Miniwifey: I love the Astro black on the convertible. Yours is the first one I've seen like that ... a real stunner!

All of us Bay Area people should get together for a drive someday!

Congrats and happy motoring!

 

Sorry for the delay, I have been out motoring :-)

I picked up my 2005 MCS on Wednesday the 22nd of September. The car came in on Monday the 20th, and the dealer prepped it on the 21st. It was a rainy day but then suddenly the sky cleared up and it was nice for several hours (just long enough for me to get the car home). The car started out with 9 miles on it and by the end of the day on Wednesday I had put on about 200 miles. Since then I have put about 950 miles on it, and am now starting to open it a little. Over the weekend I got the whole thing waxed (Zymol for those who want to know) For your reference here is my timeline and my specs:

2005 MCS Chili Red/White

Packages 1,2,3
Black Leatherette
Silver Dash
H/K
Auto Dim Mirror/ Rain sensing wipers
Universal Garage Door Opener
17" S-Lites, Silver, All Season Runflats
White Bonnet Stripes
Dealer Options: Tint, Clear Bra (bonnet, turn signals, fogs) and Rubber Mats
Custom Whalen Shift ****
Future Upgrades:
IPod Adapter
Rear Fog light kit
OEM Alarm
JCW Kit ??

Timeline:
1.02.2004 - Get on wait list
7.02.2004 - Order Car
7.15.2004 - Scheduled for week 32
7.22.2004 - Scheduled for week 33
8.04.2004 7:38a - Scheduled for production (OL)
8.10.2004 - Start Production
8.11.2004 - Paint Shop
8.12.2004 - Complete Date
8.14.2004 - Estimated Complete Date
8.16.2004 - Leaves UK
8.18.2004 - In Transit (OL)
9.05.2004 - Scheduled In Port
9.07.2004 - Actual in Port
9.14.2004 - Leaves on truck to Colorado
9.17.2004 - 1st EDD in OL
9.18.2004 - 3rd EDD in OL (No Show)
9.19.2004 - 2nd EDD in OL
9.20.2004 - Delivery to dealer
9.21.2004 - Dealer Prep
9.22.2004 - Delivery! (9 months 20 days later)


So far I am having a blast with my car! The long wait was definitely worth it. Yesterday we went up into the mountains for some twisties and the car handled beautifully! Here are some pros and cons I

have:

Pros
- Xenons are great!! (did my other car even have headlights?)
- Garage door opener, nice not have to worry where to put a regular one
- Increased HP and gearing really make the car getup and go!
- New Key, thinner, and buttons work much better IMHO, better click/feedback
- Leatherette looks and feels nice
- Rain Sensing wipers work very well, no more fussing with the wiper stalk
- Driver side visor really helps
- Car really is a good decoration for the garage
- Red, I love the Red, looks great in all situations
- New maplights, they really help when you need to see things at night
- Auto A/C, works well keeps the car at the right temp with out the fuss of constantly tweaking the controls

Cons
- Car takes up too much of my time (out driving, thinking of where I can go)
- No auto up on the windows, may have look into Ian's auto up circuit
- Dirty Boot, drive 10 feet and the boot is instantly dirty
- Bigger Rear view mirror some time gets in way when looking out windshield near mirror, probably just my size (6'2" tall)
- Buzz in lower passenger front speaker (have appt for repair)
- Fraying Sunroof screen (have appt for repair)
- Brake dust! I should of gotten black wheels!
Please understand my comparisons are from my 20-25 test drives (I know that is a lot, but the dealer didn't mind and it helped pass the time over the 9 month wait) in one '03 and four '04 dealer demos

Here is a link to the pictures, be warned it takes a few moments for the page to load before it works

properly

http://home.comcast.net/~a.autobee/default.htm

Thanks!

Andy

 

Well, I just got the call from my MA. My Mini is at the dealer and I have an appt to pick 'er up on Wednesday at 1:00. Was hoping to have my mini by the weekend but now I am just looking forward to getting in and getting used to her before the snow comes. The agony of waiting is almost over. T Minus 6 days and counting..... Of course, these could be the longest days of the whole process. :smile: :smile:

 

I got an email yesterday saying my car was to arrive at the rail yard in Portland at 2:00pm. This morning I should get a call telling me I can pick it up. I took the paperwork from the dealership in yesterday to register the car - here you can register a car before it actually gets here if you have the correct paperwork - and pay the sales tax up front

I'll take some photos as soon as I get home.

John

 

OL changed to "At Your MINI Dealer" today. I already knew that, but it's always fun to see the status change on the OL. I will no longer be frequenting the Track Your MINI page - a momentous occasion. Fedexed the paperwork yesterday and the car will begin it's trip to me either late today or Monday/Tuesday.

