So I placed my order yesterday for my first Mini. (AB/W MCS with freaking sweet driving lights)

Anyways this is kinda a BIG deal for me. My first new car. And I've needed to buy a car for a few years now, but I wanted to wait until I could afford THIS car. I will admit I almost started crying when my MA said congratulations!

But other then that slight bit of emotional overjoy, I've felt a huge dose of DENIAL. I really don't believe this is happening. I guess this is the first stage of waiting. I'm also feeling a bit of the "Holy Crap! How am I gonna pay for this?" I haven't had a car payment for years and the whole financing thing gives me a cold chill. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much...I should just be thinking of a name, right?

anybody else going through the same, or experience any "stages" in their wait?

 

Same here, good sir! I have ordered my MINI on July 5th. It is my first new vehicle, and I have never paid a car payment in my life (my first vehicle I paid for, $1500 cash, was a pristine black '92 Mazda Protege). I drove that vehicle for five years now, ever since I turned 16, and have bonded with it quite immensely. Super fun car, that. It has never broken down (and I've put 100,000 of my own miles on it, for a total of 208,000).

But when I was talking about MINIs to my wife in my car, everything went wrong. Motor, transmission, you name it... it failed. So instead of repairing it, I decided to order a PW/B MINI Cooper S!

I just recently went through a smörgasbord of life changes. Just seven months ago, I was struggling living paycheck-to-paycheck wondering if I was going to be able to afford food and gas for the month. So I was also on the verge of tears when I smacked down my deposit, filled out the finance papers (with a cosign of course, thank GOD!), and got a big handshake and congratulations from my MA. I walked out of the dealership with the biggest and dumbest smile you could ever see on a twenty-year old, and that's pretty dumb!

So yes, you aren't alone. I did feel denial of these seemingly mystical events that are happening in my life. I remember thinking, "This has got to be a dream. I know I'm going to wake up and have to go back to work at Chick-Fil-A frying delicious buttered bun and pickle chicken sandwiches (and yes McDonalds did steal this sandiwch from them. Chick-Fil-A has had it since their grand opening in 1946 (known then as the Dwarf Grill)." But, no, I woke up surprised by a very fond e-mail from MINI and my MA.

Don't worry about the payments, you'll be fine! I worried about mine as well, even though I know I shouldn't, but it is a big step in your life. It's my first big purchase, and I'll know how you'll be feeling all the way.

Congratulations on your first new car!

 

yeah! so I'm not alone! It was so surreal yesterday submitting my build for order. I really still don't believe I actually did it.
I think nothing will really matter once it's here. I;m not just getting a new car, it's a life change. And if I have to cut back on my sushi addiction and start back on the top ramen dinners!

haha. I've never had chick-fil-a, I don't see many where I live, but it has to be better than Mcdonalds!

 

Find out what your build week is.
Without that, you can't project forward.

You'll be logging into MINIUSA/OwnersLounge a few times a day and acting like Pavlov's dog when that terrible music starts.
The site has about a 4 day delay.
Good luck with the sanity.

 

When you start visualizing your MINI being built, at each of its stages (body shop, paint shop, etc), and rewatch the online time-lapse video of the factory over and over, thinking, "That's what my MINI is doing right now!" relax. You're normal. I think.

 

Stage 1 (upon order): Joy.

Stage 2 (while waiting): Anticipation.

Stage 3 (while still waiting): More joy.

Stage 4 (upon delivery): Instant gratification.

Stage 5 (a year later): Happier than ever.

Congrats.

Dean.

 

i had a pretty high level of anxiety when i ordered mine. with my bike payment i'm looking at around $750 for my toys. after i got my first full pay check from my new job i felt much better about it. dont worry about it. where the is a will there is a way.

 

ok...I just got my production # today. It's still "on order", hasn't even gone into production, but I'm starting to feel the impatience! I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose it by week 4. Productivity at work is going to decrease by 1,000%, but oh well. At least I have the sale of my old car to keep me busy for a while.
Thank you for the reassurance, I'm starting to not stress the small stuff like a car payments.... and focus on the big picture...like my first road trip and what mini accessories to stock up on! I can't wait to get my production week so I can join a "support group".

 

Trust me .... the wait is worth it!! Once you drive off in your new MINI, you'll forget all about the car payments.

I got mine in December 07 (traded in my Jeep Wrangler ... thankfully, they gave me a very nice trade in $$). But, even if I had to pay $100 more per month, I couldn't be happier!!!

You'll LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

 

lucky

 

jessitron, I'm right there with you. I read these forums everyday and I haven't even placed an order yet. Thankfully though, as the guys here have some great pre-purchase pointers. I have never had a car payment and I have owned three cars (combined value of $3,001) over 11 years.

I'm looking to put my order in over the next couple of months, but I can't imagine the wait after the order is any more agonizing than the wait I've already been through. Looking forward to it though. I've had it spec'd out for months...

 

It's a weird feeling. I also feel like I am never actually going to get the car! It just seems to good to be true, almost as if I'm trying not to get my hopes up!

 

I know how your all feeling! This is my first "Brand-New" car. Currently my house payment is lower than my car payment. It doesn't matter to me though because I definately deserve it for all of my hard work over the years. I got myself a budget that can't be beat! Congrats on your purchase!

 

I share your wait,...and your excitement! My MINI isn't being built until next month and unless there's some kind of miracle, I won't see it until September!

Keep your chin up; yours'll be here soon!

 

I'm at week 8 now. I was told 5 to 6 weeks. Is this the norm?

 

I'm expecting about 7 weeks total. Have you been tracking the progress and know where your car is? Mine's built and will be loaded on a ship on Monday, arrive in NJ on the 31st, and I expect about a week after that, I might get a hold of it.

 

I must say that, given the outrageous enjoyment I get out of the car, making payments is something I never minded. Best automotive dollars I ever spent!!!!

 

I thought they stayed at the Vehicle Distribution Center for up to two weeks after they land, and then they need to truck them to your state?

Or maybe that's just for us Texas folks... I wish I lived in the East... I cannot wait! Ugh... somewhere in the world, my MINI is being born!

I wish I could stroke my MINI fetus.