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Let's try this and see what happens. These were taken right after it was driven off the transport truck. No clean up, nothing. Even the mirrors haven't been pulled out. So, if you can open this up, here's Lil Guy that you've all heard so much about.

 

Youre teasing us with these non working links.

 

not opening

 

Hemi, your links are failing. Email or PM me and I'll help you with them...

 

So the Joey Mod (blackout headlamps) is now a factory option? Cool.

 

yep, under certain conditions!

 

Let's see if these two shots make it. They aren't the best as they are an iphone couple of pictures that Maria took for me.

 

Is this coming thru? This is the best that I can do until next week. Nice shot for the Mustangs to see, right? Just kidding.

 

My MIN is on board the Porgy and left the Port of Southhampton a few hours ago!

 

Wow, this thread has grown quiet a bit. I just wanted to let you guys know I have some new pics in my gallery, check them out!

Cheers!

 

Visual boost accidental feature is the bomb!
I'd have paid for that. The cover art in color sells it for me. Totally silly reason but I love it.

 

Excellent! Wishing your MINI a comfortable ride across. Hueneme drop off for you, correct?

 

Here is the Porgy going through the Panama Canal last year on her way to Port Hueneme to drop of my friend's Clubman

 

Ual
You've been the go to guy for these visual updates!

 

When I finally order my MINI, I will start tracking the ship while it is still in Germany. Some guy over at one of the BMW forums found a webcam of Bremerhaven port. You can see the ship as it is docked. Bremerhaven is where they pick up BMWs.

Any word from your dealer as to when you can pickup your car?

 

Nope, my MAs day off and the others seemed unable to find out. Whether that's an innocent or suspicious lack of info, don't know. Will follow up tomorrow. Gotta get my ducks in a row!

 

Thanks Sauron and UAL King! Porgy is beyond tracking off the coast of France and Spain I think. I can't seem to find a site that will track it in the MIDDLE of the atlantic. Dang! Anyway, yes, it is going to Port Hueneme. I think I should have it by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Ironically, it is my 50th birthday - so I will be trading in my Honda Odyssey for my Spicy Orange Mini Cooper when I turn 50! How funny! - Still haven't thought of a name yet. I was thinking it was a he, but it may be a she! Those were AMAZING Panama pics UAL! I am going to have to figure that out! I can't even figure out how to put buttons up on this sight though LOL!

 

MarisMini: I tried to find a way to track Lil Guy when he was out of reach of England too, but to no evail. Guess that you'll just have to wait until it reaches Panama, and then it will be a hit and miss proposition. You'd have thought with Lil Guy, that once the Fedora reached Nova Scotia and came on line that I'd have been able to track him all the way to Baltimore, right? Nope, lost him between Nova Scotia and Maine, then again along the Jersey Shore line to the end of the Chesapeake Bay and Bridge//Tunnel. Didn't think that he'd ever get up the Chesapeake Bay, took over 10 hours. But, it was fun.

Now on to new heights on Saturday, when we meet for the first time. We're all hoping for NO PROBLEMS.

 

YAHOO HEMI! Good luck on Saturday! How exciting. After reading a few posts about some sad-bad experiences, I know you will not take a smoot transfer for granted! Please post pics asap! Your description looks great! By the way, do all boats coming across to Panama go via Nova Scotia, Baltimore.... The WW site only shows the next stop of the Porgy is Panama.

 

MarisMini: No, not all go just one way. Our Fedora did go from Southampton to Nova Scotia down to New York, then to Baltimore then on to Savannah then thru the Panama Canal over to the Phillipines and on to New Zealand. Now, I may be wrong on the Phillipines, but it was to make one stop before New Zealand.

As for those ships going up the Western Seaboard, I have no idea how they get to Panama, or if they stop in Baltimore and Savannah first. With the number of carsd being delivered on the West Coast, I would imagine that they could take most of a ship there, I'd think. Who knows. And also, these ships carry more than just Mini Coopers, that I do know.

As for this Saturday, I do have my check off list that ORM sent the list/forum and I am going to go exactly by it, along with a few extra questions of my own. Like, has the Cold Start issue been corrected on this engine? It was to corrected on all Mini engines after January 15th, but I have no idea as to when this engine was assembled. That's another question. JCW's have NOT been the seller than Mini expected and I think that when they run out of the detuned Challenger engine, the 208hp motor, I think that the JCW is done. Just my thoughts, I have nothing to prove this by, except a very experienced gut feeling.

But, enough of the negative. I'm really looking forward to meeting Lil Guy and I fully intend on having him at my house for a long, long time. He's cute, as my wife is saying. She picked the Midnight Black and Chili Red roof colors.

 

Thanks for the info HEMI. Do you have the link to the list ORM posted? I would love to have that. I will take your advice about the Cold Start Problem question as well. I know what you mean about the JCW. They did a few things to set it apart but it seems that it was nothing under the hood, which I find curious. The new Mini S closes the gap - especially for the money.

I think the midnight black and Chili red are AMAZING!

 

Hemi! Be sure to post your Saturday experience!

 

MarisMini; Go to the 1st Gear of the North American Motors where they list all the sites. Click on 1st Gear, bring up, it's about 10 or so sites down, it should be highlighted actually, it's for 2011 people, then go to page 13 and about 3/4 the way down that page. That will get you to ORM's check off list. It's extensive, believe me.

 

MarisMini: "Those Waiting for a 2011" Support Group

That's the one on 1st Gear that you want. Page 13.

 

There's still alot that the JCW has, and the changes this year, especially in the interior, that's what sold me as much as anything. The power issue: Well most all the JCW's that I've seen have much more than the advertised power ratings. Most are show dyno readings of right at, or around 200 hp and about the same in torque, at the wheels. Considering the power loss of 12% - 15%, you get what I mean, there is quite a difference.

As for whether it is worth it or not. That depends if you want the Brembo Brakes, $2k, 27 advertised more hp, actually it's probably closer to 35hp, well it's nice, then the stronger transmission and clutch, that's hard to put a dollar and cents on. The wheels I could care less about, as I'm putting lighter, good all weather tires on it in the Spring. Have to settle for Winter tires soon. Anyone want a set of new runflats?

So in the end of this, and I don't want to open up the MCS vs. JCW again, it only ticks people off. I know what I have is something special, and a well built little performance car. Now it looks a bit different, I know it sits differently, and it will be special to me. I ordered it that way, and hey that's that.