R50/53 Incredible Story, please give me advice on a new "S"
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Incredible, but true story!
Several weeks ago I went to the BMW/Mini dealer in Santa Ana, CA. I test drove a Mini Cooper "S". I feel in love with the little car. I told my wife (Maya) and we were calculating if we could afford it. It did not sound like a really great idea and only 2 doors. Plus I would have to give up my car and she would be stuck with the old Acura.
Well, I am at a Facial Cosmetic Surgery meeting in Newport Beach, CA with Tom Campbell. I get a call from Maya saying there is a message on our answering machine for me. It is from a woman named Sharon who is calling from Ralph's Grocery store. She said that I bought a Mountain Dew product in the last few months (anyone who knows me knows that I don't really drink sodas and certainly not Mountain Dew) and swiped my Ralph's card and in the process I WON A 2003 BMW MINI COOPER! Of course I knew this had to be a gag. I called her back and sure enough she really works for Ralph's and I really won the car!
She also told me that I originally was the runner-up but the winner did not fill out a change-of-address info and they could not locate him/her. Anyway, Tom and I went to the MINI dealer that I was at the previous week to look at the cars. When I walked in, the sales manager of course wanted to see if I was ready to complete the sale. Well I told him the Ralph's story. He took us to the lot and showed us the exact car I just won. It turns out that it was sitting on their lot. It is a the model in yellow. I will be buying the "S" version of the model and paying the difference. So far I am looking at a Light Silver or a Light Blue one. Any suggestions?
I have never won anything before. I still can't believe it!
-Michael
mbotvinick98@earthlink.net
Several weeks ago I went to the BMW/Mini dealer in Santa Ana, CA. I test drove a Mini Cooper "S". I feel in love with the little car. I told my wife (Maya) and we were calculating if we could afford it. It did not sound like a really great idea and only 2 doors. Plus I would have to give up my car and she would be stuck with the old Acura.
Well, I am at a Facial Cosmetic Surgery meeting in Newport Beach, CA with Tom Campbell. I get a call from Maya saying there is a message on our answering machine for me. It is from a woman named Sharon who is calling from Ralph's Grocery store. She said that I bought a Mountain Dew product in the last few months (anyone who knows me knows that I don't really drink sodas and certainly not Mountain Dew) and swiped my Ralph's card and in the process I WON A 2003 BMW MINI COOPER! Of course I knew this had to be a gag. I called her back and sure enough she really works for Ralph's and I really won the car!
She also told me that I originally was the runner-up but the winner did not fill out a change-of-address info and they could not locate him/her. Anyway, Tom and I went to the MINI dealer that I was at the previous week to look at the cars. When I walked in, the sales manager of course wanted to see if I was ready to complete the sale. Well I told him the Ralph's story. He took us to the lot and showed us the exact car I just won. It turns out that it was sitting on their lot. It is a the model in yellow. I will be buying the "S" version of the model and paying the difference. So far I am looking at a Light Silver or a Light Blue one. Any suggestions?
I have never won anything before. I still can't believe it!
-Michael
mbotvinick98@earthlink.net
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
From: new york and providence (for school)
congratulations! thats really awesome! with all of those giveaways i've always wondered if anyone really wins the cars!
i suggest you look through the member minis pages to find the color combo you like the most.. and read up on posts in this forum to decide on the options!
congratulations again! you must be very happy!
i suggest you look through the member minis pages to find the color combo you like the most.. and read up on posts in this forum to decide on the options!
congratulations again! you must be very happy!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
That's Great! You are lucky to have the option of upgrading to the S. Definately consider both the Premium and Sport packages, they are both worth the money. Also the leather and Harman/Kardon stereo upgrades are good choices. The upgraded stereo also has an optional input that will allow a direct connection of an iPod! It's a better choice that a CD changer, in my opinion.
I have the Dark Silver with the same color top and I have gotten so many complients on it. The electric blue is cool too!
Congrats!
I have the Dark Silver with the same color top and I have gotten so many complients on it. The electric blue is cool too!
Congrats!
