Oh, I'm sure the worst is yet to come. But, exactly when is "the end" - is it when Twiggy is finally on board the ship, or does this agonizing wait get worse as I wait 21 days for her to get to the VDC? I think I can deal with all the rest since it will be pretty straight forward. It was just the uncertainity of the timing during the production phase.

Having so many other MINI owners to hold my hand as I experienced the birth of Twiggy certainly made it go a lot easier. NAM is great!

 

I know I've related my story before but RayRatt you might enjoy this. I got the call Malcolm was ready and was down at the dealer as soon as I could get there. We had a problem with the financing, as in the dealer wouldn't take what we arranged privately, so they got us new financing. That was a bit time consuming so we passed the time look at all the MINI stuff for sale in the showroom. As this was my second MINI, it was not as painful a wait as the first time, but I was so anxious because I was only the second NFR in the state and hadn't ever seen the color on a MINI yet.

We walked around the show room, oogled at all the things MINI. They even had a MINI under one of their car covers. It was a tempting purchase since I knew the MINI would be parking outside. I did get a stuffed MINI which I love. Then we got all the paperwork ready and signed. I kept saying let's go, I want to see the car. Where is the car? Finally he said Let's go see your car. It was UNDER the car cover. It had been in the showroom the entire time!!!! I was so surprised. If I had only known I would have ripped that cover off hours ago!!

But to answer your question.... it is over when they hand you the keys and let you behind the wheel to drive off the lot... not until then do you actually realize that it truely is your baby.

 

Great story, CarJoy.

I kinda thought that would be the case - holding the keys will be a great relief. Like they say, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. But, I really think the birthing pains will be the worst for me. The fact I already had to wait thru the 2-week factory closure was bad enough, but if I miss the boat and have to wait another two weeks for the next ship - then wait 3 weeks for it to get to California, then spend up to a week at the VDC, and then up to a week to get trucked to Seattle - will be even worse. So, I just hope Twiggy gets on board by this time tomorrow!

I guess the biggest fear yet to come is finding out Twiggy got damaged on the ship (or, worse yet, by the transport truck). I still have bad dreams about that poor MINI at the Port Hueneme VDC that needed a new roof because the truck driver dropped the ramps on it.

 

Ah, the dreams of a new parent... We've all been there.

I was currently driving an 2003 Indy Blue/White Cooper while waiting for Malcolm to arrive. I was going to do a trade-in but MINI of North Scottsdale would only give me $10K for my first baby. I decided to put an ad on Cars.com to sell it myself. I figured I had 8 weeks to get it sold and if I couldn't sell it on my own by then, well I would just take their trade-in.

I sold it within 24 hours and received $18K. So I ended up having to rent a car for 8 weeks waiting for Malcolm. I was MINI-less and that was really painful. Especially since the only car left was a bright yellow PT Cruiser. I felt like Big Bird the entire time!

 

My story = I live in the middle of Canada and all cars show up in Halifax. That's really good because most ships stop in Halifax before going to the USA. The only problem is that Bubbles had to ride a train, a car carrier truck, 3 canoes, 1 moose, 4 pontoon boats, 6 empty oil barrels and one derelict towtruck before getting to the dealership. Then, there was set-up, adding the driving lights, painting & installing the retro gas cap (beware Ray!), sweep off the road between the dealership and my house.....I agree with CJ...the most painful part of the whole process is that time in the dealership signing all the papers before you get to actually touch the car!

Oh...did I mention the impending railroad strike at the same time as my car's arrival? CRAZY!

The good news? You totally forget about all the pain as soon as you sit in the driver's seat!

 

I suppose that after driving a MINI, any other car would feel odd. Well, maybe not "any" other car - I would love to have a restored MG TC. I wish someone would come out with a modern retro MG (like BMW has done with the MINI).

You only had to drive "Big Bird" for two months - I have an old yellow Ford pickup that I have to wear sunglasses when driving! I saw a bright yellow MINI with a white top yesterday - license plates read "DAISY" - cute car (and the girl driving it was too!).

 

HAHAHAHAH....I totally forgot about the "BIG BIRD"...HAHAHAHAHAH

 

Ok..new pic...notice the NFR driving light covers - I'm still going to paint the MINI letters in flat black yet. Also, the new mirror caps from a further perspective. Also - the license plate - EUJ (sounds like "huge" - the only way I can remember it!) Funnies

 

You've got a real beauty there, Dennis. But, everyone on this thread already knows a nightfire red MINI is a beautiful creature!

 

Oh, happy day!!!

Customer relations just told me the news I've been hoping for: "Your vehicle is being transported to the port of exit." So, unless the train derails, or there is a wildcat strike, Twiggy ought to be loaded on the Porgy tomorrow. Wonderful!

