[btdoyle]

woo hoo! I took over rsinsheimer for the number 5 spot! Not exactly sure that is an accomplishment but I will just tell myself it is.

[Mk2 Colonial Viper]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

Yeah, just to whine for a moment, the car's been at the dealer since last Saturday and it's still not ready. That's just silly.

Doesn't really matter, I can't go to 'Vegas 'til next Saturday anyway, but if I lived there I'd be all over them for being so slow.

I hear you - I'm hoping for Saturday 4/23

R.E.: Extended warranty question - FWIW - Normally modern electronics show their problems relatively right out of the box/early in the use cycle. Sometime there are component packages that fail after some use (see Ford, power door lock actuators, plastic gear failures in speedometers) but that's usually planned obsolesence. If the first year of normal use goes well, then I believe maintenance makes a big difference on the life of vehicle. I think the existing warranty should work well for that initial period. I'll drive with care but use it and I expect if no problems surface from part failure/improper assembly, etc. then it should be good for the life of the car with regular maintenance & normal use. We purchased the extended warranty on our 04 Prius given it's complex system but I also recognize it's primarly the illusion of security we're paying for. If my Cooper needs another engine or tranny along the way we'll drop in the 07 aluminum engine and swap in a 6 speed Scott

[jeffu]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

Yeah, just to whine for a moment, the car's been at the dealer since last Saturday and it's still not ready. That's just silly.

Doesn't really matter, I can't go to 'Vegas 'til next Saturday anyway, but if I lived there I'd be all over them for being so slow.

What are you having done to it that would be taking them that long?

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffu

What are you having done to it that would be taking them that long?

That's the mystery -- all they're doing (other than taking it to the local racetrack for a few laps) is installing the armrest and the sunroof air deflector. If I had a suspicious mind I'd think that they forgot to order one or the other, and now they're scrambling to get them in from MINI before the top of my head blows off.

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mk2 Colonial Viper

I hear you - I'm hoping for Saturday 4/23

R.E.: Extended warranty question - FWIW - Normally modern electronics show their problems relatively right out of the box/early in the use cycle. Sometime there are component packages that fail after some use (see Ford, power door lock actuators, plastic gear failures in speedometers) but that's usually planned obsolesence. If the first year of normal use goes well, then I believe maintenance makes a big difference on the life of vehicle. I think the existing warranty should work well for that initial period. I'll drive with care but use it and I expect if no problems surface from part failure/improper assembly, etc. then it should be good for the life of the car with regular maintenance & normal use. We purchased the extended warranty on our 04 Prius given it's complex system but I also recognize it's primarly the illusion of security we're paying for. If my Cooper needs another engine or tranny along the way we'll drop in the 07 aluminum engine and swap in a 6 speed Scott

All good points. I confess to being concerned about the electronics in the car -- you do realize that everything is on a serial bus in this thing -- if the master computer that runs the bus goes down, you can't do anything, no lights, no engine, no nuthin'. And I'll guess those don't come cheap. The obvious countervaling argument is that I haven't seen a slew of MINIs by the side of the road with their owner kicking them. But no one has 7 years of experience with this paradigm either. I plan to keep the car for a very long time (the '85 GSL-SE RX-7 it's replacing I've had for 20 years).

Like I said, back and forth, back and forth.

[hembrey]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

if the master computer that runs the bus goes down, you can't do anything, no lights, no engine, no nuthin'.

Maybe you should just have a spare Mini in the garage as a contingency!!

[btdoyle]

Here is a comparison that was in the motor trend magazine a while back but finally avaiable online,
MotorTrend tests 5 small cars

If anyone body wants to see how the mini stacks up against some other small cars.

[Kellzir]

Happy Birthday rsinheimer! I wish you were able to get your MINI on your birthday, and sorry to hear it's taking long at the dealership. By any chance could you drive to your dealer and see if you can spy on your car?

[Kellzir]

AprilWhine - Congrats on getting your MINI. What a relief since the wait is now over. Happy Motoring!

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kellzir

Happy Birthday rsinheimer! I wish you were able to get your MINI on your birthday, and sorry to hear it's taking long at the dealership. By any chance could you drive to your dealer and see if you can spy on your car?

Thanks for the birthday wishes -- this is 50 for me. I was sure hoping to get the car today, but -- nope.

I could drive by the dealer, but with me in Petaluma (45 miles north of San Francisco for you non-Bay-Area folks) and him in Las Vegas, it'd be a long way to go just for drive by.



-- Roger

[rsinsheimer]

Quote: Originally Posted by hembrey

Maybe you should just have a spare Mini in the garage as a contingency!!

It could come to that. My wife are going to try and be adult about this and share, but that might prove impossible!

[hembrey]

Hey, does anyone know what tires are being mounted on the MCS? I believe they are Dunlops, but am not sure what model, etc.

I'm getting the 17" Performance Run Flats on R85s. (and it better be soon...)

[Pamlico]

Usually one of two different tires are used for the Performance option - Dunlop SP9000 or Pirelli Euforias. The Dunlops are reportedly being used on the new webspoke wheels.

[gaminicool]

Guess I'm Getting Dunlops

I'll keep them until they wear out and I am planning on getting some Toyo Proxes (non runflats). I may buy a spare tire for long raod trips fix-a-flat for the short ones.

I'm not trying to induce an arguement over runflats - just dont want them

Bring on the K-line Minis

[ryanelp80]

Well, as I said on Monday, I got THE CALL and picked my PW/B beauty around 8 o'clock that night...

drove it to work the next day (yesterday) and hit a huge hunk of semi-truck tire tread in the fast lane of the freeway... tore almost my entire bumper right off...

