Katherine, very nice spec! Our MINI's are pretty similar, except for color of course, and a few little details that I added mostly on impulse . I will also be having my stripes installed at the dealer, so it's good to know that it's not a weeklong affair.

Thanks for all the info. Wow, hearing about your experience is making me get even more excited - I didn't think that was possible!!! Good catch on the seat issue, it's always small things like that that are easily missed and could come back to haunt you. Wow, I'm so excited...now I'm thinking about the clear bra, hmmm. I don't really do a lot of highway driving on a daily basis, mostly back roads, and they're all well paved. I'll have to think about that. My MA quoted me $599 for bonnet, bumper, lights, and mirrors, but I don't know if that includes installation (he's already pitched all the 'extras' to me ahead of time).

ukahn24, it appears that the Mignon left without my MINI according to the WW site . I'm trying to hang on to the possibility that it's on a ghost ship. I just couldn't bear to think of the poor little thing sitting out there at the port this long!

Not sure about the schedules. Maybe it left really late at night and it didn't get recorded until after midnight?

 

hang in there doodlesss... I am still with you so dont worry....

yea i am thinking about the clearbra also, im going to call the dealer and ask him and see what he quotes me

 

Hey Doddlez, my port is South Carolina. My car was awaiting transport 8-24 to 8-31 and was En route 9-01 according to the Mini Owner's Lounge. As of this evening, it still does not show up on WW.

I am so excited. I just go back from my first real stick shift driving lesson. My Mini will be my first standard transmission car. Anyone else?? My co-worker borrowed her ex-husband's truck for me to practice on. It was so much fun.

About financing. I locked in my rate about a week after I ordered with my credit union. It is a good thing to because the rate has since gone up once already. I always get a loan approved before shopping for a car. Just saves me heartbreak later on and I know how much I can spend ahead of time.

 

Sounds like we were almost on the same timeline (I'm also going to Charleston), except my status hasn't changed yet...maybe there's hope?

My MINI will also be my first manual car!! I learned the basics a few years ago and would practice once in a great while here and there on a car with a far less sophisticated gearbox than the MINI. I never really took to it because at the time I was living in Miami and driving there is life-threatening enough when you know what you're doing. Now that I live in a much tamer part of the country, I feel confident. Only problem is that we have hills here!

Coincidentally, when I went to test drive the MINI my MA asked if I needed him to teach me how to drive a manual. When I said I know how to drive it, he threw me the keys to a manual demo . I was by myself, in a manual, in an area I'm highly unfamiliar with . But, I did awesome!! The difference between the car I learned on and the MINI was incredible. I was pretty much sold right then and there on the manual, but tested the CVT for posterity. My parents highly encouraged me (and even tried to bribe me) to get the auto. In the end I stuck with the manual since it's my $21k. Now I'm going to be practicing hill starts in my boyfriend's truck while I wait (and no, it does not have a 'hand' brake!!). I'll probably practice parallel parking with his truck too before my baby arrives, just to make sure!

I think it will be an awesome adventure!

Edit: Woohoo! This makes 3rd gear!

 

We may be on the same timeline. When did you order? I ordered 7-21, Production week 8-21. I know of several cars mentioned on this forum that were ordered at the same time or after mine that got on ships ahead of me so don't feel too bad. Just tell yourself that it will give you more time to prepare for your cars arrival. That's what I do. But oh well.

You mentioned test drives in your last post. Well I test drove the Cooper and Cooper S automatic. Everyone on this forum kept saying how much the the manual is to drive so I asked my MA to drive me in and it was more fun even to just ride in then the autos. Then he pulled over and asked me if I wanted to try driving it. I had never in my life driven a manual car and like a crazy person I said OK. So then he drives to Mini/BMW warehouse filled with brand new Beemers and Minis and we switch places. Thank God I didn't crash into anything. After that, a few weeks later, my friend came with me to the dealership and she drove the manual MCS to a parking lot and gave me my second unofficial manual driving lesson. That night I ordered my Manual Mini. I live in Oklahoma so traffic is not too bad compared to a lot of places but we do have some hills.

