Teldon,

I've been sucked into the negativity as well regarding the stumble issue. I quit reading and had to force myself to pay attention to the fact that most of the people with the issue have older software versions, and that ours will be loaded with the newest latest. I'll deal with the issues as they come, but I refuse to spend my days worrying about what might not happen.

a good general philosophy in general yeah?

 

>>I just checked the Tokyo Highway and we were pushed back one day.

Those bastards!

This is a bloody outrage! I'm going to report this to me minster of parliament. Hey Gus!
_________________

 

We went to our Mini/BMW dealer today to talk to them about trading our Saab in on a 325 wagon. While there I spent quite a bit of time in the mini showroom and just happened to ask a MA (not mine, she seems to never be there recently) if he could check on when our MCS would be arriving. He couldn't find it on the order sheets so I started a minor panic... when I said it arrived in New York on the Jingu Maru last week he suggested I walk the lot since they had a few cars arrive. So I did...

And there she was!!!! Sitting nicely in the shade under the trees. By Monday we will be the proud owners of a Dark Silver/Black MCS w/ premium, cold, sport, xenon packages.

The *only* downside to all of this is that I hate the color of the seats. I had picked cloth over leatherette/leather because we like to do spirited driving and the cloth doesn't slide. Unfortunately I never really got a good look at an MCS in cloth - the front seats are as we wanted, the rear seats are a horrible gray color. Oh well, they'll soon be covered with a towel and two car seats! :smile:

Now on to the rest of the site to find out what memory options I want programmed. I must say that my MA has been a disappointment - everyone else seems to have regular contact from their MA. Mine promised to call me once the car was on the boat... nope. Then she said she'd call when the car was on its way from NY... nope. Now I see that some dealderships give you a checklist via email where you can decide which memory options you'd like... nope. Oh well, let's hope the motoring experience is better.

p.s. we won't be buying a BMW either. Bunch of snotty people that made us (w/ two young kids in tow) wait over an hour to see a salesperson... and it wasn't even busy!

 

Congrats on getting your Mini. You might be the first one in the August club.

Maybe the seats will will you over. I am really disappointed that no one let you know that your Mini had arrived. You definitely need to make a trip over to the Dealer Rating System and provide your input.

Lesson learned. When the boat docks, put your MA on speed dial.

 

>>We went to our Mini/BMW dealer today to talk to them about trading our Saab in on a 325 wagon.

Btw, if you haven't checked out the Audi wagon you should give that a look, I hear.

 

I just checked and their loading 372 MINIs onto the Tokyo Highway as we speak (write). Mines loaded!

It sets sail for New York today!

 

>>We went to our Mini/BMW dealer today to talk to them about trading our Saab in on a 325 wagon

We just recently leased a Saab 9-5 wagon. We just love the car. We get a GM discount so it is just barely affordable. This is our second Saab 9-5 and so far have been very impressed. We have had no problems. The safety and reliability numbers are great. If we didn't get the discount we would probably get the new Passet (sp?) wagon. Only negative is Saabs have horrible resale value.

Nothing beats the styling of a BMW though!

Good luck on your search for a new wagon!

 

>>I just checked and their loading 372 MINIs onto the Tokyo Highway as we speak (write). Mines loaded!
>>
>>It sets sail for New York today!

Great news! Thanks for the update. My car will also be sailing across the sea along with yours.

 

presuming its ready, I should be taking delivery of my EB/W MCS later today!

 

Congratulations! Enjoy your new MINI. I am so jealous especially because they pushed the Tokyo Highway back one day. I just checked and my Cooper is on the ship. Yippee!

The only thing I am starting to regret is not having leather seats. I didn't care for the leather that was available with the sports seats and I really wanted them. Oh well, I guess you can't have everything.

Get us some pics of your new MINI as soon as you can stop driving long enough to take some.

Laurie

 

According to the Wallenius site, the "Tokyo Highway" has officially set sail!

 

>>>>We went to our Mini/BMW dealer today to talk to them about trading our Saab in on a 325 wagon
>>
>>We just recently leased a Saab 9-5 wagon. We just love the car. We get a GM discount so it is just barely affordable. This is our second Saab 9-5 and so far have been very impressed. We have had no problems. The safety and reliability numbers are great. If we didn't get the discount we would probably get the new Passet (sp?) wagon. Only negative is Saabs have horrible resale value.

Saab's do have horrible resale. I picked up a 95 Saab 900SE for $5,000 in the DC area last fall. That had to be a $25k car new. Same vintage Honda Civics were going for more. (I was looking for a winter car to go with the Miata). I've found the reliability on Saabs to be hit and miss. I've had great luck with my 95 putting about 7k miles on it in the past year without any major Saab episodes. My mom had a 9000 which was a disaster and my other friend describes his two 900 Saabs in Dickensian tones -- the best of cars, the worst of cars. When I bought a used Saab, I jumped on one that had a single owner and high miles. I figured unless the guy was a masochist, no one could last that long with a problem Saab.

Btw, I checked on my scheduled booking today and Hobbes was loaded and the ship has sailed. Elvis has left the building.

