff on the car soon!!! The wait is going to kill me (sort of feels like I'm waiting for delivery all over again)!

 

Sounds great! So where did you get your vinyl from? How did you find a color match? . . . I'm guessing it's not custom.
I want to do something to the mirrors but it's going to be hard to match the Kite Blue

The place I've used for some gloss black in the past has been Metro restyling http://www.metrorestyling.com
But matching a color is hard if not impossible, or you've got to be lucky...



@ WolfsBane & LSLMINI: thx a lot. It has really been quite a treat to get this mini. I keep thinking: "why haven't we done this sooner?"

 

My car has been sitting in Baltimore for two weeks. Anyone else have this happen? I don't even have any options that needed to be added there.

 

I went through MINI Motoring Graphics and they've been great to work with. My dealer wasn't able to come up with a color code for the Alien Green mirrors (and his email went all the way up the chain to BMW AG in Germany and still no answer), but MMG was able to give me some direction - and they were right - I approved the color sample they sent over. The whole process has taken about 4 weeks...so far.

PM me your email address and I'll forward the color chart they sent me...it's 11 pages.

Oh yeah, and not lucky...this has been a PIA.

 

Yikes ! If it were mine, I'd be concerned it was damaged during the loading/transport/unloading process with the shipper. Might be getting body work done.

Not to alarm you, but it happens and would explain the delay at the port.

 

Do you know the ship's name? Ours was the Honor. It arrived in Baltimore on August 1st and the car arrived in western PA on the 8th.

 

I actually know someone who has access to the tracking information and he said it was held for repairs. However, it was released to the carrier last Tuesday and hasn't changed since then. I don't understand what else could be holding it up. I'd be more patient but I'm moving across the country in less than two weeks and I have to break it in before that. Looks like I'll be doing tons of side-road driving in a very short amount of time.

It was on the Torino, which I think arrived on July 30th.

 

Check it out, the Topeka just left port in Southampton! Woo to the fricken Hoo!

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...0&type_color=7

 

Things I've learned since hitting 1,200 miles 24 hours ago:

1. Work becomes a little less interesting, especially when the weather is postcard-perfect.

2. The longest distance between any two points occurs when driving a MINI with a broken-in engine.

3. The engine gets a mean roar when you start pushing it.

4. Gas mileage hasn't suffered. (Maybe I'm not trying hard enough...)

5. It's nice communing with Mother Nature and seeing things along country roads you'd normally ignore, like:


Now shut down your computer and go drive your new MINI!

 

Have you verified you're on the manifest ?

If so... Woooooo to the friggin Hoooooo !!

 

YEP! My VIN came up as "loaded on vessel"!!!! (where are those mini diapers?)