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
From: Fleming Island (orange park basically) FL
Good for you you lucky B...!
I just ordered my MCS yesterday. Here's my spec:
2004 EB/EB MCS (light blue as you call it)
-premium pckg
-front fogs
-xenons
-dark gray space cloth
-anthracite dash
-harmon kardon
Thats about it.
I myself still cant believe that I have ordered the car. Usually when my parents promise me something for my accomplished goals I dont get it. But this time! They promised me if I did this and that and payed this then it would happen, all of this was last x-mass. It all happened and so bam we ordered it. I still feel just as lucky as you, even though ours wasnt free.
Good luck in choosing your spec quickly, mines changed many times over the past 9 months.
I just ordered my MCS yesterday. Here's my spec:
2004 EB/EB MCS (light blue as you call it)
-premium pckg
-front fogs
-xenons
-dark gray space cloth
-anthracite dash
-harmon kardon
Thats about it.
I myself still cant believe that I have ordered the car. Usually when my parents promise me something for my accomplished goals I dont get it. But this time! They promised me if I did this and that and payed this then it would happen, all of this was last x-mass. It all happened and so bam we ordered it. I still feel just as lucky as you, even though ours wasnt free.
Good luck in choosing your spec quickly, mines changed many times over the past 9 months.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: Motor City, Detroit, Michigan
Wow, you are one lucky @+#$%!!!!!!!! 
I am really glad that you are not restricted to whatever the Mountain Dew people chose and can get the cash value in a sense. How much taxes do you have to pay? I always heard there is a high tax of prizes like this. I always randomly enter contests like that hoping that I can get the cash value as opposed to some prize I will not like or use. I keep hoping to win that publisher clearing house thing where they go to your house during the Super Bowl
I am really glad that you are not restricted to whatever the Mountain Dew people chose and can get the cash value in a sense. How much taxes do you have to pay? I always heard there is a high tax of prizes like this. I always randomly enter contests like that hoping that I can get the cash value as opposed to some prize I will not like or use. I keep hoping to win that publisher clearing house thing where they go to your house during the Super Bowl
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Temporarily Banned
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,382
Likes: 2
From: Denver
Here's the two variations I'd do if I did it again:
Street
Pure silver/Pure silver
Lapis Blue leather
Anthracite/Magnesium doors
Premium package
Xenon lights
Fog lights
Cold Weather package (depending on where you live)
16" V-Spokes
Painted arches and mirror caps
Aerokit grill only
Aftermarket anthracite 17" Team Dynamics wheels
All the aftermarket goodies to go fast, turn and stop
Track
Chile Red/White
Space cloth
Anthracite/Magnesium doors
No packages - fully stripped
Depending on the class, 15 or 16" white wheels as light as possible
All the go fast, turn and stop goodies (which would be a slightly different list - but that's another thread)
Just my $.02 :smile:
Randy
Street
Pure silver/Pure silver
Lapis Blue leather
Anthracite/Magnesium doors
Premium package
Xenon lights
Fog lights
Cold Weather package (depending on where you live)
16" V-Spokes
Painted arches and mirror caps
Aerokit grill only
Aftermarket anthracite 17" Team Dynamics wheels
All the aftermarket goodies to go fast, turn and stop
Track
Chile Red/White
Space cloth
Anthracite/Magnesium doors
No packages - fully stripped
Depending on the class, 15 or 16" white wheels as light as possible
All the go fast, turn and stop goodies (which would be a slightly different list - but that's another thread)
Just my $.02 :smile:
Randy
awesome story! I did a similiar thing that won me some cash from a website. How exciting!!!
Good choice on going to Crevier too! all the guys there are great and the service center it totally awesome! Try to deal with Christian if possible, he'll do ya right, but Ken is a good guy too (was selling Honda's until last December, I helped to school him in the ways of MINI )
Good choice on going to Crevier too! all the guys there are great and the service center it totally awesome! Try to deal with Christian if possible, he'll do ya right, but Ken is a good guy too (was selling Honda's until last December, I helped to school him in the ways of MINI
)
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 785
Likes: 0
Take the car as is, don't invest any money in the MCS, immediately turn around and sell the car and invest your windfall profit.
