Ok...

So my MA found me a car that is VERY similar to what I ordered. Still an IB/W MC w/ CVT + premium. The only difference is cloth regular seats instead of leatherette sport and no H/K audio. For the money I'm saving I can EASILY spring for some stereo gear to at least equal (if not beat) the H/K sound.

The only downside is that they can't have it here until Saturday. So, it's off to arrange some last-minute financing and check the bus schedules

Does anyone have a recommendation for getting rid of a 93 Honda Civic w/ a completely busted front suspension/subframe? I'd like to get at least a few hundred dollars for it... should I just junk-yard it?

I'll take some pics of the damage (for posterity) and post them up once I get around a digital camera.

 

I've heard you can donate it to charity and deduct the blue book value from your taxes. But if your damage is severe enough, this may not be an option.
Also, I had a girlfriend many years ago that sold her completely trashed car as salvage for $300 dollars. So you should be able to get *something* for it.
BTW, glad your alright :smile:
-SF

 

Sorry to hear about your loss Rachel. It's tough to lose a pet.

Regards,
Red

 

yeah, I second (third actually) the condolences ... sorry to not have done it sooner; my brain has been FRIED all day since the accident.

 

JPL,

The cloth seats are great. I think you will like them. Maybe not as easy to clean as leatherette, but you should be driving with both hands, not eating in your MINI.

Andy

 

>>yeah, I second (third actually) the condolences ... sorry to not have done it sooner; my brain has been FRIED all day since the accident.

Sorry to hear about your accident. The good news is you are OK...and you are getting a MINI sooner!

Hope it all works out.

Regards,
Red

 

My condolences on your loss Rachel. It's always tough when you lose a family member.

JPL, trying your hand out on some monster truck action? Glad to hear that you're OK. Lucky for you they actually have mass transit. Where I went to school if I wrecked my car I would be SOL. :smile: So now because of your accident you get to drive a mini sooner? LOL So I guess this qualifies as a good news/bad news thing. I hope you enjoy your new machine. I wouldn't fret the seats or the stereo. In the grand scheme of things cloth is more comfortable anyways, and you can get a nice head unit for what the H/K costs. Not a bad deal all around.

You might do all right parting out your car. I'm not sure how you go about that, but the parts are definetly worth more than the whole in this case.

 

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

It would seem I've got most of the details ironed out; Insurance is bought, financing arranged (though MINI Financial is still claiming they'll be able to "beat my rate" before I take delivery), and a delivery set.

I'm picking up my car @ 10am on Saturday.

I think I'm going to name it "Silver Lining", or Silver for short (even though it's a blue car).

I'll make sure to take plenty of pics on delivery day. It would seem I'll be the first April grad. afterall, if in a terrible and roundabout sort of way.

Once I get some work finished up I'll post an updated list.

Until then, happy motoring!

 

I pass my torch down to you, mr JPL, as the next-generation-april club's FIRST GRADUATE. you'll beat my early exit, as I took delivery March 11. your newfound duties include enjoying your MINI to the fullest andreporting back daily as to how wonderful it is and to make the wait for the others that much more difficult!

keep us all updated everyone... horray for MINIs

-wags

 

I may not be in the April Club after all. The dealer found my car that just arrived at another dealer and they want me to take it. They are willing to "negotiate" some of my accessories. If everything works out I could be a MINI owner on Saturday.

Jason

 

Hehe, of course they want you to take it Jason :smile:

See, the dealer doesn't get his nice commission check until after you sign the dotted line and the car is fully paid for (either from your or your financing company). Hence the reason my MA was so helpful in locating me a car sooner... it's about the same price and he gets his commission 8 weeks sooner!

That would be great if you could get the same car sooner though! Just make sure to go over the fine details on the purchase order. I found out today after reading the full contract my MA faxed over, that my car ALSO lacks auto wipers/mirrors but HAS chrome bumper inserts (hence the similar price). I'm a little upset about the auto wipers, but I haven't digressed to that extreme form of laziness just yet!

Here's hoping it works out for you, and happy motoring!!!

 

WOW, You next generation April guys are amazing.

Join the April club and get your MINI way early. Don't let the secret get out or we will quickly have 200 pages of posts!

Andy

 

Well, shoot, I thought I was in the lead
Are you still keeping the list, JPL?
If so, My car was completed today, and is on it's way to Southampton for it's cruise. Looks like that should put me between March 16-20.
-SF

 

So glad to hear that everyone is safe and getting their cars sooner than expected!

I LOVE the Ice-Link in my car. I wasn't crazy about the options that didn't allow me to use the steering-wheel controls, so I was estatic about getting that functionality. As well, it's nice that it'll shut the unit down when I switch to another mode or turn the car off - it'll charge as well. The only thing I'm still working with is trying to get the mounting unit - I want to be able to keep the iSkin on the 'pod because it's a pain to take on and off for jaunts in the car, but that's my problem... installation wasn't a problem.

I need to get my doors rebalanced. ...the heck did they get so out of whack?!

Still trying to distract myself...

 

your doors rebalanced? I don't think you're distracting yourself effectively, Rachel :smile:

Smoochez,
Ryan

 

That reminds me. I did not have my doors re-balanced yet either.

