Well, my tag isn't correct - No longer a "MaybeMCSC"! I did buy the car I was looking at! Found via cars.com. I flew up on Friday evening before the 4th of July, and picked it up in Amityville, NY at the VW dealership http://www.legendvw.com/ the next day, Saturday. The original owner had traded it onto some large Bimmer (the VW dealership also has a sister Porsche/BMW dealership). About 4,500 miles on it when I picked it up. I was very pleased to have found an exceptionally clean, very well configured MCSC with such low mileage for $29,000! A nice color, wheels I like, and a somewhat unusual interior! And the JCW package!)

My plan was to drive it home to Nashville, TN, stopping overnight somewhere in VA. I had brought my Nuvi 360 portable Nav system to guide me through some of the mazes in the NYC/North Jersey area.

Luckily, it was perfect weather. I spent a little time getting familiar with the various gauges and options, the radio and, of course, the top! It was down as I left the dealer, sun glasses on, nav system set!

I had done some planning ahead of time, and knew that I would be heading around Manhattan to the south, on I-278, to the Jersey Turnpike. Last thing I wanted to do was to drive through Manhattan (which the sales manager also warned me about), and going north of the city seemed like I was going way out of my way.

Well, as I'm approaching my exit to leave the Long Island Expressway and get on 278, traffic was absolutely STOPPED. And, of course, it was the last exit before Manhattan. Do I take my planned route, which now looked like a parking lot, or go into Manhattan?

Well, living dangerously, I decided to drive into the city. I had no idea how long traffic would be stopped on my originally preferred route, so what was there to lose? Into the city I go. I believe it's the MidTown Tunnel, which drops you off on 34th St. on the east side of Manhattan. It was very discouraging, waiting through 3 or 4 cycles of the traffic light at the end of the tunnel, thinking it was going to be a VERY long day. I thought it would take me forever to get across town. Turns out there was construction shortly after the exit dumped you out.

Once I got through that intersection, surprisingly, all was fine! Made it across the island on 34th and into the Lincoln Tunnel and into Jersey in less than 1/2 an hour! And it actually was great driving through the city on a clear morning, about 70 degrees with the top down. The car draws a good bit of attention, and it was so nice out.

Once I left the city, it was mostly just lots of highway, although sometimes there was construction sites. Seemed like I was averaging about 28-30 mpg while cruising on the interstates, according to the trip computer. I was very pleased with that. What I wasn't pleased with were the expansion joints in some areas - boy, with the sport suspension, it really was loud. Thankfully, there wasn't much of it.

Uneventful drive through NJ on I-78, then into PA, down I-81. Made it as far as Bristol, TN, that night, really enjoying the great weather. I actually closed the top for awhile - too hot to ride mid-day with the top down, even with the A/C on. Yes, somewhat wussy, but after all, it was my first top-down day!

The second day, again, with great weather, proves to be another perfect driving day. Got to within 15 miles of Nashville, however, and the heavens opened! I had been able to see it coming, though, and got the top up in time. The car handled fine in the rain, even with the Dunlop tires.

Overall, i was very pleased with the first 2 days of ownership. The dealership was VERY straightforward to deal with, I highly recommend them, even if it was not one of their new brands that I purchased. Cars.com was a great resource.

I was pleasantly surprised that buying a car long distance wasn't too traumatic. There wasn't much haggling - I thought the initial price was good.
I could've had the car delivered, but I thought driving it home would be more fun. Especially a convertible in the middle of the summer! Not to mention saving a few $$$. And the car was already broken in, so I could drive it more aggressively than if it had been brand new.

The car itself is what I expected - nice clutch/shifter "feel", good H/K sound system, comfortable seats, and, of course, lots of oomph, thanks to JCW!

I hope to have some pictures up soon, and my impressions driving it for the first month. Overwhelmingly good, but still a few areas to gripe about.

 

Good bonding trip! Welcome to the fun side of life. Let's get some pics in the gallary for all to enjoy.

 

Congratulations!!!! Great drive!

 

I have to tell you, I'm originally from Philly, and we lived in Hendersonville, TN for about 7 yrs, so I enjoyed your trip description immensely!! Again, congratulations, enjoy that JCW... talk at you later!!

 

Congrats on the purchase. When I got mine, I was preparing to do the same thing (fly out and drive home). Lucky for me, I closed a last minute deal with a fully loaded S only 15 miles away.

Definitely get some more pics up...looks like a pretty sweet ride!

 

Hey fellow Tennessean, Congrats on the New Mini..Glad to hear your trip was un-eventful..

 

Great choice to get a nearly new 06 instead of an actually new 07! You are gonna love it!

 

Congratulations on the beautiful car. I wish I had been able to drive my car home like that. We bought mine from Chicago, and had to have it delivered to us, about 1550 miles or so. I was in the middle of preparing for an art show and couldnt break away. It would have been nice. Glad you wrote about yours.

 

Congrats! What a cool trip you got to take, and wasn't it worth it too!! Can't wait to hear about some more adventures and see some great pics of your newest family memeber.

 

used is the way to go (from another used MCSC) but you got a jcw... Congrats!