Went to visit my CMS All4 today, and yes there are latches for car seats for all the parents wondering out there. I have a 3 yo and a 3 mo old, so I checked and these babies (bench seat Countryman) are baby seat ready!

 

Runningman, thanks for the great pics. I visited my dealership today and as always there wasn't a car on the lot that had what I wanted to see. Though I did get to play around with the nav and connected on a Mini Coupe!
I still like the surf blue color line despite the slight mismatch in color. And my dealer said the tobacco color line is so subtle.
Are you still loving your choice and happy with the ext/int colors?

 

any news on the Dorado Leader? 2 days til it docks at Port Hueneme and marinetraffic.com says its still out of range.... damn, this waiting game is a killer....

 

The Taiko didn't show up on marinetrafic until just before it hit the dock (I only saw it a couple minutes before, but it was at most a couple of hours). It will likely stay out of range until it's really close to shore. Don't fret - your MINI is enjoying the cruise, and will be offloading soon!

 

My MA emailed me today and said my car should be at the dealership Monday! I can't wait! Just one more week!

 

Congrats Ann

You will love it. I've had mine since Thursday, already have 500 miles on it. Well worth the wait.

 

Dorado Leader alert... Looks like the Dorado Leader is just off the coast of San Diego according to marinetraffic.com Hopefully, they can dock and off load some cars tonight or tom. so as they are all on transport trucks before the Xmas break.... Closer and closer, guys.....

 

Finally got some pix posted of our CM-S and the bench seat in several configurations. Go to THIS post in the "Countryman Photos" thread.

The bench seat certainly meets our expectations and more!. The center seat buckle is roof mounted as posted earlier. The evening of the day we picked up our car, we had four people and our (rather large) dog in the car and everyone was comfortable. However, as has been posted earlier, with two adults in the back seat, the remaining room in the center seat is too narrow for a child seat or booster. Just right for a 65 lb dog or perhaps a very skinny teenager...

Those folks who get the voice activation system are in for a real treat. It's not as smart/flexible as Siri, but it's quite good! I found myself using it all the time and wondered when the novelty would wear off. Interestingly, I don't think that will happen. I went on an all day trip with two other friends yesterday and found it very convenient to "voice activate" among the Navigation, Radio, and Phone profiles. It would be absolutely perfect if they could integrate the heating and cooling system!

Again I say -- it's worth the wait!

 

voice activation? what option is that? I don't recall it - does it come with connected or the nav?

I'm kinda wishing I had just gotten the nav afterall - sorta don't want to deal with mounting a 3rd party nav anymore. Wish I hadn't cheapened out.

Wish there was a way to have options like that installed after you get the car. Such is the life with options...

 

Thanks, Koopah, but the link didn't have any pics attached.

The description of the headrests and video about how to adjust side view mirrors were super helpful, though.

My MA reports that my CM has departed the VDC, and is headed west from Baltimore. Shouldn't be long now!

 

Tried it again, and the pics came up fine. Hmmmm. Love the color combo, and the wreath on the grille is fabulous! Thanks for posting!

 

I think it's part of the Technology Package but I'm not sure which part! We ordered the Tech Pkg with Nav. There are a whole bunch of commands and shortcuts to be memorized...I'm just working on the common ones needed while driving like operating the nav system, telephone, and radio. I've also explored the "Google Send to Car" which works like a charm for receiving addresses for the nav system from a desktop. As long as folks know your MINI Connected handle, they can send you addresses from Google Maps.

I find Mission Control to be a bit cheesy, though...

The other thing...run flats. I come from a world of run flats on a 2004 MCS with the sport suspension and run flats. Couldn't change them out fast enough! But with the 17" all season run flats on the (regular suspension) CM-S, we're not finding them as bad. Obviously with a 17" tire and no sport suspension, things will be smoother that running 18"/19" with the sport suspension. New England roads in our neck of the woods are so rough, we felt that the CM-S would benefit from the extra sidewall flex of the 17" and the increased suspension travel of the regular suspension.

