[hocndoc]

Ok, this as close as I will come to actually saying any obscene words online.
But, I'm about ready to tell them to keep the darn thing.
I've waited six months. Got a production number in November. The car missed the ship in December, but is scheduled to be delivered to SC tomorrow.
I called and left a messaage for Richard at the Mini Center last week, but he didn't call me back. So, I called today, only to be told that the car will sit at the port in South Carolina until the building in SA is finished.

"Shooting for" the middle of February.

I'm about ready to go buy a Tahoe off the lot, for pity's sake. My old truck died in the cold on the way to work, three times, this morning, and the really bad weather's due to hit this week.

I know that I've learned that I will never buy a car like this, again. And, I'm beginning to wonder whether the priorities at Mini headquarters, and the SA BMW center, in particular, are straight, at all. It does not sound like good business to have inventory sittng on the dock, when it could be money in their hands.

Thank you for letting me rant. (I'm gonna look up the local GMC phone number, now)

[Pebbles]

#@*% old truck!
It is freezing here too, I'm in Austin!
I'm home sick from work today!

I think that the #@*% salesmen are all crooks! I hate #@*% car salesmen and insurance men. Just hook them up to a lie detector before you sign on the line!

I've been reading these forums awhile now and just yesterday joined up. But from what you are saying and what I've read here... the dealers can order and ship to the USA the cars before their dealership officially opens but they actually can't take delivery of the cars at the dealership until they are officially open.

Do they have the grand opening with no cars on the lot? I think not! I bet they "open" the dealership one week, ship in the 30 or so cars they have sitting in SC and then have their big "Grand Opening" with TV and newspaper ads to drum up interest.

Don't get a GMC! They are nice and very classy! but they are not the fun car your little red MINI will be! You can squeeze another month out of that old truck!

Lay that phone down, real quiet like, now back away. . .

[hocndoc]

Yes, Ma'am.
To be fair, Richard didn't actually sell me the car - my husband did, and we talked to our friend who works at the BMW center and ordered using the online info.
But, I did talk to Richard back in November.

That gorgeous car, sitting in a lot in the sea air, through January and February drives me up the wall, though.

[Wynn]

Arrrrrg! <chuckle> That would drive me crazy, too. I'm sure they'd get the car to you sooner if they could though... both because they seem like really good people who care about us as customers, and for the reason you gave: it's money in their pockets.

Those guys have been really good to me and almost everyone I know of, and I'm really glad to be buying from them soon, even if it does mean waiting a little bit longer.

Please tell us what your experience is like with them when the car does arrive! And hang in there. We're excited for you, too.

Happily,
wynn

PS: I might visit San Antonio this weekend!

[BruceK]

Ahh....

I was afraid things hadn't changed about a MINI dealer having to be 'official' before the first car could go to the first owner. Silly rule as you don't really need to see a shiny showroom in order to grab the keys to your new car and enjoy it. Still, rules are rules I suppose.

Well, on the positive side, I drive past the MINI Center of San Antonio twice each day, to and from work, and I can see progress each time. As of this evening on my way home from work, I noticed they had installed the roof on the steel skeleton. I even noticed construction workers busy there this past weekend, so the dealership seems highly motivated to open as soon as possible.

Hocndoc, try to hold on. I guarantee you new MINI WILL be worth the wait!

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK
...I drive past the MINI Center of San Antonio twice each day, to and from work, and I can see progress each time.....the dealership seems highly motivated to open as soon as possible.

Electricians must have worked today - I saw the result: wiring hanging down from the ceiling. (It's amazing what you can notice 300 ft away while driving past at 60 mph )

It won't be too much longer...

[Pebbles]

Bruce,
You are a doll for giving us these updates! Roof is good! Wiring is better! I can't wait til you see walls!!!

Thanks again for telling us what you see!

[hocndoc]

That's enough building for me.
Now, can I have my car?

[gt4pete]

It's in the franchise agreements that are signed by the dealer and the manufacturer. These agreements are pretty serious processes which are reviewed by the new vehicle board in each state. If you start to sell cars before all the stipulations in the agreement are met, then you are in breach of the agreement. It sounds like the fault lies with whoever the owner/GM is at this dealership. It's his responsibility to know when his facility will be completed and to indicate that to the sales manager (and salespeople).

Of course, his contractor may have dropped the ball as well.

MINIUSA would love to get rid of those cars, but they are bound in the same regard by the agreement. Those cars cannot be invoiced to anyone other than the dealer assigned (or there would be some serious ramifications).

[hocndoc]

San Antonio is a high-bureaucracy building spot. I wonder how it's going, though. My car is at the distribution center.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by hocndoc
San Antonio is a high-bureaucracy building spot. I wonder how it's going, though. ...

Here's today's progress report:


I mentioned previously that the roof and wiring were progressing. Now all of the exterior walls are up (the remaining open portions appear to be where the showroom windows will be). The contractor was framing the interior as of this evening. They are moving quickly!

[hocndoc]

Yaaaay!
(I just noticed those Icons. Aren't they cute?)

[Wynn]

Wow, that's so excitingly exciting!

Bruce, I might be up to San Antonio for my birthday in two weeks, when my brother and his wife sometimes plan something fun for me. If so, I'll check with you, and maybe we can visit MINI Center together.

Brightly,
wynn

[Lizard]

Keep the reports coming in! Still hoping to turn a reservation into an order in the next week or two...

[james4513]

I just placed a "reservation" for an MCS on Wed (1/22) with Richard. There were workers all over the place. The structure and utilities are up and ready for walls and finish. Richard feels strongly that they will make the 2/15 startup goal. I think there is a pretty good shot - surely by the end of Feb. I felt good enough about the timing to give them the order.

james

[hocndoc]

I called yesterday, since I hadn't heard from anyone(and I have to drive to a conference Saturday).
Richard says it will be 30 more days.

I have nothing decent to say.

(and to top it off, I forgot to lock my truck at the grocery store and someone got into this beat up, dented old thing and took 2 boxes of special, dumb extravagant and addictive candles that I ordered 3 weeks ago and waited for. And a little car airfreshener that my daughter gave me. I need a tank, indestructable and a Robocop alarm system) (okay, a key locking mechanism and peripheral alarm would work)

[james4513]

hocndoc - I'm scheduled to speak with Richard later today - he is meeting his MINI account rep today.

I'd like to chat with you about your experience and conversation - so, please email me (see my profile) and let me know how to reach you if you are up to talking.

Thanks - James

[hocndoc]

I will contact you, James.

I understand the hassles of building anywhere, especially in SA, but, there must be a way. If I had had a truer picture of the delay in December (my production date was 12-20-02), I could have planned ahead.

Delayed gratification is one of my better talents, but there's time pressure, because I've got out of town, but in Texas, conferences each week in Feb.

My husband and I decided to defer any decision for a couple of days more. I'll rent a car this weekend, but, I'm not sure about the practicality of renting a car for a month or for several days each week.

[Lizard]

Called Richard for a status update. Guess what - they received their 2nd allocation and the car is officially ON-ORDER!

I have a production number and MINI knows about my car. (The owners lounge is cool!) Although it has not officially been scheduled for production the projected production date is 2/21/03.

The San Antonio Center should be up and running well before my car gets landed so things are looking good!

I have Richard adding fog lamps (my 1st winter in Austin and I use fogs much more than anywhere else I've lived.) Also adding the HK.

BTW - Saw an Indi Blue S at El Aroyo Resturant yesterday. I think that it came from California.

[Wynn]

Go, MINI Center! It's so exciting that they're finally opening. Yay!