My CM cleared the VDC in Georgia and headed for Houston. Suppose to be ready for my pickup on Thurs or Friday this week. Yeah!

 

Awesome! Mine was also on the Bosporus Highway so hopefully I'll also be able to pick mine up soon.

 

How long does it take to get through VDC?

 

Generally a couple of days.

 

The Talia is now in port at Cristobal, the start of the Panama Canal.

 

sold my '02 MCS, and watched him drive off into the sunset. he was an awesome car.

now I continue to wait for the arrival of the Countryman...

 

Kinda sad isn't it? Mine didn't even look back

 

Talia's cleared the Panama canal -- next stop, sunny CA!

 

My CM was on the Bosporus Highway, it got dropped off sometime in the afternoon on the 24th. OL gave an estimated trip to Oklahoma City on the 27th. Talked to my MA, they estimated it would in Tuesday (3/1). Since I'm getting Tint, I should be able to pick it up late Wednesday night or Thursday... assuming all estimated delivery times are meet!

 

Picked up tonight! Pix soon.

 

So I went up and picked up my handsome CM from the dealer today. Apparently they had the car since Saturday but because of the month end rush they kind of forgot about it. Yest the MA called and sad it will come in Monday and set up a time on Tuesday. This morning he calls up and says, my bad, we had it and all the stuff needed to be done before delivery was done yesterday, I was with other customers and lost track blah blah.. The dealership experience besides this small snafu was excellent. The finance lady did not even mention extended warranty etc. but she did say that getting the tire warranty is prudent. She asked if I would like to finance it there or have any ideas. I told her about my Credit union financing and she looked it up and said it is a really great rate for the period and they have nothing better than that. It was actually very pleasant. Most of the time was spent talking about her clubman and her dog than business. After everything was done, she told me that they offer free mats and gave me the option to pick the upgraded ones instead of the carpet ones. I, all the time, was hoping for a hard sell on something but there was none. After the sale and the MA sat down with me and talked to sirius for 20 mins because the radio was not getting activated.

Now, slight OT, Mini has a tire warranty which is only applicable if the repairs are performed at the dealership. i got one from Fidelity Warranty Service, where the repairs can be performed any where and there is no incident count. It cost me 799 for 3 years. thought people might like to know.

I picked the Cm up on a rainy very gridlocked evening that was 2 1/2 hours of driving at 15mph. So did not really get to open her up. On my way back from class though on slightly deserted interstate, i floored it (kept it under 4K rpm) and omg it flies. One has absolutely no idea how fast they are going unless they look at the speedo. I would suggest people with teeth filings sit in the backseat. The exit ramp to my home is banked and has a very sharp curve (read 20 mph) and boy this car is on rails at 50. The roads were slick but no way did it not feel in control.

Now the bad stuff:
I have to say I am tall person and would have liked the seats support my neck a little better. I will have to look @ adjusting the head rest, it was too far back and i have good posture but now to rest my head I have to lean back an couple of inches. Makes it very weird.

the doodads on the rail, are a mixed bag. The cup holders for the back are essential but the ipod-cradle is kind of useless and the sun glass holder well it could be put to good use.

I thought I read the manual when I was waiting for weeks for my car to arrive but I think I will have to read it again. There are way to many things that can be stored on the keyfob to "you-ify" it.

For people waiting for your CM, the wait is so totally worth it.

 

Who did you buy from? I got mine from Mini Baltimore, and I didn't get the free mats. But I did get 2.89 percent financing! :-) They had an installer do the 3M today. Had fun setting the ambient lighting. Was able to make several phone calls via Bluetooth/Speaker, and it was really really clear. Although the iPod/radio etc controls are crazy. It feels like I need a pilot's license!

Glad to say for me the armrests aren't too low. Others were expressing that. But the seat is not yet comfortable. The non-adjustable lumbar on the seat feels like it's poking into my back too much. Part of this is I have been driving an Element for the past five years or so, and it will just take some getting used to.

The car is very quiet. The new car smell is overwhelming. Can't wait to see it in the light of day.

 

Mini of Alexandria

I agree with the lumbar support poking in the back. and ditto on the smell, gave me a headache on my drive back on a gridlocked 295.

Do you find HK bass heavy and some what artificial... I had to turn it all the way down. Come to think of now I dunno it was the smell or the bass that was giving me the headache.

I am getting tints done and the 3m bra sometime this week.

 

The HK seemed bass heavy a bit, but I didn't adjust it yet. I LOVE the system in the element, which as a subwoofer under the front console. Clearest sound ever from a car stereo I've dealt with, and very well defined. My daughter liked the sound in the Countryman, though. We had to crank Girl Talk's "All Day" on her ride home last night. I hope I get used to the lumbar. I bought this car because the Element was getting brutal on long trips. I have to drive to NJ and NY almost every week.

 

What are the upgraded mats?

 

@RS11

what i meant was " the option to pick the upgraded ones instead of the rubber ones"

But i like rubber mats easier to clean and more durable than carpet... I am not a huge carpet fan in general.

@conspiracy
if i ever see a cosmic blue on the street i have made up my mind i am going to wave. I have yet to see another CM on the road.

 

Why is your lumbar non-adjustable? Isn't there a wheel on the side to make some adjustments, albeit minor?

 

Nope. Unfortunately, there is no lumbar adjustment on the leatherette seats...only on upgrades. Wish I would have known when I ordered. I found out after the fact, and was hoping it wouldn't matter.

 

A ha. I have it on my leather seats and assumed it was there for all. If it's any consolation, the adjustment range is very limited.

 

Good. I thought I was missing something. I agree with you on the rubber mats vs. the factory carpet mats. I use the rubber mats all winter. I do like carpet the rest of the year but I go with Cocomats.

 

Chase is sitting at the dealership, waiting to be picked up.

threes months of waiting, now it's actually time to MOTOR.

 

Woo! LMK how you like him.

 

So, here he is. Picked up from dealer last night. Just check out my gallery. Pix aren't great. Just a couple snaps while the paperwork was printing. Working on a name. Either Dexter or Tony Harrison. ;-)

 

My CM docked in Baltimore on Sunday, 2/20, and was at the VDC (confirmed via OL) on Monday, 2/21. It arrived at Cincinnati Mini either Thursday 2/24 (my MA's day off, so he wasn't sure) or 2/25 before he got in. It was prepped and ready to pick up at 4:00pm on 2/25. If yours will be in Baltimore on Friday, you should get it no later (and hopefully sooner) than the following Friday.

 

Awesome!!! Are those the 17" silver spoke wheels? If so, T\this is like a preview of what's coming to my house soon. (Well not really so soon, this is killing me to wait!)