I picked up Nugget on Wednesday at Keeler in Latham, NY and now that I'm forced to come back to work would like to share my impressions so far.

Dealer impressions: Keeler struck me as rather impersonal at first, but now that I've seen it through and got to know my MA and the staff I'd describe it more as "reserved and businesslike." Which was sort of cool when it all sugared off. My MA came in on his day off to be with me when I took delivery. He went over all the manuals, paperwork, etc, then spent nearly an hour with me going over the car -- both of us grinning happily! The car was immaculate, as was the entire facility. One thing that really cracked me us was just before I was ready to drive off, about 20 employees gathered around the car all smiling and shaking my hand. Then a very serious looking gentleman in a business suit walked up. Everybody parted to let him see Nugget. He studied the car from several angles, then snapped his finger and pointed to the license plate. Instantly a service tech ran up with a screwdriver and a level. A few seconds of work and the plate was properly leveled. Only then did the man smile. :smile:

I live in a small town (pop 7) in north central Vermont, so was a little intimidated by the city drivers. I took my time getting used to the car -- MUCH more responsive in every way than the Subaru Outback it replaced and the Chevy Silverado it will share the garage with -- but after a few miles of hilly stop and go traffic I had the feel of the car. I pointed the bow toward southern Vermont and followed a slow SUV up a LONG hill as it started to rain. At the top of the hill, though, the rain stopped, the SUV pulled off, and all I could see in front of me was miles of twisty downhill! Automotive nirvana!

It felt like I was flying, but the digital readout held steady at 55, so I zoomed around the curves having the time of my life! It was only toward the bottom of the hill that I realized the digital readout was the outside temp; the speedo said 80mph! Okay, dumb mistake number one: don't believe an instrument if your gut tells you something different. That would have been an expensive (and stupid!) ticket!

But the fact that Nugget had handled those curves so effortlessly gave me a lot of confidence. It also saved my skin later in the trip at a four-way stop when the woman coming from my right failed to stop. In fact, she was looking at something in the passenger seat and never even looked up! So right away I exceeded the breakin limit and nearly redlined getting out of her way! But the power was there when I needed it, something I found extremely reassuring.

I drove home via Vermont Route 100, which is a particularly scenic, winding country road. It was a blast! Three hours behind the wheel and those wonderful sport seats felt great the entire trip. Love the exhaust note, the acceleration, the braking and most of all the road feel! Can't believe driving can be this much fun! Fuel efficiency was 33.4mpg, verified with my calculator, which was not bad for a brand new car in fairly aggressive driving. I probably could have hit 36mpg if I'd taken the Interstate, but what fun is that?

Spent yesterday washing and waxing. Later, someone told me new cars should not be waxed for the first month so the paint completely cures. Sure hope that was an old wives tale because the car looks great right now! There are a lot of little trouble spots when waxing, the difficult to get to places where it's hard to wax. Like the edges of the grill pieces, the gap between trim and body like where the bonnet meets the grill and headlights. No big deal; it just takes longer to get all those spots.

Then, after the car was sparkling, I pulled out and drove up Mount Mansfield, through Smuggler's Notch, and down the other side. It's our twistiest mountain road, and a great test of climbing and roadhandling. I needed to check out the claims made by some MCS drivers that the MC was gutless and could not do hills well. For the first time in my life I drove that route with no other cars on the road!!! It was so cool! Anyway, Nugget had power to spare, and the handling was superb! So much for the MCS claims!

There's a thread on Mini2 thread that had me worried: the 2005 Problem Thread. All those nightmare stories had me concerned, even though logic told me the odds of my getting a lemon were astronomically thin. Knock on wood, but after 350 miles in two days I have found nothing wrong except for a very slight vibratory sound coming from the pillar behind my left ear. Oh, and the fact that bugs really seem to like the Liquid Yellow color! Several times in the late afternoon I've come out to find dozens of little gnats trying to mate with Nugget's fenders!

Oh, and I saw my first other Mini yesterday driving through the little town of Morrisville yesterday. It was a CR/CR with Quebec plates. I waved and they waved back enthusiastically! Very cool! Some pics attached

 

Shouldn't we all have a place called "Smuggler's Notch" to test with a MINI? What could be better than that? I thought "the Tail of the Dragon" sounded fun, but you've got that beat.

Congrats, Boondox! Thanks for the upbeat, candid account and the photos. Nugget looks awesome.

 

After having a MC for a couple days while a weird paint spot was being fixed on my Bruno, I have to say I was rather impressed with its spunkiness. Much more than I thought I would be. There is definitely a big difference b/n my Bruno with JCW and the MC, but I think I would still pick an MC over most other cars on the road

As for the yellow...my hubby has a bright yellow EVO and I have never seen a car that attracted bugs like it does We have a white truck and used to have a white car and I thought they were bad, but I don't think anything is worse for attracting bugs than yellow!

 

Hey Pete...Great write up and congratulations (and welcome Nugget!!), I love the license plate story (oh and I love the plate!). I've driven thru Smugglers Notch plenty of times and can't think of a better 1st drive for your MINI.

Being an MCS owner, I would NEVER say the Cooper is gutless...I love that little car. The photos of Nugget in front of the red barn look like they should be in a car brochure! Oh, and I totally agree with you about the bugs and LY...never seen anything like it, what's up with that???

I drive to Montreal in 3 weeks and cannot wait to take my car thru VT...the roads there are so much fun (minus all the police, of course).

Congratulations again...I hope your work day goes by quickly!!!

