Mini holding 2007 Coopers at the US Ports?

rsb · Suspect Account

Mini holding 2007 Coopers at the US Ports?

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

Hmm, seems like this must be bothering you a lot, since I've seen at least 5 posts on 3 different Mini message boards. I'm sure this seems unfair, but the folks who ordered Minis when they first came out faced the same wait (if not longer), and the west coast folks have very long waits (sometimes 9 months to a year) between the dealer slot availabiilty & the shipping time. And I could tell you some stories about people who had defective Minis or accidents right after they got their Mini, and had to wait a second time. So, chin up, it could be worse, and you'll be glad to have it when it gets here.

So tell us about what Mini you've ordered, while you're waiting. :)

rsb · Suspect Account

yellowmininy: So you found half of the posts, now you just have to find the other half :) The more exposure the better - who know, if enough people email Mini and complain, they might release the cars sooner - the power of consumers you know...And Mini isn't making money by holding cars either.

Yes, I did hear about all the delays and problems when the Mini was first launched in the US but I'm guessing that it will be different this time. Back then it was more like a gamble for BMW and now they have a lot riding on it, so I'm guessing they will more cautious this time.

Here are the specs on the MCS I ordered last month:
Pepper White Body Color
Black Roof/Mirrors
White Turn Signals
Leatherette: Black/Grey
Cold Weather Package
16" Bridge-Spoke (All Season Tires)
Center Arm Rest
Leather Sport Wheel w/Multifunction
10-Speaker. Hi-Fi Sound System

Planning to get the iPod integrator when it becomes available.

What do you drive?

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I have a 2003 LY/W Cooper, roof rack, 15" holey wheels, cloth seats, pretty much a base model but has been a lot of fun to drive. Which dealer are you getting your Mini from?

I think whoever commented about MINIUSA waiting until Feb to train the sales staff on the new model had a point (MINI2, I think), and I doubt they'll move it up. But I have seen that the people who have Minis at the Distribution Center waiting tend to be a little frustrated, and it's not unusual for this to happen with the earlier models without a whole lot of info on why it was happening.

I didn't really pay a lot of attention to the wait when I got my Mini, and from what I hear that might be the better way to go. As 3D_Geek said in the MINIUSA OL waiting for his last Mini, "friends don't let friends track their Mini!" I think he had a point...

Try to get all the things you've been meaning to get done out of the way while you're waiting, since you will be doing a lot of driving after that!

I picked up my car 2/11/2003. February is a great time to pick up a Mini.

rsb · Suspect Account

yellowmininy: I'm sure it will be totally worth the wait. Its just hard - but you know that. Even if I don't get it sooner, at least now I'm familiar with all these forums and found lots of cool stuff that I wouldn't have found otherwise. I don't even have my MCS yes, but I've already read the manua, so I know how to program the locks and lights :)

Where in WNY do you live? Do you put on snow tires in the Winter? Were you able to drive yesterday and today given all that snow?

My dealer is Towne Mini - so far my MA has been quite helpful.

Do you know much about this Dragon's tail even in NC I think? Are there many Mini events in WNY? Haven't had the chance to explore the WNY forum much yet, so I guess I'll have to do that while waiting for my baby.

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

I'm in Rochester, and I also got my Mini at Towne, from Greg Korduba. Very nice people to deal with, for sales, service & body work, in my opinion.

I have found the Mini is a great snow car, with all season tires, and even better with snow tires. It's my only car, so I drive it all year & have not found weather yet I couldn't drive it in. (Maybe the October snow in Buffalo would have been one of those days though!)

I went to Minis On The Dragon in 2004. It is a great road for a Mini, and it was a lot of fun to meet other people from all over, though I have some concerns about how large the event has gotten, since it's a pretty small area to handle the crowds. It's a beautiful area of the country.

doctorwho · Member

rsb,

Are you the same "rsb" who posted the same question on the NAM site http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89394 ?

The replys there answer your question in more detail than I have knowledge of. Basically, it sounds like the "modus operundi" of all car companies regarding the "release" of their new cars.

