[grub]

Well I didn't have a lot of success trying to track the ship live eg using googleearth software data sets such as vesseltracker.com - vesseltracker.com - AIS Vessel Data live in Google Earth or even some of the more graphically simplistic call sign based marine observation websites eg sailwx.info Ship locations or oceanwealth inc (a public/private sector company) Oceanweather Inc: Current Marine Data . I had the ship's call sign but I don't think it was calling in - I think calling in is just a voluntary activity.

Anyway, I have been keeping track of the ship's progress when it reaches various port stops through the Wallenius Wilhelmsen website (with the full 17 digit VIN) and also the various websites for the actual ports. The ship has just left Freemantle and is continuing on its way around to Brisbane - should be here in about a week and the dealer said it will be about another 2 weeks for delivery because of the import process etc.

Some of the Australian port websites are much better/more informative than others. The Freemantle port website Future Visits provides expected shipping data up to 2010! , Melbourne for about 4 days Shipping movements and Sydney for about 3 days Sydney Ports . Most also have live webcam shots of their ports as well. Qld's port information is coordinated through the state government website Shipping Information but only has information for the current and next day. I checked out the Port of Brisbane website as well and there was no webcam available on either website... which is a bit disappointing - Q is certainly not leading edge in providing port information.

Seems like ages since I signed up in March for an April build. The ship left England on 1/5 so it has been sailing for over a month now and will still be another week - 5 weeks on the boat to get here. But not long to go now though!!

[grub]

Finally the wait is OVER!! About 10 days after the ship docked Brisbane, I was got the phone call that the car had finally arrived at the dealership.

I picked it up yesterday - but haven't been able to drive with the top down yet because of all the rain. I tried it with the sunroof open but got a bit too wet. The rain is predicted to last another 2 days and then - unfortunately we are likely to come into a cold snap. Just not having much luck yet.

However, the car is great - it doesn't seem to leak anywhere and it hugs the road like a dream in the wet.

I have taken a few shots - see my gallery -

http://www.mini2.com/galleries/showgallery.php?cat=2580

Note the beautifut red dash colour - really looks very swish...

[85NIXMIN]

verrrry nice!
I'm sure your over the moon!

[Snapper>///">]

good to see you survived the long wait
now, if those pestky rain clouds would just go away.....

Congrats

[85NIXMIN]

Ahh! I hear no rain on the roof!
It's finally stopped... but yet we need it at the same time... stupid drought!

[Nil Time]

Congratulations, Grub - you must be very happy!

Best wishes from another new owner...you have a lovely car.

Cheers

[85NIXMIN]

I bet you were out today with the top down with it being sunny and all... hehe

[grub]

Unfortunately I haven't really had a chance to enjoy its cabrio features properly yet - first the rain and now the icy cold winds.

I am hoping it will still be fine this weekend - I am thinking of going for a drive somewhere - anywhere - other than the daycare centre and the grocery store. I catch the train to work and have 3 kids at home, so this has been the extent of my fun - unless you count the rainy trip in 5pm peak hour traffic when I picked up the car from the Gold Coast.

I have used the sunroof a bit though - very nice!! Perhaps I should have got the tin top with the large glass sunroof instead?? Maybe for my next MINI purchase...

Thank you all for you good wishes!!

[5ambo]

I got some great news today that my Baby was born!! I now have the VIN number so I guess it is a waiting game till it gets on the ship. I think that I will be hassling my dealer weekly about updates - the fact that his is getting built at the same time should help! Mid August just seems so far away...
Grub - You must be glad that your car is here! Do you appreciate it more than any other car that you have owned (and has the wait contributed to that in any way? ;-)

[grub]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sambo99 (original)

I got some great news today that my Baby was born!! I now have the VIN number so I guess it is a waiting game till it gets on the ship. I think that I will be hassling my dealer weekly about updates - the fact that his is getting built at the same time should help! Mid August just seems so far away...
Grub - You must be glad that your car is here! Do you appreciate it more than any other car that you have owned (and has the wait contributed to that in any way? ;-)

Yes I am glad it is finally here but the wait was fun too. Tracking the order always gave me something related to the MINI to do - and you get really good at typing in the 17 digits - after a while it is burned into your memory. (My dealer said I was the first customer she had that knew their 17 digit VIN off by heart.)

