[diane-s]

I was a production date of 9/13 and can tell you that Wallenius reports my MINI is on the Tanabata. (The OL still shows that my car is on its way to Southampton to be put on a ship.)

The Tanabata is scheduled to be in Baltimore on 9/24 and Charleston (my destination) on 9/27!

Welcome aboard! Do I get to sit at the Captain's table?

[cooper4us]

Our MINI traveled in the Tanabata as well(Via Charleston) from August 8-22, 2002. The Tanabata-Charleston connection is terrific as it seems the Charleston VPC processes the new cars in just a couple of days. Our car was at the dealership only 4 days later, on August 26th. We finally took delivery of our new MINI on 9/7/02 (10 days ago, as we were out of town for 2 weeks) and couldn't be happier.

Congratulations and enjoy!

[diane-s]

I am so glad that you posted this information! I was estimating a 2 week MINImum to get it to the dealer, and it seems that might not be the case. It does make sense that it would be a bit faster just because there's no extra long-distance shipping involved.

I'll call the dealer again to see if there's a better estimate. The Owner's Lounge shows the ETA as 10/1 to the dealer which is in line with your experience, too.

Thank you very much for taking the time to post. Glad you both are happily motoring along.

[BudCat]

I also had a prod date of 9/13 and my MC is also on the Tanbata. I have a estimated delivery date of 10/1 so I know that will not be met, but I'm still close.

[diane-s]

I guess we have twins, seperated at birth?

At last check, the ship is supposed to be in Charleston, now, on 9/26. I think I posted the departure date before.

[BudCat]

Bought mine in Atlanta (Global Imports). I see you are from AZ. Did you buy on East Coast and plan on driving it home?

[diane-s]

The Tanabata was supposed to be docked yesterday and departing today. So far, none of the 114 sibilings have been offloaded according to the Wallenius website.

Since this is the last chance to track it so closely, it's kind of...well, not frustrating...but I'm certainly still shifting from one foot to another in anticipation. It has a come on, come on, come ON aspect of it. It's certainly the slowest horserace in town! My bets are on us though.



Budcat-Yes, I was seriously considering driving it back, but have opted to have it shipped. The drive-in period is supposed to be *variable* speeds and I wouldn't be able to give it that in the short time I'd have to get back to Arizona. However, I really liked the idea of the trip. I know of someone who bought his from MINI of Charleston and he had a good experience with Dana Prato. I didn't care for my local dealer.

[BudCat]

I have also been tracking, and wondering why they were still sitting on the ship. And maybe they've been offloaded and the website hasn't been updated yet. I think I'll go with that idea. Have to remain optimistic about this, you know.

And you know the MINI Owners Lounge will be behind, also. I seem to be getting more impatient as the days go by and supposedly the delivery get closer.

[cooper4us]

And they should be able to tell you the exact whereabouts of your new cars. The Owner's Lounge and the WW shipping tracking sites take several days to update and often their ETA's don't always reflect what is going on at the port of entry and the VPC.

Call MINIUSA and with your production number they'll tell you exactly when the expect to have the car transported to your selling dealer, etc. That's what I did and from that point on I stopped relying on the websites to obtain this info.

Congrats to the both of you and happy motoring!

[diane-s]

Thanks!

I called MINI and was told that my MINI is on its way to the processing center. In fact, it rolled off the ship yesterday as scheduled.

Budcat, since you are in GA, I'm assuming that your MINI will come off the ship at the next stop. The Tanbata should be in Brunswick tomorrow.

I asked about the owner's manual. Though Jenn didn't have a date for it to be on the Ownder's Lounge, she did offer to email me the 2002 version. It's available at Monsta's web ring location, or I'd be happy to email it to you. Just let me know.Yes! I want the 2002 manual.

[BudCat]

Yea, even though I had promised myself I wouldn't call, I broke down and called Ask MINI myself, and found out our cars were offloaded yesterday morning.