Sorry your MINI driving experience will have to wait at least another month. You could spend a little time coming up with a name for your MINI and planning your upcoming MINI adventures (i.e., MCWNY Rally, MINIs on Top, etc.).

We had to wait from Valentines Day to a couple of days after April Fools Day (just to be on the safe side) last year to pick up our Tardis. The Tardis "materialized" at Towne with the aid of Ray Kasprzyk.

rsb · Suspect Account

doctorwho: Yes I'm the same rsb who posted on NAM - just trying to get maximum exposure and hoping that lots of new Mini customers in waiting will email Mini USA and try to convince them to release the cars as soon as they get here.

Your car sound pretty cool. Do you have pictures posted online somewhere? Also, what is MINIS on Top?

yellowmininy · Obsessed (Taking the long-cut)

Minis On Top is an annual gathering of Minis with a plan to drive up the Mount Washington Autoroad, & it will be the weekend of June 16th in 2007. There is more info on this WNY Club thread here, including the link to the main Minis On Top site.
http://miniclubofwny.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=71633&p=3&topicID=6469100

The folks who came up with this idea are on the NY/New England forum of MINI2. 2007 will be the 5th year for MOT, and is a lot of fun even for the folks who don't want to drive up the mountain. There are some limits on the number of people, so once registration starts they will probably reach the limit pretty quickly, so sign up on the MOT site for info if you're interested, and watch for updates.

Jack07734 · Motorer

I don't understand why this is an issue. All manfactures do this be it cars, the latest DVD release or the newest Play Station. The stores can have a suply as much as a month before the item goes on sale.

A date has been chosen for the product release to achieve the maximum exposure for the product. That way the product enters the customers hands when the print television ads run. The last thing a mfgr wants is to spend millions on a product rollout only to have it be a big non-event.

Sorry about the wait. It will be all forgotten when your new MINI arrives.

Cheers,
Jack

rsb · Suspect Account

Jack07734: The issue arises from the fact that the customer wasn't made aware of the 2/17 date by Mini at the time of placing the order but was promised delivery sooner.

But you are right, the wait will be worth it...

Pamlico · Motorer

We ordered our first MCS back in early June of 2002 and it subsequently arrived at the port in NJ in about 6 weeks. The cars weren't being held back for introduction, but it turns out that it's arrival was exactly at the wrong time as the area processing BMW / MINIs was in the process of being upgraded. Also, there had been a delay in getting BMWs over here so there were a number of transport ships carrying hundreds of cars that all arrived within a few days. What happened is that for a time a 'first in - last out' policy was apparently in place. Since our car had arrived relatively early it kept being moved further back into the parking area and the back of the line. It finally arrived in very late August (of course on a Friday so we couldn't get it until Monday). Numerous calls to MINIUSA only got "We don't know why your car is taking so long to get to you' responses. Very frustrating.

Bagpiper · Motorist

I ordered my mini the day the announced the dealers in NY. I sent in my deposit the day of the announcement and received a letter a few days later that said, congratulations, you are 27th on the list. So after 3 or 4 months of phone calls, I got the call as to what I wanted as far as color, options etc. I "ordered" a indy blue, white top etc. etc. etc. To make a long story longer, Towne didn't know how much it would cost, or when it would come in. In February of '02, I got a call that said they had a indy blue with white top etc. etc. coming in on the FIRST shipment and DID I WANT IT.. I said I was 27th on the list... and if it was in my price range of course I wanted it. So on March 26th at 10am I was the first mini out the door... I got a lot of THUMBS up as I drove home to Rochester that day.... and I STILL love it.

Pamlico · Motorer

Now that you mention it, I forgot that I was on that waiting list as well. Also got on it before Towne began selling MINIs. Interestingly, when the time came, the position on the list didn't seem to matter if you were willing to put $$ down. We test drove late on a Saturday afternoon and made a deposit on credit card first thing Monday AM with Greg (who's still there - a bit rare to find a car salesguy staying at the same place for so many years).

