S delivery in Switzerland

[Steve Ray]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for providing one of the most useful, well mannered, informative, friendly and fun forum's I have used on the web. This site is a fantastic source of information and has/is helping tremendously to keep me sane while I await my S.

I'm a Brit living in Switzerland, and although I notice that the majority of contributors are from the USA, UK and Australia (Basil appears to be *very* active) - I wondered if there were any other MINI or Mini fans from Switzerland?

It seems to me that the wait for the S is making the time pass very slowly for many of us. I put a deposit down in March and am no 3 on the dealers list for my area. The S is launched in Switzerland this Saturday (15th June). I hope to get a test drive soon, but I won't see my S until late August, early September.

How does this compare with other people waiting in continental Europe?

Thanks

[LittleTiger]

Hi Steve,

same to me - it's the first time in my life that I want summer to pass as fast as possible... I ordered my MCS early March and they said that I could expect a late August / early September delivery. However, I decided to have some special gimmicks in my S like HK sound system and rain sensing wipers. As these options are delayed I'll have to wait for at least a september build, maybe even later

[QQQ]

I'm in the same boat Steve and a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved I'm also #3 on my dealers list in Rotterdam and we also have the offical launch of the MCS this Saturday.

According to my dealer my MCS should be delivered in week 31. The wait seems like forever and especially the last weeks seem to pass very slowly. I know it's worth every minute though.

What's your spec BTW and when are you gonna have your test drive.

Erwin

[Steve Ray]

Erwin

Thanks for halving the problem! It is good to know I am not the only one waiting until Aug/Sep. I know many are waiting longer than this.

Spec so far (not finalised in my mind or at the dealers) is:

EB/W
Chilli Pack (17" alloys - silver, Lapis Blue half leather, Xenon, etc)
Sunroof (this is the 'cité du soleil' - 254 days of sunshine a year)
Auto Aircon/ DSCIII/ Multifunction Wheel/ Onboard computer /ISOFIX/ alarm


Thought about waiting for H/K, rain sensing wipers etc - but decided that the wait was long enough and I just want my S before the winter sets in.

Hope to test drive on Monday next week.

Steve

[QQQ]

Quote

Sunroof (this is the 'cité du soleil' - 254 days of sunshine a year)

So that leaves 111 days of sunshine for the rest of the world, of which we only get a couple in the Netherlands

That's a great spec, Steve. Got informed by my dealer that I could expect an invitation for a test-drive within a few days Really can't wait.

[cordial]

Hi Steve

I ordered my S in Baar (Zug) on 11.09.2001 (no deposit required)and am 3rd on list with delivery promised in July or early August based on my reserved production slot.

I will be test driving this week!!!!!!

I will spec after the test drive and will most prob go for the following:

Pure Silver / Black with Chili Pack, MFSW, DSC, Seat heating, auto aircon upgrade + bits and bobs. Rain sensor and HK Speakers subject to no delay... Total cost should be < CHF 36'000.

As soon as the run-flats wear out, I intend to replace them with Conti SportContacts (I drove around in an MX-5 for 5 years without the spare on board!). No risk, no fun.

Will post test drive impressions.

cordial
aka Bob

[MacCooper]

I am on the list since September 2001 and I will get my S NEXT MONDAY!
No. 1 in Hamburg!

[Steve Ray]

MacCooper - Nice job! You must be the first in continental Europe!! Let us know what it's like

Cordial - Dealer told me that H/K was not available till September, but would check. Let me know, as this is on my "quite like to have but not if I have to wait another month" list!

I get my test drive Wednesday at 15:00...... I am sure I'll love it, equally sure that I won't have anything to say that hasn't been said before, but I'm sure I'll say it anyway!

How can a car turn so many grown men (and women) into kids with/expecting new toys? BMW have done a superb Job on the design/engineering/marketing of this product...


Steve

[cordial]

After a 2 hour drive in an SLK 230 (also supercharged) I finally test drove an E Blue / White S last night and all I can say is : Absolutely fantastic (and that's without the Works retrofit!!!!). At one stage I overtook a car and saw the revs go up to about 5000 (I don't remember what gear I was in, but it was a B road and speed was about 110 KPH)and it felt very willing. The general feel of quality was there and the roadholding is in a class of its own. It is worth the wait....

I then went on to spec the car. My production slot was for week 29 / delivery week 33. However without Xenons, BRG, Rain sensor or HK speakers. In view of how long I've been waiting already, I bit the bullet and took these options: It's now production in week 36 with delivery in week 40 (early October). Until then, I'll just have to slum it in my wife's SLK

[Borset]

Hello, I am writing this from Belgium (between Liège and Namur) and I am No 1 on the list of my dealer (command made end January 2002). Normal production planified for beginning July and delivery second part of July.

About delivery, I know that some S were already delivered to their owners beginning of this week (around june 12th) in France And if you want another nice, friendly and french speaking forum : go to http://mini2.motorlegend.com

By the way, if someone is interested there is an S with dark silver / white roof, sunroof, wheel 17", two colors leather seats, DSC, xenon light, radio cd Boost, auto airco, multifonctions steering wheel, etc... by the dealer near me (city of Huy). The S has actually no owner and, so, can be bought by anyone immediately.

