Limited Colour Choice

[Silverstone]

As you'll see from my signature, I WILL own a Silk Green Cooper, one day. Unfortunately, that day will not be September 1st as MINI have decided not to make any Green cars in August (or Yellow ones for that matter). The choice is limited to Red, Indie Blue (v. popular on this site), and Black.

Not a big conversation topic, especially for the US who won't be affected, but pretty frustrating for us limeys who were making grand plans for early September.

[Rob.]

Hi Silverstone,
I don't know whether your dealer is playing silly buggers and not giving the full facts. All cars are limited till september as the factory is only making cars with certain add ons till it gets up to full production. However, they are making all colours from day one. I am down for a silver cooper and that has been confirmed, so ask again or ask another dealer.

[Dogger]

My local dealership in Leeds was similarly vague about the availability of colours from July 7th, but said that there was little chance of anyone getting a car on the road until September anyway, by which time all the colours listed on the Mini web-site would be available.

Incidentally, for anyone living near Doncaster, apparently there's a warehouse full of Mini's somewhere where the BMW dealership staff go to check them out in the flesh...keep your eyes peeled as they also go for the odd spin in them too..:0)

[Twinsun007]

Aye - the place where all the MINI's are kept in is the same place as the rest of the BMW range... in the distribution Centre in Thorne, just off the M18.

Massive place with loads of cars!!

Aye - problem is, there is a massive security fence and everthing else in place, and so getting close enough to see the cars well, ain't too easy!!

Have fun!!

G.

[BruceK]

[quote]On 07-06-2001 13:39 Dogger wrote:
.... but said that there was little chance of anyone getting a car on the road until September anyway, by which time all the colours listed on the Mini web-site would be available./quote]

I really get a kick out of the emotions involved with car registration process in the UK.

As I understand it, traditionally many new car buyers waited until the end of summer to buy their new cars (when the number plate lettering scheme made the annual switch to the "next" letter). I was told that this was done for appearances sake so there would be no doubt whatsoever that the neighbors would see that it was indeed a BRAND NEW CAR!

Now that registration letters change twice a year, does the same thinking persist? Did the DVLA leave the registration change in August? If someone were to get a new MINI before September would the "old" registered MINI be something special? (i.e. able to show that you had one of the very first ones?)

[Twinsun007]

Well, yeah... yes, I would agree that getting one of the FIRST MINI's out on the road would be kind of cool... and so having one of the 'old' plates would show you that!

The registrations being both in March and September does mean that there is less of a 'rush' at new registration time, and yes, it has cut down on the 'kudos' (spelling?!?!) of having the car on a new plate...

To add to this, the Government is bringing in a new registration scheme, which used a different format to the number plates! It is gonna get confusing!!!

G

[BruceK]

Quote:

On 07-06-2001 14:07 I wrote:
I was told that this was done for appearances sake so there would be no doubt whatsoever that the neighbors would see that it was indeed a BRAND NEW CAR!

I forgot to mention that the traditional, obnoxious, way in the US of showing you have a BRAND NEW CAR is to leave the window sticker on, sometimes indefinitely. (The window sticker is an A4 piece of paper glued to a side window by the manufacturer and is required by law here. It displays detailed information on the car, assembly point, color, trim, specifications, gas mileage, options, and car price.)

[Twinsun007]

So then, you basically have to be pretty up yourself if you leave that sticker on then!?

'Ooh, Look at me! Look at my BRAND NEW CAR...'

!

:O= SHUT UP!!! He he he - my current car is a V-Plate (2000 model), and if you scrape off the dirt and stuff, you may just be able to make that out!!

[Jakx]

Quote:

On 07-06-2001 15:26 BruceK wrote:
[...]


I forgot to mention that the traditional, obnoxious, way in the US of showing you have a BRAND NEW CAR is to leave the window sticker on, sometimes indefinitely. .

Is an A4 size sheet really up to the job when trying to hide the interior of the average American car?

Sorry Bruce, only joking - it just came out!

No interior motive!