I got a call from Markel BMW/Mini in Omaha today that my 2011 Clubman S was expected in Monday. A couple weeks ago when I visited them, they told me the financing rate would be 5.45%. I started checking on better rates from local banks. Then I was told I can get 3.9% financing from Mini, so that's what I'm doing. i hope to be driving my Clubbie home in Lincoln Tuesday.

 

The buttons look like theyve changed a bit. Maybe a more sensible layout? Or maybe the commented was referring to the volume buttons shifting. Who knows, everyone agrees the updates are really, really nice, and that's all that matters!
Good to know on the financing. When I ordered mine I was told in past years it's been 5-6%, but with the current economy, I'd bet MINIs working real hard to keep the interest to themselves. I've gotten a 3.74% quote from a credit union so unless MINI comes close or beats that, I'll stick to outside banks. The finance manager made it seem like dealers work with more national banks, so who knows.

 

I forgot to mention, as I was walking out, they took possession of their first '11... A clubman that appeared to be a soho? Maybe? It was that crazy white silver with contrast two-tone wheels and that gorgeous back end... The dealer was like "not too late!" but I stayed the course. I will say I was tempted by that car only because of the body color on the rear pillars instead of all black or all silver. It was gorgeous. I'd seen those in the uk pics but didn't know they were available here. I didn't go through every detail but it was my impression that that was a 4k to 5k trim package. The white silver did look sharp. I suspect it was not n S model, given the sticker was under 29k.

 

The one you saw could be the White Silver Edition package for $1,750.

http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/FACTS...uipment_List-s

 

Orm: UAL provided me with this link http://www.ais-live.co.uk/aismap/AIS%20Maps/solent.html
We should be able to see the Tamesis later this afternoon/evening since ENG is +5 hrs ahead and it's due in tomorrow morning. We're inching closer man!!!

 

Hey, guys--there's another site that offers all AIS coverage. You can already see Tamesis crossing the channel here: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...203:57:41%20PM

 

Like watching grass grow... Kinda cool to check out some of the other ships in the area. You find odd gems like this one: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/sho...8000#top_photo

Transportation methods like this always amazes me. I mean, look at how many ships are in the Channel and are navigating each other successivly (hopefully..Orm if another boat hits us or the ship sinks, it's my new-car-bad-luck. Sorry ) just to get goods from one place to another successively. Yet, it's such old-school technology, ships have been around for more than a century. Trains are the same deal. Just kind of cool to think about the background processes going on in the world that makes things continue to flow.

 

Thanks Dodgy. I was using the same site, but couldn't get it to show just Tamesis.

Now here's a webcam, I do not know if we can see Tamesis with it, but it is worth the look. http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/webcams.htm It is crazy, I know, and I promise stalking (read: ship spotting) is not a hobby of mine.

Wahoo shoe: Oh man, I have bad luck too. That's why I am prepping myself for the worst. Watching the ship in real-time is not good for my mental health for sure.

 

I read some of those support group where ship stalking, I mean spotting, was like a religion. I've sworn to myself I won't do that once Clubby gets on and sails out into the ocean blue. But I never said anything about before that time

 

wahoo_shoe: I noticed that there is another webcam behind the link you gave, on the top of the page. (http://www.ais-live.co.uk/aismap/AIS%20Maps/solent.html)

Edit: The webcam I posted earlier is found on the same website wahoo shoe gave. It is on the left side of the page. Both of them are.

 

For those of you whose ship is going through Halifax, you can see your ship on these two webcam.

"Chebucto Head Lighthouse"
http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/hal...#axzz0zzl8R0lS

"Entrance to Halifax Harbour"
http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/hal...#axzz0zzoh19i6

Here is the ship schedule for Halifax
http://www.portarrivals.com/list.asp...6340&t=HALIFAX

 

Your ship should be parking on the left side of this webcam.

http://www.ais-live.co.uk/aismap/AIS...tonwebcam.html

 

Oooh ship docks today!! Technically, it only has 6 hours left to dock to be done on 9/19.

I'm. Going. To. Go. Nuts. real soon!

 

Tamesis ETA: 2010-09-19 21:00 (UTC, Coordinated Universal Time) according to http://www.marinetraffic.com

 

So it's currently 17:30UTC/18:30BST, so it will be in dock in less than 4 hours, puts it around 10pm there, 5pm here.

 

According to this the Tamesis is due to arrive at 23:00 local.

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/shipping_movments.asp

 

Listening to the Marine radio, just said next five minutes Tamesis.

http://www.ais-live.co.uk/aismap/AIS...leofwight.html

Using the Flash player.

I know, the Mini is not on board yet, but I am having fun.

 

'Bout to round that bend to come down the final stretch to the ports

 

Docked. Finally I can take a break. Well, honestly I haven't been on the computer this whole time. LOL.

 

Time to load em all up!! Knowing my MINI is moving makes me happy, I know it's a long wait but it's not just sitting there at least.
I checked my VIN, not on the boat yet. I'll check again before bed, hopefully by then it'll be on and I can sleep well tonight.
Records show the might Tamesis can make it across the pond in 8 days. I wonder what the chances of it rolling in early would be

 

WWWHHHHEEEEEEE!! Clubby is onboard as of 11:38!! Saawweeeettt! I was getting rather nervous when I went to bed and woke up to no notice, but alas, a quick check at work and I get a sweet little "Loaded on Vessel" message

Come home to mama!

 

Wahoo shoe: you are funny. MCS 11:06, I hope they behave on board.

 

Easier being funny than crazy. And I hope my MINI doesn't behave, I don't need a car that's more mature than my yuppie state of mind...

 

Don't take this the wrong way, Wahoo, but I remember this energy from my first MINI. Sadly for me, it was vicariously... I didn't pull the trigger on my custom build, I was just following the production run threads for fun, and getting all into it. It's a unique bonding experience to be able to track that car from soup to nuts. The only thing that would beat it would be MINI bringing us the BMW factory-pick-up deal. In my case, my first dealer in 06 had my car made in one of his slots and didn't tell me, as we were going back and forth on the deal. I was in a holding pattern, looking to sell a car first. Suddenly he called me up and announced my MINI was in his showroom.

It was a successful marketing ploy, and I bought it that day.

:::

This time around, I'm in your boat, so to speak. Well, weeks behind your boat, rather.

 

Am I doing this wrong by being excited?

Ditched mine three weeks ago. Been using a family car and playing car shuffle since. It'll totally be worth it in the end. I've made a few "sacrifices" to get this car. Not sacrifices as in I'm depriving myself of something more important, but just making a few responsible choices in order to make this a very safe, secure, easy purchase, not a "holy crap i'm going to go broke" or "holy crap i can't get to work". And in two weeks when he's in the driveway, I'm sure I'll never look back