Turcicus - Great looking car. Keep motoring.

creseida - Jeff is supposed to call be before noon and let me know what time I can pick mine up later today.

 

I just checked the OL and the status is finally spot on. It says my MINI is "At your MINI dealer." This may be the first time the OL was correct during the whole process. Oh well, just another detail in this long drama. The "Getting the MINI" chapter is ending and the "Owning and driving the MINI" chapter is just about to begin.

Turcicus is probably out there driving around somewhere right now.

 

First a big thanks to everyone for the comments on Nitro. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's MINIs as they come in!!

As for miles, it had 11 on it when I picked it up, and I think we're up to around 175 now. The dealership is about two hours away from me (although not the closest - that one's only 5 minutes away), so that put some on. And I did a little motoring when I got it home


You're right, for some reason the stripes aren't on MINIUSA.com. After they came out, I kept looking for them there, but they never showed up. They're available in white and black for the bonnet and boot, and white, black, and red for the roof. Check out MotoringFile's little article about 'em: http://motoringfile.com/2006/04/21/m...onnet-stripes/

 

Turcicus - that is one sweet MINI you have there in Nitro! I love the sport stripes!

 

I wish!!! Unfortunately I'm at work. However, I have taken a couple groups of co-workers outside to check out the car. Maybe I'll be sick one day this week...

 

crischun - a few notes for your spreadsheet

MINI Name: Evie
Start of Production: 6/29
Vessel: Emden
Departure Date: 7/14
Age: 26

 

Drew, that's pretty cool Perhaps the PW27SG could branch out into match making?

 

Turc...Nitro is awesome! I hear brake dust is a big problem on Mini's, so I don't envy you your white wheels but everything else is too cool.

Just curious, why didn't you go to the dealership 5 minutes away? (I'm guessing that would be Broad St?) I'm almost exactly 1/2 way between Richmond and Sterling myself, so I am envious of anyone who is closer than 70 miles from their dealership... Sterling isn't even open on Sunday.

Crischun, for the spreadsheet, mine arrived at the dealer on the 22nd, and I will be picking it up tomorrow, the 25th.

As for the OL being accurate... HA! I looked yesterday the 23rd, it said "estimated delivery date, the 22nd" but the status was still at the VDC. *snort*

Not that I care, but I've just been trying to do a print out for each step for my car. Would be nice if the dates were at least somewhat right! LOL

 

Thanks for the info. Hmmm...weird they're not on MINIUSA or my MA didn't mention them. I'm happy with my "traditional" bonnet stripes but if I could have added the boot stripes at order I would have. Ah well...one for the "mod" list, eh?

 

Ahhh...so you have christened thine MINI. Evie...nice. What was your inspiration/how did the name come to you...if you'd like to share, of course.

 

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it somewhere before...but the inspiration comes from two fiesty and spirited English heroines. The first is Rachel Weisz's character from the "Mummy" movies, and the second is Natalie Portman's Evie Hammond from "V for Vendetta".

 

I was surfing 'round and stumbled on the Port of San Diego Shipping Movements list.


Here is the chart indicating that the Auto Banner will arrive 8/8 (first column) and depart 8/9 (second column). These are the exact dates NYK gave me and then repeated AFTER my MA said it would arrive 8/5. It seems to me, that after leaving San Diego, the Auto Banner would then travel north to Port Hueneme. This chart indicates that the "Last Port" was Jacksonville, FL so northbound seems accurate.

I told my MA what I had heard and he said the info he gets is directly from BMW.

I would imagine (hope) they are NOT going to post innaccurate information and run the risk of upsetting customers. I would also guess that they are getting the most up-to-date and accurate information from whoever manages this process with NYK.

I guess I would rather anticipate that the Auto Banner might not be in the states by 8/5 rather than wait until then and find out it's going to be another FOUR days.

Arrrrgghhh...too much information! What do the other Auto Banner "passenger" MAs say?

 

Yes, you did. But that was a LONG time ago.

