Got my mini last night!!!

[Farley]

Greetings fellow motorers! I got my mini last night and motored all the way home! What a smooth, fun ride. The MAs at Sterling were great--even gave me and my friend flowers. My friend has never seen the inside of a mini before so when the MA was showing me how to use all the buttons my friend kept saying "That's so cool! That's sooo cool!" Haha....made me feel awesome about the mini....not that I wasn't already thrilled. At one point my MA was like ok start her up! And I was like....actually it's a boy. He laughed, but he was probably thinking....this girl is crazy.

I work on a military base a few days a week and I even got the security guard to give me and Rudy (my mini) a big smile this morning as we rolled up to the gate. I love how happy Rudy makes everyone...especially me!

I'll be joining DC Metro Minis soon so you'll see my around a lot! Can't wait for my accessories to get here---Rudy doesn't even know he has presents coming! I put a book about the mini in the car so that uneducated passenger motorers can read up on the amazing car they are in.

Question (2)--I live in VA and I need to get plates for the car. I have the old plates from my car I sold last week. Can I just put those on the car and then contact the DMV? Do I have to show up at the DMV or can I just call them?

AND, if I don't use those plates I am thinking of getting vanity ones. How much do they cost and what are your thoughts on them? I have never really been a fan of vanity plates, but they just seem normal on a mini. The plate I was thinking of getting is ACTUL SZ. It is available--I checked. Please give your brutally honest thoughts. Will the personalized license plates take away from the car itself? Some of my friends think it's cute, but I think they're just saying that to be nice.

THANKS AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL ON THE ROAD!!!

[drfaulken]

Congrats on your new MINI!

I'm glad you've already gotten some positive responses on it I'm into my second month with Genghis and have enjoyed every mile!

You can transfer your VA plates from your old car to Rudy. I was given that option when I got my car and opted not to. I'm not sure what the procedure is, and I'm a little surprised that MoS didn't ask you about this. If you have paper plates on your car, MoS may have already ordered you plates. You might want to visit the VA DMV Web site to see what they say about plate transfers.

In regards to ACTUL SZ, I think that's pretty cute and creative. I opted not to get a personalized plate because I feel like the MINI says enough on its own, but I've seen a lot of great personalized plates among the DC Metro MINI owners (MINIVAN is one of my favorites).

Have fun ... do you plan on logging enough break-in miles to join us on the Backroads and Battlefields event?

[Jen]

So glad to hear Rudy has finally arrived.

Even if you are not comfortable doing the B&B II run, you should motor up to Frederick and join us for breakfast at the Perkins. About 14 other MINIS will be there to keep Rudy company in the parking lot and then you can come over to the Mall and visit with about 20 other MINIs as they arrive to start the run.

Some good highway miles are important during you break in period and Frederick is a nice little distance from Arlington for us Saturday AM motoring!

You are always welcome to join us on the run if you want!

Jen

[Farley]

My MA failed to tell me about the break-in miles. I know that it exists because I have heard people talk about it before, but what are the details?

Won't be at B&BII, but I will be adding on some mileage. I'll be driving home for Easter (upstate NY, where RDRII was). Is the breakfast this Sat AM? If so I won't be able to make it. I play in a volleyball league and I have a tournament on Saturday starting at 830am in Elkridge, MD.

I promise I will be around soon though!

[AmRov]

Farley -- first of all, congrats! Photos???? and be sure to visit the NOT (New Owners Thread).

Lots of posts in here about break-in miles (and in your manual) -- but in short: For the first 1250 miles, stay under 4500 RPM. Do NOT "floor" it at any time during that period. And remember that your computer is "watching" you.

As for ACTUL SZ -- I love it! Very cool!!! I love what MINI drivers come up with. I definitely think you should go for it!

[Farley]

Sorry no pics yet! I don't have a digital camera and so we're gonna have to wait till I fill up the roll of film or get my friend with a digital camera to take some pics. I have to wait for a nice day anyhow. Rain rain rain...guess that's April for you. Should clear up by Sunday. At least I'm getting good use out of the rain sensing wipers!

[spirit16]

Farley -

congratulations on getting your mini!!!!
enjoy,

Spirit16

[MoonPie]

Congrats Farley! Are you in Northern VA or MD?

how many miles you got on it now?

[Farley]

Thanks Spirit16 and MoonPie!

I am in NoVA--Rosslyn to be exact. I have around 1200 miles in less than two weeks. Took a trip to the hometown in upstate NY (right near the RDRII run) for Easter.

I saw 3 minis on my 6 minute commute into work today. Seems they are quite popular around here. One red cooper, one EB cooper s and a silver cooper S. All beautiful!

I love my mini and I love showing Rudy off to others. Driving it home was the best as the mini is like a spaceship to those that live where I am from. More cows than people there...haha.

I had an 85ish year old couple stop me at the supermarket to ask about the mini and my mom wouldn't stop talking about it with them. The old man said "Oh i remember the mini minor of the 1930's" and his wife says "Oh George! They don't know anything about the 1930's!" I have no idea what the mini minor was but I just smiled. They were adorable.

[MartyR]

Anyone schedule one yet? How about this Sunday the 18th @ 10AM?

And Farley...where in upstate NY? I went up to Rochester to see my folks this past weekend, saw only one LY MC on my 5.5-hr drive (but plenty of MC and MCS in Rochester)... I guess that's WESTERN NY (you know, the OTHER part of the state)...

Marty
IB/IB 03 MCS lotsa tricks up her sleeve

[Farley]

I grew up near Poughkeepsie. Hopewell Junction to be exact. AKA Southern Dutchess County, Mid-Hudson Valley. : )

Furthest west I have been is Ithaca. Beautiful area.

[MartyR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Farley

I grew up near Poughkeepsie. Hopewell Junction to be exact. AKA Southern Dutchess County, Mid-Hudson Valley. : )

Furthest west I have been is Ithaca. Beautiful area.

No kiddin'. Two good buds of mine are from Poughkeepsie proper. I am quite familiar with 9W and some of the backroads around the area!

Wow! You managed to make it half-way across NY when you went to Ithaca. Not a bad place to see IMHO. Hopefully we can get a group together soon for waffles or something like that...

M

[Paul!]

Hey, can people west of the river (Washingtonville, NY (close to Newburgh)) come too??

-Paul!

[Farley]

Of Course Paul!

[yellowmininy]

[quote=MartyR] saw only one LY MC on my 5.5-hr drive (but plenty of MC and MCS in Rochester)... I guess that's WESTERN NY (you know, the OTHER part of the state)...

Marty- were you driving on 15? I saw 2 IB MINIs on 15 Friday afternoon on my way to Frederick, and 1 IB on the way back on Sunday. (I'm from Roch- the weather was actually better here on Sunday than MD- imagine that!) I have a LY/W MC.