Hi - I've been reading this forum for a few days, being educated about tracking my mini, scared by complaints and horror stories, and more excited every day.

I ordered my Lightening Blue Mini on August 9th and was told it would be built in mid September and would be a 90 day wait. But I checked online on Monday and to my great surprise it was born already - on the 24th. WOOHOO! It is now awaiting transport. So - I have no idea if I can expect it early or should just relax and assume it'll still be here in November.

I've been checking online, calling the 866 number, scouring the forum for information on timing to the west coast, boats, whether west coast orders ship with WW. I'm near Seattle - does that mean it will land in SF? Any info anyone wants to share would be great.

(BTW, what's an MA? Mini Advisor? Is that my salesperson? I don't want to drive them crazy with calls, but from what I read here it sounds like that's par for the course and they expect it)

I've never been a car freak, I loved my 2000 Jetta and was perfectly happy with it. But -get this - my 86 year old mother bought the Pepper White convertible Mini a few months ago and LOVES it. She tools around town with the top down and is having the time of her life. I went to check them out and fell in love and had to have one. I've never been this excited about a car!

 

Welcome to NAM - this is a great place for any kind of info for your new obsession. This is my first MINI too. I, too have never been so excited about nor so enjoyed driving any of my new cars over the years. Glad your mother bought something fun - no age limit on fun.

 

Thanks. Pam! (So you're the reason that name was taken....my name is Pam, too!)

 

Welcome to NAM, what a story, I can see an 86 year old Mom in a PW Cabrio so clear in my mind.

Call your MA (Motoring Advisor) aka sales person at the dealer and ask him to check his dealer records, the should even know what ship it will be transported to the West Coast. Your Seattle MINIs go to the VDC in California then trucked up to your dealer, it takes a few days after they are released from the VDC.

Enjoy your MINI, other than Lightning Blue, what are your other options?

 

If your car was born on the 9th. it is likely that you will get your mini by mid to late September, that's my guess anyway. Make sure you head over to the First Gear section of the forum, read the tracking your mini post. You can enter your VIN number on the WW site, when you are booked it will let you know what boat you are on. If memory serves me correctly my car was on the boat the following week after being built. You can also figure out your production week based on the day your car is completed. Good luck with the wait and congratulations!

 

I bookmarked the 'trackng your mini' post first thing and have already tried the ww site about 14 times in the past three days.

I don't know the lingo and abbreviations but I got
6 speed manual w/
White roof/ mirrors
cold weather package
premium package
DSC
rain sensor
auto headlamps
sport seats / lounge leather
center armrest
anthracite headliner
piano black interior
dark grey color line
chrome line interior
fog lights (I live in the rainy NW)

 

Your mom rocks!!!

 

Nice setup, I got much the same on my mini.
My MA is never around to answer questions, but I don't think they know any more than the 866 MINI folks, who don't know a lot themselves. Like now, as my car is floating in the Atlantic, they don't seem to know where it is, but that tracking thread showed me how to find it!

 

Welcome aboard!

Picked up my Mini 10 days ago... I'm sort of nostalgic for those waiting and checking online to see where on her journey she was. The anticipation was so sweet and so worth it!

Enjoy!

 

Welcome!!! You don't have long to wait now...we'll be here awaiting the big delivery day with you... Congrats to your Mom too - that's awesome!

Donna

 

Welcome to NAM. Keep checking the WW site. It can take about a week from the date your car is completed at the factory before it is loaded onto a vessel. I would not be surprised if you have your car by the end of September.

Did your mom buy her Mini off the dealer's lot or did she order it? If she ordered it and lives in the same vicinity, your wait should be similar. It looks like you and your mom you have already started your own little Mini community.

Congratulations on your purchase.

 

MA's expect that some of their customers will be highly enthusiastic about their purchase. Don't worry about driving them crazy. The ideal MA should be as enthusiastic as the customer.

 

demapples (great name!) - my mom originally ordered hers but after about two weeks as spring hit and she saw people in other convertibles enjoying the weather she couldn't stand the wait. My brother helped her find the exact same car on a lot in NY. (She's in CT.)
I finally got to see her in it a few weeks ago. It was a riot. I wish I'd gotten a picture I could share here.

The rest of the story is that my Dad was a decent guy, but very difficult and ornery. He always chose my Mom's cars- his choice, she had little to do with it. Nice cars, mind you - Mazda, an Aurora, at one point a BMW, but it all his choices, when he decided to get them with little input (maybe color) from her. For himself he drove only Mercedes for years and then Porsche Boxsters - he bought his second one when he was 87. For the last two years of his life she asked him for a Mini over and over again. He said no. No. and No. And No again. He died last November. It was tough on her (and all of us) but when she started to feel a little better she realized that for the first time in her life she could choose a car she loved without having to ask permission. She ordered her mini last spring and was like a little kid waiting for Christmas. It was a very life affirming decision at her age. And it's wonderful for all of us to see her step up and do something fun for herself. She is so thrilled with it, it's just a delight to see.

 

psrock,

I can certainlly understand why your mom, at 86, did not want to wait for her Mini. Carpe Diam!

 

Ship from Southhampton to VDC Port Hueme, near L.A., takes about three weeks. Once at the VDC another 1-3 weeks before being trucked to Northwest Mini. My car was built on Feb 7 and I picked it up on the 14th of April.