hahaha I'm finally in a support group. My first MINI in 06 was stealth ordered from my specs by the dealer with which I was most negotiating, so it was suddenly HERE... I never even knew it was in production.

But this time around, I'm waiting patiently like everyone else.

 

Went to the dealership yesterday and recieved news that the the boat has been delayed from Sept 26 to October 7 . Once it is has docked the car takes about 5 days to ger here, and then its another 3-5 day wait since I am having special work done on the car. Let's see how it goes and hope there ain't more surprises...

 

thirdraildesignlab

You have to let me know how well a Clubman S does on the steep hills of San Francisco. I live in South City where there aren't many hills. When I do drive to The City in my future Clubman S, I want to be assured that it can handle the steep hills.

I cringe just thinking about driving a MINI into San Francisco with those harsh riding runflats on crappy streets.

 

CFRM, are you in the US? It looks like your sig shows you ordering MINI Connected? I thought production of those for the US had been delayed by a few months, which is why I ask.

If it's any comfort there are many of us with cars on boats right now...

 

Hey Dodgy, I live in Mexico City at the moment, which is why the process is so different and has also made a hassle to get info out of my MA. I did order the car with MINI Connected, yet as of yesterday my MA only confirmed Visual Boost Radio (Though he didn't deny that I could get MINI Connected). Many times we have totally different models, so I might get it. Even if I didn't get it the Brochure says that you can ask your dealership to check if you can get the upgrade. Either way I'll be happy with or without it.

I am glad your car is on the boat, hope it has a smooth trip.
I'll keep you guys posted on any changes.

Cheers!

 

So sorry CFRM! You'll have to keep us updated on the status. I thought I was in the last boat position since I ordered after you and Dodgy both in production and shipping, but it looks like I may catch up to you both in the end.

We're all so close!

 

CFRM, que no sufras demasiado el esperar. Does your car go to Panama and then to you? Or does it get off in California?

It's great that you may get Connected early!

 

Thank you guys for you kind words! I thought that my car arrived through Panama, but confirmed with the dealer that it goes through Veracruz, which, if you don't know, has been devastated by this season's hurricanes. The least of my concerns is the delay, since the people of that state are facing horrible floods. I just hope everything is better soon and they can get back on track.

Wahoo, I wouldn't be surprised if your MINI came in before. Just don't forget to post some pics!

Cheers!

 

Yes we shall see! I will say I drove my 1st Gen MCS all over SF. It wasn't the hills that were a problem. You can jam up them and get air over em. It was the red lights and stop signs on the way up, forcing you to sit at steep incline behind roll-back SUV tourists and with Mercedes AMG or what have you inches from your back end. I wasn't some pro on the stick: pretty much self taught. It was nerve wracking even with the e-brake trick, i have to be honest.

I'm looking forward, frankly, to the hill assist on the new car.
The best thing about MINIs in the city, not really applicable to the Clubman, was that there were a handful of street parking spaces around town between driveways, too small for any other vehicle except a MINI... Sort of like reserved parking for us. Ha! Now of course they're filled with two Smart cars parked perpendicular, but you know what I mean.

 

I should also mention that yes, run flats in the city are rough. And on 17's rougher still. Worse, I lived in an industrial area undergoing serious construction projects along the third street corridor. I dodged most of the road hazards but not all of them... When I got replacement tyres my installer called me down to look up while the car was on the rack... It was hilarious. The web spokes were dished with bowls the size of grapefruits. It's those head-sized potholes. So, aftermarket wheels were immediately procured. Still kept using run flats though.

 

Ugh RFs/17s and DC streets are my worst fear right now. Previous car was small so I'm used to bumping all over the place, I kinda like it in a weird way, but it's the damage to the wheels/axles that scares me. There's plenty of potholes/grates around here that could tear a wheel off, and enough construction on the Beltway to send a car flying when the lane heights shift. Although, I'll be able to navigate those lane shifts better than 90% of the cars/SUVs/boats out there

 

My friend, Lynn, and Me will be getting an alignment once a year because we live in areas with crappy roads (LA/SF.) I wonder how much the dealer charges to get an alignment. If they charge too much, I'll tell Lynn to go to Firestone.

As for hill assist, I wonder how well hill assist will work when reversing uphill during parallel parking on steep San Francisco hills.

 

Good point on that parking situation. I will be getting around it by not backing into parallel parking spaces. Uphill. Steeply. Ha. Actually its moot because some jerk in a boxster will slide into the space before you anyway.

 

whhhyyyyyyy???...i don't get you

 

That is the way of life in San Francisco. I had to reverse uphill many times to get into parking spaces when I lived in downtown. There are hills so steep that you have to park perpendicular to the sidewalk.

Images of San Francisco hills.
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl...=&oq=&gs_rfai=

 

Quite true.

 

Just found out on Wednesday, I was on vacation on the East Coast, that Lil Guy will be headed for the body shop to be built in week 40. It still isn't showing up on the 866 number, I talked to a live person and they gave m that information.

 

I ordered yesterday; got an email today that they were able to change an existing dealer order. I hope this will shorten the order/build time. Even my wife (of 40 years) is excited about the Mini. She could care less about the Corvette that is in the garage. The Mini just seems to do that.

 

Yay! I'm glad that you got into week 40. From what I'm told that is the first week for the JCW's to be built for this model year. Next monday we get to think of our new babies being built

 

Same here. Although in my wife's case, three years ago, she wasn't all that thrilled about Mini's, and I leased a Miata. When I brought up the idea a year ago, about maybe looking into a Mini to replace the Miata when the lease ran out, she thought that this would be a great idea. I told her that if I did go the Mini route, then a JCW would have to be for me. Then, the 2011's were shown: Black body and Red roof were her only suggesstions for the color. So, guess what color combination we are getting? Right, black body and red roof/mirrors. And now, we are in the waiting period.

 

Bloodycow: I talked with a dealer, while on vacation in Penna, and he said that he had a JCW ragtop ordered on 9-1 and that it had a build date during week 39. I kind of think that the was blowing smoke, but who knows. That whole dealership didn't impress me. But, boy did they ever know how to load up the JCW's. They had three on the lot: 2- 2010's and 1 - 2009 with only 5500 miles on the clock. They had a $28K price tag on it, which I thought was a bit high until I looked at the options. I don't think that they missed one box, even NAV and JCW Aero. It really looked nice thought.

 

mine might arrive end of december n my friend's november

 

Even with a build starting next week, you could see it by beginning of Nov. Mine finished the 14th, and I will definitely see it the first week of October. I'm on the East Coast though, which makes it a quicker process than those getting off in TX or CA, but three weeks from finishing production to having the car is very reasonable.

 

I'm stoked that I got into production a few weeks earlier than estimated, due to finish on Wednesday. However, between me being on the west coast, to all the storms this time of year, I'm sitting on my hands. Still have to sell my current car anyway, ha

 

Third: the wait gets easier once you finish production