Another US CVT MINI Owner

[tsipple]

Well, I still haven't seen a MINI on the roads (except for the immediate vicinity of my dealership, Patrick MINI in Schaumburg, Illinois, during test drives). But I was lucky enough to pick up my MINI on Monday, April 15, 2002, around 6 PM.

I've been on Patrick MINI's waiting list since June, 2001. I opted for a "city cruiser" sort of MINI, with CVT and a few select options. I think it was the second CVT delivered by Patrick and about the 20th MINI overall. Although I love the manual transmission, I made that one concession to Chicago traffic and held out for the CVT.

Patrick MINI had the car waiting in their showroom, just in case it was raining. Joel Beekil guided me through the whole process and gave a tour of the features. (Yes, he did actually teach me a few things, so pay attention.) I've been saving for a while, so I wrote a check for MSRP, state and local taxes, title and license plate, and the state-regulated $51.44 documentation fee (less the $500 deposit). Optional floormats, in matching black, were $94.50. (They were ready to go in the car, but I was asked whether I wanted them. I did, of course.) Yes, the purchase price did include MINI-logoed Smints.

The VIN matched, the options matched, and everything looked in order. I said hello again to Robert Davis, the MINI General Manager. Kevin, the other MINI rep, happened to be out that day. Then Joel drove the car out the showroom door to the front of the building. With 13 miles on the odometer, I received the keys, a handshake, and a smile.

I took a couple minutes to adjust the mirrors, seat, find all the controls, and basically catch my breath, and then I set off with the friend who drove me to the dealership. We went to Boston Market -- parked as far as possible on the end space, of course -- and had dinner. Lots of gawking already. Then I drove back to the dealership to drop off my friend and set off for Madison, Wisconsin (about 130 miles away).

I only stopped to take one photo, and only the next morning (Tuesday, April 16) as I was walking up to the car. (Everything else has been driving.) I thought it was kind of funny. I mean, where else would a MINI stay overnight?

Lots and lots of crowd reaction. A couple of the funnier moments were when a bicyclist nearly lost control, since she tried to stick two thumbs up. (Madison is one of the most politically liberal cities in the country, and the MINI was well received.) Also, near Rockford, Illinois, a guy passed me a couple times, honking his horn, flashing his lights, and giving thumbs up. I waved several times and honked a friendly hello. And then there was the parking garage attendant in Madison. He was just 30 feet or so from the MINI in his booth near the exit, and he remarked that there was a constant flow of people walking up to the car to take a look, usually in groups. During lunch in Madison, a few minutes after we were seated, a businessman walked in and sat at a table near us. As soon as the waiter came up, his first question was, "Did you see the car outside?" Then he insisted the waiter go to the window to take a look, whereupon he proceeded to lecture the waiter on the "Austin Mini."

Anyway, to make this short, I'm back in Chicago, the MINI is safely tucked away in a garage space loaned by a friend so I don't have to leave the car on the street overnight, and there are a few more than 300 miles on the odometer. In fairly mixed driving I'm getting 31 miles per U.S. gallon, but that's only a hint of true fuel economy at this stage. I'm trying to observe the running in rules. Tomorrow Tirerack.com gets to photograph the MINI, so I'll work out of an office in Indiana.

Here's the timeline for my MINI delivery:

March 13, 2002: MINI born in Oxford
March 17, 2002: MINI boards the good ship Don Juan in Southampton
March 28, 2002: MINI disembarks at Port Jersey and has its tires examined carefully by the customs officers.
April 10, 2002: MINI rolls onto a truck for the ride from New Jersey to Illinois, after a long and thorough checkout.
April 13, 2002: MINI arrives at Patrick MINI.
April 15, 2002 (early evening): MINI finds new home.

If anyone's got any questions, I can try to answer. One thing that surprised me a bit, by the way, is that the glovebox is slightly different (and sturdier) than the Chicago Auto Show cars. Also, the MINI comes prewired for a handsfree mobile telephone, with a microphone and speaker in the headliner up front. I didn't find any details on how to hook into it, though -- I didn't see any mention of it in the owner's manual. I also have the most toothless row of toggle switches possible, since I've only got the windows and door lock switches. I kind of like it that way, though, because it somehow looks better than missing just one switch. Also makes it easier to find each switch without looking.

[Sejanus]

Gorgeous car! So how's the ride? Is the CVT responsive enough for you?

[S2K&CooperS]

Very nice!!! I really like it. Looks great!! My Cooper was due yesterday but did not arrive .......hopefully in the next day or two.

[sixfoot6]

Congratulations friend!

The green's gorgeous, I'd love to see more pictures?

Enjoy your motoring, and good work Patrick MINI, sounds like they treated you right!

sixfoot6

ps. Crevier MINI just got in their first two CVTs, if anyone's interested. In driving it, that is. I wouldn't buy there just yet (4k mandatory extras).