 

fupaking,

I got the voice activation with Connected/Tech Package w/o NAV

If you got Connected I think you will have the voice activation which is very cool. Mounting a portable NAV is a breeze with the Flexpod mount from Craven. Looks OEM, very unobtrusive, no windshield circles and much nicer position.

There is a picture of my TomTom mounted off the Tach in my gallery.

 

Dorado Leader has been docked at Port Hueneme since last night.... I'm sure it's being unloaded at the moment to the VDC and was hoping that it would be reflected in the OL as being in the VDC but alas, not yet.... so close but yet so far....

 

sweet - sounds like the same combo I ordered.

I was also considering a Craven mount, but I haven't researched it much - my only preoccupate was that it would leave a mount sticking out that would
be just as obvious as suction cup circles. Is there a way to remove the mount as well easily?

I only wish more 3rd party navs supported the Google maps send to gps feature. Garmin seems to be phasing support out. I also wish you could do that directly from your iphone instead of desktop google maps.

 

theo, congrats...i saw your pics and love the color combination. thanks for all of your informative posts and photos. im still waiting for mine but supposedly my ship is docking and arriving tomorrow. ive decided on the base but im sooo freakn tempted to get the s that is built identical to my base. anyway, congrats again and so glad you are enjoying your new CM...patience pays

 

Ordered mine with the bench seat. I agree the two bucket seats look cool, but the bench just seems more versatile for me. Also, for those that say the two bucket seats are a unique signature of the car...well my 2008 Volvo C30 has two rear bucket seats too Just sayin' !

 

Hey, thanks for the info on the GPS mount! I have a Garmin with a suction cup, and it falls off whenever the cab in my RAV4 gets too warm (even in winter!). This might be a great alternative. BTW, I have my GPS speaker set to "British" - she should really like the new MINI when it arrives (this weekend!!!).

 

Dorado Leader has come and left Port Hueneme.... so I guess all our cars are going through the VDC process right now.... I checked the OL and of course, still says En Route.... it's funny, now that it's getting closer and closer, I see a couple more CMs on the road not like the previous days..... this is torture.... maybe I need to buy something for it before it arrives... what do you guys think?

 

Whatever it takes to "MINImize" the agony! While you're waiting, maybe you should plan a route for your first road trip! Your MA should be able to get you an ETA soon. At this point they have way more info than the OL.

 

Thanks.... I've spoken to my MA and she said it looks like the 26th or 27th before I get my car... I was hoping to get it by Xmas so I can put a big bow on it (ala Lexus) and surprise my wife... although she knows the car is already on its way....

 

That's exactly what I'm doing. I have my red 4's, 4 inch polished exhaust tips, clear bulbs, short antenna, license plates, and oil / filter for break in oil change sitting in the garage.

I will drive it from Reno to SF the day I take delivery and then driving from Reno to Huntington Beach in early Feb.

Now all I need is a car...

 

Just got a call from my MA... looks like my car might show up tom. at the dealership but probably won't be able to PDI it til the 24th... I told her if she can have it ready by the 24th, I'll be there to pick it up.... here's hoping.... stay tuned....

Fredo - where did you get the clear bulbs and shorty antennae.... clear bulbs for the turn lights, right?

 

Congrats on your car being fast tracked!!

I got the clears from Sixity on their eBay store. I think I found the info and part numbers on the mod threads. Let me know if you need the part numbers and I can look at the receipt. The shorty antenna is recycled from my friend's lease returned 08 MCS. She liked the one on the Pea so I bought one for her and she gifted it back. It's the kind of regifting I don't mind at all.

I hope you get your car on the 24th. That would be so cool. Take pictures if you do.

 

thanks, fredo
I'll try to find the thread for the clear lights. Good to know that the r56 short antannae will fit since I still have the one from my 09. Seriously thinking of getting the roof rack from prestige mini on ebay as well. I guess I better get the car first.