I also found this even better site!
http://www.autointell-news.com/europ...d-plant-01.htm

Can ya tell that I'm a little excited and a little bored at work??

 

I'm right there with ya!

Tomorrow's going to be worse, staring into a four-day weekend...

 

No kidding!!

 

The production video IS excellent (like the kicky music, too ). Thanks for the other sites as well.

Tick-tock...tick-tock...

 

i wish i were in the time table with you guys, but mine will be later.

did anyone buy from south bay mini? i have questions about the overall process.

thanks
jeff

 

Ask away, we welcome all production weeks here...

 

Thanks for the awesome sites, Turcicus!

BTW, even though ASK-MINI and the OL site said my MCS was on the Assembly Line, I checked the W.W. website earlier for the hell of it and it's actually leaving on the Freedom today, due to arrive at the US on 7/9!!!

 

That's SWEET news MORTRBL! I have a VIN but OL or AM can't tell me if I'm in assembly, painting, or ???

Must be too early in the "birthing" process.

 

AM told me this morning that I'm in production, but won't start production until tomorrow.

My Mini's already having an existential crisis. Great.

 

Doogs, you are a character! Existential crisis?

It will be OK. Just take and deep breath and chant "Motor On...Motor On...Motor On..."

 

So at this stage in the game...the proverbial third trimester...what names have you chosen, considered or decided for your new baby?

 

I'm still trying to decide.

At first, I had settled on Evie, after Rachel Weisz's character in the Mummy movies and Natalie Portman's in "V for Vendetta". Both English dames with more than their share of guts. Wife's reaction:

Lately, though I've been wavering. I toyed with Merlin, mainly for the British connection and the fact that Merlin was the name of the engine that powered the Spitfire fighter plane. But most people only think of the wizard, so, out. Wife's reaction:

I also like Pippin. Yes, the hobbit. Ever-optimistic and viewing the world with wide-eyed excitement. And, hey, the cloaks he and the other hobbits wore were kind of close to Royal Grey... Wife's reaction:

The last one, well, one of my interests is classical history, and Ancient Rome in particular. So I've been considering playing on Russell Crowe's "Maximus" from Gladiator and naming the Mini..."Minimus"... Wife's reaction:

 

My MINI will be Basil...after Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers. My current Toyota Matrix is named Baldrick after the Blackadder character.

 

Good question... I had ordered a PH MCS last fall, right before we had a family illness and some life-changing stuff occur, which kept me from purchasing it when it came in. His name was going to be Buster, so I'm not sure if I should make this one Buster II. PW doesn't seem to be "Buster" material, but I'm not sure. I think the MINI and I will have to meet in person before a name is chosen.

 

LOVE Basil! A perfect name for a MINI. Buster in either form is a nice one as well.

Hey Doogs...I like Pippin...I like Pip even better. But, does your wife have any suggestions? If she's rolling her eyes at all your names, she MUST have one in mind.

My first choice was Winston, for Mr. Churchil. But I realized that is the second most popular name for MINIs.

Then one day I was driving along, after I called my MA and added the Sport Package, I was thinking "This is going to be S-W-E-E-E-E-T!" And right then a name I never even considered popped into my head - JAKE. So, unless I feel differently after delivery...his name is JAKE. It just fits!

 

For the time being, my HB/B MCS is "the BluBomber". Am hoping to come up with something better once I meet it. I've never really given vehicles names (except for my previous truck, not so affectionately referred to as "my POS mazda").

 

She has a penchant for naming cars (her Mustang is "Sally"...kinda obvious but still good), but all she's suggested for the Mini is "Mini".

I like Pippin the best, too. Just seems to fit the Mini.

 

OK...touchy territory here. Is it YOUR MINI or is it a "family" car?
If she names her Mustang Sally...then you should be able to name your MINI anything you want...IMHO.

 

Oh, it is without a doubt MY MINI (here's hoping my better half doesn't read this!). I will be the one driving 90% of the time. We'll be taking it out to dinner and running errands and whatnot more often than the Mazda Protege5 I'm pimping right now, but as far as her stealing it and leaving me to drive the Mustang? No way.

And when kids enter the equation...I get to keep it while she trades in her Mustang for a "family" car. She's not too keen on that, and every now and then I get to hear about how I'm getting my dream car and she's going to have to get rid of the Mustang for something lame. At which point I remind her that she's already driving her dream car and that, if she wants to keep it longer, we can always hold off on the whole starting a family thing for a few years.

Yeah, she doesn't react well to that.

 

I'm Chili Red! I have been lurking here, but since I have nothing different from anyone else to post, I have been keeping silent! I am off to check OL right now to see if I have a VIN. When did you order yours?

 

I know what you mean about the whole dream car thing, and I feel guilty because my wife was driving an old Jeep Grand Cherokee that she loved, but it was dying. We couldn't afford a new Jeep so she went with a Scion tC, which an awesome car for the price....but it's not a Jeep. Now my Matrix is up for replacement, and I get to buy my dream car....while my wife is still stuck with the Scion for another few years. I have vowed that she will have a new Jeep Commander as soon as possible though

 

Man, ya get one afternoon of work off and the thread goes posting-crazy!

MORTRBL, congrats on your MINI being on it's way!!! That's so awesome! I can't wait for that day.

Red Scooter, I've been in production since the 23rd and neither ASK-MINI nor my MA have been able to tell me if I'm in the paint shop, assembly, or whatever. So I'm not sure if that part of their system is even used anymore.

As far as names, it's something I haven't really given much thought to. Doogs, I do like your Evie idea (especially the V for Vendetta connection - great movie), but I've never been one for naming my cars. If I do, though, I might have to steal that one And I think if you go for the Gladiator link, stick with just Maximus. The oppositeness (is that a word?) of a MINI being called Maximus is cool

And Sheenabea, welcome!!!

 

That sounds familiar... The MINI was originally supposed to be for my wife. She drove a Geo Tracker, which I hated because it was so unsafe. The plan was to buy her a new MINI once I got a fulltime job. But the Tracker had other things in mind. The transmission decided to crap out, so we had to get her into something else. Now she drives a PT Cruiser (which she loves, thankfully) and I'm getting the brand new car. And like you, Chimera, I have vowed to get my wife a MINI sometime in the coming years (No joke - the first time my wife rode in/drove a MINI was when I ordered mine. We weren't five minutes out of the dealer's parking lot on the way home when she asks "So when can I get my MINI?" ).

 

I ordered on June 8. Expected completion is 7/6!

 

Ahhh...the dynamics of marriage, eh? I actually meant a co-owned car rather than "when we have kids" car.

But, I still say it's yours to name! Of course, it's always nice to have your partner's stamp of approval...just not necessary. OK I've said ENOUGH!