Oh and congrats on getting to 3rd Gear.

 

Yeah, I ordered on 7/25, production week 8/21, too. I think production was completed 8/23 and apparently it went to the port on 8/25. You're right, more practice time is always good. I'm just impatient .

Wow, your test drive sounds just as interesting as mine! Cheers for going with the manual!

Where in OK do you live? My boyfriend is from Tulsa and I have been there. I suppose there is some traffic at certain times, but not awful, and yes I remember some hills as well.

This whole MINI ordering experience has been so cool, being able to communicate with everyone else that is in the same situation. I can't wait to see the photos of all the week 34 MINI's when they come in!

 

omg same here... you guys are really cooooool I wish once we get our minis we can motor together and have lunch or something
maybe well plan it

but make sure you guys keep in touch

 

A road trip sounds good to me ukhan24. Doodlez, Your'e right about how great this forum is. Only follow "on order" people past and present know what we are going through while we wait for our Mini's to arrive . It will be so fun when our cars get here and the baby pictures start to be posted.

Oh, I am about an hour and a half away from Tulsa in Oklahoma City.

I hope you get some news tomorrow about your car. When are the next boats scheduled to leave?

 

i belive there is another boat that is leaving to NYC port on 8th...
anyways doodles i really tihnk ur car is already on its way cause no way it missed so many boats

 

Yeah. Ukhan24 is probably right. Doodlez, your car is most likely cruising by now.

What is everyone planning on having the dealer install? I am thinking about white or black bonnet stripes, the alarm and the clear bra. I am going to call my MA about the cost of the clear bra tomorrow. My MA said the alarm is $450 installed.

 

well ive already spent so much but reading other peoples advice i htink i Need to get the Clear Bra....
I also wanted to get the 2 Racing Lights....
thats all im lookin into

 

Do you mean the driving lights ($400)? They look great. I can't afford them though. I may not even be able to afford the bonnet stripes.

 

Yeah, a week 34 road trip would be awesome!

I'm having the bonnet stripes installed at the dealer, still taking votes on the clear bra. I might ask the dealer to take off the big ole cupholder since I rarely every eat or drink in my cars. I love the driving lamps, but I too cannot afford them at the moment. Thankfully things like that can always be added later when more funds are available.

What about the programmable options? I'm still trying to decide on a few of them, like the auto-locking doors. I know there's a list around here somewhere, I'll have to find it.

 

If you do a little negotiating, you may get some small things for free, or discounts on big things. I got my bonnet stripes for free, install included.

 

Hrmmm...that's a really good idea, but I'm afraid I might have shown my hand when I originally ordered my MINI. Now my MA already knows what I'm interested in, and what I really really want. Any good negotiating tips??

 

Have you clear bra people seen them? I thought it sounded like a good idea, but when I saw one at the dealer I thought it was funny looking- like stripes across the bonnet.
Bonnet stripes: they look great, but I don't think the vinyl ages well.
Just another opinion

 

SpringMinifan and others who were waiting in limbo at the port - I just called ASK MINI and the automated message has finally changed to say that "vehicle in transit"! Has anyone else had an update today?

EDIT: I just got an email from my MA saying that my MINI is in fact crossing the Atlantic and actually left on 9/1!! I strongly encourage anyone else who was biting their nails like I was to contact your MA (nag them until they get back to you!!) to hopefully put all your worries to rest.

As for the clear bra thing, I'm going to have to see it in person - I actuall did see it on an IB MC once a while back while I was driving another vehicle in the opposite direction. I could actually see it on there from that much of a distance, and I'm guessing it's because it was on a darker color, which would kind of sway me away from it for my AB. Jury's still out for now, at least I can add it later if my commute changes or something.

