Here we go!

Sorry about how the pics came out. They were so busy trying to sell me stuff that I don't need that we ended up running out of light. I promise better pics tomorrow.





I even got a smile from a cute girl in a Honda on the way home.

 

Congrats Blackhat!!! That's a great looking car you have there, can't wait to hear more about how much fun it is to motor in... although I must say it's going to make August 9 seem like a loooong way away! I may have to back off of the support group soon because I can see the day coming when I'm the only one here, just consoling myself and counting down the days.

 

Cydewaze, what a loverly PW/B. I'll bet you're thrilled. Oh, it's getting very exciting around here.

Coopersmini - please don't leave us! We would miss you!! We'll help keep you company till your baby makes it to you.

 

Got my Mini through Moritz in Arlington. No idea what boat I was on, my poor car dissapeared shortly after it left the factory then automagically showed up.

Stone guards are for winter driving? I had no idea, though it would both be a kinda cool look and seemed logical to give it some protection. Maybe I should take 'em off. I'm a sunshine state kid, Florida and AZ so I had no idea about those things.

 

Oh wow you're breaking my heart with those pics. I was really hot on the PW myself but back when my wife and I were building this on the mini website she insisted on the HB so I stuck with it on this buy. But man, you're car is some serious pretty, making me second guess myself.

 

That's funny - seeing the pictures of your HB made me start second guessing my choice of PW. Gee, I think I should just get one in every color!

 

Not the worst idea just don't abandon us entirely. I took a few days break just before delivery was imminent because I couldn't stand it. Hang tough till then, none of us are going anywhere till the last of us drags a MINI out of our dealer.

How fun is it to motor in. Oh wow... I mean, just wow. Lots of impressions so far, most good, a couple puzzling.

Handles like a dream. I'm still getting over my Dodge Ram 2500 instincts and it has caused some interesting moments.

Gas pedal fly by wire, takes a bit to get used to, especially on a stick but it's good overall.

Xenon headlights... Wow these are bright, like blinding even inside the cockpit.

Little touches like the various orange LED lamps always on inside the cockpit, very nice.

Getting mystery grunge leak from the front washer jets. Insist your dealer drains at least half the fluid and replaces with water. For some reason mine didn't do it though he did end up dumping a bottle of water down it.

Mystery door locks, they lock, they unlock, no command from me while driving.

Break in period is going to hurt like hell. The car accelerates nicely up to 4000 RPM, smooth and steady. At 4000 it seems to say, 'OHHHHH, you wanted to ACCELERATE' and just opens up. This is great but it goes from 4000 to 4500 with speed and a sexy whine that really breaks your heart to stop since you're in break in. And no this isn't a Cooper S, this is just a standard cooper. I don't think I could break in an S, I'd cry too much.

Parking is fun. Of course this comes from a guy who owned a pregnant yak (Dodge Ram 2500 extended bed, extended cab).

Okay, enough... main thing to remember is that the wait is hard as hell but doable and all the pain and anxiety just completely dissapears in the first 10 miles.

 

If you think breaking in an S would be tough, try having to break in a JCW. I test drove one earlier this week, and the sound is intoxicating. You just want to rev all the way through the gear just to hear that s/c whine. It's much louder on the jcw, and the exhaust note.

 

I've decided that there is no bad color on a Mini. They're honestly all nice, and I would have been happy with any of them. If I had been left to my own devices, I probably would have gotten the Royal Grey, because I love grey cars (my last one was grey) but my wife did not care for it at all, and I do not regret the PW choice one bit.

Btw, how many miles is the break-in period? My MA never mentioned it.

 

1250. Read the manual .

 

That is something that is programmed into the computer. It is all part of the central locking system. Your dealer can reprogram it so that it will lock at different speeds or not lock at all.

 

Thanks! I should hit that next week. DC -> Guelph, ON -> Toronto, ON -> Temagami, ON and back.

 

Well keep it below 4500 RPMs until then. You can gradually increase speed and RPMs after that. Although I assume there is going to be so much "back pressure" behind our right foot that many of us are going to floor it and rip through the gears.

 

No this isn't the 10MPH lock thing. Like I'm driving at 40MPH and suddenly they unlock. Then I decelerate for a upcoming light and they lock again.

 

I think I like this option!

cooperminis...we'll hang with ya! No worries there.

cydewaze....Yup...I agree, the PW is super hot!

 

updating:

Jayne SB/S...... MI
herozup DS/B...... OH
locomini HB/B....... CA
cooperminis PW/B..... AZ
bluminiboy SB/S..... MD
miniprof PW/B...... UT
Ghomphus PW......
Blackhat00 HB/B...... TX........6/29
shmelty SB/S...... MA
sundray ?........ MN
cydewaze PW/B......MD........6/29
Annewithane PWcabrio... IN
HyperKid HB/B...... FL
KimKman CR/W...... NH...........6/27
Minitenango BRG/W.......
pancakex AB.......... WA
luluzapcat PWcabrio.........
sam.ben CBcabrio....... CA
TheWizardOfOdd PW/B...... OR
swizzle DS/B NJ.............. 1st 6/26
ShafTT PW/B.......... NJ

 

It won't be a prob. It's pretty much going to be a cruise control trip, with brief excursions onto US roads (until we get to Canada, of course).

I've been driving an old Accord wagon (auto trans) for the past several months that had no 1st year, so even keeping the Mini below 2000 RPM is going to feel fast to me.

 

OOOOooooo!

 

You are also supposed to vary your RPMs during break in, so be careful with the cruise control. Or set it and then use the gas pedal to vary your RPMs/speed.

 

ROFL! That is too funny!

I can certainly relate!

 

Last night I dreamt about driving around in my MINI. It was glorious.

(I even got a ticket in the dream. I think it was because of the thread on MINI Talk talk entitled "Your first ticket in a MINI".)


I GOTTA FEVER AND THE ONLY PRESCRIPTION IS MY MINI!!!

 

I told my MA I'm planning on taking a roadtrip soon and he cautioned me that the MPH really needs to vary and not to just lock it on cruise control if I'm still in break in mile. He said maybe every 30 mins or so kick it up or down 5 MPH.

 

I think with the traffic around here, that won't be a problem. And by the time we get away from the traffic, we'll be on back roads. Only place we'll get consistant speed is once we cross the border into Canada and are on the QEW, but that's only 1/2 hr til we're back on back roads.

This'll be a fun trip

 

Clydewaze, that's one bee-ooo-tiful PW you have there! Of course I've been gazing at your pic over and over bcuz that's what I've got coming - obviously a great choice judging by the many week 23 PWs! I also agonized about color, waffling between PW/B and BG/S - i so love the idea of one in every color!

So, who's next to pick up their MINI???

ps... so nice of y'all, offering to hang with me til August 9 when I pick up Scootr! Makes me feel all warm & fuzzy... oh, wait, maybe that's the chocolate martini. As a reward I'll post pics as soon as I get back to AZ of me n lilcoop motoring at MITM.

 

Thanks!! I know you'll enjoy yours. Now, it's off to Canada I go, in my Mini.