 

>>The only thing I am starting to regret is not having leather seats. I didn't care for the leather that was available with the sports seats and I really wanted them. Oh well, I guess you can't have everything.

The only thing I kinda regret not having kept is the sports package. I didn't want the 17" wheels so I dropped the sports package and added the fogs and xenons. I saved $600 but also left off the DSC. I still don't want the wheels but I kinda wish I had kept the DSC. I had heard negative comments and positive comments and that's a debate to itself. My thinking came down to with everything this car brings to the table handling wise, do I really need DSC to keep it on the road?

Well I thought no and I still hope so although I do second guess that at times.

 

>>According to the Wallenius site, the "Tokyo Highway" has officially set sail! :smile:

 

The Bellona is arriving one day early in California!!!

Now it just needs to get to Denver. Hopefully it won't sit at port too long.

Anyone else on the Bellona?

 

Finally!! I get to pick mine up from VA Beach tomorrow at 6pm!

 

>>>>According to the Wallenius site, the "Tokyo Highway" has officially set sail! :smile:
>>

Woo Hoo! My Habanera Mini is on board. Due in Charleston on 8/14

We're coming down to the wire folks!!!!!

 

Monty is on board, too. I was holding my breath when I saw that so many cars had been removed. I was paging through, very nervous, and then I saw Monty's number with a bill of lading #, too. Yippee!

I spoke with the dealer the other day and they said a max of 2 weeks once it gets into port so I figure no later than 8/27.

The excitement is building!

Laurie

 

>>I spoke with the dealer the other day and they said a max of 2 weeks once it gets into port so I figure no later than 8/27.

Who is your dealer? Getting it before Sept 1st would be great! I have been trying to track the boat but so far have been unable to find it. Has anyone else been able to track the boat at either accuweather.com or oceanweather.com?

I know, I know I'm obsessed...

 

>>Congrats on getting your Mini. You might be the first one in the August club.
>>
>>Maybe the seats will will you over. I am really disappointed that no one let you know that your Mini had arrived. You definitely need to make a trip over to the Dealer Rating System and provide your input.
>>

We picked up the car last night. Maybe the first in this thread, but I saw in another Jingu Maru thread that someone picked theirs up at Noon on Monday. :smile:

Anyway, everyone in August needs to hang in there and *not* listen to the negativity. This car is one awesome ride! We spent the 1/2 hour ride home from the dealer going between 60 and 65, my wife didn't remember there was a 6th gear (I was behind in the Saab) until 1/2 way home.

This thing handles like a go-kart! And both kids fit in the backseat in their carseats. Sweet! Fortunately/Unfortunately I can't drive with the kids in the back seat since I have to put the seat too far back. Oh well - I guess I get to be alone every time I drive!

 

Ok everyone!! I took possession of my MCS Monday night, August 4th. I'll post about the buying experience at the dealer rating system later when I have time, but it went well!

I LOVE MY MINI!! I actually have space for it in the garage... and it's a dream to drive. I bought the HK stereo, and it is a world better than a unit I listened to at the dealer only 2 weeks ago. There was No Buzz, No Rattle anywhere... the volume was actually loud enough... but to be honest, I haven't driven with the windows up even once! I'm content listening to that beautiful supercharger whine so far.

Break in... Sigh... until I've motored a few miles, I'm taking it pretty easy, considering I'm typically a lead foot. I'm shooting for high mileage for now, power and acceleration later!

I've already enjoyed seeing a few other MINI's on the road, and both honked and waved at me! Heads turn everywhere I drive... it's awesome! I'm scared to park anywhere near other cars for now... so it's double parking in BFE for me until I get over it. (probably never) Anyhow, everything is beautiful so far (knock wood) and I'm looking forward to years of fantastic driving. I'll post pics once I find a good place to host them online i guess!

Stumble... I haven't experienced it a bit, thank god. Now I'm off to home to give her her first bath and about 12 coats of Zaino!

 

>>Ok everyone!! I took possession of my MCS Monday night, August 4th. I'll post about the buying experience at the dealer rating system later when I have time, but it went well!

Congratulations! Good luck with everything. I've been trying to figure out places to drive to get that break in period over with as fast as possible. How did the zaino go?

What color combo did you get?

 

Just talked to Ralph Schomp MINI here in Denver yesterday, and they confirmed that the Bellona has arrived at port in California, and that I should expect to pick up the MINI in about 2 weeks!!!

 

>>>>Ok everyone!! I took possession of my MCS Monday night, August 4th. I'll post about the buying experience at the dealer rating system later when I have time, but it went well!
>>
>>Congratulations! Good luck with everything. I've been trying to figure out places to drive to get that break in period over with as fast as possible. How did the zaino go?
>>
>>What color combo did you get?
>>
>>

I bought an MCS in Electric Blue with a white roof... I got the car stripped down with Dawn last night, and then clay barred. This afternoon i'll be going Zaino crazy in my garage, as it's raining!

 

Well, I picked my MINI up on Tuesday night and I love it. Loads of fun. The only thing wrong w/ it was that the fuel door lid hinge was busted by a stupid Toyota prep guy (MINI guy was out sick). So, I have to go back for them to fix it. I get a BMW loaner though!