This week has been so much easier to navigate through thanks to all of the input from people in the Nightfire Red Owners Club (and a couple other threads I monitor). Now, I must sit back and wait 21 days for the ship to arrive, then I can start worrying all over again!

 

Oooohhh a lot of posts since I visited last time ! It's great to see that the NFR community is so active

Dennis, thanks for the stats - yesss - I'm the first European and "MINI COOPER D" member of the NFR club, yay !

Regarding the waiting time, I can fully understand... but I was soooo lucky... I ordered Betty Boop on Nov. 15, 2008 and received her exactly 1 month and 4 days later. I guess I was just lucky to wait such a short time... I say short now.... but it was awfully long in waiting

Ray, stop worrying... your Twiggy will be perfect !

 

Just a quick word to announce the next changes to Betty Boop: she'll be getting blue fog lights (as these match the xenon lights better) soon. And as soon as possible, the extra lamps on the front (I dunno how you call these in english...)

 

Yes Betty, I am a worry wart. But, now that I know Twiggy will be loaded onto the Porgy today, I will sleep good (it is 10:50 pm here in Washington). The Porgy is just now pulling into the Southampton dock (berth 34/35). Several of the Week 34 Production Group watched the navigational charts and webcams as the Porgy worked her way up the bay to the dock. Are we nuts or what?

 

Wow, that's cool!

Can you follow the production and shipping of your MINI that closely? I mean, you know what's the production week of your MINI, you know when it is boarding, and on which ship... Is it MINI that provides that to US customers? We don't have that in Europe (but then we're much closer to Oxford too )... I didn't even know exactly when my MINI was due to arrive, until my dealer called me a week before saying, "she's in Switzerland, you can pick her up next week"

 

We don't get that in Canada either...I think it's a MINI USA thing? In Canada, we get a postcard in the dead of winter saying something like "Your MINI will see you in the spring...that's only 45 years away!"

Ugh....

 

Love the driving light D!!! That makes a great mod to the car. I might have to do that also.

 

Malcolm is at the dealer today getting his 30K checkup. I was given a NFR as a loaner too so not to feel too lonely today. She is Malcolm's plain jane cousin but a beauty nonetheless. I have to admit since I have SIRIUS in Malcolm, I did not know how to change the station on the radio in the loaner! LOL I have never turned my radio on before! LOL

 

I hope they gave you the iPod adapter at least? hahahaha

I'm still trying to decide how I want Bubble's mods to look like...now I'm thinking of the ralley look...numbers, Monte Carlo look, ???? Or...maybe I should just leave him alone...he's already pretty sexy....maybe I should spend a little more time making me look good?

 

I think anyone can follow their cars that closely. There was a great group of people with cars in the Week 34 group. Some of them found all kinds of tools to track our cars. If you are really boored, take a look at that thread (it is only 4 pages long, but is packed with good info):
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post2858449

Twiggy is still not loaded on the Porgy - and the ship was supposed to have set sail 15 minutes ago. But, I just found they have delayed the departure for 2-1/2 hours. So, I still am pretty excited. But, if Twiggy misses the boat, I am going to be real bummed out!!!

 

Just imagine, Ray....this isn't the most painful part yet!

 

Huh??? I can't imagine anything more agonizing that the long wait to see if Twiggy would get built in time to be loaded on the ship today (rather than two weeks from now). But, I guess once it gets to California, I will go thru this whole process again as Twiggy goes thru the VDC and gets trucked to Seattle. However, I doubt I will have as many tools to track her progress along that part of the journey.

Meanwhile, I know nothing will happen for the next three weeks - unless the Porgy hits an iceberg, gets hijacked by Somolian pirates, or runs into a hurricane. That last possibility gives me the shudders - I can just imagine the damage if one strap breaks on one of the tightly packed cars. But, I am going to try to think positive thoughts and hope nothing goes wrong!

 

Trust us RayRatt.... the worse part will be when you know Twiggy is on the same lot as you but you have to deal with paperwork first!!! you are so close at this point.

Are we helping to ease the pain of right now by telling you how much worse it will get?

 

I am going to be paying cash for Twiggy - so I hope that helps speed the process up when she finally gets to the dealer. But, I beileve you are right about knowing she is ready to drive and you have to wait.

 

I just saw that Twiggy was loaded on the Porgy at 4:57 pm. The original departure time was 6:00 pm, but it has been delayed to 8:30 pm. I think I ought to call the harbor master and tell him to get the show on the road - time is wasting and I am getting anxious!

 

I'm so glad I can just sit back and watch Ray melt down from a safe distance! CJ...want some popcorn?