Well, I finally got an update. I called today and the automated message was finally updated. It said that my car is in the paint shop with an estimated completion date of 8/18 (today). I'm not sure I believe it, and may call back to talk to a human, but at least it's encouraging.

 

Okay, I just talked to a representative and they said that the 8/18 date was not accurate, because of the factory shutdown, but said that once it enters the paint shop, it should only take a few days to complete. She also said that the factory is open on weekends so it could be finished by Monday. Is this true?

 

i want cheering smilies!! how did you do that?

 

It's weird the order of things getting updated, lol... I mean, yours is actually ON a vessel, but the Owner's Lounge hasn't switched to at least 'awaiting transportation', while mine has already updated on the OL, but isn't on a vessel!! LOL... Oh well, I'm hoping mine is definately on the next one leaving 8/22....

Oh, and as far as bonnet stripes are concerned, the only time they are installed at the factory is if you get a MCS and select it with your options...

 

Congrats Arthurbang! I'm not sure about the factory being open weekends, but it would make sense if they have a large volume of cars to produce now - being that people who want 06s are scrambling at their last chance.

OL still says "Scheduled for Production" for me - it is strange how they update things!

 

Wow. Car salespeople that call their customers. I'm jealous. My salesperson (can't bring myself to call him a MA) took my deposit and that was the last I heard from him. As far as OL, and Ask MINI updates, don't you think they would've heard about bar code scanning that updates a database that all the info comes from? It just appears to be a gimmick to me that doesn't work too well.

Anyway, my CR/B MC (TABASKO) is out of the plant and awaiting transport. It's 60 miles from Oxford to Southampton, and with the break at the factory, I'm hoping there is transport waiting to take him to the dock and will get on the ship on 22nd sailing and will get delivered to me on the 11th.

Production week 33, sail on the 22, and deliver on the 11. I like those numbers. Like a mini-countdown.

I located the MINI plant on Google Earth with hundreds of brightly colored uniquely shaped cars waiting patiently. And 60 miles south I found the Port of Southampton, with hundreds more MINIs waiting their turns to get on a Wallenius ship and make their way to a home in the USA. It's a couple of years old photography, but it's somehow reassuring to see the process from above.

I'm hoping for the Manon. What does "Manon" mean anyway? In Cajun French, it means "of course not". Not a good name for my prospective sailing.

Drumming my fingers impatiently since my daughter totalled my car (she's fine) and I am bumming rides until TABASKO arrives.

 

Mine is on the UNDINE! Finished on 8/14 and shipped on 8/16 to NYC! Can't wait for it to get here.

--dcminpin

 

Google Earth, what a great idea! You must be a spy. My MA (I do laugh when I say that) has been great!


Zaino or whatever?!?! Oh no no no... Mini Mizer you need to read my epiphany. The Amazing Zaino Disappearing Waterspot Act



These smilies are from Planet Smilies They have loads of them. Just copy the smiley of your choice's URL, hit the "insert image" button and paste the address.

 

It sounds like everyone's moving along at this point, which is good to hear!

My MA hasn't really been in touch with me a lot either - she said she'd call once Stella was finished and had shipping info, but I think I'm a few steps ahead of her on that one. Not that it matters - I just want to know, so if I have the resources to find out myself, that works for me.

Is Zaino really all that magical? I read that post about the magic disappearing water spot, but I'm wondering if I should order some so that I'm prepared...I really don't even know what I'd need

 

I have not got my mini yet. But I have used Zaino on my present and past Honda CR-V and I really liked it. I am not one to wax/polish my car all the time. I liked the Zaino because it seemed like it protected my car for a long time. My car is outside all of the time (no garage) so this was really important to me. They sale a lot of products on their website. The ones that I used are the ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Additive and the Z-2 Pro Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes. Oh, and I washed my car with their Z-7 Show car wash before I started. When I ordered these products they sent me a free applicator. I got great results from just these products and they were really easy for an out of shape girl like myself to use. I did not use the claybar. You could probably go to the detailing thread to learn more about that. I hope this helps.