I sold my old car today - had it 14 years (Mazda 121 bubble) which was really sad. It was a great little car and in some ways very similar to the MINI - but of course the MINI is heaps better - handles so well, it feels much more solid - and has lots of electric automatic bits which are a bit of a novelty... I am really chuffed with the MINI so far.

Have fun tracking your order - the wait will be over before you know it!!

[5ambo]

I think that I might be jinxing the tracking website by checking it every day.... the VIN still isnt coming up! The car is due for delivery mid August so it must be getting up there soon...

[5ambo]

After being ridiculously busy recently, I have been holding back and attempting not to think too much about the MINI and its journey to Australia... I know that it must be somewhere on a ship as I have been told that I am in production week 26 from my dealer.
NAM has a thread for week 26 and there are a heap of americans getting ready to take delivery of their week 26 MINI. ..
I am putting the whole 17 digit VIN number in the "track by auto cargo" field (and have tried all the others too). How long after recieving the VIN number are you able to track? I have had my VIN for a couple of weeks now and still no luck
My co-workers here all seem to think that they have solved the mystery....apparently the ship has sunk on its voyage after hitting an iceberg or a beach in Newcastle...

Any other tips anyone??

[The Artist]

I'm hoping the ship is still afloat, cause my S is on the same boat.
At least they each have a friend to keep each other company on the long, cold journey from Southhampton.

[5ambo]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Artist (original)

I'm hoping the ship is still afloat, cause my S is on the same boat.
At least they each have a friend to keep each other company on the long, cold journey from Southhampton.

Problem solved.... Having the right VIN has helped ... Our MINIs are on the TALISMAN somewhere between Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Baltimore (USA).

TALISMAN arrives in Brisbane on the 10/8/07 - week and a half to clear customs - I should be driving it by the 20th!!!!!!!

[5ambo]

I wont be driving it by the 20th - delays in the pacific meant that it only arrived in Brisbane on Saturday... waiting, waiting, waiting...

[85NIXMIN]

ehhh that sucks.... hopefully u get it soon!!

then you can post pics

[5ambo]

Quote: Originally Posted by 85NIXMIN (original)

ehhh that sucks.... hopefully u get it soon!!

then you can post pics

I now have a date for delivery! I will be picking it up on Tuesday!

I might have to organise to head down to the Gold Coast to visit some friends, then maybe up to the Sunshine Coast to visit more friends - mmm I know some people in Perth, maybe I should consider driving to meet up with them too!

Such a long wait is almost coming to an end...

Photos will be going up not long after delivery - I will be rocking up with my camera to take a heap of photos on D-Day (Delivery Day ;-)

[rellik666]

WHOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!

My MINI has been born! It is waiting for transportation from Southampton.

SOUTHAMPTON UNITED KINGDOM 29/08/2007 29/08/2007
PORT ELIZABETH SOUTH AFRICA 13/09/2007 13/09/2007
EAST LONDON SOUTH AFRICA 14/09/2007 14/09/2007
DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA 15/09/2007 15/09/2007
FREMANTLE AUSTRALIA 27/09/2007 27/09/2007
MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 02/10/2007 02/10/2007

I can't wait! :-)

[5ambo]

Hi rellik666 - your MINI is coming the opposite direction to mine... Mine went via the US and French Polynesia.

You will have many days of enjoyment watching the numbers turn from grey to red :P

I think that this is the slowest weekend on record for me! mmm I might have to start a countdown till 3pm Tuesday afternoon (little excel script that updates every second ;-)

I hope the next 37 days goes quickly for you

[rellik666]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sambo99 (original)

Hi rellik666 - your MINI is coming the opposite direction to mine... Mine went via the US and French Polynesia.

You will have many days of enjoyment watching the numbers turn from grey to red :P

I think that this is the slowest weekend on record for me! mmm I might have to start a countdown till 3pm Tuesday afternoon (little excel script that updates every second ;-)

I hope the next 37 days goes quickly for you

37 days sounds so much closer than it is! LOL

I am so excited! Hope all goes well with yours!

Not long now!