 

yeaa i have to speak with my MA about that....

Already spend lot of money

 

As someone who has the clear bra, it's only marginally visible, and I love it. It's most visible when it's raining. But on a clear sunny day, I think you have to be looking for it. Now that may depend on the kind you get - I'm very pleased with mine. A tiny little barely visible line is not a problem with me, if it's going to keep my car from getting rock chips/stains/various other evils.

When it comes to negotiating, I sort of had a bargaining chip - the stripes should have been factory installed and weren't (someone put the order in wrong) so I got them for free. When I say "free" I use the word loosely, because I'm sure I paid for them somewhere along the way. I guess to start out with you could always just ask and see what they'll do for you; you are a paying customer and after all, you're not buying a toy car that costs a dollar. You're making a significant purchase. If they want to keep you happy, they'll do what it takes; in the long run, throwing in small freebies really doesn't cost them a penny.

 

My MA is really cool. When I first started corresponding with him I told him that I knew MINI's go for MSRP, but was there wiggle room anywhere else? (I was thinking prep fees, etc. - but those are apparently pretty sacred to the dealers). He came right out and offered a $200 accessory credit without any further pressure from me. I want bonnet stripes (I couldn't get the ones I want from the factory, and I didn't see the option of having them installed on the MC at the factory anyway) and rubber floor mats, so I plan to put the credit toward those if they don't throw anything in.

Upon delivery I would really love to get a nice MINI keychain thrown in, too . I still have the nice metal double-sided key chain I got with my last car and have used it everyday for the past 9 years - certainly a useful freebie.

 

Okay....I'm getting a little too antsy to get any work done. Have been staring at my computer screen, but thinking about my MINI. =) So because I've been out of town for 5 days (a substantial enough holiday to keep my mind off my MINI delivery the most of the time!), I decided to see where it was. But I can't find it anymore! The Boheme last sent weather info yesterday morning, and--although I registered--I can't get the right continent (i.e. North America) to show up on the aislive site. Help!!

Anyone else out there following the Boheme? It's so close to NYC that it's driving me nutty!

 

I am so happy for you. I called my MA this morning and she told me that my car left South Hampton 8-25. I thought it left on 9-1. My MA said my car will be at the dealership sometime between 9-15 and 9-20. I also asked about the clearbra. She said that they can't find anyone reliable to apply it in OKC. The last shop they used came highly recommended and they actually cut the clearbra while it was on the car and left scratches in the paint. I may just get the fugly black pleather bra until I hear of a good clearbra installer.

 

doodlez....
You just made my day, I'm also hearing the "vehicle in transit" message via the automated..music to my ears...I'm still awaiting a call or email back from my MA, think he checked out....Did you get a name of the ship that your Mini is on from your MA in the email?

 

the manager at my dealership said that the clear bra doesn't apply well over the headlights of the MINI. She said that visable wrinkles would be there. She said I could have it installed if I wanted, she just doesn't like it. Katherine, do you see wrinkles around the headlights?

 

Yippee! Week 34's are movin' on out!

Unfortunately I didn't get a ship name. I have a feeling it might be an untrackable one, because I think he would have given me the info if he had it. Plus, it doesn't look like any of the WW ships left on 9/1 and my VIN still doesn't show up on their site.

Whoa, that is horrible!! Why would they cut it on the paint? I guess I've seen window tint installers cut the tint on the glass, but this isn't anywhere near the glass. Yikes!

As far as the fugly regular bra goes, I'm not sure if you drive on roads with a lot of road debris and really need it, but those black ones can be bad bad bad for your finish, and do more to hurt the paint than protect it. Ever so slight movement of the bra due to aerodynamics paired with any slight bit of dust or grime underneath the bra can cause rubbing and heartache, especially if you travel a lot at high speed. So unless you frequently travel behind dump trucks or something, you may want to hold off until you can find a decent 3M installer for the clear bra, which is much safer IMHO.