Rally lights in Chicago would never work...the SUV's just push other cars around to make space...and there aren't many parking spaces to start with, if you live in the city...so while I wanted to add them I think I would have kept adding them every few days.....

_________________
'03 "S" BRG and Black with packages ordered late November early December and waiting for a build date/number....

 

By the way my mini is replacing an SUV 1997 Ford Explorer :smile:

_________________
'03 "S" BRG and Black with packages ordered late November early December and waiting for a build date/number....

 

Hey CWFAC members, we were about to fall off page one. I know everyone is busy on a Saturday, but let's not let the board fall completely. I'm still stuck at 112. My MCS is scheduled for production by March 7 so I should go to 150 very soon. I hate seeing others get there and calling only to find I'm still at 112. Does anyone know how many days a week the mini plant operates?

 

WooHooo...just came back from vegas and checked the owner's lounge site and i've been bumped up to scheduled for production! I also have a vin #. My production date is still 3/7/03 (i thought i let you know that alreay ryephile). Finally the wait will be over! Oh yeah..i'm 24 but still feel like i'm 21....peace

 

Hang in there hfranks. I called Thursday am and Friday am and they said 112, then I called again Friday afternoon and they said I went 150 on thursday. Go figure!

Wastik, How are the miata negotiations coming? Is the couch comfy?

 

let us only be on page two for a moment. i got to go to the mini dealer today, i was with a friend, and i think i answered more of his questions than my motoring advisor...maybe i should get a job at mini?

sigh...i really need to learn to drive stick. i've been in the cooper twice now, both times with my friend driving, and i think he's gonna teach me sometime this week. meh.

do you folks generally feel more giddy, or more relaxed after a trip to the dealership? after today, i feel super excited, but i think i'm coming into the whole waiting thing quite well...

hopefully they'll finish all our mini's this week, JGM leaves on the second of march!

 

>>sigh...i really need to learn to drive stick. i've been in the cooper twice now, both times with my friend driving, and i think he's gonna teach me sometime this week. meh.

Don't worry about it, you'll learn. My first new car purchase was a Honda CRX Si when I was in law school and it only came with a manual transmission. I could barely drive the thing for the first 2 days. Just find a flat empty parking lot and practice lots of starts. It will take a while to get the feel of the clutch but it comes quickly.

Once you lean your won't want to motor any other way (unless your commute is bumper to bumper stop and go traffic).

 

just remember one important thing. DON'T RIDE THE CLUTCH. when you let out on the clutch keep your foot off of it. don't rest your foot on the pedal.

 

Zero, I'm learning to drive a stick too! I've had all of 4 lessons now and it wasn't until this last one that I really started to feel like I know what I'm doing. The hardest part is really getting going from a standing stop, and then switching from 1st to 2nd. After that I'm totally cool. Also, when you're learning, keep the radio off, it really helps if you can hear the engine reving. Good luck

 

Not only will you learn, You will likely learn and enjoy. Another thing to note, this car has quite a break in period. At 10,000 miles our Cooper is just starting to really come to life. The Clutch can be quite annoying the 1st few thousand miles. I don't know if they made ECU updates at the 10,000 mile service or not, But it really seem's to have grown up I guess. The Cooper is my SO's daily driver and her 1st clutch, she agrees that it really has pepped up. She was quite the reluctant clutch driver at 1st and now she has a blast. I saw her get some 2nd gear scratch the other day, she was having a blast.!!!!

 

Oh another thing to note(although this may be because I'm a girl,)when I told them I was learning to drive a clutch, the guys at my dealer said they'd be more than happy to take me to the parking lot next door and give me some tips with the cooper before I take it home! SO you might try mentioning to them

 

haha, thanks a lot for all the tips, i'm sure they'll all come in handy.

how come sunday, the day that we aren't supposed to do any work, is the day where i have to do the most? it's not fair.

 

Another thing that will really teach you quickly how to use the clutch, if you have the access, is to borrow an old work truck from a friend. You can't hurt it, and chances are that it will be a lot more work than anything else you will ever try, but once you learn, Everything else will be a breeze. I learned to drive on a 1962 Chevy p/u - "three-on-the-tree" - and it took less than an hour. You learn real quick how much gas to give it, how fast to let it out, and when to feather the clutch just a little - or it dies. Now I have a '41 Chevy sedan - but next to the Mini, its a bloody albatross.

Course, even when I get my Mini, the Chevy gets the garage, and the Mini has to sit outside.

