Week 26 Support Group (2009)
#101
MiniGRM- hope you get good resolution on this. Having the detailed schedules on the web and AAM seems both good and bad- if all we had was the dealer's "should be here in 8-10 weeks" then you wouldn't have this aggravation but also wouldn't know where anything was. C'est la vie!
Had a freak out moment just now- noticed a link to Week 27 Support Group at the bottom of the page, clicked through and saw all these folks talking about getting and driving their MINIs. Wait! We're week 26 and I don't think anyone has gotten a car yet! .....oh, wait, that's week 27 2008!
I hope my baby's doing ok on the boat! Here's the sailwx page for the Maersk Wave: http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shi...html?call=S6TV
-Adam
09 MCS LB/W tuscan beige/english oak/premium/convenience/hifi
Had a freak out moment just now- noticed a link to Week 27 Support Group at the bottom of the page, clicked through and saw all these folks talking about getting and driving their MINIs. Wait! We're week 26 and I don't think anyone has gotten a car yet! .....oh, wait, that's week 27 2008!
I hope my baby's doing ok on the boat! Here's the sailwx page for the Maersk Wave: http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shi...html?call=S6TV
-Adam
09 MCS LB/W tuscan beige/english oak/premium/convenience/hifi
#102
Thanks for the kind words and yes, their system and attempt at involving us in the process does create this situation.
I'm really curious as to why they would have two Production Completed dates for a car. Also, the car was in the Body Shop stage for three days....normally, body shop is the day before final assembly. Makes me concerned that the problem was a paint issue. Painting these days with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and heat curing makes for a challenging process to repair if there is a problem. In addition, when spraying metallic paints, like Laser Blue, getting a match is dependant on temperature, humidity, equipment, and pressure. Also, a finished car cannot be baked at the same temperatures that a shell can stand. This could all affect the final paint durability and match because it affects how the metallic flakes orient themselves in the paint. This is one of the possible explanations for why there is a 10 day gap in the production completion dates. Paint curing is typically catalyzed as well as heat cured and this too affects match and durability. If it were a mechanical problem, it would seem to me that it wouldn't take 10 days to resolve.
We'll see what the explanation is. I guess I always have the option of refusing the car, and buying off the lot, or reordering, although after this experience I'm not sure I want to go through this process again at this time, even though I'd love to own a MINI
.
I hope all of you have a better more positive experience, and that all your cars meet your fondest expectations.
I'm really curious as to why they would have two Production Completed dates for a car. Also, the car was in the Body Shop stage for three days....normally, body shop is the day before final assembly. Makes me concerned that the problem was a paint issue. Painting these days with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and heat curing makes for a challenging process to repair if there is a problem. In addition, when spraying metallic paints, like Laser Blue, getting a match is dependant on temperature, humidity, equipment, and pressure. Also, a finished car cannot be baked at the same temperatures that a shell can stand. This could all affect the final paint durability and match because it affects how the metallic flakes orient themselves in the paint. This is one of the possible explanations for why there is a 10 day gap in the production completion dates. Paint curing is typically catalyzed as well as heat cured and this too affects match and durability. If it were a mechanical problem, it would seem to me that it wouldn't take 10 days to resolve.
We'll see what the explanation is. I guess I always have the option of refusing the car, and buying off the lot, or reordering, although after this experience I'm not sure I want to go through this process again at this time, even though I'd love to own a MINI
.
I hope all of you have a better more positive experience, and that all your cars meet your fondest expectations.
#106
#107
Wahoo!! It'll be here before you know it!
#109
I just got all sorts of good news from my MA! My car will be arriving at the dealer on Thursday, where the JCW Tuning Kit will be installed. I also found out that MINI extended the special financing rates to the Convertibles! 3.9% for 60 months here I come! I just need to get the go ahead from my doctor and physical therapist to drive and I should have my MINI next week!
#110
#111
Best my Credit Union (yes, Credit Union) gives on a 60 month loan is 5.75% so I'm definitely going to take MINI up on their offer, assuming they approve me for the loan.
#112
I'm hoping I'll be able to get my car by the end of July. Either that or I'm hoping MINI extends the financing specials into August. I can get 4.99 from my credit union, so I can save 1% by going through MINI. My car is getting to NY on the 23rd and then needs to make the trek to Annapolis, MD. It's gonna be close to August by the time I can pick it up so hopefully the offers extend into August.
#113
#114
I'm getting so antsy. Does anyone know how the payments work with MINI Financial. Example, at my credit union if you make a $2000 payment, you won't HAVE to make a payment until your scheduled payments are equal to $2000. Does anyone know if its the same way with MINI? Or is it like, if you make a $2000 payment, you still have to make next months schedule payment.
Edit: I just found a number for MINI Financial Services, and they were able to answer my question. If you make a large payment, you don't have to make payments until your overpayment is exhausted.
Edit: I just found a number for MINI Financial Services, and they were able to answer my question. If you make a large payment, you don't have to make payments until your overpayment is exhausted.
Last edited by Jeremy1026; 07-14-2009 at 07:49 AM.
#116
Yep. I'm just waiting on a $7500 check. So rather then waiting on the check to get the car, I can put half of what I was planning down then drop the giant payment a week or two later, and just make smaller payments
#121
#122
Because I got my MINI, very well optioned (with the JCW Tuning Kit) for less then base MSRP of a JCW Convertible. Instead of 208 HP and 192ft-lbs of torque from the JCW Convertible, I'll have 189 horsepower at 200 ft-lbs of torque (while over-boosting.) In comparison, the stock Cooper S Convertible has 172HP with 177ft-lbs of torque. All while saving about $4,000 over getting a factory JCW. Also, I wouldn't be able to get the wheels I want with the JCW brakes nor the interior surface color in Interchange Yellow.
Last edited by Jeremy1026; 07-15-2009 at 07:59 PM.
#124
I'm just going to have the JCW air intake, exhaust, and ECU flash. JCWs from the factory have the big brakes, a bigger turbo, and one other (performance) thing (I think) in addition to what I'm getting. So I'll have like, a semi-JCW.