I've only driven about 250 miles, and the gas tank is half full! Yes, I have been driving rather conservatively but this is definitely a good sign of things to come.

And I finally had time to replace the stock summer ContiEcoContact 3 tires with winter Pirelli 190 SnowControls. Now I'm ready to motor.

 

Well it's quite interesting to look at the late apex in the diagram that early-apex drew. Look how much longer the inbound straightaway is! Much better for speed on the approach. Then look how soon you can get on the gas for the 2nd straightaway. The other two lines have to be slower, plus the diametric curve of the "correct apex" isn't as safe as the late apex because you could still run out of track if you're too hot through there. Just my opinion and sorry for hijacking the thread.

 

My Mini has arrived at East Bay Mini today and will be ready for delivery on Thursday. Hopefully us West Coast Mini owners will be driving our cars by this weekend. I am really looking forward to getting my car before the holidays and shall share pics, as some of you have already done.
vincesf
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MCSc - 6-spd. manual, Chili Red, Cordoba Leather, Anthracite Trim, Chrome Trim in and out, full toggles, JCW pkg, Sport pkg, etc.

 

Congratulations! I think you're the first West Coaster here to get their Mini. Make sure to get some photos at delivery.
As for my car, the owners lounge still says En Route, and there's been no word from the dealership. I'm hopeful for a weekend delivery... :impatient

 

I'm just over 300 mi and I filled the tank at 250 when it was a hair over 1/4 of a tank. I've been revving the car to between 3000 and 4500 rpms (mostly somewhere between 3000 and 3500). It seems peak power seems to be somewhere between 4000 and 4500 in most gears. It gets up to 3000 without even trying! It has been difficult keeping it under 4500!

 

I think I was actually at 260 miles and the tank was a hair over 1/4 remaining when I filled so if the tank is 13.2 gallons and I used ~3/4 of a tank then it appears I got around 26 miles to a gallon... Not bad considering it was all city miles on my MCS.

 

Man, the west coasters are beating us northern midwesterners

 

i'm around 450 miles now and about 1 1/2 tanks in. according to the computer i'm getting 24.something mpg. not as good as advertised but its been mostly city miles so far - i haven't even hit 5th gear yet. I'll have to get out on the highway this weekend.

it has been much harder to keep it under 4500 than i thought it would be. once you hit 4k it really wants to go.

no pictures of MIB yet? i know were all excited to finally be motoring but i wanna see some pics!

 

I got 31 MPG on my first tank full. That was not driving it easy, but below 4000 RPMs.

 

Yeah... whats up with MIB??? Bad computer I think.

I was at my dealer last nite picking up my plates and state registration and they had a huge number of cars on the lot. I guess they just got a new shipment of cars to sell off the lot. They had a checkmate on the showroom floor and the interior is REALLY blue... not sure I liked the blue seats but the dash and steering wheel are cool. They had an Astro Black MCS on the floor too... "Black" is really stretching it. Astro Black is DEFINITELY dark blue (but is really cool).

I've gotten my car on the highway a few times and into 6th. The car sits at 3000 rpms at 70mph in 6th and something like 4 grand in 5th at that speed. I like the setup of the high gears in this car. If you are crusing in 6th and need a little more oomph to pass a car, dropping into 5th doesn't overrev the engine and gives you what you need to gain 10 quick mph for that pass. I LOVE THIS CAR!

 

According to my MA, the ship delivered my car on the 6th and has been at the VDC since then. (WW's site said it docked on the 9th... )
It's not helping that they apparently have 5300 cars waiting to be processed, and the system hasn't been updated with any info since the 6th. Sigh.

Looks like I'm going to be carless after Friday too, so things will start to get interesting if it's not delivered soon.

I think I need to go and look at some pictures of Minis to calm myself down.

 

Well I think I had the unfortunate honor of being the first week 45er back in for service. Starting Monday(3 days after getting car) I heard a squeak from the steering wheel when I backed up. Strange I thought, but it was a really cold day so I thought it could just be from being out in a lot on such a cold day. Tuesday, sqeak again, only this time after being stored in the garage and it's happening in drive now as well. It only lasts for the first few minutes worth of turns then goes away. I try to convince myself that it's not an issue and is probably just a break-in thing, sure to go away soon. Well today, more squeaking. Every time I turn the wheel for at least 5 minutes of driving. I decide to quit putting it off and just stop at the dealer on my way home. Luckily, they squeeze me in and the problem actually happens in front of them (I expected it to disappear at the dealer). Less than an hour later and a new gasket of some kind and I seem to be squeak free. Not really happy that I had to go back, but the service was top rate. Let's hope I don't drop by again for about another 9000 miles.

 

Mosco... That blows but at least it was no big deal in the end. Hopefully thats it for you as far as quality goes.

