I call MINI this morning (Tuesday) and they told me my MINI was released to the trucking company. Since my dealer is only about 40 min away from the VPC here in NJ, I stopped by around 4pm on a chance I might be able to even see my MINI. Well, he was there! Was just unloaded off the truck about 20 min earlier I was told. My guy, Angelo, at Morristown MINI said I could come back at 5:30pm and pick him up if I wanted to! So I rushed home, called and cancelled the two clients I had that night and called my insurance guy. Then I grabbed my checkbook and a bill (showing proof of residence) and went back to the dealer. That 25 min back to the dealer felt like an eternity!!! Can't wait to get up for work at 5am to MOTOR some more! Wow! What an experience!!!

MINI shots:

The Xenons are incredible! They truly are worth every penny!

I have the 17" All-season run flats. Cornering is excellent and the ride is very good and very smooth on decent or better pavement. On beat up roads or roads with changing levels of pavement, well, you definitely feel those bumps!

The Lapis Blue Leather not only looks great, but these leather seats are well worth EVERY PENNY of the $1250! THey are incredibly soft and comfortable. I couldn't believe how comfortable I was driving and so was my wife and 5' 1" son in the back seat. Those seats are out of this world. Much better than expected!

Sunroof. Great. Drove with it almost all night (finally shut it when the temp dropped below 46 degrees - wife was cold). Sunroof is just super. Yeah, it's a BIT noisy over 70mph, but up to 70, no probs at all. Also, so far no rattling whatsoever.

50 mph feels like 30. 80 feels like 50. That could be a problem.

Corners unbelievably well. Can take corners and exit ramps at about 30 mph faster than you think is possible. And it does it without a hitch - no squeal or drift - nada.

Heated seats - tried them on the way home. Seats heat up in about 90 seconds and probably get to highest temp within a few minutes. :smile: Feels great on the lower back and keeps the legs and butt warm without turning the heat on.

Almost done...

Auto air is great! I really, really love it! Just set the temp and even with temps under 50 on the highway with the sunroof and screen fully open, we were pretty warm for most of the ride. Love it: Set it, forget it. So true!

Lastly (at least for now), the MFSW is also great - just so convenient! Changing CD tracks and volume is SO easy! Love it. Just love it!

Ok, that's it for now. Thanks to everyone for their help and conversation over the last 4 months. I can't believe it's my turn now! I brought my digital camera to the dealer but took no pics. Like I said earlier, we pretty much just signed and drove! I'll take some pics tomorrow and try to post 'em! Good night!

 

Oh yeah, I got a MINI shirt (and they also threw in the 7-in-1 Navigation kit for my son) and I'm number 238!!!

And no, they didn't charge me!

 

Watch those corners on new tires...they might bite you in the *ss
if you take a corner too quick. Get about 200 before you really
push 'em...

 

Great review.

That was SOOOOO NIIIICE!!

You brought a tear to my eye - really.

I'm stuck in the "Can't Wait For November Club". See our posts to remember how f*ing awful the four month wait was!

Enjoy - and let us know how fast you really corner...........vvvvvvvrrrrrrrrooooooooooommmmmmm m!!

 

greatgro, Great report, bro! You were so prepared...I love that it took 30 minutes! WOWEEE WOW WOW WOW!

Cheers!
Clover

 

That description was so good it almost made me forget my MINI in waiting - I woud like to hear the story of everyone's first MINI experience in their own car.

 

 

greatgro,
Congrats!!!
Great write up!
Can't wait to see some pics.
Be safe....
And HAPPY MOTORING!!
SW

 

Oh that's so awesome.

:smile: PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES :smile:

 

Hey buddy....glad to hear the Mini has finally come home!!!!!! Congrats and have a blast!!! :smile:

 

Greatgro,
That WAS the best review I have ever seen on any MINI forum. Those who don't have their's as yet are Motoring through you.

Have fun and be safe.

Lolo

 

Ok. I'm back just to add a few things I left out...

1. Programming. I asked the dealer if it was programmed with anything. He said it wasn't but that all I have to do is stop by and they'll do anything I want while I wait. Ok, cool. Well last night I noticed that the doors lock when I hit 10 mph. And today I tried the key in the door thingy and can open the windows and sunroof and also close them the other way. Maybe all MINIs come like this but I thought they had to be programmed that way. I haven't tried fiddling with the remote to see if anything happens, though.

