[MGB Boy]

Today (actually yesterday, as it's now past midnight) I finally picked up my S. 280 days after I put down my deposit, I finally picked up my S. You know, at times it felt like I would never actually get the car, I'd just go through the process of waiting for the car in perpetuity. But it's sitting in my garage right now, in all it's Chili Red, white roofed, bonnet striped glory. Holy crap.

I bought it from Rex at Keeler, things went pretty smooth. The best news for any Keeler customers out there is that they now have the comfort opening thing figured out, so that is programmed into my car, and it's pretty damn cool. As is the exhaust note. As is watching the xenons flicker on and adjust themselves. As is watching people react when you turn on the headlamp washer. As are many many things. The stock sound system is superb. I'm a bit of an audiophile, and as far as I'm concerned, unless you are the sort that fills your trunk with components, this will be more than enough for you. And the ride on the 17" wheels isn't nearly as harsh as I thought it would be based on some of the conversations on line. Firm, yes. But not kidney-jarringly bad by any stretch of the imagination.

Anyhow, there were no flaws or defects, no chipped paint, no misaligned trim, nothing. No dealer logo stuck on the boot, just Keeler plate frames front and back. They took care of all the Vermont registration stuff for me, gave me a NY "transit" plate, everything went great. For the "freebies", I got the Smints and the "urban" CD (my choice). Accessories purchased and installed: Cargo net, wheel locks, logo valve stem caps, map light. As soon as I got home, I added my John Cooper sigs to the bonnet stripes and a John Cooper window sticker to the rear glass.

Now I just have to wait and see what I get for a vanity plate. On the Vermont form, you list your three choices in order and an explanation of what each means, then you they screen them against already taken tags and the list of offensive things, then three weeks later the plate shows up and you find out what you got. Kinda like the lottery.

I could say all kinds of stuff about how great it handles, how much fun it is to drive, how much attention it gets (it's like riding around with a nude model in the passenger seat), but the easiest way to sum up the car is this: It makes you want to sing along with the radio. Not many cars can make me feel like that.

-Ricardo

[MINIclo]

I could say all kinds of stuff about how great it handles, how much fun it is to drive, how much attention it gets (it's like riding around with a nude model in the passenger seat), but the easiest way to sum up the car is this: It makes you want to sing along with the radio. Not many cars can make me feel like that.

-Ricardo [/b][/quote]

Congrats, Ricardo! Sounds great. And it is posts like yours that keep me going, and I'm sure all the others, as we await our MINIs.

Mine should be here by the end of the month!

Cheers and Happy Motoring!
Clover

[xplode]

congratulations! another 6/21-er gets his cooper, here's hoping sejanus gets his soon as well!

i agree on the sound system - more than adequate for every day use. like you, i'd label myself an audiophile, but when it comes to car audio i can't really justify spending tons of money on a kit that ultimately has to battle road noise and play in a much less than optimal "sound stage". stock sound system does the trick nicely for me.

so ricardo my friend, where are the pictures, hey?

[Sejanus]

Congrats Ricardo. It sounds like a beaut!

(Thanks for the kind thought Xplode)

[Cape Cod MINI]

Congrats
I know some fine roads in northern Vermont in Cabot country that your S is aching to test

[JimMini]

Fantastic, I should be picking mine up at Keeler in the next few weeks as well, great to hear the programing thing is worked out. I will be getting my selections to Rex shortly.

Enjoy the new ride and post some pics wwhen you get a chance



Jim

[MGB Boy]

I'm of the old-school variety when it comes to photography, so no digital camera for me. But I should have some pics by Thursday afternoon.

As for the stereo, sitting in the car with the engine off in a parking lot and the stereo cranked, I'm sure you can probably hear a difference between the HK and stock (if the HK ever happens). But in a moving car at 30mph (or 70mph), forget it. For a "stock" system, it's excellent. Far better than the Subaru stock stereo, if that helps anyone. I'd say it compares favorably to the GM "Monsoon" system as well.

Going back to work today was very very difficult. My home is only about a 4 minute drive from my office, so I can't even enjoy the ride. It's going to be a loooong lunch break, though...

-Ricardo

[msenkbeil]

MGB Boy - Is it true that comfort opening will allow only remote opening, not closing? Just curious. Does it work via remote?

[AidenL]

Congrats, good luck with the car......

Have fun, and enjoy !

[MGB Boy]

Quote:

Originally posted by msenkbeil
MGB Boy - Is it true that comfort opening will allow only remote opening, not closing? Just curious. Does it work via remote?

Correct, it's for opening only. All sorts of liability issues with remote closing, I guess. To close them all, the "insert key, turn clockwise and hold" function works.

-Ricardo

[minimum_wage]

Excellent!
I Thought it was getting to be about time.

Went for a long drive today.

Two road signs that indicate that you are approaching fun.

"Narrow Curvey Road Next 5 Miles" route 8 Otis Mass.
I was unwilling to drive the car fast enough to get the tires to sing through that stretch. Went through a couple of the turns at well over 20 mph over the speed limit.

"Runaway truck ramp" route 57 New Boston Mass.
This road was a lot of fun going up.

[jtalarico]

Great post, Ricardo!

It makes the wait a bit more tolerable knowing that others like you have been waiting much longer than I. If I pick my car up in early September (based on MINIUSA estimates), it will have been only a month and a half wait from the day I plunked down my deposit. Also good to hear more about the Keeler experience.

As for photos, if you don't have a digital camera, you can always slap your scanner on the car several times and use Photoshop to piece the images together into an ersatz photo.

[KarmanS]

Conrats, Ricardo! Hope you enjoy the car and mind the break in

[MGB Boy]

I've posted some pics from the pick up and the trip home. The first couple pics are my first views of the car once the cover was removed. If you like Chili Red, then you'll like these pics...

Gallery

-Ricardo

[JimMini]

Great Shots MG Boy, hopefully in a week I'll be there at Keeler do'in the same !! Motor on !!

[kcmini]

She's gorgeous. Congrats.

I never realized how much space that supercharger takes up under the hood.

[DaCrema]

Maybe because I once owned a AH 3000 Mk II (BT7), and you another Brit car. Or somethin else. Anyway I have been watching you post on this, and I think other, boards. I am very glad for you. Hope you have many miles of Mini Motoring, all happy. You first post got me off my tail to join this crowd. Take care and may all your roads be twisty. IMI K

Give me some slak folks this be my 1st post here.

[binkydognose]

Great post!
Thank you.