I was in shock and disbelief, I was only a few miles from my dealership, so I drove there (at the nice dark hour of 5am) and waited for someone, anyone, to arrive. The first person I saw was my MA, Christian, he totally took care of me, took me over the the service dept and after BMW told us they don't give loaner cars for "body work" he managed to take a used 2003 yellow and white MINI right off the lot and handed me the keys How sweet is he??? So, my insurance company (State Farm) and the body shop are getting together to fix my precious Valentine... I am so sad that this happened so soon after I got him... not even TWELVE hours after I signed the paperwork!!!! I cannot believe my horrible luck! So, word to the wise... stay away from trucks and their stupid tires!!!!!

[Ken30307]

That's terrible..I'm glad you are okay!!

Quote: Originally Posted by ryanelp80

Well, as I said on Monday, I got THE CALL and picked my PW/B beauty around 8 o'clock that night...

drove it to work the next day (yesterday) and hit a huge hunk of semi-truck tire tread in the fast lane of the freeway... tore almost my entire bumper right off...

I was in shock and disbelief, I was only a few miles from my dealership, so I drove there (at the nice dark hour of 5am) and waited for someone, anyone, to arrive. The first person I saw was my MA, Christian, he totally took care of me, took me over the the service dept and after BMW told us they don't give loaner cars for "body work" he managed to take a used 2003 yellow and white MINI right off the lot and handed me the keys How sweet is he??? So, my insurance company (State Farm) and the body shop are getting together to fix my precious Valentine... I am so sad that this happened so soon after I got him... not even TWELVE hours after I signed the paperwork!!!! I cannot believe my horrible luck! So, word to the wise... stay away from trucks and their stupid tires!!!!!

[Ken30307]

Given the hassle...do you LIKE having the Parcel Shelf? I have one in my house waiting for my MINI to arrive....I

Quote: Originally Posted by bandrews

The Euro Parcel Shelf was a pain in the ass to install. Everyone online says it takes "5 to 15 minutes" - either I got a bum parcel shelf, or they're lying through their teeth. It DOES NOT MATCH UP on the right side with the car. there are these two lame blue snap-on screw receptacles that just plain don't work. I did finally manage to get it attached, but there are several millimeter gaps between the shelf and the car. It's a crying shame, because the shelf is well-designed and otherwise a good addition.


Ben

[gaminicool]

Quote: Originally Posted by ryanelp80

Well, as I said on Monday, I got THE CALL and picked my PW/B beauty around 8 o'clock that night...

drove it to work the next day (yesterday) and hit a huge hunk of semi-truck tire tread in the fast lane of the freeway... tore almost my entire bumper right off...

I was in shock and disbelief, I was only a few miles from my dealership, so I drove there (at the nice dark hour of 5am) and waited for someone, anyone, to arrive. The first person I saw was my MA, Christian, he totally took care of me, took me over the the service dept and after BMW told us they don't give loaner cars for "body work" he managed to take a used 2003 yellow and white MINI right off the lot and handed me the keys How sweet is he??? So, my insurance company (State Farm) and the body shop are getting together to fix my precious Valentine... I am so sad that this happened so soon after I got him... not even TWELVE hours after I signed the paperwork!!!! I cannot believe my horrible luck! So, word to the wise... stay away from trucks and their stupid tires!!!!!

That stinks Glad you are not hurt and Valentine is getting some TLC. You'll have your Mini back soon

[Mk2 Colonial Viper]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsinsheimer

All good points. I confess to being concerned about the electronics in the car -- you do realize that everything is on a serial bus in this thing -- if the master computer that runs the bus goes down, you can't do anything, no lights, no engine, no nuthin'. And I'll guess those don't come cheap. The obvious countervaling argument is that I haven't seen a slew of MINIs by the side of the road with their owner kicking them. But no one has 7 years of experience with this paradigm either. I plan to keep the car for a very long time (the '85 GSL-SE RX-7 it's replacing I've had for 20 years).

Like I said, back and forth, back and forth.

Hi - Yes, I'm familiar but not worried about it. BTW - the ECU on one of my classic cars is analog and the other has 12 fuses (one for each use of electricity) and no computer/ECU interface whatsoever. I also plan for it to have a long life, teach a couple children how to handle a manual tranny, and hopefully not use it's airbags. Given the mass production of the vehicle, if there is a major part that goes, it can be replaced (vs. getting a very specialized car) and the longer the on the road the more parts cars there are to pick over (sorry for that thought folks, just being pragmatic). If the first year goes well, take care of it and it'll serve you well long term.

Update: no new info - "at port ..."

Scott

[Mk2 Colonial Viper]

Quote: Originally Posted by ryanelp80

Well, as I said on Monday, I got THE CALL and picked my PW/B beauty around 8 o'clock that night...

drove it to work the next day (yesterday) and hit a huge hunk of semi-truck tire tread in the fast lane of the freeway... tore almost my entire bumper right off...

I was in shock and disbelief, I was only a few miles from my dealership, so I drove there (at the nice dark hour of 5am) and waited for someone, anyone, to arrive. The first person I saw was my MA, Christian, he totally took care of me, took me over the the service dept and after BMW told us they don't give loaner cars for "body work" he managed to take a used 2003 yellow and white MINI right off the lot and handed me the keys How sweet is he??? So, my insurance company (State Farm) and the body shop are getting together to fix my precious Valentine... I am so sad that this happened so soon after I got him... not even TWELVE hours after I signed the paperwork!!!! I cannot believe my horrible luck! So, word to the wise... stay away from trucks and their stupid tires!!!!!

Given it was a challenging moment is sounds like all was well, no one was hurt, etc, but I do hear you, how frustrating ...