You're thinking.... MINI DOWN! Aren't you?

I'm not sure why CARMEN's position is not updated after this morning. Reporting position and weather conditions is largely a voluntary thing, and is easy for a crew to do when they're way out in the middle of the ocean. There is probably a lot more traffic and other stuff to watch for on the water once you get inside of Georges Bank (which we did this morning), and voluntary reporting probably went out the window.
dcmitchell

 

I ordered a CR/W MCS March 29, scheduled for production April 12, completed around the 21st., booked the 22nd, received and scanned at the terminal on the 23rd and shipped on the RESOLVE April 30. Arrived in Charleston May 13th and I'm picking it up at Mini of Charleston tomorrow. Yee Haw....I think if I ever get another Mini, I'll find one on the lot. All that waiting is very, very stressful, pulled what few hairs I had out....sure glad it finally got across the pond.

 

2005 MCSA with all 4 packages, rear fog, Tartan Red interior, Navi and armrest. I will post pics of the interior tomorrow if the weather permits. Also I got back Monday for the R99 wheels, Aero Kit and alarm.:smile:




Ahh and one MINI giving way to another. My old 2004 MC CVT in the forground and the new 2005 MCSA in the background.

 

MDSBRAIN, that is one beautiful car!

Before I re-ordered an MCSC, I actually ordered an 05 MCS with the same color option PS/PS. Great choice! :smile:

 

Yah its nice

I feel like writing a review of my impressions of the car so far. Its like 100% different then the MC I had. I mean 5 big things changed for me.

1) Runflat tire, ride is a bit different in that regard
2) SUPERCHARGER I couldn't help but push it a few times to see its potential.
3) This normal slushbox is interesting in its shifts. Maybe I'm hearing the supercharger and not just the engine running but i'm not used to the engine being louder. So far is just helped the smile on my face.
4) Sport seats. I love them. I feel like my MINI is a new luxury car.
5) Exhaust. I love the exhaust so far. Especially when you hit it and let off it and it makes that popping noise. I swear it sounds like many aftermarket exhausts do.

So in the less then 24hrs since delivery I am very happy.

 

Anyone have any updates on their car's progress? The thread has been quiet for about a day.


I have fone ahead and installed my Euro shelf, Ian's Auto-up circuit and Aux Input for my Ipod. That was a fun install, had to pull the wires together. Found a great How-to here on NAM.

 

My car has been discharged and now waiting for it to go through the VDC and then to my dealer. I am hoping I will have it early this week. I would hate to go through another whole week again waiting when the car is so close!

Garrett

 

My car has been progressing from cool to amazing, each and every day I drive it! Gotta get a time when I don't have to work (going on 14 straight days of work, some 15+ hours a day) so that I can schedule to leave my MINI at MINI of Sterling to do the chrome grill install, and check a couple other things I noticed (like the car pulls to the right a little bit...).

Loving it more and more each and every day!

 

mdsbrain -- Maybe all of us are out having fun! I've had Nugget 3 days now and put 600 miles on him -- maybe 40 on the Interstate and the rest on mountain roads. I have yet to find anything I'm not absolutely delighted with. The gearbox, steering, traction and roadfeel are phenomenal. I find myself feeling resentful when my wife takes the wheel! Shouldn't be like that; I love her. Gotta remember I love her. But when she put her foot on the front fender to tie her shoe I yelled at her to get her friggin' foot off the car! Breathe, must remember to breathe! And when she picked up tomato plants at the nursery, then raced home along the twisty back roads all that was left in the boot was a pile of potting soil and tomato plant mush. Count, must remember to count to ten before speaking!

I have to drive the truck to work tomorrow. Good thing, as it will be possible for me to do something productive on the job! Work, must remember to work now and then!

Pete

 

600 miles in three days?!

Man, you're lucky. I've had my car for five days now, and I am on about 130 miles... Sheesh! Doesn't help that I'm spending more hours a day at work than not at work, and that my commute is only like seven to ten minutes, barring a couple of traffic lights. Man.

Haven't had any issues with the wife yet, though. She's just as particular about this car as I am.

 

I've had my car officially 3 days and I just had to drop it off for some goodies. Weird to leave it. It has 103 miles in 3 days.

 

Yeah, well, she wouldn't let me drive it today in the rain. And she has it Monday and Tuesday as well. Gotta wait till Wednesday for more joy. But the funny thing is I really like my truck too! Not for the fun of driving it, but just for the sheer utility of it: hauling hay and firewood today. Can't do that in Nugget!

Two things I'd like to do. (1) Take vacation and drive somewhere (2) Take more pics of Nugget with my goldens. Maybe I should drive him into the meadow and see if I can get pics of the sheep checking him out!

Pete

 

mdsbrain - love your pics. I have the same color but am having a hard time taking a good picture of mine. I just can't seem to do her justice. Anyway, yours are great!


Boondox - I'm lucky so far. My SO loves to ride in "Dingo" but no way will she drive it. At least not until I get the first scratch! Funny thing is she's probably a safer driver than I am. (OK - she is a safer driver than I am.)

 

Msdbrain:

Dropped it off for more goodies? What else could you possibly want? Hey, congrats on the new motor! Yer gonna have tuns o' funn!