Phil

 

mm... stick shifts.. I'll never have an automatic car again if I can help it!

It's not hard to learn if you're sufficiently interested in it - and the MINI is definitely a great incentive to learn!

remember that every car's a bit different in where the clutch 'catches' and how much gas you need to apply to get the car moving.. and that you're VERY unlikely to do anything to harm your car while learning. I've taught several people to drive a stick shift on my Probe and we're still on the original clutch at 95,000 miles. Nothing broken, even though it might feel terrible .

For a great explanation of what's happening when you're clutchin' it, you might want to check out How Stuff Works - Manual Transmission (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm).

I'll teach anyone to drive a stick shift for a spin in a MINI!

... yeah, I'm still at 111, can you tell?

 

WOOOHOOO Mark me down as scheduled for production (150) and I also have my VIN number!!!

 

Hello eveyone! I'm back

See you soon,
Ryan

 

Today's Visual Candy, enjoy

Production Status:

195 – En Route
Wags FTB, MC, PS/PS, on: Carmen

152 – Paint Shop Started
Katiedidmini, MC, VR/B, Feb.28, VIN+
MichaelD, MC, VR/W

151 – Body Shop Started
Birdie33, MC, DS/B, Feb.28, VIN+

150 – Production Started
Bbuskas, MCS, DS/B, Feb.28, VIN+
Wastik, MCS, EB/W, Feb.28
Asodestrom, MC, CR/B, Mar.07, VIN+
Littlecajun, MC, CR/W, Mar.07
Rataha, MCS, EB/W, Mar.07, VIN+
Rocketpop, MCS, DS/W, Mar.07, VIN+
Kelisa, MC, CR/W, Mar.28
Zerocharisma, MC, JB/JB

112 – Scheduled for Production
Hfranks, MCS, CR/W, Mar.07
PJ, MCS, IB/W, Mar.07
Ryephile, MCS, IB/W, Mar.14
JeremyPo, MCS, IB/W, dunno, VIN+
Tboner4me: MCS, IB/W, March 21

111 – Order Accepted at Factory
Red, MCS, PS/B, Mar.14
Rfath, MCS, DS/DS, Mar.14
Scoobs, MCS, PS/B, Mar.14
Brgmini12723, MCS, BRG/W, Mar.14

Unconfirmed Production Status:
James4513: MCS, LY/W, March 14
Jerrygee: MCS, CR/W, March 14
MiniMarc: MCS, DS/W, March 14
SemiImbecile: MCS, DS/W, March 14
MINIHOLLAND: MCS EB/W

People that need to call 1-866-ASKMINI and tell me their Production Status!
Colinarm
DaMatta
Lastwave
Sandra7833
Rb905678

Good night,
Cheers,
Ryan

 

Good News, Everyone!

ShuttlePod One Production Status at 160 as of today. It's alive, It's alive. I may have to leave "Can't Wait for April" to "Can't Wait for March". Hey Katie, what's your story?

 

Just checked, I'm 160 too! The MIN doesn't even need me, she's already a total cruiser.
Hey Michael, there was a thread a while back about how people thought that pure silver was the fastest mini color, but I guess now we're proving it's velvet red! Maybe our car's will arrive in March, but wouldn't you rather be amoung the first graduates of the this club, than the last of the March club? Just a thought

 

Katie and Michael are virtual twins, same icon, same MINI color, same production status (and they're probley being shipped together too)

AWWwwwwww, MINI's in Love [sigh ]

congrats you two, i'll be among the many that will be jealous you get your MINI before we do!

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Everyone’s MINI’s:

Brgmini12723: MCS, BRG/W/W, #1, #2, #3, Nav, H/K, rain-sensing, bonnet stripes
Lastwave: MCS, BRG/B, #1, #2

DaMatta: MCS, JB/W/W, no-junk
Zerocharisma: MC, JB/JB, ‘ette, Sport Seats

Katiedidmini: MC, VR/B, #1, #2, #3, Xenon, rain-sensing, PDC, H/K
MichaelD: MC, VR/W, Kaleido, #2, Xenon, CVT, OBC, chrome trim

Colinarm: MC, LY/W, Red Kaleido, OBC, SS+, Sport Seats, Fog’s, spoiler
James4513: MCS, LY/W, Space, #1, #2, heated seats, rain-sensing, H/K

