Hi there!

After a year and a half of searching for a good used Mini, I finally found one!

I'm the proud new owner of a 2004 MCS in Indi Blue. Just bought the car last week in California (found it on Craigslist), and will be driving it to Seattle sometime in November. From there it will be barged "home" to Kodiak, Alaska.

As far as I'm aware, there are only 5 Minis in Kodiak. 2 silver, 1 chili red, 1 pepper white MCS, and 1 yellow MCS. I'm hoping to be the first blue MCS in town. Can't wait!

I'm hoping the Mini will provide a lifetime of wonderful motoring experiences!

 

Welcome to NAM. Nice looking car.

 

Welcome!!! She's a beauty. Enjoy!

 

Cold weather package? We hope?

 

No! That was the one option the car didn't have! Considering I've been looking for the past year and a half for a blue MCS, I decided to go with this one because the others I've looked at were missing other important (to me) options like the dual pane sunroof, premium package, leather seats, etc. The price was right, car was meticulously maintained, and has low miles - 25k.

I'm doing research now to see if I can use the factory heated seat retrofit kit with some aftermarket seat heaters.

I'd also like to get the heated mirrors too, if it's not too cost prohibitive. Same with rear fogs (the blank spot on the toggle panel really bothers me).

 

that's shows some serious dedication. welcome and enjoy your new MINI!

 

Ok, just out of curiousity. You could have ordered the car you wanted with the options you wanted, and gotten it a LOT sooner. So, cost considerations was the main factor, yes?

 

Initially, I set out to find a used MCS - mostly because of cost. That's how I realized that Minis have really high resale value (especially used ones in Alaska - they often fetch more than new ones!). I kept my eye open nonetheless, and took a look at many, many candidates...only to find that I'd be disappointed in one way or another.

So over a year later, I 'finally' got the bright idea to look for a new one. The dealers I called recently in the Pacific Northwest told me that there's too big of a waiting list to catch the last of the '06 models. They told me I'd probably be put on the '07 list instead. And well...I dont generally like the first model year of anything, and there's just something about the dash (specifically radio and controls) that rubbed me the wrong way w/ the 07's.

Who knows, maybe the dealers weren't taking me seriously because I am in Alaska. And in a way, I'm kicking myself for not considering new right off the bat. I could have had one spec'd out exactly how I wanted it (minus the Indi Blue).

And well, getting the one I have now is mostly about me being picky. I was really hoping for an '04 MCS because (according to my research) that was the last year for Indi Blue. I figured any 'bugs' in the '02-'03s would have been taken care of by '04 too. I wasn't completely close minded though...I was considering all 02-06 MCS in my search, and judging them based on condition, price, mileage, and most importantly - options.

Finally, after a long and hard search, I found my '04 MCS IB/W w/ stripes and EVERYTHING I ever wanted...except the cold weather package. I pretty much 'interviewed' the owner and determined that she was as **** about car maintenance as I am, and that she took care of the car like I would have too. The car was immaculate, had 25k miles on it, and she was asking below blue book (for a quick sale). I decided that the cold weather package wasn't too important to me (only had one other car w/ heated seats...never really used them much).

So that's the story of how I ended up with my '04. Hope I didn't type up too big of a novel. ;-)

 

Excellent story. Installing a cold weather package should cost maybe a couple grand (guessing).

 

Welcome aboard! Nice looking MINI.

 

Great Find!! Congrats on the Mini and Welcome to NAM!!

 

Congrats

 

Welcome to NAM, and thats a great looking MINI you got there

 

Not a big surprise considering where you bought it.

CWP aside, she sure is a beauty. Congrats.

 

congrats!! i would have suggested looking at a canada spec mini.
they've got HEATED windshields (which isn't available on US spec mini's).

 

Awesome MINI....fantastic color....congrats!!!

 

Are you in the Military? My family was stationed in Fairbanks. Its a great place.

 

Nope. I work at the USCG base here though. My dad is a retired Coastie...we originally moved to Alaska because of the Coast Guard.

Fairbanks...now that's an interesting place...I spent 6 years up there for college at UAF. Glad I dont have to deal with -40* (or colder) winters any more!

 

Great find - glad you found what you wanted - and such patience!!!

Kodiak is BEAUTIFUL! My brother in-law was stationed there - he is now retired from the Coast Guard - he and my sister now live in Anchorage. But - we did manage to get up there on vacation before they moved. It was breathtaking...

Donna

 

My ex-girlfriend's aunt owns one of the biggest jewelry places in Kodiak. I wonder if you know them.


-m

 

It's a small enough town...so chances are I might know who you're talking about...

 

If that's the case, please don't judge me by my ex-girlfriend's family.

 

Have you planned your route yet? We just drove from LA to Seattle along the coast and it was a great drive. PM me if you would like more info.

 

Congrats on your find, great looking mini .

I was raised in Kodiak . It is a small Island, we left there in '79. My dad worked on the Coast Guard base. I would love to go back for a visit sometime. My family owned the old Rendevous restaurant that used to be out past middle bay, it burned down a long time ago, I don't know how long you have been there or if you ever heard of it.

 

Go Nanooks!!!!!!!!!!