 

*In a Star Wars voice* "For the Beloved Aero Kit and Gray R99 wheels *breaths* and to protect it *breath* the security system *exhauling noise*

 

Has anyone called ask mini to see if their car is at the VDC? My car came in on the carmen and has been discharged. but when I called ask mini, it says that my car is at the port waiting for a shipping vessel. This seems a little strange. I would like to know when my mini will be at the dealer so i can take the day off and get things taken care of.

Garrett

 

I think your best bet at this point is to talk to your MA. ASK MINI was behind. OL was even more so. My car was still scheduled for production and I was already half way across the atlantic as of last weekend.

 

I'll be picking up Lady Bug in less than 48 hours and can not seem to find any good information on buying an extended maintenance warranty and an extended warranty and what each one should cost me. Anyone here know anything aobut these? I know that warranty direct advertises here but what about buying from the mini dealer? Anyone going to buy these? I was told that the extended maintenance warranty will cover the 45,000 services that cost about $1,300. I'm just lookin ahead because I drive at least 30,000 miles a year and my dealer is over 4 hours from my home. Thanks for any help.

 

How about getting the car and looking into the warranty later? I know you can get that extended warranty later on.:smile:

 

True, but at a cost. My dealer said the $495 price was locked in for 30 days, and while I could buy the extended maintenance plan at any point up till the expiration of the standard plan, the price would go up as the mileage rose. I'm in the same boat as Sandie222 -- the dealer is a three hour drive.

Another variable to consider. When I added Nugget to my Geico policy they offered a 7 year 100,000 mile extended maintenance plan (only available on new cars) that would run me about $720 over the seven year period ($100 added to my annual premium). And the service would be done at the facility of my choice...even if that is a Mini dealer. Sounds like a possibility.

Pete

 

I am about to take delivery of a MCS. What extended warrantys is the MA likely to ask me about? Cost?

 

Patience is a virtue. You have a legitimate question, and you deserve a straightforward answer before you turn the ignition key and drive off the lot. This is especially true if your dealer used the extended warranty as a selling point, and if an extended warranty will provide you with peace of mind. You're being smart to look ahead if these things are important to you. Be a healthy skeptic.

Make a list of questions and get them all answered to your satisfaction before you decide about the extended warranty. I have no idea how these extended warranties work, but you may want to find out what kind of discount is available if you buy the extended coverage now, or if it costs significantly more to buy the extended warranty later on. It runs a little counter to the spirit of "motoring" (which probably led you to the MINI in the first place), but you also need to find out whether the cost of the extended warranty is refundable or whether the warranty is transferrable should you decide to sell the car. Also, what happens to the value of the warranty if - God forbid - you should get into a wreck or the car is stolen?

Who is your dealer? Do you know others who have dealt with them? If not, you should be able to find someone on the NAM discussion boards who has. They should help you with these questions but you are being smart to do your own investigation first.

Also, if the MINI warranty requires that work be done by a MINI dealer, you will want to find out whether (and in what circumstances) towing to the nearest dealership is included in the warranty, and whether any outside company's warranty would allow you greater flexibility in having service done closer to home. Do you get a loaner car when warranty service is being done? With the dealer 4 hours away (and you driving 30,000 miles a year), this will be an important point to consider.

Enthusiastic advice to "get into your car and look into the warranty later" is laced with good intentions, but you may lose an opportunity to bargain with the dealer if you walk away with questions that are unanswered. Until they close the sale, they have incentive to keep you happy and answer all your questions. Also, the more you know about competing products - like warranty direct - the more confident you will feel in the long run about the decision you make.

Motor on! (I am expecting delivery of my own MCS in the next 72 hours, so I may ask a few questions of my own).

dcmitchell

 

dcmitchell,

Do you have any word on where your car is now? I checked with askmini and says my car is enroute, the day before stated my car was waiting for a shipping vessel. All i know is that my car came in on the 20th and was discharged. I am trying to get ahold of my MA so i can get a date of when the car will be at the dealer for pickup and so i can take off of work. I also have to get insurance started for the car as well.

Garrett

 

No word on the exact whereabouts of my MCS, Garrett. I assume it is at the Vehicle Distribution Center or it is currently en route to the dealer. I haven't exactly been riding my MA (not that the thought hasn't crossed my mind ) but just assumed that when she said she was "looking out the window" for the delivery truck, it couldn't be far. She didn't make any promises, but I decided to take Friday off just the same. Keep your fingers crossed. MALPT! (See http://www.notam02.no/~hcholm/altlan...ch.1.html#so69)

It is my understanding that the 1-866-ASKMINI folks only know where your car is while it is in the production line, and up to the port of entry. From there, your MA is the best source of information since the dealership takes care of picking up the cars from the VDC, and they can use any third party contractor to do this. In other words, there isn't a single common carrier (like Wallenius) that MINI can easily keep tabs on for purposes of providing information on the web site or with ASKMINI operators.

Hope this makes sense! To the extent you can, start all that administrative stuff now (e.g. finding out about insurance, registration, lien recordation, etc.) then you can relax and enjoy your new wheels when you take delivery.

dcm

 

I already have the insurance lined up, i just need to call them up to send me the paper work to get everything started. But I also need to ask the MA if he needs proof of the new insurance or not etc etc.

Garrett