 

 

Well I would say all in all Nugget has had a very nice homecoming. Very funny you thinking the outside temp was your mph !!! Seriously, the first time I drove my Cooper off the dealer's parking lot I hit a short stretch of road coming up to a light and...well let's just say I exceeded break-in rpms "slightly" . (In my defense, I had driven a MINI only once three whole months earlier at my test drive.) It was all quite innocent...I simply had not anticipated the car's willingness to go!!!

Funny about dealership sendoff and the suit, too. Your front plate does look extremely level!!!

You may be way into this already Boondox, but imo the secret to a beyond blissfull relationship w/ a Cooper is exploring and embracing the need to stir the gears. To me it adds so much fun it's insane!!!!! Very, very engaging. In the end, I can relax and drive in a "normal", more economical mode if I want/need to....or mentally switch to "sport" mode, keeping the revs up. It's like the car has a split personality!!!

So have fun out there, man....I do envy you those picturesque and twisty roads you seem to have. It's pretty flat around here......but I have my spots.

 

thanks for that! You made my work day I just got my new MCSA yesterday and left my MC back @ the dealer so its good to know the MC is so loved. :smile:

 

Congratulations, and great story! Next time I want something repaired at my dealer, I'm going to say nothing, and just snap my fingers and point at it.

VT100 is one of my all-time favorite highways, and Smuggler's Notch is awesome. I've actually only seen it passing through on the Long Trail, so I've only seen about a quarter mile of the road right at the top, but it sure looks narrow and twisty!

Enjoy!
Chris

 

Let me know how that works for you...Do you take your car to Peabody or HC?

 

I live painfully close to HC, and their service department has actually been great (in stark contrast to their sales crew ), so that's where it goes. I just bought my second Cooper from Peabody, though.

 

Glad you had such a nice first experience with your Mini. As a fellow Cooper owner I agree that the lack of power comments are over stated. This car is a blast in 2nd and 3rd gear running thru the revs (after break in of course ). Luv the yellow.

By the way would that be a "MINI Fo Paw" as opposed to a "major Fo Paw"?

 

Wow you must have some killer parades in your town . So 1 out of 7 people in your town has a mini.........highest per capita town with Mini's in the US.

Congrats.......have fun!

 

Congrats on your new MINI, what a great thread...glad you're having all the fun on the twisties and mountain roads...


Dave.

 

The plate is a carryover from our Subaru, aka the Dogmobile. My wife and I rescue abused golden retrievers, hence the play on words: FO PAWS. Doesn't seem to fit as well on the Mini, since it is not a dogmobile. I wanted MY NEWT. My wife wanted HAYSEED. So we compromised and kept the old plates.

I need to remember in the future to not park Nugget within sight of my office window. Sure is hard to get any work done today!

 

Don't you think it's time to run out for some, uh... binder clips or something? And I think that stapler of yours is starting to act up, but that can probably wait until tomorrow.

 

That's great that you and your wife do that for Goldens...my wife and I have two English Bred Goldens. It's hard to imagine how anyone could mistreat those dogs...they're the absolute best dog to own period.

Dave.

 

They can be a real bitc* with low profile tires. But I'm very jelous! My aunt and cousin live up there (NH/VT boarder area) and the roads in the anywhere off the freeways look to be a total pleasure to drive!

Matt

 

Good write up and pics, Boondox. I really liked the temp guage bit. It is amazing how the perception of speed is altered when in the MINI. It is so stable at speed that 90 feels like 60. Very deceptive!

I got my MCS because I wanted the most kick from this car, but I drove a used Cooper first. I remember the salesman (not a MINI dealer) drove first and told me how underpowered it was. Then I took over and wound it out close to redline while powering onto a freeway. The look on the salesmans face was priceless. I don't think he'll be referring to it as underpowered again!


"...when it all sugared off..." Now that must be Vermont!

 

Enjoyed your write up Boondox. Teriffic choice of colors . Same as Glebean except we have white wheels. Plan to be up around Thetford Center and Killington in mid June. Will check out some of those VT roads. Are you anywhere close by?

Motor On!
Ben

 

Great write up - oh, and don't worry about the waxing, you did the right thing by putting it on ASAP. The factory paint is way cured by the time you get the car; its when you have anything painted in a body shop that you need to wait at least a month before applying anything.

Enjoy and keep the shiny side up :smile:

 

Oh no! i have to run (back) to VT now... We have been several times but never in the MCS - my bro in law lives there. How will Ms Tatt react when she learns I want to do this trip SOLO !? (for "safety" reasons, maybe?)

 

Great ride!
Congrats.
"Marie" is on the BOHEME right now, heading for NJ.

Curious as to where you bought "Nugget", seeing there are only four dealers in the NE area?
I ordered from MINI of Peabody.
Good Luck!

 

Nice write up, Boondox! I felt like I was in your shoes when you picked up your MINI.

"April" is on BOHEME too heading for Prestige MINI in northern NJ... Nightbird, where did you buy yours from? Wouldn't that be neat if we both picked up our MINIs on the same day and the same dealer? Still driving my wife crazy with all the MINI talk... She understands though - in a very good way. :-)

 

Dave: you and I are ship mates AND we are both Prestige customers (my MA is Dan). Nightbird - we're ship mates as well..

Boondox: Now how do I get to VT 100 from Northern NJ? My first Saturday with my cabrio I want to go up there and enjoy the ride. I've always wanted to live in the Green Mountain State..

 

Boon, sounds great that my car's shipmate got to you safe and sound!

Glad you're having such a blast, and GREAT read; I agree with all of your points! Awesome stuff, man. If you ever come to DC, let me know!