So, just to get it out there. My name is Eric. I'm an addict.

My wife was laughing at me last night for being so excited about the MINI. I was going crazy yesterday because they told me my MINI might arrive but I wasn't getting any responses. It didn't and it was my MA's day off.

With my 03' I bought it after the guy who ordered it backed out at the last minute and the only thing that was missing was the stripes. I always wondered if I missed the experience of tracking my car from order through production. Now that I've gone through this with my Countryman, I know I missed a ton of fun!

Since I placed my order October 11th, I'm guessing I've checked the Owner's lounge, 3-6 times a day, called 866-ASK-MINI twice a day until it got on the boat. Tracked the boat on marinetraffic.com 5-15 times a day including watching for it on the Panama Canal web cams and taking screen shots each time it updated. Looks like I'm pushing 100 emails to and from my dealer and I'm over 100 posts on this site.

Now I'm hoping my Countryman is getting to the dealer with the trucker driving sitting in his cab waiting for the place to open in the morning to unload so I can take delivery before the weekend. Problem is... there is no web site to check for information, no web cams to check and I feel like I'm going into withdrawal a little... Hopefully I can put all this nervous energy into breaking in the car tomorrow!

Anyway, that's just me. I'm sure that all of you are much more disciplined than I and only check every few days or wait for your dealer to contact you with updates. But honestly, how often are you all checking on your Countryman?

 

About once every couple of weeks.

Haven't checked it since the boat left.

Car will be here in late Jan.

Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to it, but not to the point where I'm checking on it 15 times a day!

 

I try to track the Counrtyman at least 3-6 times a day and my wife thinks Im nuts. When I picked out my 08 MCS I walked on the lot when it was closed and went home dreaming about the car. Came back the next day and paid sticker. I never paid sticker for any thing!!! The Mini is a very infectious auto, now this Countryman is driving me bonkers. Cant wait for it to get off the boat and to the dealer. And when it gets here Im taking off for the day.

 

:( here in italy there's no such option as mini lounge where u can check the status of ur car..... so :(

But i think i've read almost every single review, article, test about the country.....

 

This is my first Mini and I am addicted as well. I guess that I anthropomorphize (project human feelings on animals and objects) a lot with my new born Mini baby who is stuck in a cold ship somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic. Honestly, it is brilliant marketing by BMW/Mini to have a place for people to track their cars through the process and these forums only feed the hunger more. The web is a wonderful tool and as I approach 43 years old, I wish that I were 23 again so that I had such tools in my youth.

Funny how these obsessions are our greatest strengths and our greatest weaknesses...people who don't obsess don't often go after what they want!

 

Going Crazy here, over 2 weeks still "waiting at port exit" Were is my SHIP ?

 

I ordered my mini on 1/7/11. While I was very excited to get a new car (I am driving a 2003 VW Jetta that just turned 100,000 miles-not a lot, but not really liking the car now), I don't NEED one, and I thought I would just pick up the phone one day and the MA would tell me that it was in...

Reality...

I checked the status about 8-10 times today. It started just by calling ASK MINI (more reliable than the automated status, and the OL obviously) and then I talked to the actual person. I quickly realized that when I started seeing movement in the status I was a lot more interested.

I will call tomorrow morning and afternoon, and Friday.

Is there an end to this?

 

I keep saying I won't check but I do often. Why I check th OL is beyond me. Has me at the VDC and my MA said it is in transit to the dealership and should arrive yesterday, his day off. This time I'll wait for him to call and tell me to come get the car. NOT!!

 

as others have said to me: welcome to the insanity!

of course, you're further along in the process than I am, but I think I call 866-ask-MINI once or twice a day. I have spoken to a person once, and that wasn't very useful. the OL is hilarious - it's nice, but why bother if the information is so inconsistent?

 

Will the automated ask mini give any more details besides the vehicle is "in production"? I.e. Body shop, paint shop, etc.

 

I wouldn't have it any other way, either.

I love being able to check on my CM 2x a day to see where is it in the AM and the PM. With the time change there meaningful progress.

 

Just talked to a person at ask mini and our CM is now in the body shop! I am becoming obsessed with checking now.

 

So I did not call, but, my MA called to tell me my Countryman has arrived. I went and visited today and will pick it up tomorrow afternoon. The owners lounge still says it is in Georgia.

 

No, it doesn't provide the details. Even if you speak to a live person at ASK-MINI, I don't think they will be able to provide anything more accurate. Just sit tight. I know it's an anxious time.

 

We don't have this luxury in Canada to check the status online. AFAIK our Countryman was to be built this week.

 

Prior to delivery I'd check on my Mini's status twice a day on average. When it finally got to the port I would touch base with my Mini rep once a day.... And when I finally got it I would STILL check on its status before going to bed.

 

It's worth the wait!

 

The waiting is finally over. I pick it up this afternoon. I am waiting for the sunroof graphic to be installed. The black jack mirror caps are awesome.

 

Awesome! Post pics when you can!

 

I check the status considerably less since I took delivery, although I've been considering setting up a webcam in my garage so I can check on it now and then.

 

Just found out our MA was holding out on us and has a VIN.

We are now very anxious to start our tracking addiction.

 

If it has a VIN then it is probably already in production.

 

Funny!