And on the manual, I already have a 2002 printed out and 'dog-eared'. (lol) I know too much about the car. Now I just need THE CAR to put my knowledge into practice.

by the way, I'm not in GA, I'm in Alabama, but Atlanta is the closet dealer (about 1.5 hours from my home) Also was out in your part of the country recently. Spent two weeks down at Sierra Vista (Fort Huachuca) in a computer security and vulnerabilty class.

[diane-s]

I don't know how I confused the AL/GA business. I can tell the difference. I even know where each state is and I'm a product of the CA school system.

Interesting that you were in Ft Huachuca. I have an uncle who lives in Ramsey Canyon over there. I know exactly where you were!

As far as deliveries go, the Owner's Lounge estimated my delivery to the dealer at 10/1. Nah, I thought. Too good to be true. Cooper4Us had a great experience with turnaround from the VPC, but I didn't think it was possible. Well, I'm here to tell ya that MINIUSA reported yesterday that my MINI was being loaded that day and would be at the dealer today. I called MINIUSA just now and they say it's still waiting to be trucked to the dealer. Regardless, I'm happy with the short time at the VPC. (I can't call the dealer because they are closed now.) I hope the same is true for you.

[BudCat]

I live in AL, but I bought in GA. Easy to make that mistake. And I'm a happy camper this morning. My MINI is at the Dealer. I'm picking it up Friday morning (Oct 4). Only took two months to get it. Ordered on Aug 2, and dealer received it on Oct 2.

I'll be scarce on the web for a while. I'm gonna be driving!!!

[diane-s]

I'll be thinking of you this weekend, then. Looks like mine might make it on the truck on Tues or Wednesday. I'll be on the road by the next weekend. (August 14 to October 13 as a matter of fact) As they say...

Happy Motoring!

[BudCat]

She's home. I love it!!!!!

[diane-s]

EXcellent! I thought of you frequently this weekend.

Tell me something great around Thursday. I'm still expecting mine this weekend, I think. I'm in that what-am-I-doing-getting-rid-of-a-car-that-I-own thought process. I know I'll be okay. I know I'm going to love the Cooper, but I need to hear something good around then.

[BudCat]

Just to let you know that you're not the only crazy one, I did basically the same thing. I had a perfectly good 95 Tracker convertible which ran and looked great, and was costing me nothing. But I couldn't resist the MINI. I sold the Tracker with no regrets. But now that I've driven the MINI, I'm convinced it was the right thing to do. I love it and you'll love yours. It is truly an 'attention getter'.

[diane-s]

Phew. Thank you so much. that was EXACTLY what I needed to know. It gets picked up tomorrow for it's janunt cross country. That means getting it this weekend is out. It's looking like Tuesday. Well, it is less than a week, anyway!

thanks again!

[BudCat]

I probably couldn't have resisted driving it back to AZ. This first week I haven't been able to stay out of it. I've washed it twice, and waxed it once. The inside is spotless. I get a bit of trash on the floormats and I immediately take them out and clean them. Never been this obsessed with a car. My wife is wondering why I washed the MINI this morning and didn't was her car.
I've also got to slow down on the mileage. I'm averaging almost 100 miles a day so far. Maybe eventually I'll slow down and let it rest.

It the most fun car to drive I've ever had. I've had a varying assortment of cars. From MGBs to VW beetles to Miatas to.... well you name it.

I know you are ready to see your car. Hopefully tuesday will be the big day.

Good luck.

[diane-s]

Budcat...you were soooo right! I'm lovin' the car and have no regrets. None at all! It's been just over a week. Yes, I too have already washed it. The sad part is that I know we are scheduled to have rain this weekend, but I just had to do it.

I'm only a third of my way into the run-in. This is taking forever! even though the first two days I was up at an unnatural hour in the a.m. and figured "What the heck, I'll take a drive around." It's a good thing I'm single, because that would be more annoying to a spouse than simply not washing the non-MINI.

I'm also not used to people paying attention to me on the road. The thumbs-up sightings all are so true. Today I legally (but in a kind of unusual way) parked in front of the motor vehicle department. A police car pulled up and I'm thinking that they were going to tell me to be more careful next time. Nope, they just wanted to ask about the car. It kind of brings out the 'nice' in people.

Enjoy!