[Steve Ray]

OK people - thanks for the feedback so far. Finally took a test drive yesterday in a PS/B Cooper S w Chilli Pack and Full leather LB/B seats. It had 70 km on the clock, and was the only S the dealer had - and we (my wife and I) got it for 25 minutes without the sales guy.

Loved it! I think everything about handling/power/gearbox etc has already been said, so I won't add too much. I did not find the gearbox toooooo "tall", but it did need a bit of an energetic right foot to pull away quickly. (I did this and my wife was very quick to point out the speed I was doing - I think a great accessory would be a "fake" speedometer for the centre dash to cut down on back seat drivers - bless her!)

Leather seats were too slippy. I was OK (I was holding the steering wheel), but I went for a short run up the nearest mountain with some mildly spirited driving , and on some of the bends my wife was sliding around on the chair. She commented to me that the car felt rock solid, but she could stay still on the seat. It was also 35C outside yesterday, and my back was soaked when we got out of the car.

I have still to see either DS or EB in the flesh. I Initially preferred DS, but the EB has really grown on me. I think it is a more "light-hearted" colour, so I'm going to stick with it. From what everyone has said and the photos I have seen - EB/W looks great and I am sure I won't regret it - until I see a DS/B.....

One of the comments made to me by an American visitor to the town I live in recently was "you have 17,000 people living here and about 50 hairdressers stores!" So I guess I should be OK come resale time!

Final spec is:

EB/W S with Chilli (Xenon, Lapis Blue/Black half leather, 17" Silver alloys, plus bits n bobs) Auto Aircon, MFSW, Sunroof, Alarm, Boost with CD changer, Heated Seats.

Build date Wk 31 (end July), delivery Wk 35 (end Aug)

[QQQ]

Thanks for that nice review Steve I have one question for you. I've read in some reviews (one of them on this forum) that the throttle response is very slow when blipping it at rest, like the engine is full of treacle, which could be partly caused by the heacvy twin-mass flywheel. This could maybe also explain the slow pick up of the S in 2nd at low revs (mentioned in another thread on this forum). Did you notice any of this during your test drive?

As for the colour. Aren't there any other dealers in Switzerland who do have the EB and DS in the flesh? I really wasn't to keen on the DS until I saw it in the flesh. Was completely sold then, just as my girlfriend who till then really hated the DS (too gloomy for her). As oposed to the EB (which does really look good on the pics and also in the flesh I must admit), I do think most pictures don't do the DS really right. The one attached here is one of the few that does. I would really advise you to try and find a dealer who has both colours in his showroom.

Erwin

[cordial]

Nice one Steve!

Fully agree with your comments about full leather. As part leather is kind of thrown in for free in the Chili Pack anyway, it seems rude not to.....

Re colour, have you not considered EB/Black ? I drove an EB/W with white rims and couldn't help feeling that all that brightness was a bit effeminate (without wishing to offend all those EB/W fans out there, of course!). For me, it's BRG/B, no question after having seen the combo on a Cooper (LU plates). Anyway, as the french say so beautifully "A chacun sa chacune"!!!

I think an alpine S meeting is called for next summer: How about a 3 pass tour to put those superchargers to work e.g. Grimsel, Furka and Susten???

[Steve Ray]

Quote:

I've read in some reviews (one of them on this forum) that the throttle response is very slow when blipping it at rest, like the engine is full of treacle, which could be partly caused by the heacvy twin-mass flywheel. This could maybe also explain the slow pick up of the S in 2nd at low revs (mentioned in another thread on this forum). Did you notice any of this during your test drive?

First traffic island, just outside the dealership - I was in 2nd and travelling at around 10 km/h. Island was clear, so I accelerated and pushed fairly hard on the gas pedal. Nothing! Rien! Nada! After about 2 seconds revs started to pick up and we were cooking......

Next corner (T-Junction), I slowed to around 5 km/h on approach to check if it was clear, dropped it into first, rode the clutch back up and floored it! I was stunned - I hit 5,000 revs in what seemed no time (wife was not impressed - told me I was a big kid - she's right).

So yes - there is a slow pick up in second from very low speeds. But no, I don't think it is a problem - just a question of adjusting driving style.

Quote:

Aren't there any other dealers in Switzerland who do have the EB and DS in the flesh?

I am sure that there are - but I am not that bothered about seeing them in the flesh. Our other car is a fairly dark silver metallic and I do not want a matching pair. I like the EB and CR. Cannot get CR till Sep so EB it is!

Quote:

Re colour, have you not considered EB/Black ? I drove an EB/W with white rims and couldn't help feeling that all that brightness was a bit effeminate (without wishing to offend all those EB/W fans out there, of course!).

Thought about EB/Black, especially with sunroof, but I prefer the white. And IMHO the sunroof does not look too out of place. I agree that with white rims there is just too much white. The silver looks far better IMO.


Thanks for your comments guys! I was all set for an argument with the dealer when he told me no Xenons - and he didn't - accepted for production, no problem - official factory order sheet in hand! Roll on August....

[Steve Ray]

Bob (aka Cordial)

Forgot to say in my last post - but Yep I'm up for a bit of a tour through the Alps. I guess sometime next summer when we have "followed the correct run in procedures"....

Let's organise something then. We may even be able to get some international attendees - those roads and views are some of the best in the world.

Steve