Regards,
Red :smile:

 

Sorry for the delay... it's been quite hectic doing all the paperwork and such for delivery at the last minute like this.

Here's the updated list:

196 (At the dealer):
JuanPacoLopez - MC, IB/W, VIN#...
??? - jason.mullins - MCS, CR/W, #...

155 (production completed):
SynapticFire - MCS, DS/B, #6608586

150 (in production):
XAlfa - MCS, DS/DS, #6602173

112 (scheduled for production):
911 - MC, IB/W, #3502455

37 (on order):
kgmini - MCS, IB/W, #3502590

Would be cool if we could get some status updates in here. XAlfa's car should be done any day now, and kgmini should have a date soon-ish?

jason.mullins: what's the status of the car your MA wanted you to get?

As for me, I have a VIN (had to use it to get insurance)... but it's on the paperwork at home. I'll add it to the list as soon as I'm nearby.

I'm scheduled for a 10:30am pickup tomorrow morning!!!!!!! Despite the circumstances surrounding it I couldn't possibly be more excited :smile:

 

>>That reminds me. I did not have my doors re-balanced yet either.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Red :smile:

Will re-balancing by doors help with gas mioleage?

Speaking of gas, prices in CA are obscene!. It went up over 15 cents last week alone. Can't touch it for under 2 bucks.

Anyone got any tricks for dropping the pan from a 3.8l mustang?

JPL, keep up the good work as KOTL.

Andy

 

gas price in Detroit: about $1.90/gal for 93 octane

Andy - a fox platform with V-6, yuk! dropping the oil pan is the fun job of lifting the enging

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Speaking of forecasts... it's been nasty and rainy/snowy here in Atlanta for the past few days. I just checked the forecast for Saturday (my pickup day) and guess what!?!?! It's going to be 60 degrees and SUNNY! This makes me extremely happy, as I'd originally planned for april pickup and looked forward to using the sunroof :smile: I might have to turn the heater on, but that sunroof will be open damnit!

To everyone: Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly does it mean to "rebalance" your doors?

Andy/Ryan: my girlfriend has a 64 1/2 (first model year) 'stang... , isn't the 3.8L a small block V8? you didn't specify what model year, but on hers there is no crossmember blocking the pan... comes right off once you loosen the bolts as I recall.

 

[the door rebalancing thing is a joke, JPL] my source

Cheers,
Ryan

 

hahahahaha, guess the joke's on me for being the ******* who didn't pick it up :smile:

I've only actually seen my girlfriend's car like 4 times (it's at her dad's house in storage)... I just remembered the engine being "around" 4l small-block V8... 4.3 it is :smile: One of the times I saw it, ironically enough, her dad was taking out the oil pan... which is why I mentioned it (since Andy didn't mention a model year for the 'stang).

You know what's strange about her car? It's an AUTOMATIC. Yes, you heard that right, a 64 1/2 mustang w/ a V8 and (I believe 3-speed but maybe 4) very poorly designed/jerky slushbox. I wouldn't have even thought they sold the V8 w/ an automatic (especially not in the 60's)... it's the one thing I dislike about that car; totally detracts from the otherwise fun sensation of driving such an icon.

P.S. - I e-mailed that website to my girlfriend and she was VERY excited. See, whenever she tells someone about her car she has to explain why it's a "64 1/2" instead of a 64 or 65. She tries to name off the differing features but always forgets some. She said she's going to print off that page and start carrying it with her... hehe

EDIT: Does anyone else notice we're about to cross the 50,000 page views threshold?

 

>>gas price in Detroit: about $1.90/gal for 93 octane
>>
>>Andy - a fox platform with V-6, yuk! dropping the oil pan is the fun job of lifting the enging
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Ryan

Thanks Ryan, I have followed to the letter Chiltons procedures for dropping the pan but I ned another 1/2 inch to clear the cross member. I am afraid to lift the engine much higher. Wondering if I need to pull the tranny? I migh do it anyway because the rear seal may be my leak problem.

$1.90 for 93 octane? i'm jealous. I don't know where to get 93 out here except at the track. 91 is premium at all the stations I know of.

Andy

 

Wow... I must be lucky on gas. Here in Atlanta premium (93 octane, no 91 anywhere) goes for about $1.75-$1.85 per gallon in all but the worst yuppie money pits. Not only that, but those prices are HIGH compared to a year ago (it was just under a dollar for regular unleaded at one point last summer, so about $1.10 for prem).

This might be a bad question to ask... but how important IS premium to the MC engine? The reason I ask is, I'm driving to the Florida gulf coast in May... in southern GA along the way there are some VERY rural areas where I'm positive I either a) won't find premium or b) won't pay the $2+/gal they'd ask for it. Is it OK to fill up on regular just once or twice if I get stuck in that position? I can try and plan my trip such that I only stop for gas here and there (which would mean plentiful high octane) but I'm "just-in-casing" it here.

If one were to find themselves in such a position... are there any products you fine folks might recommend as additives (such as octane booster or injector cleaner)?

 

JPL, Pay the extra few cents a gallon for premium. You'll be getting great mileage on the open road anyway. It's not worth cutting corners on.

just my 2 cents worth.

Andy