I'll definitely be there with you in spirit as you risk your life to spend time with your baby! Hey, like you said, one's gotta' do what one's gotta' do.

 

phil k!!! congrats on your baby!!! i'm so happy for you!!! i have a better picture of what my baby will look like since i have the stripes and the same rims as you... T-Bone is Gorgeous!!! congrats!!! the wait is finally over for you!!!

 

Thanks Howdyem. Yeah, I'm happy the little guy is finally home. It's funny, I find myself wandering into the garage every so often, sitting down on the top step and just gazing at T-Bone with a silly grin on my face.

Okay, your time is drawing near. What's your baby's status at the moment?

 

Pav - Did you make it back in one piece?

mickie - thanks for the good wishes.

 

Hey Phil...

Made it back in one piece. I would have been easily able to enter the yard - though getting out would have been tricky. The guard dog, in the end, was the kicker... I'd like to have a leg to work the clutch

I had to be content with just gazing at it through the fence. There were a few MINIs in the yard - like everyone would say about their own: mine was the prettiest!

Got everything ready to go. It should be prepped on Monday and ready for me on Tuesday.

Can't wait!

 

I love the image of you looking through the fence like a little boy gazing longingly at a puppy in a window

I look forward to seeing/hearing about your pretty baby this week.

 

Well... seems that Manon is making great progress, and may arrive a day ahead of schedule to our port. So hopefully I'll be able to see my baby in 2 weeks? i'm just hoping the dealer doesn't have to keep it for long since i'm not having the dealer install anything...

i still haven't thought of a name yet... but when i see my baby, i think it'll come to me...

 

I'm of the same opinion. I wasn't sure if my baby was a boy or a girl - until I saw her. The name didn't come to me right away, but it'll come to me soon enough. It took almost a full year before I realized my Volvo's name was "Svetlana"...

My pickup is scheduled for tomorrow... Proof that there is a way to stop time and alter the time-space continuum?

My MINI has just conquered her first feat....Stephen Hawking, eat your heart out.

 

Pav, that's great!! Good luck man!!

 

that's great news pav!!! can't wait to see pictures!!!

 

A heads up for other people whose MINI's are shipped thru port of Charleston.

I was on vacation for 2 weeks. Was expecting my MINI to be delivered to dealer by now based on message MA left me last week. Finally spoke with him directly today and found out my MINI was discharged from Emden to port Charleston on 6/29 but sat at port and wasn't delivered to VDC until 7/9, yesterday.

So as of the last update, my MINI is at the VDC after sitting at the port for 9 days. I figure other week 24 MINI's may be experiencing similar delays. Anyone else having this problem?

 

There are a bunch of us Brad ... and my MA has no clue what the issue is or when my car will leave the dock. see this thread as well https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=106474

 

Must be a backup at the VDC, I'm guessing.

 

Sorry to hear you guys have been delayed. It really sucks to hear.

I'm official as of this morning.

pics to follow...

 

Looking forward to seeing the official pics!

 

Pav, PICTURES!!! Minibird is getting week 24 lonely, it's been over a week.

480 miles so far....

 

You're half way to break-in. I am envious. I've only got 210 miles so far.

Pav, I second Birdman's sentiment. Stop having too much fun and show us.

 

Hey Brad HouTX,
Sorry to hear about the delayed arrival.
Not sure how vehicles are prioritised @ the VDC, but our Dame Edna arrived @ Charleston on the Frisia Jul.5 and our MA called to say it's on a truck arriving at the dealer later today Jul.12!!! FYI I had been cautioned that a long delay @ Charleston and/or VDC might suggest some sort of transit damage to the vehicle. My understanding is that Mini does not have to disclose any repairs/refurbishment during the production process, which "technically" continues from birth @ Oxford to include the VDC/VPC. It would definitely warrant very close scrutiny of the vehicle b4 acceptance. Not intending to be negative, but urging caution.

 

Sorry for the lack of pics, guys! Its been a crazy week, and my limited spare time has been used up motoring - hence this post is happening at 4:30am EST....

She's a beaut - I can't get enough of her.

I'm hoping to sneak in some time to take a few shots tomorrow and upload the shots from delivery date.

This "break in period" stuff is difficult.

 

Just got mine yesterday, too! Woo! I love this car...the break in...ugh.

 

If any damage at the VDC is greater than 3% of the Mini's value, they must disclose it to the purchaser.

 

Wow alsaa - My car arrived port 6/29 and I was told it's on a truck as of yesterday am for a Friday delivery. I guess that might point to some damages in shipping. Did you order from Moritz? Or the other DFW dealer? The Emden must have had some rough seas and bounced our cars around...if your car makes it to dealer before mine, there *has* to have been some kind of damage control going on.

 

Thanks for the note of caution. The delays do seem suspicious especially given that your vehicle arrived so rapidly. It's also possible that the port and VDC are not run with 100% efficiency and that the July 4th holiday created more confusion.

Spoke with sales manager at MINI of Woodlands today (Keith, my MA, is difficult to get ahold of.) Found out my MINI was released from VDC on 7/10 and picked up by carrier yesterday. There are 5 other Houston-bound vehicles on that carrier that have been sitting at Charleston for a long time like mine. According to dealer, there would be a "D" if any damage was done.

The sales manager also said the covered trucks can transport up to 10 MINI's. Maybe Pedanni's MINI is one of the other 4 vehicles aboard that transport and it is stopping off in Dallas to deliver Pedanni's then driving down to Houston.

Not sure if I would be able to notice repairs. Given that many vehicles were delayed, I'm cautiously optimistic that there was no foul play or damage.

 

peddani,
Dame Edna is due into Arlington today

 

I don't understand why everyone even mentions the "break in period". The manual states "keep the car under 100MPH". I don't know about you leadfeet, but I would have a very hard time getting the car above 100MPH breakin or not!!

There really is not breakin, per say if you ask me. Well, I guess the 4500 RPM's could limit you a bit, but....