I don't agree with many of the comments on this thread...

Wagnbat, if I got a posting like that, I'd be jumping out of my skin with excitement. JAPAN!! Come-on! That's great!!

Over the years, I've come to believe that experiences, rather than physical posessions, always bring more long-lasting pleasure. The true pleasure of the mini, is in my opinion, about the community moreso than the car itself. I also believe, that a lot of the pleasure of modding, is the actual work itself, not just the final product...

I think you should sell the car and do something smart with the money. After-all, it is just a car....it's not like everyone on NAM will disown you if you sell it....!! You'll still have friends here!

You're going to have a great time in Japan. Plus, you can get a taste of the phenomenal car culture they have there. Also, no-one's stopping you from getting a mini while you're over there. Also, when you get back to the US, I'm sure you'll be able to get hold of a second-hand low-mileage SC mini...

Look at it as if it's a great oppourtunity. Sell the mini, and make the most of it!!!

 

Sorry to hear about this man.

Strip the car and sell it stock. If you want you can even sell the parts. I'll take the lights off your hands if you decide to.

 

Hehehe, I've had quite a few people ask about my lights...

I think I may be out of the spotlight for now... I've been on travel for 5 days now, but I think my HQ would have contacted me if they'd have heard something. The person responsible for trying to move me elsewhere said if I didn't hear anything, that someone else probably got the orders. I'm hoping that's the case.

Thanks for you support/comments/suggestions all.

 

Finger's crossed! Let's hope BATMINI lives.....

-Cody

 

I'm sure hoping you don't leave us Will. We will miss you an Chai so much! And of course Batmini! but if you do have to go, you do. That's them cards with the darn Navy. But still, sure am hopin you don't have to.
Crossin fingers, toes, and whatever else we can for you to stay stateside.

 

yeah who else can we watch try to do the Toyota jump while washing their car?

 

who's will?

 

Don't know what you're talking about...

That would be me.

First day back at my desk, and no word or messages either way. I think that's favorable.

 

Concerning LHD: I have ridden with a friend who has a LHD BMW. The only hassle was a toll booth between Narita & Tokyo.

Sad to hear you are leaving. Even more sad is that (I presume) your announcement means that Chai is going too!

She (and I guess I'll have to eat bile and say "you too" ) has been a real asset to the DCMM community

Keep in touch -- Tom & Elizabeth

 

bat - when you go down there, can you put a cap on NKorea's missle?
Id like to inherit land in maybe 2 decades from my parents in Tokyo so that
i can buy a pretty nice car... like a new Enzo 2030 model or something.

did you guys know that the Enzo's shell was designed by a Japanese
dude that works at Pininfarnia (sp?) no wonder it looks a little bit like
a corolla.

akkkk, just posting some crap. im bord

 

uhhhhhhuh... there are pictures as proof! or did those mysteriously disappear?

 

Good luck, brother... I'm glad I don't have to make such a decision- I love my Mini. Hope it works out for you.

 

After months of no word... And then a couple of pokes and prods trying to get things to go my way, it looks like it's not going to... Seattle was my #1 choice, and Guam #2. It looks like there's plenty of orders to Guam, but no chance I'll be going to Seattle. So I've asked for a set of orders to Guam, and now have to wait about 3 weeks to see what happens (they can still say no to that too).

So, if I do get the orders, the next big dilemma is similar to Japan. Do I take the Batmini with me, or sell?

 

If you can take it with, take it. If not then put the car in storage, my offer still stands.

DO NOT SELL. I am guessing that you will not get anywhere near the $$$ that you put into it.

 

I agree here, I sold a rather heavily modded Miata before I shipped out to Germany a few years ago. I missed the car on those roads, but the experiences I took home after my time there were truly worth it. Good luck whatever happens, and thanks for serving!

 

I was stationed on Guam for two years. I took my car with me. But then again, I didn't have a MINI at the time.

Things to consider:

1. You won't have many chances to open up the BatMINI on Guam. Speed limits are 25-45 mph on the island. You can stretch her out on the main highway for a few miles, but good luck not coming across traffic that makes you slow back down again.

2. Driving conditions are not so great over there. The chances of being involved in an accident are higher than anywhere else I've ever lived, even with the slow speed limits. A couple reasons for that:

a. The locals aren't the best drivers I've ever seen.

b. When they construct the roads, they use a material in plentiful supply around the island... coral. When it rains, the tiny bits of embedded seaweed make it to the surface and the roads become slick until it rains enough to wash it away.

3. Not a huge concern because I'm sure you keep the BatMINI well protected but you see more cases of rust and corrosion over there due to the salt air. Remember, Guam is only 28 miles long and averages 4 miles across so you're never far from the salt water. That salt air eats up a lot of the cars over there. I had no problem though... and I only waxed my car twice a year back then.

If you have any specific questions about Guam or taking the MINI, let me know.

 

Guam Specific question:
If you had a choice between taking an F150 Supercrew 4x4 or a Modded MCS, which would you choose and why?

 

Me... I'd take the MCS because I'm not a truck kind of guy.

Seriously, since there's not any really fun roads and the roads are generally in poor repair, I would probably take the truck and leave my beloved MINI behind.

By the way, will you get a 15-month tour, or are you going accompanied for 24 months ? Fifteen months would make the decision much easier, I think... definitely leave the MINI behind.

 

. . . just watch out for all the SNAKES on the ISLAND!

 

In two years, I only saw a few Brown Tree Snakes. And one was roadkill.

Yes, there are a lot of them on the island because they're not indigenous and have no natural enemies there. But they stick to the jungle areas for the most part. They've been an ecological disaster in terms of bird species lost on Guam, but if you're not out "boonie stomping", then you might not even know they're there.

 

drats . . . I had visions of them being sucked into Batmini's CAI!

 

I urge people to read the post in MINI2.com - Australian Flora and Fauna section about BIG BLACK SNAKE! :-) Quite a hilarious read about a snake getting wrapped around someones manifold.

Also, I would sell all cars and save the dough that you're paying per month in both those vehicles and buy something spectacular when you get back. Four years in Guam??? You think you're bored here.. wait until you get to Guam.

 

Bored on Guam ?? I can't imagine that. Of course, maybe you got tired of the heat and humidity and decided to stay indoors the whole time you were there.

Four years ? The military doesn't send anyone there for four years, do they ? Maybe the Navy does. Air Force calls it a remote tour and you can go 15 months unaccompanied or 24 months accompanied.

 

Come on its japan!!! that will be FUN! I have always wanted to go there, and i have made it a goal to go. BUT...i would keep the mini! and if the expense isnt horrific, take the mini with you! the mountain roads in japan have some of the best twisties in the world! But if its crazy expensive, put it in storage or have someone you fully trust watch the car for you. Then buy some 500cc turbo econo box while you are there for Uber cheap. I think you will really enjoy it! the people there are extremely polite!

Thanks for serving our country! I hope you have a blast!

are you going to main-land japan? If so try to take the car if you can. if you are going out in the boon-docks with dirt roads. keep the mini in the US and get something cheap there.

 

You'll enjoy the Land of the Rising Sun I hope. I lived there from 2002-2004. Not military, just work. I had a lot of co-workers who had their cars shipped from the US with no problem. The emissions on the Mini wouldn't give you any trouble. Just be prepaired to deal with one of the most frustrating bureaucracies in the world. Get your international driving permit from AAA before you go.