[BruceK]

Timothy,

Great story. And congratulations on a great looking MINI. Soon MINI2 members can say we knew your car before it became a TireRack advert celebrity!

I know the car was held up in NJ for a while, but even still, I am amazed how quickly it went from Oxford to Schaumburg to you - just over 4 weeks. Wow!

[lhasa]

Congratulations! I'm so glad your buying experience was a good one. Enjoy!

[tsipple]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sejanus
Gorgeous car! So how's the ride? Is the CVT responsive enough for you?

It is, yes. I know most people are lusting after the Cooper S (and its 163 horses), but 115 hp really is quite respectable. There's absolutely no worry merging, passing, etc. (Remember, you're competing against SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks. Most of these vehicles are bloated, overweight slugs anyway. A Kia Rio can keep up with most of them.)

There are some other people who already reported on the CVT in other MINI2 posts. I can't add too much more. Starting from a dead stop really is unlike anything I've ever driven. Even though it's an automatic, it still seems like you have to get used to the accelerator "feel," not unlike the sensation in a manual. The CVT seems to want to maintain 2500 RPMs (or thereabouts) during acceleration, unless you push the accelerator pedal to the floor. You can spin the front wheels just a little bit with the CVT if you're a too eager, which is nice. Acceleration is very eerie. It's amazing how much my sensation of speed is dependent on feeling the gear shifts.

It doesn't sap much power or fuel efficiency from the car, fortunately. (That's the CVT's claim to fame.) The CVT Cooper has an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 city and 32 highway. There's a Steptronic mode and a Sport mode, but I haven't tried either during the running in period.

The ride is, well, "bouncity bounce bounce." Firm, surefooted, but not harsh. Playful. German sports car. It's no Buick or Lincoln.

The steering has a very short throw, as many people have remarked. If you move the wheel, it will turn. And that includes moving the wheel when fumbling with cell phones and beverages. If you do that, you're liable to sail into the next lane before you know it. Keep at least one hand on the wheel at all times. This car is meant to be driven.

Haven't noticed any left pull.

You'll find yourself wondering, "Why do all those other cars slow down so much through curves?" Sometimes (minivans, SUVs, etc.) you'll be wondering what's taking them so long as they enter or exit an interstate highway. As the owner's manual points out, though, this handling is not an unlimited license, so be careful.

I love the tight pedal spacing -- just two pedals in my case. I know some people don't like it, but it really makes driving comfortable.

PLEASE get sport seats! Really ought to be standard equipment.

What a special car.

[TINMAN]

Congratulations,looking forward to seeing your car on TireRack.Love the color.You mention in your post that you have a speaker and mic. for a hands free mobile phone in the headliner,this sounds like the same thing I asked about in a previous post and the reply was that it is a sensor for the auto. climate control(its there whether you have the auto climate control or not)Wonder which is right?

[tsipple]

I don't have the automatic climate control, and I don't think it's a sensor for that system. I'll try and get a photo of it.

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by tsipple


The CVT Cooper has an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 city and 32 highway. There's a Steptronic mode and a Sport mode, but I haven't tried either during the running in period.

Certainly beats my 12-15 in the Mustang. I may have missed something along the way here, but what is the difference between the Steptronic and Sport modes? (I realize you haven't used them yet, I just didn't realize there was more than one alternative to the normal "automatic" mode.)

[tsipple]

I think Sport mode means that the transmission will shift between six discrete ratios (rather than continuous gearing), holding RPMs higher than the normal Drive mode. Still automatic shifting.

Steptronic mode is manual clutchless shifting with the computer simply keeping you out of trouble. (You can't cruise at 120 miles per hour then shift into first gear, for example.)

[dietcokeplease]

tim,

John Cooper Works were carrying out a Works Conversion on a Silver Cooper CVT. Something which you may want to consider if you don't go for the S. That way you get more power and retain the CVT box - now that would be a nice street cruiser!

DC

[tsipple]

A Works CVT upgrade? Intersting. Any details on U.S. distributors? Specifications for the upgrade? I don't remember seeing anything on their web site.

[oopsdy]

congradulations!!!

[tsipple]

It's Ferris Buehler's Day Off sort of.

Here's a photo taken in front of Wrigley Field on April 20, 2002, during a Chicago Cubs (baseball) home game. Naturally, the Cubs are losing to the Cincinnati Reds.

There's no parking right near the ballpark, so it was tricky to get this photo, particularly with the score displayed. We happened to catch the stoplight in the lead, and one of my passengers (thanks, Dale!) rushed out with the camera. Fortunately the Chicago Police, out in full force, were also amused, allowing me to turn right off the road (from the left lane) to pick up my cameraman.