Rataha: MCS, EB/W/W, Lapis, #2, #3, MFSW, rain-sensing
MINIHOLLAND: MCS, EB/W, Chili, H/K, 17 S-lites
Wastik: MCS, EB/W/W, ‘ette, #1, #2, #3, H/K, bonnet stripes, rain-sensing

WagsFTB: MC, PS/PS, #1, #2, H/K, Xenon, CVT
Scoobs: MCS PS/B, #1, #2, #3, bonnet stripes
Red: MCS PS/B, #1, #3, DSC, Fog’s

JeremyPo: MCS, IB/W, MFSW, OBC, H/K
PJ: MCS, IB/W, Space, #3, MFSW, OBC, Auto A/C, Xenon…
Ryephile: MCS, IB/W/W, Space, #2, #3, MFSW, H/K
Birdie33: MC, IB/W, ‘ette, #2, #3, Nav, H/K
Tboner4me: MCS, IB/B, Lapis, #2, #3, Auto A/C, MFSW, OBC, H/K

Littlecajun: MC, CR/W/W, Red Kaleido, #1, 8-spokes, bonnet stripes
Asodestrom: MC, CR/B, MFSW, sport seats, 16’s w/run-flat, bonnet stripes
Kelisa: MC, CR/W/W, #1, 16’s, CVT, bonnet stripes
Hfranks: MCS, CR/W, Gravity Black, #1, #3, Xenon, Fog’s, DSC, H/K
Jerrygee: MCS, CR/W/W, Gravity Black, #2, #3, Nav, PDC, H/K, MFSW

Bbuskas: MCS, DS/B, Lapis, #1, #2, #3, H/K
Rocketpop: MCS, DS/W/W, #1, #2, H/K, bonnet stripes
SemiImbecile: MCS, DS/W, Lapis, Chili + all but PDC
Rfath: MCS, DS/DS, ‘ette, #1, #2, #3, H/K, rain-sensing
MiniMarc: MCS, DS/W, Gravity, #1, #2, rain-sensing, Nav, H/K
Rb905678: MCS, DS/B, Gravity, #1, #2, Nav, H/K

That makes for 9 Coopers, 21 Cooper S
18 Sunroof, 21 Xenon, 17 Harmon/Kardon,
5 Navigation, 7 Rain-sensing,
19 White Roof, 9 Black, 1 DS, and 1 PS,
3 CVT!!!,
and LOTS of Motoring upcoming!

2 – British Racing Green
2 – Black
2 – Velvet Red
2 – Liquid Yellow
3 – Electric Blue
3 – Pure Silver
5 – Indi Blue
5 – Chili Red
6 – Dark Silver

...and Dark Silver has taken the lead again!
Cheers,
Ryan

 

WOOO HOOOO! I just called and my mini is turning Chili Red as we speak! Status 152!!! Hope you all had a great weekend...and I hope fellow east-coasters didn't blow away or get flooded!

My sister-in-law is supposed to pick up her mini today from the Manhattan dealership. She lives in Brooklyn and is nervous to park the mini there with all of these winter storms. Snowplows can be brutal. Do you think they would hold her mini for her for a couple of weeks?

 

>>>>Here's a question for all of us still in school: Does anyone at your school currently drive a mini?
>>>>I've got one freshaman who drives a BRG/W cooper with the nav, and there is a Faculty/Staff member(I only know them by their parking pass) who has a stripped down Black/W cooper. I've debated leaving them notes, but haven't gotten around to it yet...any suggestions?
>>>>-Katie

Well Katie, I'm fresh out of Claremont McKenna College and have yet to see one there yet in my years there and my times back at school. I'm working in LA and its only about a 45 min drive, so I visit every few weeks, but hopefully with the arival of the new car I can visit and scope out the campuses more! There are actually 5 undergrad schools there, and two graduate schools!

Bryan

 

Dark Silver must be slowing down the production. I'm still at 150 Previously they told me to expect it to begin production this last weekend, but alas!...still 150. Hopefully good news for tomorrow!

Bryan

 

>>Dark Silver must be slowing down the production. I'm still at 150 Previously they told me to expect it to begin production this last weekend, but alas!...still 150. Hopefully good news for tomorrow!
>>

Well, it is not dark silver. My Chile Red MCS is still at 112 today. I think I'm the only person with a March 7 production week that is still at 112. They keep telling me I'll go to 150 soon. I hope so.

Bbuskas, what is your production week? I thought you were at 2/28. If so, I would have thought you would have moved at least to the paint shop by now. Katie & others who have had their cars completed, how long was the time line for your car to move from phase to phase?