The students are back at UVA and have reclaimed the college town. That said, the Blueridge BMW club has been quite active in the Richmond area with numerous functions including rides to the local Vineyards, breweries, and Octoberfests, and pub/coffeehouse get-togethers throughout the Blueridge and Skyline parkways region, rides to the annual BMW fests, track rides. Sold my BMW now and I am hoping to get involved with the local Mini clubs but I am unfamiliar with any. It looks like the DC Mini club is active with 500 members and with their annual trip to the Dragon. The Richmond RCA Mini club (at first glance of their website) did not seem to be very active, but that can certainly change. Are you familiar with the local clubs? I am also surprised there is no national Mini club. Might be a great opportunity to set one up.

 

New member waiting for my 2014 S Coupe. Went to scheduled for production on 9/6.

 

Hello all. New guy here. Got my wife a used 2008 Cooper a few months ago as a surprise birthday present as a commuter car - she loves it so much she refuses to drive the minivan anymore! So we're selling both and recently ordered a 2014 Clubman. Order was placed by dealer on Sep 9th. On Sep 11th, it said "Scheduled for production" on the website, and gave the VIN. I heard about the phone number, so called that and the auto-voice said "currently in the body shop, scheduled for completion on September 19th". Does that mean it just gets out of body on the 19th and then goes to paint/assembly, or is the whole thing done and ready to ship out on the 19th? All seems reasonably quick, which is good! I live about 3 hours from New York, which is the port of entry, so hopefully we can get this thing by mid-October!

Todd

 

DCMM is fairly active from what I can see. Good group of people. I'm buying a place near the beach in Florida next year, so I'll likely wait to join the local Sunshine MINIS affiliate in Tampa Bay. I frequent the DCMM website from time to time. Check it out.

 

Welcome, Bob! Glad to hear you're in production. Be sure to update us on this thread as your Coupe finishes up the process.

 

The Turandot is moving out of the Southampton harbor. It should be entering NY harbor on September 23 or 24, next Monday or Tuesday. . . my bet is Monday.

 

Current ETA is the 24th but I would be happier to see the 23rd. Seas will be a bit choppy with Humberto still lingering around. Hoping for a trouble/Dent free voyage

 

I'm truly happy for you guys crossing the Atlantic. My Roadster finished production days ago, but still sits in Southampton. Others finished production the same time and left England today. I'm not even assigned a ship. The MINI Owner's Lounge status just changed to "awaiting transport". When the wholly ineffective MINI OL reflects your correct status, you know things are bad. With any luck, I'll transition from extreme irritation to pure apathy. Forgive my rant, my patience is wearing thin.

 

I'm with you Dave. My car hasn't even changed status on the OL -- the phone system still says awaiting release to the carrier. I'll be more obsessive tomorrow - I'm really curious where my convertible is. I'd love to get it in time for a family event mid-October (yeah, I'd be showing off, but I'm pretty shameless, so that's ok. ) My guess it that I'll catch one of the boats leaving on the 19 or 19th, which gives me a fighting chance for delivery prior to October 12, which is in line with my MA's estimate of mid-October. We'll see how it goes. It's a good thing that I'm starting a new project in the United States (finally got back from Peru) -- so I'll have something else to focus on -- otherwise, my MA (who actually has been quite proactive) will start hiding when my number shows on the caller ID

 

My MA is not proactive. He erred on my original VIR, requiring a correction by the Sales Manager only after I discovered the error. He returns calls, but never initiates them. He knows nothing of the USAA-funded $1,000 incentive (rebate) for '13/'14 Roadsters, so I figured out the process and sent him an instructive e-mail. My Sales Manager never replied to two separate e-mails (informational requests). The MINI Owner's Lounge is useless, but the ASK MINI reps deserve all the credit in the world. Like I said, if other cars released simultaneously weren't already at sea, I wouldn't be concerned. I'm thrilled for guys with MINIs crossing the Atlantic, but very irritated with my Roadster still "awaiting transport" in England. Patience is difficult to come by these days, QH.

 

Hang in there TDave everything happens for a reason. Hoping you catch the ship on the 18th. My production finished on the 6th and I had to wait until today to leave port. I know others have or are waiting longer. It is difficult waiting so long and having access to these different tools to monitor production is a double edged sword. Guess it keeps us from calling our MA every other day.

