Hi there! Brand new to the Mini clan. Thanks to all the info from you guys, I was able to find my baby. He's on the Freedom as of the 17th. Gets to NYC on the 25th, then to baltimore on the 29th and finally gets off the boat in South Carolina on the 2nd! Anyone else with me?
Can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait!!!!!

 

Welcome to NAM
Glad to see more and more people that also have their Mini's on the Tombarra. So why couldn't you get the JCW kits? Someone said there might be a shortage... I guess I was lucky enough to get in before then. You could always get the dealer installed version though... don't give up on the JCW !

 

Welcome to NAM! Most of us are on the Tombarra headed for the West Coast. I wish I was on the east coast... that would save me 2+ weeks of extra impatient:impatient !!!!!

 

It was at least partially my fault. I told them to add JCW about 12 hours after they first put the order into the system. I guess they couldn't go back and add it in. Of course, perhaps that problem was because of supply issues - I've never known an auto maker to not crave an extra $6300. =) To install it at the port would cost over $8k, which is harder to justify - $8k probably buys a lot of aftermarket toys, I'm guessing. I purchased through SF mini and they seem to have a fairly steep markup - adding the driving lights would have cost over $1000, which seemed a bit high. (Service has been good, but they're definitely not the most affordable place around...) Kind of like one of those luxury taxes in monopoly. =)

 

ucbmckee,

To tell you the truth the Dinan setup adds just as much power and costs less. Nothing wrong with the JCW but if you are going to add after the fact I would seriously consider the Dinan route. They work very closely with BMW and design, manufacture and test their own stuff. Many Mini dealers are now authorized installers for Dinan as well. You can check out the Dinan website and also pick up their new brochure at the Mini dealer. Sweet stuff. I have a CAI in the box in the garage ready to install. Next will be the Dinan exhaust, a 15% pulley, ECU re-flash and maybe a throttle body...then you have a JCW HP car for about less money!

 

I finally have a ship. ...the Patriot, which is pretty fitting for a guy that's spent 28 years in the military . Scheduled for delivery to Charleston on December 9th Time to watch the progress across the Atlantic now.:impatient

 

2Miniacs, Looks like we're shipmates! The WW site puts Sgt Pepper on the Patriot, also. How did you come up with the Dec 9th delivery date? I had no bill of lading number on my notification, and the closest I could get to locating the Patriot was a posting on Nov 16th. We have friends in South Carolina, and I wanted to go there and watch them take him off the ship, but my better half said, "He will be here soon enough, just wait!" So I guess I'll be watching from my computer screen! Bon Voyage!!

 

oldtrojan, on the schedules page of the WW site it shows the PATRIOT pulling into Charleston on the 9th. Great to see a travelling companion. It would be pretty neat to go watch the cars coming off the ship, but just knowing it's making its way over here is good enough for me. Now you can update your signature badge to enroute!

 

Hey was going to do that too, but someone already did! Did a moderator do that? If so Thanks

 

So being that I have some free time not being to track my mini across the Atlantic I have been reading all of the other Mini Forums. All I have to say is WOW
I didn't realize how problematic Mini's are... Failed clutches, Rust, Engine Bay Fires... Are others worried about this? Seriously I'm thinking of backing out of my purchase. The last thing I need is a car with problems! I've owned several new cars (2-Audi's, 4-VW's, 2-Subarus and a Honda) with very few problems and no major problems like the above. What is everyones thought on this?

 

This will be our fourth MINI. We've put around 55,000 miles on the other three and have had ZERO problems. It's the most fun car you can buy, whether it's for around town or driving cross country. We have done two cross country trips....Florida to Washington State and back and Florida to Yellowstone and back via South Dakota. The first year cars were the most problematic. I wouldn't change my mind on this car.

Another thing to consider....when I went to sell my MCS earlier this year it sold in less than an hour. How many other cars will sell that quickly?

 

Thanks for the reply. I hope you are right about problems being on the early cars. I will most likely still buy the car as I'm too excited to give it up!

 

Seems to me anytime you have a concentration of owners in one place (this forum) from all over the world, with several years of cars to look over, you will find some problems, and they are all focused in this one place. If you spread them out over the whole world and for five years, and then compare to some other brands of autos, you will probably find them to be less problematic than most. Just an observation.

 

Strange, 2Miniacs, when I saved your badge and tried to put it in my signature, it said it was too large and would not let me enter it. Any idea on how to make a smaller file of it, so it will fit?

 

True, very true!
BTW... 4 more days until the Tombarra arrives into the Panama Canal!!!
12 days until it arrives at the VDC (according to my MA).

 

JCW..I wouldn't worry about it. You always hear the horror stories in the internet forums..as well as the romances with cars...both can be extreme. Overall though if you take things with a grain of salt and talk to real people you will find that the cars are fine and reliable. We have a big club out hear and I have rarely found anybody that had a significant issue with their car and if they did it was not unlike you might find on any brand and is fixed under warranty without any further issues. Motor On!

 

Is anyone else going to name their Mini? I haven't decided what to call mine, but I know he's going to be a boy. (A mother just knows these things )

 

I'm thinking Regal or Royale

 

Still thinking about that. I've been calling it the Green Machine. My wife thinks I should call it "The Hulk". Also need to figure out a good personalized plate. I have an idea, but not sure if it will get past the DMV.

 

I'm thinking "Sea Monkey" for mine, because we live right on the beach. Plus he's blue. Either that or I've been bouncing around some identifiably British names like Rupert or Alfred or Chester or Henry Higgins or Mr. Darcy or something. Hopefully the car will tell me what he wants to be named.

 

According to the WW website, my baby is no longer in international waters. The Freedom docked in NY today and will be in the Charleston harbor on the 2nd. The seconds are ticking by so slowly!!!!! :impatient Not long now, though!

 

Looks like my MA was right... the Tombarra is a day ahead of schedule

 

oldtrojan, go to https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...&postcount=128 and ****** the badge(s) that you want. There's some good ones there.

 

Thanx 2Miniacs !

 

Is the ship coming to Tacoma?!?!? Or is that when the truck with the Minis gets to Tacoma? Looks like the ship is coming up here...I thought all of the cars go through the VDC in Port H?