 

I did go into the closer dealership (on Broad St. - you are correct) a couple times, but both times I wasn't met with any enthusiasm. If anything, they acted like they had better things to do than sell me a car. I look young for my age (I still get carded for rated R movies sometimes!), so it's my thinking that they assumed I was just some young punk kid who was only lookin' around. The thing is, I told them I would definitely be buying one, it was just a question of when. That didn't seem to matter, so I took my business elsewhere. And I'm glad I did!!! Checkered Flag is awesome!!!

 

Doogs, I love your name, especially for the "V for Vendetta" connection - great movie!! (and it comes out on DVD next week!)

 

Bad news, due to some unfortunate circumstances at work my planned "sickie" isn't going to happen, so it looks like I won't be collecting Basil until Saturday.

Nitro looks AWESOME Turcicus, I love seeing shots of the MFSW with the paddles, it's not something you see too often for some reason. Did you get anything thrown in by your dealer, like floormats etc?

 

Yeah I am wondering if they are going to provide me with any goodies at delivery. I have already mentioned that I will be getting black rubber floormats, but who knows if they will give them to me or not.

I have already taken off work the day I am planning to pick my Mini up. :-)

Oh, and Christian, I think I have decided on the name for my Mini! "BLISS"
I think it works as a unisex name, so although I think it's a boy, you never know until you see it!

Drew

By the way, how many of you post from work? I keep an IE window up all day and take short "breaks" to check in on email and NAM.

 

I love to see you all getting your MINIs in and getting out motoring for the first time. It is great and gets better with experience and knowldege of your MINI as you put more miles on them.

I should be geting my new MINI by next week, should have been offloaded in Charleston this last weekend.

Happy Motoring.

 

BLISS - Love it. The double entendre is perfect. And yes, even though I'm self-employed, I make a point of checking in. I'm a "computer guy" so I check in from my customers' computers after my job is finished.

 

Another cargo tracking site for those on the "Auto Banner."

http://www.hoegh.com/autoliners/schedule/ (select "Auto Banner" from popup and hit "Search.")

Link courtesy of toddm's post.

 

Thanks for the add'l Christian. Hmmm...time to contact my MA. :impatient

EDIT: Later same day...LOL...

Arrgghhh! My MA is off today. He was off last Monday! He should NOT be off while I'm waiting for my MINI! Am I right????

 

Good deal, thanks! 8 Aug delivery. Should be able to fly into SLC on the 18th and pick it up no problem.

 

Yeah, I got a few things thrown in, which was pretty cool. I don't want to give MORTRBL any false hope, since she ordered from the same dealership, but here's what I got:
- a $50 gift certificate to use on any accessories, clothing, etc. that they sell there at the dealer
- the front and rear black rubber "S" floor mats (my MA actually picked up the tab on these - very cool of him)
- a laminated window sticker
- all of the paperwork that came in with the car, including the original window sticker, the build sheets from the factory, etc. (my MA knew that I'm into collecting stuff like that)
- free state inspections for as long as I have the car (every customer of Checkered Flag gets this perk)

 

I have heard good things about Flow Mini, so hopefully I will get a few of those perks too. I'll try not to get my hopes up though. :-P

I am really really dying to get my car soon! If I don't get it next week I'll be a wreck all next weekend, hahaha.

Drew

 

Today is a good day. I just got an e-mail from my MA and my new MINI is going to be in St. Louis on July 29. They need to get the security system and bluetooth that I sanvaged out of my last MINI installed after it arrives however I should have it by Aug 1st or 2nd possibly.


Yee haaaa, I'm going to be driving a MINI again soon, I'm going to be driving a MINI again real soon.

I hope nobody else has to go through what I did having a MCS for 4.5 months and having it totaled then have to put another one on order and waiting for it to come in is not fun.

I'll pst pics as soon as I can get then on NAM after delivery.

Now come a name, they usually name themselves. Kicking around Grey, Joshua, Gabrial but haven't found one that fits yet.