Couple of weeks from now this delay will be a distant memory

CT Dave

 

Your words are very wise, SC. I've never had patience, nor do I suffer fools gladly. My Sales Manager gave me a specific ETA, so I scheduled my rental car lease and court matters accordingly, including therein a nine day buffer. Given the turn of events, however, I'm very concerned. I apologize for venting so much. Nobody comes here to listen to impatient lawyers.

 

No apology necessary this thread is all about keeping each other sane during the 10 week ordering process. My impatience is now being directed at my state DMV for my vanity plate "Sheldon". Its been about 4 weeks now after they changed to form on me once and I had to resubmit. Yes my Cooper will be in honor of our favorite evening Comedy "Big Bang Theory". I'll see how many pick up on the "Sheldon" plate with my Cooper

P.S. all rants are welcome even from lawyers.........

 

I've never seen the "Big Bang Theory", though I've heard of it. I watch F1 racing, NCAA Div 1 football, MLB baseball, and NHL hockey. Add some black and white movies from the 1940's and British comedy and that's about it.

 

Ha with that TV lineup, Lawyering Up on occasion and driving a Mini there can be no time for any additional shows... Something in that TV lineup will be getting short changed once the roadie is home to roost

 

I never watch, or read, anything involving the law outside my work. I've been a U.S. Army JAG, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S.G.S.A. Litigation Attorney, and now I have my own criminal defense practice. I've had enough exposure to all things legal to last a lifetime. So, I enjoy sports, old time movies, and British comedy. Mindless and entertaining. I can always drive my Roadster like Steve McQueen drove his Mustang, right?

 

yes u can drive just like Steve. I was referring to your Law practice getting In the way of your drive time . Never pictured you ever wanting to watch anything related to your work it would be a waste of valuable time.

Thank you for your service! I was a ride marshal this past April for a wounded warriors cycling ride from just outside the Pentagon to Gettysburg. It was my small way to thank and support the men and women who continue to protect this great country. I plan on making it an annual event.

 

As a JAG, I was stationed at Ft. McNair, Ft. Eustis, and Ft. Belvoir. I was the Trial Counsel (prosecutor) for the Military District of Washington (MDW), which included the Pentagon. The 3rd U.S. Infantry ("Old Guard") was in my jurisdiction. I was the Senior Defense Counsel at Ft. Eustis and Ft. Belvoir. It was a great time in my life. I loved the U.S. Army.

As for MINI driving time? I'm semi-retired by choice, so I'll have plenty of time to drive my Roadster. I just hate driving around the DC area - I never saw road rage and aggressive driving like this in Ohio and Florida.

 

Those of you waiting for, or anticipating ordering, a MINI might find the following information helpful. This is updated information and can be informative for MINIs made in Austria and in England. All models of Paceman and Countryman are made in Austria.

http://www.romvt.com/BigMINI_info.pdf

Because it is not yet the end of September some of this is speculation. I will change and update any changed information by the first week in October.

My previous post concerning a MINI made in Oxford, UK, can be found at:

http://www.romvt.com/MINI_info.pdf

Hope this helps with the wait. . . It does not get easier with a second MINI.

Frank

 

Thanks, Frank. I read your Oxford post word for word. I like the page 3 listing of websites to follow your ship, learn about the vessel, etc.. Good work!

 

Turandot went off the grid a little over 6 hours ago. Nothing to do but wait for her to hit the east coast as she has a smooth ride through the Atlantic. Last seen leaving the Celtic sea with 5,436 cars on board. Will be a long week with no contact......

 

Thanks Frank.

Looks like a lot of good information to look through to help make the wait as enjoyable as possible.

-Bob

 

She's still on the board but you better hurry for the last glimpse. Url:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...48.6365&zoom=7

 

yep she has 7 days 6 hours and 45 minutes at 15.6 knots to NYC arrival on 9/24..........

 

Least some of you think you might lose interest in the next six plus days, you can follow the Turandot all the way across the Atlantic with her radio checks. Go to:

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shi...ml?call=9V9825

The times are UTC and somewhat erratic but it holds your interest. At least it holds mine. Frank