 

My car arrived on the Tosca on the 9th of December and was at the dealership on Tuesday the 13th. The dealership wants the car for a few days before giving me delivery tomorrow. So, if you have not yet called your dealer, give them a call and ask them when do they expect it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I'm bringing my camera, but I don't have artistic flare as does some of you who have taken pictures of your car at the beach, in the snow, with the kids, etc., but I shall try and come up with something a little different.
vincesf

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MCSc 6 speed - Chili Red, Cordoba Leather, Anthracite Trim, JCW, Sport, cold weather, full toggles, chrome inside and out and lots of other fun stuff.

 

I guess my car was at the back of the boat, and yours was at the front.
The dealer called this afternoon to say that the system was updated and that the car was due around Tuesday next week, give or take a few days. They seemed a little vague about the whole thing, but I'm sure they're just as much in the dark as I am, or at least that's the impression I get.

 

My MA called me last night to say that the service had completed its work on my MINI and I could pick it up. We scheduled Saturday for pickup, so expect some pictures on Sunday.

 

Yay! That gives me a little hope. I bet mine will be ready Monday but my MA has Monday off, so she won't know until Tuesday and we won't get to pick up until Thursday. That would be my luck.

Ok, I'm just getting bitter. Truth is it'll probably be back from the paint shop today or tomorrow (for the side skirts) and then they still need to do the illuminated door sills. Next week, I'm sure of it...

 

I know the wait sucks, but it will all be worth it in the end!

I have about 550 miles on mine now, and its starting to really gel. The shifter was a bit notchy at first, and now its starting to feel more machine like. I've never gone above 4.5k, which is really damn frustrating as the engine really starts to sing at that rpm. I had to do a pretty fast takeoff from a lane that was merging into another one, and the LSD really bites into the road and gives lots of grip.

I absolutely love the exhaust burble - when lifting off the throttle, it has the same classic "crackle" that my 77 mgb did. They truly nailed that aspect of the car. With the top down, its even cooler.

I just checked the oil this morning, and it looks like I haven't burned any - the dipstick is actually pretty cheap - I'm afraid I may fall victim to Tom & Ray's curse of "may the end of your dipstick fall off", as the dipstick is metal except for the part that reads the oil level, which is plastic. When inserting back into the engine the little plastic tip has to wind its way down the tube, making loud "click" sounds right before it seats itself.

For the 'vert owners, I had a very small leak in a car wash - a touchless wash which uses very high pressure, caused a few drops of water to get in right where the front and rear windows meet. I've driven it in some pretty hard rain, and no leaks, but I'm going to have them look at it anyway.

The feel of the car is amazing - the smell of the new leather is too. Hang in there - you'll have your cars soon!

And I'm still waiting to see pics of MIB!

 

Take a look at DrDiff's gallery...he had a few "activities" planned out in detail with pictures in the gallery

 

My car got its first fillup at 350 miles. I wanted to wait until 400 miles, but I saw that gas prices were heading higher again and filled up.

I also got about 31 MPG in a mix of city and highway driving. However, I know I dropped a few MPG when I got caught in New York City traffic gridlock.

 

I'm convinced that Diff was so psyched about finally picking up his new MINI that he went nuts and drove it off of a cliff. There are cliffs in Indiana right?

 

MIB has been home almost a week now. Pix are in my galery. Took delivery the morning after a snow storm. !/4 tank of gass left and 250+ miles on the odometer. Both myself and MrsDiff are very happy with MIB! Computer shoping to replace the burnt out box!

 

The DiffMINI looks awesome. So does the DiffFamily.

Even though you are now computerless, you would have posted a lot less messages anyway because of a preoccupation with your new car--as you can tell from the slowdown of postings from everyone in this thread.

 

I took delivery of my West Coast, Week 45 Mini. Everything was terrific, from the dealer attention in the delivery to the actual car. The car is amazingly fast and effortless. It's the most fun on 4 wheels for the money.
I have tried to attach a few pics of the Mini and a well-known Chili Red bridge also known as the Golden Gate Bridge (ha ha). Looking forward to seeing your cars.
vincesf
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MCSc Chili Red/ Cordoba Leather, Anthracite Trim, Fact. JCW, Sport, Chrome In and Out, and other fun stuff.

 

I ordered the parcel shelf from classic on Monday thinking I would get it about the same time as the MINI. It came on Wednesday, but the MA has moved me to next week.

What I am thinking of doing is bringing it with and installing it at the beginning of the delivery, or telling her to wait a couple minutes before starting the official delivery. It's been slated as a 20-30 minute project by many, but from what I see it looks more like about a 5-10. Pull the old one out, push on two blue clips, push the new one into place, and screw in two black screws. I got this idea as apparently my MA doesn't know what the parcel shelf is! She has been there since they opened and doesn't know this? I wonder if she just refers to it as something else...