 

How does everyone sleep before picking up the MINI? Mine is being dropped off between 10-11AM tomorrow (Sat) and I can't wait... well I guess I already waited considering I could have picked it up a week and a half ago if I didn't try waiting for that JCW kit :-(

I doubt I'm going to get any sleep tonight like a 5 year old at christmas :-)

Patrick

 

mini - \\\mm - where did you get your car? Classic? did they install the JCW kit for you? details pls. pics too once you get it.... :smile:

 

Nope to both. I got mine through a car broker in CA. Cost was the same as shipping it from classic. The dealer that the broker was working with said it would be 2 more weeks until they would be getting the JCW kit. I'm picking the car up in NorCal then will probably get it installed in the LA area. The bummer will be in 3ish weeks when I'm ready to get the kit installed, I will be more than 1/2 the way through break in.

Patrick

 

Boy, this is GREAT. I am on my way over to the Portland rail yard to pick up my Mini. It has been quite a wait, but well worth it.


John

 

Arrived today, all accessories are on, waiting to be detailed, have appt. to pick up t'row at 2PM! The WAIT is almost over!! :smile:

 

sequence - congrat!!! finally, huh? anyway, make sure you post pics... enjoy....:smile:

 

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!! We picked up our Cooper S in Portland about noon and drove along Marine Drive which winds along the Columbia. It is everything my Classic was so much more My first stop on the way home was to get all the dirt from the train trip washed off. It was so dusty it looked orange rather than red. I've installed the stubby antenna and will take some pics tomorrow. The solid red with the aero kit really looks good. We have good weather this weekend and we plan to fill the tank, spin the compass and head out.


John

 

Just don't go too far West!

(Man if I was in your neck of the woods I'd go S along the coast, nice windy two-lanes, easier to keep under 4500.)

 

That's right, it was the old VW bugs that could float. We may head for the coast. In the spring we are going up to Vancouver BC and driving up to the north end of 101, across to Vancouver Island, down to Victoria, and then back to the mainland. It is a very scenic circle and from what I am told, roads made with the Mini in mind. I have put about 60 miles on my car since lunch time (it's now 8:00pm) and it is fantastic. My son took it for a spin and I was afraid I'd never see it again. I'm not sure about the new cupholder, I guess I'll have to see how it works out. I didn't think I would like the new tail lights, but they are not that bad. I now have a cursory idea of what the switches, stems, and other contraptions do, and I will read myself to sleep tonight with the owner's manual. One of the most pleasant afternoons I have had in a long time. As promised, pic tomorrow.

John

 

CURRENTLY MOTORING!!!!

Huge Grin,
Mike

 

 

2 hours until the MINI will be in the driveway! I think this is the most anxious I've ever been!

Patrick

 

So....jealous....can't.....hold.....on.....much... ..longer......

 

Picked up my Cooper S yesterday at the Portland rail yard - got to the eruption of Mount St Helens as a bonus. I've uploaded some photos to my personal gallery. Some are with the magnetic bonnet stripes, others are not. I also added an S from the rear Cooper S badge to the lower aero kit grille just to see what it looks like.

John

 

I got it! Racked up about 100 today. Will try getting at least 600 more by tomorrow night!

 

Past 1250!! yay!! on a big trip from Phoenix, through Wickenburg, to Kingman and Las Vegas to St George, UT... came home via Zion, Fredonia, Cameron, Flagstaff.

Posted some pics at http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...82#post1117482

 

I failed only put 460 miles on the car day 2 for a total of 560mi. I found a GREAT road today and had a blast!

One thing I noticed is that the gearing is now GREAT for 1-3rd. 5th and 6th need a bit more power. Can't wait for the JCW kit.

Patrick

 

We've put about 100 miles on the Mini since Friday and it super. The only complaint I have is the new cup holder. It looks out of place and seems to get in the way when you have a passenger. I noticed a possible solution sold by www.MiniStuff.com. They have a single or double cup holder that is fitted into the centre cup holders and the cup holder is to the side. I'm not sure if it would get in the way of a person's legs or not. Anyone else thinking about replacing their cup holder?


John

 

After seeing pics and hearing others' opinions of the cupholder, I asked my MA to remove mine. I'm not a drink in the car kind of guy, so I'm not big on monster cupholders in the first place.

 

Slightly off the subject, but good for a laugh...

Last night I was thinking about the effect that MINIs have had on the automotive world and that a car like this spawns so many websites like NAM with so many passionate owners and admirers. I wondered to myself if owners of the ugliest car to ever roll across blacktop - the Pontiac Aztek - have forums like these.

Lo and behold, Google produced this: www.aztekfanclub.com

I laughed until I cried, and then held my right hand over my heart for freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom to love really, REALLY ugly cars.

Sorry, just looking to pass the time while I wait for my car to arrive.