I have had a MC for 9 months.winter here in Manitoba was tough,
with -40 to -50 [yup] the car started every morning the seats warmed up,the gears
shifted.Sure there are issues,latchs,rear wiper motor,nothing huge, so you go to the dealer,mine loans me a grown-ups 3 or 5 BMW for the day,and nothing handles like a loaner. The car is safe,zippy,warm,comfy,fun,roomy for me 5-8,fun,Icommute 600 miles a week 500 at 60-65 mph .Deer,ice,blowing snow,deer, not a problem.
Have fun,practice waving,Iam still smiling.

 

Your choice of colors and options could not have been better.

Your gonna love it!!!

 

it's a kool kar

 

I wasted a year debating the purchase of my car. Finally bought it on saturday. I love it...BUY THE CAR!...you will love it

 

Tokyogirl (wow, I really like that screen name!),

Don't worry, all of the great perfomers get nervous before the big show.
Trust your instincts. You bought it for a reason, and you'll remember that reason as soon as you drive it off the lot!

 

oh-my-gaawd! I did it !!! I finally put down my deposit last night!!! :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

What you're going through is perfectly normal. This is called buyers remorse. It will happen anytime you buy a car or a house for that matter. You'll always think, maybe you spent too much or maybe you should have gotten something else. Don't worry about all that. You'll be fine and you'll love your new Mini.

How many cars have their own website. Not many.

RaceCarDriver

 

Tokyogirl...WOW, so glad you ordered your MINI!!!!! It is a big step, yes, but you know, so few cars out there are really "worth it." MINIs definitely are. If a car can give so much enjoyment to its owner.....and offer safety....and be resonably priced.....and be an icon...and be freakin' cool!.....then it is a rare, rare find. And you found it...you are a wise consumer! Get used to grinnin' because that's what you'll be doing all the time when your awesome MINI arrives!!!

PS- closing the deal upon delivery can be a little nerve racking, too, so just be prepared for that. Its such a big moment, especially with your baby sitting right there!!!!! Do a search because some good check-lists have been posted with tips of what to do at delivery.

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

>>PS- closing the deal upon delivery can be a little nerve racking, too, so just be prepared for that. Its such a big moment, expecially with your baby sitting right there!!!!! Do a search because some good check-lists have been posted with tips of what to do at delivery.

You are so right. I am both excited and very worried about the pick-up day.
I make sure I will have the copy of check-list with me when I go.
Even with a great check list and all, I must admit, I doubt how perceptive and effective I can be... Oh, I wish I can bring along a couple of cool MINI experts from this forum with me... like calling Ghost Busters to the rescue!

 

Pickup day really isn't so bad.... at least it wasn't for me. The big thing is to handle as much as possible before you even walk through the door.

Know how you want to handle your financing; have your insurance all taken care of; get your dealer to fax (most) of the paperwork to you in advance so you can review it and sign what can be signed ahead of time.

I took care of most things except the very final financing and delivery confirmation paperwork beforehand and the delivery process was surprisingly smooth and quick. I was in and out in under 45 minutes, and the vast majority of that time was my MA explaining new features to me.

 

huh. It's been like 5 days since I put down my deposit.
When I placed the deposit, my MA told me he happened to find the MINI I was looking for somewhere and did the "dealer swap." and I should have my MINI in about 4 weeks instead of 2 months wait.
I don't know how this works, but in that case, shouldn't I have VIN# or something already?
When I asked him this today, he told me that the dealer still dosen't own the car yet so the computer won't give the VIN#...
I am dying to find out where my MINI is now!!!
Is "dealer swap" common thing between dealers? Anything I should be careful about??

 

Dealer swaps are very common. My brother used to work for a BMW/MINI dealer and they would swap all the time. I'm serious! It was a daily occurance based on the custom-packages you could end up with between BMW and MINI. He even bought his car, a 02 M Coupe from a dealer swap b/c only one dealer in the country had an available one in Laguna Seca Blue.

 

Best guess is you may not get everything just so :smile:

 

4 weeks!!!!!! Wow, that's cool! I guess if it was me, I'd double or triple-check with your MA that it is an E-X-A-C-T match to the MINI you ordered. (I had a friend order an MCS from the factory and it arrived at the dealer after 3 months with the wrong dash color. Not something I'd want to be surprised with.)

Also, you were getting some mods installed at the dealer??? Will all those parts arrive at the same time as your car so they can be immediately installed?

I'd also be curious about where your MINI is being shipped from. That way you can check the weather and fret over ice storms and such while its "out there" on the road. (Fretting will enhance the quality of your waiting time so you'll wind up as bonkers as many of us have become while waiting.)

Best of luck!!!

 

>>4 weeks!!!!!! Wow, that's cool! I guess if it was me, I'd double or triple-check with your MA that it is an E-X-A-C-T match to the MINI you ordered. (I had a friend order an MCS from the factory and it arrived at the dealer after 3 months with the wrong dash color. Not something I'd want to be surprised with.)
>>
>>Also, you were getting some mods installed at the dealer??? Will all those parts arrive at the same time as your car so they can be immediately installed?
>>
>>I'd also be curious about where your MINI is being shipped from. That way you can check the weather and fret over ice storms and such while its "out there" on the road. (Fretting will enhance the quality of your waiting time so you'll wind up as bonkers as many of us have become while waiting.)
>>
>>Best of luck!!!

Ohhhhh!!! I AM fretting, I tell you ! I have no fingernails left!!
Okay. I am calling my MA tomorrow and double check everything AGAIN.
You know, I was wondering if the dealer tries to sell you whatever they have on hand; regardless of some minor specification differences.
Do you think they count on you not wanting to wait another 3 months for different color interior and take the one they present with? I read enough stories here and very difficult for me to completely trust any MA...