- dl

Peaces · Member

I wanted a MINI back in 2001 when Road and Track test drove the MINI for the first time. I wasn't on the waiting list. I didn't know there was a list until I saw my first MINI on the road (mid March). The very next day I ordered my car (I had specific requirements for my car) and checked the website every day to watch the progress. The website never did tell me when the car arrived. One Friday in May I just happened to go to the dealer the day it arrived but was told I couldn't take it home till that Monday, once they had a chance to prep the car. I was allowed to get into the car and take pictures of it with all the factory packaging still on it. I waited through the weekend only to find out that they weren't going to have it ready till Tuesday. Finally Tuesday came and when my wife got out of work we were able to pick it up. We took delivery right in the showroom. I got to drive it out of the showroom. Do they still do that?

Greg was my salesman too. What a great guy to deal with but at the time I knew more about the car from reading about it in the web than he did. Before I got the car I had downloaded the owner's manual and had it memorized by the time I picked it up. Greg still knows me by name and he makes it a point to come and see me when I come in for service. Even though I bought my car 5 years ago, he still recognizes my car and looks for me when he sees it. Andre (detailing), Andy (parts) and my service guy (whose name escapes me as I write this) also all know me by name as well. I've never experienced (and continue to experience) such great service from any other purchase I have ever made.

A friend of mine when to parts to get a shirt for me on my birthday. When I saw him he raved about the service and all he did was buy a shirt from them.

The day we ordered it Channel 4 (WIVB) was at the dealership doing a story on the MINI. My wife and I were both interviewed and video was aired of us looking at the car. Funny thing was that this was the way all my friends and family had found out I bought the car.

The VIN for my car was originally scheduled to be an Indy Green MINI with a white roof. It was changed to match my request.

rsb · Suspect Account

It's so awesome to hear stories all of your stories on how you got your Minis.

In a few years, this is how my story will sound:

- After driving DeVilles for 5 yrs, in Summer of 06, I decided I wanted something "different"
- I started researching the Mini Cooper and found out wonderful stuff about it and I decided to buy the R53 (only then I didn't know it was called an R53, neither did I know back then what MA or MCS meant)
- Then I found out that the R56 was coming out "soon" which was a major upgrade, hence worth waiting for
- So, I waited
- In Dec 06, the R56 configurations were available and I ordered my 2007 MCS right away
- My car was scheduled to be in NY around Feb 1 2007
- But I was told that due to Mini's nationwide release, I will have to wait till Feb 17 to get my car
- I was very disappointed
- Folks on Mini forums told me the wait will be worth it - that made the wait easier
- Then in the 1st week of Feb I found out that my Mini was built without the Multifunction Steering wheel (MFSW) which was a "must have" option for me
- Apparently, this order mixup effected dozens of people who had ordered the R56
- I was told that due to the large number of cars involved in the snafu, Mini was trying to figure out a way to retrofit the MFSW
- After spending a few days while waiting for Mini to come up with a solution, I was told that retrofitting was probably not going to be possible
- So, I re-ordered
- Got my R56 middle of March
- My face hurt the next day - I was smiling so much
- My R56 was a part of so many memories for the next 3 yrs
- It's 2010 and I'm awaiting the release of R64 - can't wait to get it

Pamlico · Motorer

I can relate to the big grin when driving the car home from the dealer for the first time. When we got our '02 it was still a very rare car and we were the center of attraction driving the Thruway back to Rochester. Stared and pointed at by 90% of the cars on the road. Initially sort of interesting, but got old after the first 40 miles. It stayed that way for months. I'd literally go three weeks between seeing another MINI on the road. Almost every time I'd take it somewhere, I'd be approached in the parking lot and have to spend a good deal of time answering questions. Most common question after 'what kind of car is that?' was 'A mini what?'. Good fun.

- dl

Rocketboy · Motorist

He's never early, he's always late First thing you learn is you always gotta wait

-I'm Waiting For My Man / Velvet underground...

Erik...