Good luck with getting everything squared away. It will be a long process, but I'm sure it will work out. I'm currently working with my insurance company because my father-in-law caught my car on fire (other than that, he's a great guy though), but boy does the insurance company ask a lot of questions!

 

BRAKE THE DRIVERS WINDOW< PULL SOME WIRES OUT OF THE DASH AND LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE CAR. REPORT IT STOLEN. I dont condone fraud, I do condone covering your *** however.

 

Is it cynical if that kind of made me giggle? :P your father in law catching your car on fire?

-

Yikes, I'm not gonna commit fraud, holy moley.

 

Yeah, it's a long and strange story, but the front seal on the transmission blew on my way to catch a cruise ship, so I ditched it and asked him to pick it up for me while I was gone and see if he could get it into a garage so I could have it when I got back. Instead, he was towing it home (front wheels up, drive shaft still connected), and the tranny overheated, sparking some nearby wires and kablewy! The insurance (when I finally get it squared away) should give me a decent down payment for the MINI I'm planning on ordering

 

Honestly, I've had stranger things happen to me with other cars. The mini was always the problem child.

Hence it's name, Howard Hughes :P

 

Holy Cripes!
After reading the posts here and that blog, it looks like the real victim here is that poor little MINI. Abused, stabbed, slashed, vandalized, kicked in the Nav, and hated.

It's enough to make you want to start a rescue kennel for unloved MINIs.
Poor little thing. Looks like he never had a chance.

 

Are you sure you have to drive back down to Miami? I have filed many police reports "over the phone".

The ins. company wants something documented and though I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I have yet to see anyone not able to do it over the phone.

HTH's,

Mark

 

Yea, my father (whom legally owns the car) has been in law enforcement for 30 years (december 2nd) and knows a bunch of people. including down in Miami.

He called and asked as a personal favor, and they said no.

I think the only option, since it's not running right, is to have it professionally towed back and forth? And let their police deal with it.

I'm actually appreciative of the private messages, offering advice, and wisdom. And the posts here. It's more than I've received from my local mini club.

So THANKS
big hugs

 

I have to admit the OP's blog is how should I say... Scary... There's life after the Mini... Don't let it get you down.

 

Well we're in the "life after mini'", and I'm still here hehe. All of my cynical goodness.

Hopefully, tomorrow well know something. I'm not sure "exactly" what's going on, but assuming I find out, I'll be sure to post.

The subject of vehicle replacement did come up today, and unfortunately, if so, it wont' be a mini or BMW product :( I was actually seriously thinking about the hyundai genesis. (the v6 version). The premium "hifi" system in that car is actually, premium hifi quality. :P And it's a good car. imo... just a thought, or a far fetched hope, in the eyes of some.

 

Well, if it's not going to be a MINI, thetruthaboutcars.com recently did their top 10 cars and the number one car was the Mazda3. I can atest to that as I just bought one myself (before I saw the list). But it's a pretty nice ride. Nothing fancy on the inside (at least mine anyway), but you can upgrade and get a lot of the same features as a MINI. Maybe something worth looking into...

 

If you have to appear in person in Miami to file a report, you can get the Amtrack train from Jacksonville to Miami. Just bring the photo evidence with you.

 

Was visiting a friend in South Beach in the mid 90's and had a similar thing happen to my (rental) Mustang convertible. Stolen off the street, slashed this and that, found 2 days later abandoned.

Police report was the easiest part of the very frustrating 15 month ordeal to get AMEX to pay my $500 insurance deductible (as they promise to do if you rent using your card).

So sorry to hear about your troubles.....but get that police report.

 

Sure hope you can get some satisfaction with this. I can't imagine much worse. We're pulling for you here. Hope everything comes out OK for you.

P.S. thanks for replying to my message about SAM....very helpful

 

Your welcome, and as I said, Vista Mini (dan, in service, a friend of one of my best friends, is amazing, and makes your experience well worth it), or Braman Mini. Both amazing dealerships, and they have been by my side thru all of this mess.

Granted, they've never been able to repair my issues, but they span outside the scope of 99% of service problems

 

the car has to appear in person, actually. lol. "in person". physically, in the metal.

 

Unresolved issues and problems with the car and you drive it 12 hours away.

WOW!

Then it gets vandalized and you drive it home, where it breaks down 3 times.

Just WOW.

You never file a police report.

No sympathy from me.

It sounds like you have some responsibility issues you need to clear up. I feel sorry for the next car you are getting.

 

Well technically Miami is a 5.5-6 hour drive from Jacksonville, lol.

It took 12 hours cause of the tranny issue (hmm sounds dirty ;P)

Meh.. sympathy wasn't wanted. It was more of a blog, to tell my story. Some people like to listen, and be like... wow I'm so glad i'm not that bloke.

 

If you normaly drive 120 MPH I think we've found one of your underlying problems.

 

The whole story just seems.. odd.

 

Agreed. Very odd.
Almost unbelievable.

 

Which part? lol..... Actually, I tend to have some of the worst luck in the wold... partially cause I was a hellion (hellyun?) when I was younger.

However, some will be pleased to know, a certain dealership who took pity on me (one in South Florida, lol) is going to order the replacement parts, and to the best of their ability repair my cars damage (not the mechanics problem) at a significant discount. A courtesy due to the severe issues I've been having with the car.

It will be towed back down to South Florida, and prepared for trade in in a month or so.

Soooooo. .. there is a somewhat happy ending.

 

Glad to hear that the Florida dealership is helping you out with your problem. I myself have dealt with Bramman in West Palm Beach and found them to go beyond the norm to fix issues and please the customer.

 

I'm hoping for the best . . . . I really am.

Should take a while tho.

 

Let us know what the end result is