I was told yesterday that my Cooper S will be completed on July 5th

So I've been telling my friends that I should take delivery towards the end of the month. But a couple of them were miffed on the late July delivery date.

Friend(s): "Why so late?"
Me: "Uh...the voyage from England takes a while".
Friend(s): "Oh really!? The car is made in England!?"
Me:

 

Your MINI is assembled in Oxford England like mine was.

It's a couple continents over from where I live about half way around the world and to the left and up a bit.

Patience is a virtue. It's worth the wait... I guarantee it.

 

What I thought mine grew in the cabbage patch out back:smile:

 

did you talk with my friends too! its like they are un cultured or something even before i was considering buying a mini i knew where they came from!

what are the schools these days NOT teaching our future... umm...i hate to say it... but leaders.. (ouch that hurt)

-Josh

 

If you notice the car has a vin starting with a "W" for (west) germany and not "S" for the UK. Honda Civic Si coupes and some Honda CRV's are built in the UK and have an "S" vin for the UK and not a "J" vin for Japan. Weirdness eh?

 

Possibly that Mini is a subsidiary of BMW? Which is made...guess where?

 

Despite all the controversy surrounding BMWs dealing w/ Rover and the assorted early plant location changes, I'm proud of the fact that MINIs are still made in a place that also created it's classic and (dare I say it) venerable predecessor. In fact, it appears to me that BMW went to a lot of trouble to make this so. I'm sure the whole thing made some sort of business sense, although at some point this may have seemed arguable. I think, in retrospect and in spite of all our other niggles, we owe BMW a debt of gratitude for updating the MINI so well, with so much respect for the brand, and that is built in a place so appropriate to the ongoing evolution of an automotive legend.

 

It's kind of an honest mistake really. Just like all Toyotas aren't made in Japan, not all VW's made in Germany, and so on. People think they may be built elsewhere other than their origin.
Still not as bad as people not knowing what kinda car it is. Like come on. Pull yer head out! But I guess if you're not a car nut or even close, you won't be paying attention to what's out there. Even though the MINI has been out in North America for like what, 3yrs? And before that, out a year and a half in England. Had a guy at a gargae sale when I was out with the Mrs a couple weeks back, ask me if that's one of them Matrix's. I'm like "Sorry, what? Like Toyota Matrix?" and he says "Yes". Thanx for comin' out buddy. And he couldn't have been anymore than 35yrs old too. The population needs to be taught the way of the MINI in all aspects of it. Guess that's part of why this site is here. For the uneducated as well to pop in every now and then........to learn. Welcome all guests. There'll be a test tomorrow.
Cheerio,

 

Well said. I second that.

 

Is there a standard for the VIN's between all manufacturers? For VW the third digit is the build location.

Dave.