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1st GearNew members: make an initial post and introduce yourself as you shift from Neutral to First Gear. Current members: meet some of the new members.
One thing to consider, is how a Mini is shipped when it leaves the factory. In looking at Google Earth photographs of the factory (Oxford), the docks at Southampton, and Port Hueneme; I'm not surprised by some of the mileage on the cars. Many of the huge waiting areas for the cars are quite a distance from the docks or railhead. I've also noticed in the UK, that old WWII airfields near factories are used for temporary parking of new cars (Not sure if Mini does this). If you look at the Port Hueneme VDC, the car parking must cover several square miles all total, scattered all around.
I bought mine from out of state, so I am sure with truck/train transport a couple of those miles are from moving the vehicle around the various depots.
On my 03 Cooper- which I *did* "go to a dealer and just buy off the lot..." 12!? (I had to go look that up just now, and expected it to be much higher!)
Mine was around 8 miles. I drove straight home from the dealership, arrived with 40 miles, and immediately put on my new wheels/tires. Over 21K now at 11 months, been a busy year.