Checkered Flag MINI, Virginia Beach, VA - MINI Cooper Forum

HarborMINI · #1 (**permalink**) Sep 24th, 2002, 11:28 PM

Picked up my new MINI Cooper S on Friday, September 20! I love it! I worked with my Motoring Assistant, Colleen Malebranche, and she was excellent through the whole process. Yes, I had to buy a Motoring Kit, but I think that it is a small price to pay, considering what the majority of the country is going through with deliveries and availability. Checkered Flag has been excellent from the time I started looking until this particular model became available. Colleen was great in demonstrating all the features and going through the manuals in detail. It has definitely be worth the year wait for me!

My Cooper S is a Dark Silver, Black Top with all 3 packages and is the coolest car I have ever owned!

AprilWhine · #2 (**permalink**) Sep 29th, 2002, 12:17 AM

This is Colleen, Lindsay and me when I picked up my MINI in June. They are very nice and keep their word.

Allybrit · #3 (**permalink**) Oct 6th, 2002, 05:46 PM

I also have been dealing with Coleen and they have been excellent. She has kept us up to date of the cars progress, and the delivery date is supposed to be October 12th, build date was Sept 27th.....will keep you posted........happy with the treatment so far....

Donut · #4 (**permalink**) Oct 15th, 2002, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave

Next to last insult. This being my 3rd 58 mile round trip to pick up my car cover as I was leaving they slid in the "OH, we're out of covers for the S. We'll give you a call when it comes in"!!!! Yea so I can drive another 60 miles to get stiffed. They GUARANTEED me the cover was in when I made the appointment. I was assured of it TWICE.

Maybe you already have your cover by now. If not, you should have them mail it to you. They forgot to give me my trunk organizer (which I don't recommend because it covers the return air vents in the boot), I called them and the shipped it to me the next day.

kickin · #5 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2002, 10:47 PM

Hey:

I am just about to make a deal with Checkered flag MINI - any suggestions? Anyone get a good deal -- or only MSRP?

thanks

David: kickin@nc.rr.com

charper · #6 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2002, 11:22 PM

It will be MSRP plus a motoring kit (lame fee that allows you to choose from a list of dealer options) or an Aero kit (about 2k installed).

Colleen is good to deal with - they seem to be good about accurate info, good callbacks, etc. I like them so far but I don't have my car yet.

Hey if you are not too picky they may have something on the lot. They had a few S's when I first placed my order.

- Chris -

kickin · #7 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2002, 11:37 PM

HEY:

I am working with Graham ! He's great and he's really ENGLISH

! I was just wondering if there were any good deals out there - doesn't seem to get better than MSRP. I am getting a Cooper S, pure silver, Premium, sports, with leather !

can't wait. I also ordered the floor mats - tried to get them for free but NO go -- oh well ! Ireally want the alarm system too but they seem to want to push their own system - If I get it, I want the real thing.

Thanks

David: kickin@nc.rr.com

Allybrit · #8 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2002, 06:04 AM

I picked my car up October 19th and everything was great. All options were correct, and everything was present and correct !! I also was dealing with Coleen,very nice and knowledgable......there were no S`s on the lot as of October 19th.....plenty of reg Cooper tho.good luck..

2nd Mini · #9 (**permalink**) Nov 27th, 2002, 09:44 AM

Greetings!

I'm the new guy on the block and thought I'd give you an update on Checkered Flag since I've been visiting them for about a month now. They have dropped the manditory Motoring Kit or Aero Kit and are now simply charging MSRP. They have a large selection of Minis but usually end up ordering MCS's. You can get an already-built MCS which is "in the pipeline" in from two to four weeks.

Colleen Malebranche is indeed nice to work with and very conscientious.

Bob

AprilWhine · #10 (**permalink**) Nov 27th, 2002, 10:23 AM

They also put their inventory on line: MINIs for sale

The Checkered Flag chain has a policy of charging a $349 bump on every vehicle.

CurtP · #11 (**permalink**) Nov 27th, 2002, 11:01 AM

I was just at the parts department at Checkered Flag BMW down on Virginia Beach Blvd last week picking up a license plate frame I had ordered. They had at least four car covers on the floor in the display area.

I also picked up a set of rubber floor mats the week before. If you're in need of them, better act quick. They indicated that they were going out the door as fast as they came in and there was at least a two-week backorder. With all the nasty rain we had and winter coming up, the rubber floor mats are a must have!

CurtP · #12 (**permalink**) Nov 27th, 2002, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave
Thanks but they probably weren't S covers.

I didn't even think to look to see if it was for an S. I just saw them sitting on the floor (exactly where you said, on the left) and had the thought of buying one go through my head for a moment. Then I recalled to the time I got one for my '92 Saturn SC I used to have and the nightmare of installing/removing/storing the blasted thing. Nope, not going through all that again.

I really do like the rubber floor mats though, and have the same complaints about the rear ones. I especially like how the driver's side mat wraps around the gas pedal. I haven't even installed the velcro patch (called "MatLock"

) and haven't had any problems of the mat sliding around. My only other issue I have with them is how easily they scuff. I've found that a good coat of NuVinyl makes them look spiffy again (for the most part), and doesn't make them slick.