 

>>>>4 weeks!!!!!! Wow, that's cool! I guess if it was me, I'd double or triple-check with your MA that it is an E-X-A-C-T match to the MINI you ordered. (I had a friend order an MCS from the factory and it arrived at the dealer after 3 months with the wrong dash color. Not something I'd want to be surprised with.)
>>>>
>>>>Also, you were getting some mods installed at the dealer??? Will all those parts arrive at the same time as your car so they can be immediately installed?
>>>>
>>>>I'd also be curious about where your MINI is being shipped from. That way you can check the weather and fret over ice storms and such while its "out there" on the road. (Fretting will enhance the quality of your waiting time so you'll wind up as bonkers as many of us have become while waiting.)
>>>>
>>>>Best of luck!!!
>>
>>Ohhhhh!!! I AM fretting, I tell you ! I have no fingernails left!!
>>Okay. I am calling my MA tomorrow and double check everything AGAIN.
>>You know, I was wondering if the dealer tries to sell you whatever they have on hand; regardless of some minor specification differences.
>>Do you think they count on you not wanting to wait another 3 months for different color interior and take the one they present with? I read enough stories here and very difficult for me to completely trust any MA...
Does the MA even drive aMINI

 

You are going to have so much fun with your MINI!

And unlike the early British cars I owned in the past, it has a warranty and it won't drip oil in your driveway!

Enjoy and stop worrying. :smile:

Regards,
Red

 

>>oh-my-gaawd! I did it !!! I finally put down my deposit last night!!! :smile: :smile:
>>
tokyogirl I had hoped that by now you would have realized that you have been enmeshed in an intricate web to snare unsuspecting customers and trick them into buying these hideous machines that are nothing buy Yugos in drag. All these "posters" are nothing but MINI sales people from all over the country and once they get a deposit, it gets split among them. I am telling you this cuz I am a convert.....I escaped this trap and now I am the happy owner of a Toyota Tercel......
I'd be REALLY worried if I was you, your Mini just left Zagreb.......

 

.....being pulled behind a mule.

 

I don't blame you for being nervous...I AM married to mine

_________________

 

>>tokyogirl I had hoped that by now you would have realized that you have been enmeshed in an intricate web to snare unsuspecting customers and trick them into buying these hideous machines that are nothing buy Yugos in drag. All these "posters" are nothing but MINI sales people from all over the country and once they get a deposit, it gets split among them. I am telling you this cuz I am a convert.....I escaped this trap and now I am the happy owner of a Toyota Tercel......
>>I'd be REALLY worried if I was you, your Mini just left Zagreb.......


Hey !!!!

 

The hardest part of owning a mini is you fret over every little noise or scratch. You want it to be in mint condition forever. I still love my car everyday I drive it, even if the sunroof does squeak, the rear bumper has a scratch, and one of my little door reflectors keeps falling off. All these things can be fixed. Some of the little quirks can really be frustrating at times. But if you love your mini, it will love you back. People I know who loved their cars more than their wives are jealous of my mini... Fact of the matter is, the mini is one of the coolest cars on the road.

 

>>>>oh-my-gaawd! I did it !!! I finally put down my deposit last night!!! :smile: :smile:
>>>>
>>tokyogirl I had hoped that by now you would have realized that you have been enmeshed in an intricate web to snare unsuspecting customers and trick them into buying these hideous machines that are nothing buy Yugos in drag. All these "posters" are nothing but MINI sales people from all over the country and once they get a deposit, it gets split among them. I am telling you this cuz I am a convert.....I escaped this trap and now I am the happy owner of a Toyota Tercel......
>>I'd be REALLY worried if I was you, your Mini just left Zagreb.......
That is so mean
Tokyogirl deep cleansing breath...everything will be great

 

>>Tokyogirl deep cleansing breath...everything will be great

Particularly if the mule don't die crossing the
adriatic. They have not been known as great swimmers over the years......and a Mini, I mean Yugo weighs a ton........Race ya.......

 

TokyoGirl,
I would be pretty comfortable with the dealer swap. You will probably get what you want. I would, however, expect the MA to be able to provide you with a VIN by now. If not, then try to get to see whatever paperwork they have on the car they are getting for you. If they don't supply you with specifics, then I would worry a bit that it is not quite exactly as you wanted to order it. Be ready for that and decide what you can live with or without and what would be a deal-killer if it is or is not on the car. Just in case.
As far as the delivery date goes, make sure to block out an hour or more. Not only will the MA be showing you everything, but the financial takes a long time. Ask ahead of time about the extended warranty and the extended maintenance programs. Decide ahead of time and then have your answers ready. Find out about "gap insurance" or "gap coverage" and whether it will be in your loan payment or your insurance payment. That is the coverage that pays off your loan if the car is totalled and you owe more than it is worth. (If you don't put down a good sized down payment)
If you are having any options installed by the dealer, make sure they have time to do them before delivery is scheduled. Like window tint, etc. The place that tinted ours didn't want you to put down your windows for a couple of days. That sort of stuff is not big, but you want it all done before you go get it. Nothing worse than picking it up then having to give it back next week for a day or two.
Our dealer sent us a sheet to fill out what sort of programmable options we wanted so that it could be done before we got there. Stuff like follow-me-home lighting, door auto-lock, etc.
So I don't remember seeing other's checklists to take, but keep in close contact with your MA and they should be taking care of all this stuff for you.

Again, you will be SO HAPPY when you drive your new baby home that first day! Take a favorite CD with you. And maybe someone special to share the excitement.
Cheers!
John