I drove down yesterday and picked up my countryman, it is beautiful and drives wonderfully. It is everythng I wanted. I waited for years for this car to come out, lived through the name and design changes and ordered it when it was released here.

After a 13 week wait and some difficlut dealings with my MA, the actual pick up experience was great, an hour or so of paper signing and getting to know bits of the car, like programming the "keys" etc. THe MA was very thorough and took his time to do the job right.

I had to drive the car we borrowed to Montreal and then I got to drive back home in the CM. A long drive on some great, windy and hilly roads in some extremely windy weather, trees falling everywhere, fortunately nothing more than a few branches bounced of it!!! The CM handles so well on the windy roads, I am coming from a Toyota Sienna and our other car is a Ford Edge, so very different cars.

I stopped in Montreal for lunch and when I cam eout of the restaurant the CM had it's own little audience. I still haven't seen another one on the roads.

Now on to the delivery time and lack of dealer responsiveness. I wrote them a long email the night before I picked up the CM. SOme of you read it and gave helpful input. I modified it and sent it off. The next day I got a hort email from the MA saying he would do whatever he could to make me happy (good luck eh?)/. When we arrived he was apologetic and we talked about the main issues, the most glaring one to me was that he didn't contact me to say he couldn't get the car prepped so I could find a car whilst I was in the city. It caused so many problems and he acknowledged that it was the straw that broke the camels back for us.

We ended up with the lights package and sherlock engraving for free. Also last night the owner called me and said that we would get free cleanings and that he would put notes in our file to make sure we get great attention for servicing etc (the dealership is notorious for three week waits for work). All in all they responded well to the complaints, listened and stepped up.

I am so happy to have it home. Now on to the big decisions, the kids want stripes. It is black they want white ones and they want to call it La Mouffette (the skunk!) I am cool with it, but I do need to ponder which ones look best/

ANother question, how is it the UK has different accessories catalogues than we do? There is a dog barrier in the UK, made by Mini, that I want it is not in our catalogue, but it is in theirs. I think I may have to buy one there and bring it back on the plane, but it might be too big for that!

Off to drive. I will upload a pic later, the poor thing is already dirty so I won't take any more for a few days until it gets a wash.

 

 

Congratulations! Alls well that ends well.

I don't have access to the catalogs, but there is a cargo net that goes behind the front seats (fastens at the roof and floor) that I'll be looking into for my furry charges. I'm not sure what you are restrining, but it may work. I'll check when I get home. There are also stripes available other than standard - colors and patterns - that might help your skunk not look so skunky.

Enjoy!

 

I thought you were in Canada?

You posted the picture while I was typing. Looks good, though somewhat sinister.

 

It was taken in some sinister weather, we got the tail end of the weather system that delivered those horrific tornados to the south. It was ridiculously windy and very grim looking. I will take more pics next week when the sun is out and I can wash off the dirt road dirt!

I am not really restraining a dog, mine is a shih tzu!! But I would use the dog guard to restrain load of cargo from flying forward. With the gap between the rear seats I would not like my kid to be killed by a jar of flying mayo. I looked at the cargo nets, but they don't cover the whole space and they look a bit ratty.

 

If you are hauling groceries, flip the load floor up to vertical and secure it behind the seats. That covers the gap and, with the little shelf that lifts with the lift gate, will provide an completely enclosed cargo area.

 

Looks great. Glad all worked out well for you and even though it was a long wait it was worth it. Congrats!!

 

Gorgeous car - congratulations. You should win a prize for your patience. I'd be bald from ripping my hair out. Or the MA would be.

Anyway, can't wait to see more pics!

 

Congratulations are in order! Really happy that it all worked out. Hope things end as well for husband & me when our nearly 11 week wait ends tomorrow....

 

Congratulations!! Good to hear that the dealership stepped up and made amends. Have you considered silver stripes instead of white? Either would look good, IMO, but silver might be even more distinctive.

 

Nice CM. Good to hear that things work out. Congrats!!

If you don't mind me asking, have you got any discount or free items prior of this saga? Basically were there any room for negotiation? We only have one mini dealer in Ottawa but I don;t mind going back to Montreal or Toronto to get mine.

 

I will think about that, I had never even thought of silver, but that could look very nice and maybe a bit less skunkish!

 

I ordered the CM on the first day I could and there was no room for negotiation on anything. But knowing what I know not I think in your shoes I would contact all three close-ish dealerships, 2 in Montreal, and see what each of them will offer whenthey know you could go to any of them. Even Montreal is only two hours away on a bad day from Ottawa, and servicing can be done at any Mini dealership.

 

Darn you and your no front license plates in Quebec.

 

Ask the dealer, there may be accessories they can get not in the catalog.

I remember for sure in some accessory list I was looking at in my U.S. dealer, something that was basically a huge dog "pen" for the rear. That sounds possibly like what you are talking about.

 

[quote=kgelner;3273226]Ask the dealer, there may be accessories they can get not in the catalog.

I remember for sure in some accessory list I was looking at in my U.S. dealer, something that was basically a huge dog "pen" for the rear. That sounds possibly like what you are talking about.[/

The dealer can't find it anywhere. It is not on the US website either. I know I can buy it in the UK< but as it is welded tubular metal I fear it will be too large to deal with on a flight of any kind and probably too pricey for shipping.

I may look at other after market brands, shame though as the mini one is just right.

 

So happy you finally got your car! I may have you beat, or tied, for unofficial longest wait. We ordered our CM (von Trapp) on 2/23 and won't be able to pick it up until the end of May (but I'll believe that when the keys are in my hands). I am about to murder my MA. It makes me so angry seeing all of these other people who only waited 6-8 weeks! I asked him what the deal was and he had no decent answer just hemming and hawing, ugh.

 

Ours was 91 days from date of order to getting the key fobs.

 

Brad from Ontario-were you irritated or am i just way too impatient?

 

Just got mine today

 

Spacecity, congrats it is lovely to finally drive it.

After more than two weeks and 1600km's I am still loving my CM. It makes me smile. : )