2. Power/Pick-up. I'm not sure if it's b/c my 2003 MCS (born on 9/14/02) has the new software but my baby really zooms. Believe me everyone, I'm babying him...big time! But even with the pedal half way down and shifting between 3500-4500 RPMs my baby is flying! Power in every gear - even off the line! I was quite surprised b/c
a. I'm not accelerating that hard
b. I'm shifting early
c. The car isn't broken in
d. The MCSs that I test drove were a tad sluggish in first gear and in the low RPMs of 2nd Gear. Ladies & Gentlemen - NOT so with my MINI! It's great! I can't wait to put on 1000 more miles! Maybe this time next week!!!

3. The stereo - For some reason, the stereo which I thought was very adequate - not great but fine - is realy nice! (I originally had the HK stereo ordered but nixed it when I heard of the delay). I am surprisingly REALLY happy with the radio. My CDs sounds great!

Also, just wanted to add that I fell asleep at midnight last night only to wake up at 2am and just wasn't able to fall back to sleep! I was so excited about Motoring at 5:30am that I was wired! I laid in bed from 2-5am just reliving yesterday's experience in my head.

P.S. Thanks for reading my story. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll keep everyone posted and hopefully today I will stop and take some pictures!!!

 

CONGRATULATIONS! You'll love it like I love mine. Actually, it's my wifes but she lets me drive it-------------------------------------------sometimes.

 

CONGRATS!

R

 

The xenons are great unless you're unlucky enough to be in the oncoming car that the xenons are blasting into. Blindingly unsafe.

 

Wow greatgro it felt like I was along for the ride! Congratulations! :smile:

_________________
Winnie Cooper, silk green, black top,chrome, premium and sports package.
Can't wait to meet her this November!

 

>>The xenons are great unless you're unlucky enough to be in the oncoming car that the xenons are blasting into. Blindingly unsafe.>>>

Hmmm...I'm thinking you don't have the Xenons on your MINI. The MINI's Xenons are aimed down about 30 feet ahead. They really aren't blinding! Really!

 

You know I must say, I almost feel a bit guilty now that I have my MINI. I really feel for everyone on the board that's waiting. I remember how awful it was waiting - it feels like it was just yesterday...wait a minute...it was just yesterday!

Anyway, my sympathies are with each and everyone of you that is waiting, be it at the docks in CA, or aboard a ship, waiting for a ship, or even just waiting for a simple production number. If I can be of any assistance to any of you or provide you with any info that may help your journey of wait, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Congratulations and ENJOY !!!!!!

 

>>Ok. I'm back just to add a few things I left out...
>>
>>1. Programming. I asked the dealer if it was programmed with anything. He said it wasn't but that all I have to do is stop by and they'll do anything I want while I wait. Ok, cool. Well last night I noticed that the doors lock when I hit 10 mph. And today I tried the key in the door thingy and can open the windows and sunroof and also close them the other way. Maybe all MINIs come like this but I thought they had to be programmed that way. I haven't tried fiddling with the remote to see if anything happens, though.
>>

Ok. Tried the remote this afternoon - I DO have Comfort Opening!!! And my MINI was in my hands less than 2 hrs after it rolled off of the truck!!!

 

Congratulations Greatgro, I'm glad you're motoring! I'm waiting on the Tellus to arrive 10/18, and hopefully by the end of the month will be as thrilled as you are. Enjoy!

 

I had a very similar sign-and-drive euphoric time with mine - so glad to hear that someone else got that feeling!

Unfortunately, in my euphoria, it wasn't until the next day that I realized that it had arrived without the xenons as ordered (although I wasn't charged). :smile:

Although that had appeased me at the time, the first time I saw another MINI on the road with the xenons, I was CRUSHED all over again.

 

Mini2Go - I'm so sorry to hear your Xenon story. :smile:

 

Thanks for the sympathy, greatgro. And, yes, the other goodies are SWEET - especially the NAV system! I initially only got it b/c i'm a gadget freak - but it has proven well worth the money for motoring to foreign places!

I agree 100% that the xenons don't "make" (or break) the car! ...but, still.....

I console myself with the thought that I'll buy another one in a few years - when we're ready to replace my wife's vehicle. I'm hoping that they do indeed produce a pickup.

 

I really enjoyed reading your delivery story and seeing your pictures. I still have 3 months to go in a 5 month wait, and believe me your story helps. it is nice to know that all this waiting has a wonderful ending. For now I will continue to agonize about colors ( DS or IB or BRG w/ B top) and options (Nav or not; Leather or not). Let us know how you continue to enjoy your car. It helps with the waiting. I am all ready spending far too much time online here. Perhaps when my mini comes I will be able to get something else done. Or maybe I will be too busy driving. Does the excitement wear off?