[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by eltel


Basil, would not most of these 45 be the showroom/demo 'S' cars? I cannot believe that BMW/MINI would try to sell all of the first batch in the same colour. And the specs would be there to demonstrate the accessories. If these are demos then our positions on the list should be almost unchanged.

My order for the 'S' is staying where it is. This car will be worth the wait, and I'm getting it in the colour that I want.

Regards, ElTel

Hi Eltel.

Well the demos are due in April. My Dealer is getting one DS & one EB. I don't think it will affect our positions at all, but if it's true, it's upsetting to think someone can walk into a showroom in June and drive out the same day.

Im with you. I don't care how long I have to wait. I'm sure rich will come around.......

cheers

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by Basil


...Let's face it there are only so many idiots around the place willing to give BMW $1000 to play with for 10 months !!!

cheers

I got away with $500 deposit. But I think I'm still qualified to be a member of that group.

(Hope that $500 has enough grip to stop me sliding down to the bottom of the queue.)

Regards, ElTel

[rich]

I asked BMW Aus about the EB prespec debacle and gleaned the following:

• BMW Aus have been given a fait accomplis on the prespec issue and, whilst frustrated, are realistic about their relative clout in the global market. Point was made that Aus often has to wait 3-6 mths post launch to get any new cars
• Prespec EB has Lapis Blue/Grey full leather - BMW Aus are yet to see a swatch, even - plus MFSW & interior lights package on top of Aus base spec, inc. 5-star 16" alloys. Price is c. AUD43k + ORC. (That's >$2k worth of extras I don't want!
• Reason for no DS is that because of Aus tacho issue & small allotment, plant would only offer one colour & BMW Aus plumped for EB over DS
• Car at Melbourne Motor Show will be EB in virtually full Aus spec (only head airbags will be missing). Customers with cars on order are to be invited to a 'do' on opening day, though this unfortunately coincides with Melbourne GP so, unless you are at the GP and have a hotel room already, forget it!
• First customer spec cars will be sometime in Aug. Demo cars will be in May - perversely some of these will be DS!
• BMW Aus "confident" they will sell prespec cars quickly... Are any of the Ozzie Crew at MINI2 going to take one???
• Still no official comment on 'pull' - BMW Aus clinging to camber-steer until then...

...There you have it folks

Basil's comments elsewhere has got me thinking about a 200SX, too, though I'm still thinking Cooper S in August. In Indi Blue. Or, maybe in black, or red, or...???

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by rich
I asked BMW Aus about the EB prespec debacle and gleaned the following:

• BMW Aus have been given a fait accomplis on the prespec issue and, whilst frustrated, are realistic about their relative clout in the global market. Point was made that Aus often has to wait 3-6 mths post launch to get any new cars
• Prespec EB has Lapis Blue/Grey full leather - BMW Aus are yet to see a swatch, even - plus MFSW & interior lights package on top of Aus base spec, inc. 5-star 16" alloys. Price is c. AUD43k + ORC. (That's >$2k worth of extras I don't want!
• Reason for no DS is that because of Aus tacho issue & small allotment, plant would only offer one colour & BMW Aus plumped for EB over DS
• Car at Melbourne Motor Show will be EB in virtually full Aus spec (only head airbags will be missing). Customers with cars on order are to be invited to a 'do' on opening day, though this unfortunately coincides with Melbourne GP so, unless you are at the GP and have a hotel room already, forget it!
• First customer spec cars will be sometime in Aug. Demo cars will be in May - perversely some of these will be DS!
• BMW Aus "confident" they will sell prespec cars quickly... Are any of the Ozzie Crew at MINI2 going to take one???
• Still no official comment on 'pull' - BMW Aus clinging to camber-steer until then...

...There you have it folks

Basil's comments elsewhere has got me thinking about a 200SX, too, though I'm still thinking Cooper S in August. In Indi Blue. Or, maybe in black, or red, or...???

Thanks rich, I will not be taking either DS or EB, someone else can have those. And I will determine the spec. But I will accept free tickets to anything, not that I can be bought or anything, but BMW throw a great party, and any chance to rub up against an 'S' is worth the time.

[eltel]

Noticed that whilst there has been absolutely no change to the Oz MINI web site, our site managers here are running the lead with details about the Oz 'S' with details kindly supplied by MINI Australia.

Is it just me or do you other Aussies tire of logging in to the Oz MINI site, with member no., surname and PIN?

What do we get for this level of security and effort...? ...We get to read about the 'S' here along with the rest of the world.

So delivery of 'S' won't start till July. Long way from March/April that was touted at Motor Show 2001. My delivery will probably be 2003, even though I expressed interest in July 1999.

[rich]

Yeah, ElTel, agree the website membership is a wasted opportunity

Seems to be a case of having a good idea then failing to follow it through. Result: Looks rather insubstantial. Moral: Don't start someting you can't finish

Regarding dates... I was told May 02 for an S (in Oct 01), then July 02, now Aug 02. What next?

I guess, ultimately, we are slaves to our own obsession and they know it

How long before that obsession becomes perceived by the obsessor as a millstone rather than a blessing? Obsessee, please take note

Ahh... Those cynical pills are strong today

[snoopy]

Hi Guys

It is a very short time before you get to have a drive of the MINI. I had (and still do) have the same thoughs that you do about the MINI. Just wait till you drive the car. It is a great car, the wait may be long but I think it will be worth it.

I to and a bit tried of BMW au lack of information. But I wounder how much info and support they get from the BMW headquaters?

Here is Idea BMW au. (we know you and your dealers vist offen ) How about a email based news letter so we all get the same story NOT 12 different versions of it. This would keep us the client informed and would save you guys from trying to combat the flood of telephone calls you get when a new rumour is announced here.

