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

 

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 just called ASKMINI and was forwarded to the live rep voicemail. That's a good sign. I would love to know which ship mine ended up on.

 

My MINI got released from customs this morning! Welcome to the U-S-of-A <yet-to-be-named-MINI>!

 

Congrats!

 

I had accepted that I wouldn't get my car until the middle of August and am in the middle of a business trip to Colorado. Decided to type my VIN into the WW tracking site and to my surprise I am scheduled to leave the UK tomorrow on the Undine Now I'm really excited

 

Wahoo!! It'll be here before you know it!

 

awesome- good news you guys!

 

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!

 

yeah, just talked to my MA as well about the financing- that's about .5% better than my bank will give me for 60 months. My car won't get to the dealer until early next week (he says, says he), hopefully I'll be able to go get it as soon as it's ready!

 

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.

 

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.

 

when I was ordering mine, the MA made a big deal about the financing deals only going through the end of June. They extended it through July, and with the way sales have been cratering I bet they'll keep extending it...

 

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.

 

It's nice to know that option exists. Of course you could just keep paying monthly after that large payment to get the car paid off a little quicker.

 

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

 

My car is officially on the Undine and on its way here. Finally

 

HOOONNNNKKK!!!! HOOOONNNNKKK!!!!!!

 

Maersk Wave left Halifax, NS this afternoon for New York. C'mon c'mon c'mon!

 

I'm heading to my dealer tomorrow afternoon in hopes of catching a glimpse of my MINI. The truck should be dropping it off sometime tomorrow.

 

woo- awesome! I don't know if that's such a good idea- you're going to want to drive away in it!
I guess it worked out timing-wise with your own surgery, but can I ask why you chose to have the dealer do the JCW install instead of getting it from the factory?

 

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.

 

Ah, gotcha- so you'll have a MINI JCW as opposed to a MINI S JCW. Neat!

 

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.

 

Ladies and gentleman, I present to you, my 2009 MINI Cooper S Convertible.