We went to Annapolis MINI last night and after what seemed like hours of back and forth discussion and weighing of pros and cons we finally settled on a Velvet Red Cooper manual with white top, mirrors, and wheels, and all three packages. It was a tough decision because when we got there they had 2 new cars on the lot. One was Electric Blue with white and the other was black with white (VERY nice looking, BTW). We were ready to snap up the blue one but I kept roaming over to the Velvet Red on the showroom floor. The blue one was fully tricked out with stuff we didn't really want and would have definitely stretched our car payment budget but we were still going, "HMMMMMM, maybe, what d'ya think?" We were so into our conversation that we didn't understand the salesman Rusty when he told us that the blue car was already spoken for. When he finally got through our fog and we understood I have to say I was relieved. I want to enjoy this car fully and having to cut ourselves short in other areas just to make the car payment was not a happy thought.

So then we had to decide whether to ORDER the VR or EB. He told us the CS would be at least until October but that the Cooper would be maybe 6 weeks. Again, more back and forth - groan - does everybody go through this? Well, we finally decided we would be happier with a shorter wait and lower car payment. Since the cars were pretty much a tie in our minds those factors decided us. The reason we didn't take the VR off the showroom floor is that it was CVT and didn't have a couple things we really wanted.

We paid straight MSRP + tax, title, and tags. And we got an outdoor car cover thrown in for free! Cool! Got a call from the Sales Manager this A.M. and he said they are ready to start building one now and he thinks he can get it for us. Double COOL! Since we're on the East Coast we will hopefully have our car before the end of August. September and October in an open MINI should be grand.

Thanks to everybody for their advice. I can't wait to join the ranks of MINI maniacs.

Laurie

 

>>Thanks to everybody for their advice.

Not a problem! That's what we like doing around here.


>>I can't wait to join the ranks of MINI maniacs.

Enjoy the wait. It'll be over sooner than you think!

 

Good for you!!! Sounds like an awesome ride, and its great you really feel good about your choices. All that agony of deciding will be worth it when YOUR OWN special MINI shows up and you can motor in it day in and day out. :smile:

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

Cool-
You have a VR/W 5 speed in the works- great. Did you order Harmon Kardon? Any other options?
Just come to visit MCO and the time will pass quickly. There is about 2 months of posting here to review- ie there are 1000s of posts and you will spend two full months trying to read through them for info. I started with MCO in Feb and read stuff until early April then did my first post.

 

wantmyMINI,

Congrats on the MINI decsiion!

One question, was there discussion with your Motoring Advisor regarding the August/September Model Year changeover? I suppose it may be October before any of the '04s arrive, but it may be just a few weeks difference.

Velvet Red isn't supposed to be available in the 04 models (as I've read herein), which would be a bonus for you two, if taking one of last & rarer colors!

Nothing to ponder if you're keeping your MINI forever, but if you'll be trading it in or selling it in the future, an MY04 may do you one better (albeit, sans your VR).

It's a toss-up, - nevermind I said a gosh darn thing....except congratulations!

MCO will keep your spirits up during the wait & after that, - the drive will!

Enjoy!

-sb

_________________
MINI: The best horse for the buck!

 

Thanks all! Didn't get the Harmon Kardon. My husband is a music snob but I'm not and I figure if most of my pleasure driving is done with the windows down and the top open anything will sound just fine. We did get the Premium, Sport, and Weather packages. I tried picking and choosing items from the options list without using the packages but it always seemed like the one or two things I really wanted were the most expensive things in the package so it wound up being a little cheaper just to go the package route. Before going we made a list of things we HAD to have if we found a car on the lot; sports seats, multi-function steering wheel, sunroof, weather package, manual trans. , and a couple of other things. Of course, nothing they had matched so we wait along with everybody else.

I definitely think the Cooper will be enough car for me. I'm a relatively cautious driver (though I do like to take corners fast), and I am a Grandma (a youngish Grandma but still a "woman of a certain age" ). Too bad I don't live in Pasadena, MD or I could be "the little old lady from Pasadena..." hehe!

Talk at you all soon.

Laurie

 

:smile: :smile: Yay for you wantmy MINI!!! The wait will go by very quick - especially if you spend your spare time in here
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

I'm not sure spending time here makes the wait go by faster. I'm already spending money on mods for a car I won't see till November/December! Aaaargh!

 

Hi Laurie

Can only congratulate you... Very nice color VR with WR... send pictures of your newborn as soon as she arrives!!! You forgot to tell us the interior colors you picked!

Your story made me smile a bit, reminded our own shopping decision process... The only difference is that we don't have waiting lists in Mexico. You just need to pick a trim, color and zoom! you got your mini in three days, think that BMW Mexico has stock available in much trims / colors...

Congrats again... Saludos desde Mexico... Esteban

 

Don't regret not waiting for the 04's. Enjoy!

 

Welcome to the "I can't wait till my MINI gets here" club. BTW, don't believe all these "two months will pass in no time."After all, they already have their MINIs. I just ordered my Chili Red MCS last week and I'm already developing "withdrawal symptoms"

 

>>I'm not sure spending time here makes the wait go by faster. I'm already spending money on mods for a car I won't see till November/December! Aaaargh!


That's what makes this place so much FUN

 

Welcome Laurie!

Your MINI sounds great! You will love the Velvet Red color! It's very nice.

6 weeks will fly by! Come here to MCO and the time will fly!

It's a wonderful community of MINI loving people here. There are allot more ladies on this forum than I've seen on other MINI forums.

I'm 44 and there are many others (men and women) who are "of a certain age" here! oops, sorry 20s and 30s people, but the best of us are over 40!!!!

 

I found this and thought you'd like to see it!!!
and I'm sorry it's so big, it's off someone elses site!

 

That is a great picture of a VR/W MC with chrome bumper accents and white wheels (holeys)

OK on no HK but that is fine if you'd like to drive it with the windows open. That is good and probably more fun anyway. You sound like you are ready to go and it's just a few more weeks away.

 

Congratulations on the purchase ! I am currently waiting for mine as well. I got the Cooper S with all trimmings except the curb sensor. It will be a 2004 in the Pepper white. I should be here in the around November/December.