Update - My MINI has been in my possession for one full week now (well at 6pm it will be one full week). We had about 3-4 straight days of fairly heavy rain this week (although yesterday was absolutely beautiful!). I also TRIED not to drive my MINI too much - I want to take a little bit of time breaking him in. As long as it's broken in by the 26th (I have a day trip to PA then). Anyway, I have 700 miles now - and I'm really trying not to drive it too much. It runs like a dream. I can't imagine what it will be like at redline and "pedal to the metal". If I never went over 4500 rpms and never floored it the car would still be worth every penny. No only is driving it extremely comfortable, but it corners like nothing else on the road. Also even at "half effort", my MCS is extremely quick. It feels as powerful as my 94 & 95 Mustang GT with 215hp. I can't wait until I actually use the "other half" of the power.

This car is truly amazing. I look forward to every minute in it. The heated seats are so wonderful in the morning. i love the auto air. If I fog up, I just press the drgoffer button. The AUTO temporarily goes off and the defogger button blinks. The car automatically blasts the defogger at the right fan level and temperature and within 5 seconds there is no fog. You then hit the defogger button again and the car goes back to the orignial settings. No more changing the dial to defroster and fiddling with the temp and fresh air - the MINI does it all for you! It's SO GREAT!

The 6-speed is also incredible. The smoothest shifter I have ever driven.

I also have no bog in the low gears. The MINI runs great (better than the ones I test drove over the summer). I guess the new update and the 2003s run much better. My MINI pulls with a passion from 2500 RPMs up to, well, only up to 4500 RPMs for now! Stay tuned - it should be broken in by the end of the weekend!!!


Lastly - these leather sport seats are the best seats!!! They are SOOOOOO comfortable! While I was at my football game in South Brunswick, NJ on Sunday (in the rain and mud), my wonderful, supportive wife came with me and sat in the car and watched for 2 hours. We got our butts kicked and I came home injured - might have torn a rotator cuff - will get an MRI later this week (my season/career could be over - apparently I'm getting too old for this - broke a toe in July). ANYWAY, my wife said she was so incredibly comfortable sitting in the car for 2 hours! She said it was like a dream! Add to that was an hour drive down and an hour and a half drive home. That's 4 1/2 hrs straight she sat in my car! She loves it! I'm so glad I got the leather. I originally thought I'd save the family $1250 bucks and stick with the leatherette, but when my wife didn't like it (says it's like "plastic-covered styrofoam&quot and told me to get hte leather I no longer had any guilt about the extra bucks and changed to the Lapis Blue!

Ok. THat's it for now. I'll update again after he's brokin in.

P.S. My poor MINI is SO dirty. It rained for 4 days until yesterday. Yesterday and today are nice days but we're supposed to get heavy rain again tomorrow so I might have to wait for the weekend to wash him.

P.P.S. This past weekend my MINI got a lot of attention! People were beeping, waving, giving the thumbs up and a couple even followed me into a parking lot and asked me all about the car for about 5 minutes! And yes, people have asked me "how much?" and as long as they are polite in asking and it comes up as part of the conversation, I have NO problem whatsoever telling them. I wouldn't go into details about payments and the like but asking the list price and stuff when in a discussion of the car doesn't bother me a bit. I do understand people getting offended if someone you don't know yells out a window, "How Much?!" But if someone is asking a bunch of Q's about the car and wants to know, I have no problem with it. I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

Congratulations, you lucky devil!

Mine is still about 4 months off. I feel like I've memorized this web site! By the way; I felt the same way about the Lapis leather interior; I even changed my choice of exterior color (chili red to Indi blue) so I could order that interior leather.

Enjoy! (and watch the "weekend warrior" sports )

 

greatgro...your enthusiasm and excitement about the MINI is quite contagious. Everytime I read one of your posts it makes me that MUCH excited about getting mine, even though it won't be here until December (hopefully). Keep it up, well at least for a couple more months!

Thanx!!!

 

Every word you write could have been written by me, (except the part about the 6 speed) I have a CVT and LOVE the car as well. I'm just as happy, but doing a better job of NOT driving the car, it took me 3 weeks to do 850 miles. It's too hard to just let it sit!!! I just wish my salesperson didn't drop the ball on my ordered leather! I ordered it, he forgot to call it in... but the Leatherette is very nice as well! DO get the "Sport Seats" they are the Bomb!!! very snug, and you need that the way I drive!!!!
Happy Motoring All!!!!