Hello all. This forum has helped Mary and I decide we needed to be part of the MINI family. So last Friday we ordered a Chili Red Roadster S with Champion Black leather seats + probably too many other options but ordered it the way we wanted it! We just recently retired and believe this will be our frequent Road Trip car and MINI Club activity car to keep us young! Many of you make constant contributions to this forum and they have been so helpful to us. It is really appreciated. The dealership owner and our MA believe we will have the car sometime in Feb depending on how soon they start production after the XMAS break. Of course I will post pics then and before that figure out how to track "VIRGIL's" production/shipping progress. I am an 18 year old trapped in a 67 year old body so I hope I fit in around here! Ken-

 

Very exciting!

 

Awesome Ken! February will be here soon enough, but I'd be so anxious - like that 18 year old!

 

Have you added Carly Simon's "Anticipation" to your playlist?
Welcome to NAM!

 

Congratulations on your new order, and welcome to the community!

 

Many of us fit that category. You'll enjoy yourself, I'm sure.

Congrats on the new baby!

Black Widow

 

Ditto Ken - you will be welcome here - wonderful group of people of all ages, shapes and sizes...

The MINI events are great fun. Mini's on the Dragon (MOTD) in April and MINI Takes the States in July/Aug are worth investigating. Plus your local club events.

 

Hey Ken! Congrats!!! your going to love the roadster.
We got one for my wife and every week I've come to be so impatient for the weekends to arrive so I can drive it!

Well if you're 18 . . . that makes me 10! I must be a precocious driver
To be honest I'd say, it's a about time!!!

I really don't understand why most people hesitate so long. It must be something wrong with societies silly and overly practical and judgmental pressures. But no matter... you're going to love it all the same

Now, I hate to brake it to you but the wait is going to be excruciating . . .
At least you did it the right way. Ordered in the winter instead of late spring like we did unfortunately for us.

 

Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome. I already have some great recommendations, trip ideas, etc.

I exclusively use Adams car washing/polishing/interior/leather cleaning products and know I will need to initially clay-bar Virgil to get all the surface impurities off. New to me will be the type of convertible roof cleaner to use. Any recommendations in that area would be much appreciated. Thanks again, Ken-

 

Hi Ken,

I don't know about the convertible top cleaner, but as for wax, i am a fan of Zaino which is a polish.

You use a small amount, goes on easy, comes off easy, lasts a long time, longer than any wax i have tried which are quite a few, some expensive...

 

Thanks for the input Signcarver. I used Zaino products in the past…mostly on show cars but to tell you the truth they came out with so many different and new products I got a bit confused on what to use when. Seemed easier when they first started selling their on-line products. I DO remember the incredible shine Zaino provided and the fact that many thin coats would really protect the finish. What specific Zaino products do you use?

 

I use McGuire's Carnuba, nothing else. When the sun hits it, it shines. The new polymers look good in the shade, but the sun shows shadows.

There are a lot of convertible top cleaners. Try a few out and pick the best for your area. What works in Florida doesn't work well in Utah.

Black Widow

 

For the roof, I use RaggTopp.

 

RodSpindler, Signcarver, jkapinos - thanks for all the recommendations. Seems like RaggTopp is recommended often as well as some 303 products. I will get me a good/soft horsehair brush as well. I saw a RaggTopp video in the Detailing section that was very informative.

Have heard great things about the Roadster from all of you. Some even compare it to past MG's they have owned. My wife and I were trying to decide between the Convertible S and the Roadster S. I love the two seat sport car effect. She felt the rear seat of the convertible was useless for us and liked how that opened up for more truck space (more room for her stuff - HA).

I just received a Production Number: 0561933 but when I go into the Owner's Lounge it shows the wrong color/info. My MA said that will change to the correct vehicle in a few more days and then I will be able to track Virgil's progress.

Any tracking advise any of you have would be most appreciated!!! Regards, Ken-

 

I suspect you may have already done this, but if not you should check out this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-updated.html

The first few posts are especially helpful. It's fun to watch your MINI progress from the factory to the port and across the pond.

 

Hi Ken,

lol - if you read their site you can get so overwhelmed and confused. I finally documented the steps i use so i can refer back to them (i'm sure there are variations on my steps that work equally as well)

This is my routine - although there is overlap between the products so sometimes i leave out the first step

• wax with Z-AIO
• wax with Z-5 PRO
• apply a coat of Z-CS (clear, you don't have to remove this product)
• finish with Z-6

The thing i discovered over the years is that if you use a small amount of product you get as good results and it is much faster.

I can apply and remove an entire coat in 20-25 minutes, faster with the Z-CS and Z-6.

Steve

 

Great routine/plan…thanks Steve. I may try Zaino again once my Adams products run out…..

 

I always use zaino. Heck, we're only doing half a car. Haha

 

By the way, the OL now shows our Roadster S as on order and lists all options but one. Spoke with my MA and the Sales Mgr. and they assured me that the Auto Air IS on the order and will be installed during production. I guess what some of you have said has happened to me ---- that is the OL is not always correct or is slow to update. ALL is well.

Wishing ALL OF YOU the very best & Happy Holidays, Ken-

 

Congrats on joining the MINI family!

You've picked the correct model, correct color, correct seats, you're correctly retired to maximize your fun use, and you have the correct first name. And like mine, the St. Louis winter may not allow for much break-in time with the top down.

Nothing else to do but wait!

 

KennyR, thanks for your comments!!! Soooo many great colors but when I saw the Chili Red paint with black leather with red seat piping, JCW red trim interior package, etc...…I just couldn't resist ordering…even when the price was outlandish. LOL.

My bride of 45 years will be making many road trips with me in 2014. Yes, we are trying to relive the convertible fun we experienced when we were first married. Will post trip reports as we make them starting late next spring.

Thanks to ALL for your warm welcome and responses. Mary and I really appreciate the kindness.

 

Congrats on your new MINI Cooper S Roadster. You're going to love this car.

 

Thanks Mr. T. Once this thing gets scheduled, I know I will want to track it. Heck, that's half the fun!

 

Can I tell you one more time, you're going to love this car.

 

Congrats! ;-)