You can always buy another new car, but winning that type of prize (profit, free money) happens very, very rarely in one's liftime.
You can always buy another new car, but winning that type of prize (profit, free money) happens very, very rarely in one's liftime.
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
From: New Brunswick, NJ
Welcome to MCO mbotvinick Not only are you the lucky winner of a MINI Cooper, you are also lucky to find the BEST online community of MINI owners. Take your time, do some searches here, and when you get closer to ordering, post your options so we can all tell you why shouldn't get the ___________(fill in the blank with sunroof, HK, runflats, auto climate control, leatherette, etc, etc, etc).
And please be sure to post pictures of you and Maya with your new MINI.
Cheers,
Kim
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OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
>>congratulations! thats really awesome! with all of those giveaways i've always wondered if anyone really wins the cars!
>>i suggest you look through the member minis pages to find the color combo you like the most.. and read up on posts in this forum to decide on the options!
>>congratulations again! you must be very happy!
Fabulous. Does it come with a free ipod in matching color?
I guess it is good enough that the MINI was free.
Actually it is not free, you still have to pay taxes on the prize so let us know what that came to once you get the IRS bill. And they will find you.
Take a picture and post it for us on MCO- great story.
Good thing you did not buy the MINI sooner or you would have TWO!!! Minis.
That's not uncommon around here by the way.
Then your username can be "another2minis"
>>i suggest you look through the member minis pages to find the color combo you like the most.. and read up on posts in this forum to decide on the options!
>>congratulations again! you must be very happy!
Fabulous. Does it come with a free ipod in matching color?
I guess it is good enough that the MINI was free.
Actually it is not free, you still have to pay taxes on the prize so let us know what that came to once you get the IRS bill. And they will find you.
Take a picture and post it for us on MCO- great story.
Good thing you did not buy the MINI sooner or you would have TWO!!! Minis.
That's not uncommon around here by the way.
Then your username can be "another2minis"
Sand Dollar Collector
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,249
Likes: 2
From: Moved from Leesburg, VA to Oceanside, CA Nov. 2003
:smile:
I've often wondered if those "Giveaways" actually happen...
Chow!
Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org
I've often wondered if those "Giveaways" actually happen...
Chow!
Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Rockland County, New York
Way to Go!
Are you allowed to say Mountain Dew in public? Is it a Mountain Dew MINI or a MINI Mountain Dew? Do you need to get it in that radiator green color? I guess your's would be a diet, since MINI is such a small car.
Ok, enough Jack bashing. That is really, truely a wonderful thing!
I own 2. Mine loaded with everything I want (or soon to be, as HARMINI noted) and my daughter's 'loaded' with xenons. Anything in the middle is great.
Straight from the factory, I would recommend, in no particular order: Xenons, sunroof, cloth (I think the cloth is great!) and the S model over the base model. I you like toys, nav, driving lights (they light up the road very, very well).
Even with the angry kharma around here lately, due to BMWNA's action against the board, it is a great place, a great car and a super great community. Even the wanna-be's are great. People on the street will smile and stop and talk and just be nice. What a pleasant thing.
Enjoy!
Are you allowed to say Mountain Dew in public? Is it a Mountain Dew MINI or a MINI Mountain Dew? Do you need to get it in that radiator green color? I guess your's would be a diet, since MINI is such a small car.
Ok, enough Jack bashing. That is really, truely a wonderful thing!
I own 2. Mine loaded with everything I want (or soon to be, as HARMINI noted) and my daughter's 'loaded' with xenons. Anything in the middle is great.
Straight from the factory, I would recommend, in no particular order: Xenons, sunroof, cloth (I think the cloth is great!) and the S model over the base model. I you like toys, nav, driving lights (they light up the road very, very well).
Even with the angry kharma around here lately, due to BMWNA's action against the board, it is a great place, a great car and a super great community. Even the wanna-be's are great. People on the street will smile and stop and talk and just be nice. What a pleasant thing.
Enjoy!