hey all my name is chris and im addicted to the MCS (all say "hi, chris&quot

anyway i have a bit of a problem i want my MINI to be delivered in june and i cant figure out when i should order my car. From what i have gathered lurking on the board it takes about 5-6 months from deposit to delivery, please correct me if im wrong

anyway to specs for my mini of choice are:
2004 MCS B/W
sport pack
white bonnet stripes
17" s-spokes
aero kit

im sure that will change

anyway any guidance would be appreciated

thanks

-Chris
"I think that guy in the SUV is compensating for something...when I'm in my MINI im making a statement."

 

Hey Chris,

Welcome to MCO. I didn't order my car so I'm not an expert on the subject but from what I've read and heard, the time between ordering and delivery can vary depending on what dealership you go to. I was told by my dealer in Princeton that it would take 4 months if I ordered a car, yet I know someone who got their car in a month and a half from a different dealership. Go figure.

Best bet would be to go talk to the dealership you're thinking of using, I guess.

Good luck!

 

Welcome to MCO minicrazi21

Your time from ordering to delivery will vary depending on how busy each dealership is. Each dealer is given a monthly allotment and if there are many people on their waiting list, it can take up to 4 or 5 months. Do some reading in the Dealer Rating System and then you can call the dealers in your area to find out how long it might take.

Also, take a look at the aftermarket aero kits, stripes and wheels. Dealer prices are very high and you may find something out there you like even better. Good luck.

Cheers,
Kim

 

:smile: :smile:

But in the mean time - while you are waiting, you can hang out on MCO to pass the time - it's great! Lot's of great info. and people.... :smile: :smile:

Chow!

Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

minicrazi21-
Aloha and welcome to MCO chris!
Timing is a hard thing to do. Each dealer has to cope with the supply and demands of their repective area so go and check with your dealer- we do have a Dealer rating area on MCO worth reviewing now. Some dealers are very helpful. If you are looking for June 2004 then that means you will need to order sometime between now and roughly March. MCS ordered right now are being delivered as 2004 models in Nov 03 at my dealer. Demand for MCS is a little down where I live but that could all change from month to month.

It doesn't take that long to build the cars but the delay comes in waiting to place the order since all dealers are limited to a certain number of cars that they may order each month. Then if you wish you can buy a car that is on the lot and in stock and that will cut your wait time but you will not have as many choices for options. In 2004 there will be more packages like the premium and sport options ordered and no more/or less of the individual options like sunroof only.

Also you mentioned aero kit as an option and that is not from the factory, it is or can be a dealer installed option.
You pay for the kit with installation- very costly. They do the install and painting to match your car and can paint the wheel wells also if that is the way they do it or if you negotiate that. This will take additional time to perform and right now the aerokits are on back order so that could be a problem. The aerokit can be ordered at an aftermarket part ($1200) and you can pick a autobody shop to do the install and painting yourself but it will not be covered until your new car warranty 4 years if you do.

Think long and hard before you order the Sport option in an MCS. Do you really need the 17" S-lites? They are very heavy (looks good) and the stock 16" is a better performer (less harsh ride, lighter, cost less). If you replace the wheels then it doesn't matter except you can sell the S-lites. DSC most people turn off for performance driving and leave on for street driving. MCS comes stock with sport seats and spoiler. Xenons and fog lamps are nice and I like them but is it worth the cost- not for everyone.

Good luck.

 

Welcome to MCO Chris :smile:

The MINI only takes about a month between Production Started to keys-in-hand (if you're on the east coast, add a week for west coast). It is the dealership and factory wait-lines that soaks up much of the time. What you can do, is talk to your dealership and have them take your order, and just not submit it until their June delivery allotment, it's that easy!

Counterpoint
The 17's are amazing looking. Seeing them roll down the road is perfection. The added weight is a few pounds over the 16's with their heavy, bigger tires. 47 pounds for S-lites and Pirelli's versus 41.5 pounds for V-spokes and Dunlop. Although the 16's will provide a squishier ride, better accelleration and decelleration, the 17's with their grippier tires will have better cornering grip, and may brake shorter at higher speeds. Of course, minihune and I are nitpicking. My recommendation is to not listen to us, and just get whatever wheels you think look better :smile:

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Our MCS took 11 weeks from order to delivery. That was last fall when the dealer had a lot of inventory. They now only have 2 on the lot, due to high sales, so I don't know if that means production would be longer or shorter.

 

:smile: :smile: :smile:

Have fun getting acquainted here and read all about how to do all kinds of neat things to make it "yours". :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

Hi Chris and welcome to MCO.

Now you need to get the book:
'12 steps to MINI ownership'



I got my MCS from Roadshow MINI in Memphis, and told them when I wanted to pick up the car, and they placed the order accordingly.

Cheers,
M.

 

Welcome to the club!
Good choice for the MCS. Do you plan on modifiying it performance wise? Just curious.

 

welcome chris

i am 22, ,and lov emy mcs

if ur gonna make changes, get the red one, its hte faster color

 

yes i do plan on modding it and eventually auto-xing with it...little worried about the warranty issues but ill talk to the dealer about that

im planning on fitting some H&R's, maybe a quicksilver cat back, chipping maybe...it will probably kill the warranty though

anyway happy motoring

-Chris

 

I can't add much to the good advice above, but I will let you know about my experience with a black MCS. In my humble opinion, black is a GREAT-looking color when clean. It sets of the chrome, and the paint looks SO deep when cleaned and waxed. The downside is that you really need to keep it clean. One rainstorm, or snow (and salt and sand), and it's dirty. Even in the dry, the hatchback body style keeps the air flowing over the rear, and it gets dusty. If you're going to be good about keeping it clean, black is great. If you're looking for something less, um, demanding, you might want to consider another color.

Just my 2 cents. And WELCOME to MCO!

 

Hi Chris! How's the vibes at your Mini dealership? If good, start hanging out there. Introduce yourself as "Chris, Future Mini Owner". Drink the coffee, start naming the cars on the lot and become a regular fixture. You're gonna need this kind of exposure, 'cause June is a long way off and the wait is gonna kill you!

 

I was in the same boat, couldn't take deliver until a certain time. I was dealing with San Antonio Mini Center. Simply enough, I thought. I asked my motoring advisor to start with my desired delivery date, and work backward to estimate a production date, and then an order date. Long story short, I chose not to buy from MINI Center because the MA turned out to be: a) a moron, and b) rude. The sales manager was almost as rude as the MA.
Disillusioned with MINI dealers (I have another story, for another time, about another dealer), I bought used. It bothers me not that my MINI is adopted, I love it just the same, and am thrilled to finally be an owner, instead of a wannabe.
It's time to change my screen name.

 

Hi! Hi!

I'm a newbie too! Wow! Chris, that's a long wait but then i heard it took longer in the west coast than the east. According to the dealer, my mini should be here in 11-13 weeks. He did say that's not a 100% guarantee. Oh! Plus, this is in Ohio though.

Wow! June... of '04? hmmm i don't know if i would be able to handle that... waiting for so long... all that anticipation... makes November seem like a better prespective...

 

we put a deposit down at East Bay Mini in July 03 and we should have it June 04. Gives me time to ponder what I want or need on the MCS. Specially, DSC or not DSC, that's the question!