[eltel]

snoopy, we're holding the line.

This is something that I have wanted desperately for many years. I have never before committed to buying something so impractical and expensive as the MINI Cooper 'S'.

As far as MINI Australia is concerned, they have a fairly structured organisation (Shawn, Rebecca, Help Desk/Access Centre, Web) and it would surprise me if BMW Europe are not keeping BMW Aus in the loop.

Now their web site is another matter... This logon stuff has no real added value now, as the order books are full for the next year, and prospective customers may look elsewhere if delivery dates cannot be confirmed or even look reasonable. I hope that MINI Oz take a leaf out of MINI USA's site, although even that could be improved with some more pictures of accessories and interiors.

From time to time MINI Aus do send me emails, and it is quite a thrill to get them, but they are usually just announcements. I get more emails from the MINI USA group than I do from Aus.

[Basil]

Hmmm..... Digital camera died......not a good start. then again, very little to take pictures of.

Two MINI's there, one sort of oz spec, and a Work's Cooper, which looked great.

It's true, the first S's to grace Australian shores will be EB's packed to the max. Around 3 cars per dealership on offer to the first 3 on the list for an S. Not impressed at all, but then neither were the oz BMW crew. What can they say, they're trained to smile and stay positive!.

G'day Gavin S, by the way, recognise that accent anywhere !!

If anything the works 17" S-spokes looked a little over-tired, but the checkered roof, and ONE stripe looked the business. They will look great, hope no one hits the wall.....

AUDI were notable by their complete abscence.... Hyundai's new replacement for the S-coupe looks and feels fantastic for $40,000. I was amazed at how good this car looked. Photos do not do it justice. Bit pricey though for a Hyundai.....buy a base 200SX for that.....

cheers

[Basil]

Okay, specced my S last Tuesday, and had a Cooper drive which settled everything as far as I'm concerned.

My dealer still want's a further $1000 when the build sheet gets forwarded to the factory (about 8 weeks away). So that'll be a $2,000AU deposit on a $51,000AU car.

Hmmm, not happy with that arrangement..... but thats the price I pay I guess.......anyone else getting extorted on the deposit front ?

cheers

[MINICS]

Basil

Sounds like your dealer is a bit short of cash . Checked with our dealer , nothing more to pay until we pick the car up . Only paid $500 deposit too .

The S evening at the Melbourne motor show was a good night .Mike Cooper came along for a chat and signed photo's .Met up with Eltel and everyone was really friendly .
The car looked good , EB , full leather ,daytona 5 spokes .Got offered a prespecced EB - blue leather , mfsw , interior light package for delivery in July .

Andy

[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINICS
Basil

Sounds like your dealer is a bit short of cash . Checked with our dealer , nothing more to pay until we pick the car up . Only paid $500 deposit too .

The S evening at the Melbourne motor show was a good night .Mike Cooper came along for a chat and signed photo's .Met up with Eltel and everyone was really friendly .
The car looked good , EB , full leather ,daytona 5 spokes .Got offered a prespecced EB - blue leather , mfsw , interior light package for delivery in July .

Andy

Well, Solomon Lou owns Brisbane BMW, so perhaps he is a bit short after the Ansett debacle !!. It's not the money that worries me, just the prinicpal. Maybe I'll take it further just to make life more interesting and refuse to pay anything more. lol

Glad you had a good night. My dealer also offerred the EB, but he's got no takers so far....EB not proving too popular it seems. Even at a July delivery we would still have waited the best part of seven months, so whats another few to get the car we want.

Are you going to go for it MINICS ?

[MINICS]

No I have gone back to my original choice of flat black with white roof. My dealer did say I am still on target to take delivery in September.

There was a couple of people at the Melbourne show on Friday that said they will be taking up the EB, but I don't care about people walking off the street getting the EB b4 I receive mine, because at the end of the day I will be still driving around in an fantastic car come September.

As BMW did say that if they said no to the pre-spec model we would have to wait until August anyway.

Andy

[eltel]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINICS
No I have gone back to my original choice of flat black with white roof.

Andy

Andy, had a great night with you and your charming wife on Friday night at the motor show.

As you may recall, I wasn't totally impressed with the Yellow under the lights, but having seen it in daylight on Saturday at the GP, I think I'll stick with it. Black is classy though. I'm going to have a really lengthy close up look at the yellow this week.

Regards, ElTel

[Marty]

Hi to all future "S" owners, esp those in OZ.. First post for me, but certainly not the last..
Ordered my "S" last week after mooching round the Motorline dealers these past few months. Thought it best I get my order in BEFORE the celebrity race ran, as I'm sure the inquiries/orders will ramp up now!
Still throwing round ideas of colour, "was" settling on DS, but now I'm thinkin red with white roof like my old brick from years ago...

Quoted wait for me is Oct possibly Sept... but doin a drive on Monday arv so that'll keep me for a while...

Marty

[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by Marty
Hi to all future "S" owners, esp those in OZ.. First post for me, but certainly not the last..
Ordered my "S" last week after mooching round the Motorline dealers these past few months. Thought it best I get my order in BEFORE the celebrity race ran, as I'm sure the inquiries/orders will ramp up now!
Still throwing round ideas of colour, "was" settling on DS, but now I'm thinkin red with white roof like my old brick from years ago...

Quoted wait for me is Oct possibly Sept... but doin a drive on Monday arv so that'll keep me for a while...

Marty

Welcome Marty,

You did VERY well to get a Cooper S for Sept/Oct. I paid my deposit in Early November last year and get my car in Sept/Oct!!!.

Can't help feeling I waltzed into the wrong dealer......oh well.

cheers