 

Yes, that does help - like you, my car will be outside all the time, because I don't have a garage either. Maybe it's time for a Zaino order

 

Ooooo Oooooo Oooooo

It's at the port. I'm trying to "will" TABASKO onto the Manon.

All together now - GO TABASKO, GO ! GO TABASKO, GO !

 

Believe me Katherine, I thought all these folks were full of hooey! I didn't think it could possibly be any different, but it really does work. And the thing is it's easy, not a ton of elbow grease. If you start off Zainoing your MINI from the beginning it'll be super easy to keep up. That's my plan. I made the mistake of letting waterspots build up on my truck and have paid for it with lots of hard work to remove them. I believe the Z-2 is the better shine of the two polishes. You won't need the PC or anything like that. I have yet to use their clay bar so I don't know if it's better than Meguiars (soft) or Mothers (stiff), but clay bars work no matter what brand you use. So I'd suggest getting the Z-2 Pro Show Car Polish and the ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Additive as pqw5uQ3r mentioned. You can always expand your collection of products later as you like. Buy a good car wash and then get a clay bar w/ lubricant. Oh and buy tons and tons of microfiber towels, nice thick ones not the scratchy cheapy ones. Can't have enough of them! Anyway, that's my two cents.

 

Man, I was just looking at the boat schedules and realized that for the east coast there are twice as many boats coming through the port. That bites! The west coast had one on the 18th and the next one is the 31st. East coast had the 16th and 18th and coming up the 22nd and 30th! Maybe that has a bit to do with the whole west coast long wait thing eh?

Oh blah. I'm getting anxious.

 

Well I'm not loaded onto a ship yet. Probably the 31st. According to the automated line, it still says it's being assembled, but the OL changed tonight to "awaiting transportation". It's cool to know that the car actually exists.

 

Thanks everyone for the Zaino advice, especially picking out the specific products. Their product line is so massive it was really confusing for me; now I know exactly what to get!

And yes, go TOBASKO go! Here's hoping everyone gets on the fastest ship!

 

I'm in the same 'boat' so to speak

krm4h beat out my MINI and I swear got the last spot on Courage, haha... So, I'm hoping to get on the Manon leaving tomorrow... I REALLY don't want to wait until the 31st!!

 

Hey, lookit here! The red dot is the Courage

(You sorta have to zoom out to get any kind of perspective, but neat, eh?)

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shi...l?call=WDC6907

 

I know the stuff is good, i didnt mean whatever as in it wasnt as good as people make it out to be. I just couldnt remember how to spell it.



Going to go see where my baby is at, WW auto cargo tracking here i come!

 

Good luck, Mini Mizer! Here's hoping he/she is floating by now

 

ok...im most likely doing something wrong.

I just checked WW site, and put my VIN# in. It told me no record could be found. ok...THAT is not good at all.

Does WW provide all sea transport for Mini? Or could they have put it on another companies Vessal? I know its pretty common for shipping companies to buy slots on other ships when their ships become too full. Maybe this happened to me?

Any ideas? :impatient

 

As far as I know, WW is the only sea transport - but I may be wrong. I'm sorry things aren't showing up on time! :(

 

Well the Manon doesnt leave until the 22nd, so i will try again tomorrow. Maybe the booking number only shows up on the site when the car is actully loaded on the vessal.

On the other hand, the OL now says my mini is "awaiting transport"

 

It won't be too much longer now, Mini Mizer. Being patient is sooo hard. I'm just hoping Stella gets here before or on the 9th of September - I sold my car this weekend, and my parents are going on vacation that day! I'll be left with no way to work

 

Don't worry, mine is the same.... It had BETTER get on that boat, or I'm gonna be if it has to sit there till the 30th!!! That'll be TWO WEEKS at the port... grrr... I'm going to call ASK MINI later...