Greetings all. Thought I'd step out of my Production Group and merge into the mainstream now that I've finally taken delivery. 73 days from ordering to motoring. I think the waiting would've been absolutely unbearable and insufferable had I not the comfort and distraction of NAM. (and not to forget you Gabe, MF)

Wednesday was my first full day with the car. What a cool thing to open the garage doors and have the bright blue morning light rake across the U-stripe. Cracking the driver's door open to that smell of . . . NEW, settling into the cockpit with the most fantastic picture frame view forward, rolling the key over to those melodic chimes, then - IGNITION! My oh my, that sound reverberating off the garage walls - WOW! Then rolling out of the neighborhood, just creeping along, knowing that shortly,when that first open piece of road appears, I'll get to hear that sound, that WHINE. I mean, can you imagine (well, I guess most of you can) what that'll sound like after break-in, above 4500rpm??? So much to appreciate - so much to learn.

Heading to work, while merging at speed onto the ol' beltway, I got Evasive Maneuver Lesson #1. The wonderful chap merging in front of me, we'll call him Mr. Oblivious Roadhog Lincoln, decides he'll take my far left lane just as I'm crossing his stern. Applying the same steering input (oops ) I'd use in my soon to be sold Toyota sedan, revealed what I already knew but had never actually applied in the real world yet. The cars behind me must've thought I was doing the "cone weave test" on MotorWeek! At least my drawers stayed clean, but I certainly didn't need any more coffee till later in the morning - my heart was beating just fine, thank you! Phil Wicks, here we come.

Today, regretably it rained, so my lil' bluzeke's no longer "factory fresh" and the grime she sees now is the stuff of a new and exciting road ahead for us both.

Everybody loves the car . . .

 

The car looks GREAT. Congratulations and happy motoring.

 

that's a nice lookin' ride!

 

Anthracite headliner I see...

Don't ask, I'm becoming obsessed with headliners... can't decide... lol *sigh* almost too many options.

 

A toast to many more happy motoring days

 

That's gorgeous. Similar color scheme to my Z4 (see attached).

 

Awesome!

If I had ordered mine instead of finding it on the lot I was 50/50 between Royal Grey/Silver and Space Blue/Silver!

I'm sure you'll love the car, I'm sure enjoying mine

 

Wow! Great paint/interior combo

Have a blast!

 

Congrats on your new MINI! What a beauty and what a fun write-up! Happy motoring!

 

One word -- BEAUTIFUL!


Cheers!

 

That's a great looking car.! But you know that. :-)

 

One of the best looking MINI's I've seen.

 

The silver combo is stunning...nice choice!
Peter

 

Very nice...I can't wait to she her in person!

 

Looks great! The Space Blue/Silver looks so much better in reality than it does on the configurator. The sunlit sparkle really adds something. That is a very sharp-dressed MINI.

Looksh like shomeone hash had too mush to drink.

 

thats all I have to say

 

Gorgeous! And thanks for the great write up. It's always nice to hear first day stories with the new motoring machine....Congrats!!!

Donna

 

What, thats not propher engrish where you come frum? geez i'm smart

 

Beauty! Now I wish I HAD gone with the tartan seats.

 

A great looking MINI! A a neat little touch of wordsmithing your first experiences.

 

Thanks for all the props peeps! I just can't imagine that it could get any better than this. Tomorrow begins my first MINI exclusive weekend - car's dirty, needs a bath - garage could use some security upgrades (hey, it IS Baltimore, hon!) - wife's demanding some seat time - and, I've got some interior mods to do AND then I 've got to shoot it all and post it!

Whew! This MINI ownership thing's gloriously exhausting.