[Tazminia]

Well, a few days ago we ordered (over the phone) an 05 Mini, CR/W, white wheels, with the premium and cold packages for my wife. The topic question stems from the following:
1) Our test drive consisted of one 15 minute test of a used '02 mini about 6 months ago.
2) We ordered from a dealer we have never seen, a saleslady we have never seen and only looked at sales brochures.
3) We have never paid sticker price for any vehicle in our lives, yet we are giddy about this purchase.
So, doesnt that beg the question of my sanity? Does the idea of becoming a Mini owner make one do goofy things like that or is it because I am turning 50 in a few days and senility may be setting in?
We are so new to this that we have only received a production number 2 days ago. You could say we concieved over the phone (is that considered phone sex?), since the dealer we ordered from is 3.5 hours away from us.
Are we (ok,am I) the only one who has done something like that? Is a nice white straight-jacket in my future? Any input would be appreciated.
BTW, thanks for this great site for us to come to and read. It has been a great source of info for us.
Thanks, the husband of Tazminia

[Trumpets]

Welcome to the MINI community!!

I had a similar experience and I am extremely satisfied with my MINI experience and love driving my MINI. Well, I ordered my MINI over the phone with a dealer that I never had visited and was 2 hours away from me. I didn't even test drive a MINI before ordering (actually I never even touched a MINI before I sat in mine). I spent 3 weeks on MINI2 looking at pictures of MINIs and reading posts about what people thought of them before I ordered mine. I was so impressed with what people said that I knew I would enjoy a MINI.

So then I got my production number and had to wait two months for it to arrive at the dealer. The day I picked my MINI up at the dealer was the first time I had ever gone into a MINI dealership (all my communication had been over the phone and through e-mail). And my MINI was the very first MINI that I drove I actually did all the paperwork through the mail so that when I picked it up I only had one paper to sign.

I have had my MINI for two months and I love everything about it. The dealer has been great, I stopped by once without an appointment and they got my car in and out quickly (had the auto headlights turned off and a couple other things).

So I am sure that you will be very well pleased with your MINI order. You will have to keep us updated on the status of your MINI.

Joshua

[bluetoothmini]

Actually Tazminia, you sound like a perfectly sane MINI owner
You'll Love your new MINI!

[DeadCanDanceR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tazminia

...So, doesnt that beg the question of my sanity? Does the idea of becoming a Mini owner make one do goofy things like that or is it because I am turning 50 in a few days and senility may be setting in?
...Are we (ok,am I) the only one who has done something like that? Is a nice white straight-jacket in my future? Any input would be appreciated...

Don't worry! I got mine two months ago and before getting it I also questioned my own mind's sanity! Believe me, it is perfectly sane to get a MINI! You'll love it!
BTW...I believe that all MINI owners use a "nice white straight-jacket"...but with MINI logos printed all over it!!!

[thebigyin]

Tazminia, I do not think that there is anything wrong with you. Although I am speaking as someone who bought a Liquid Yellow MINI Cooper in September 2003, drove it during the winter in upstate NY then when my daughter came home from University in May 2004 had to give it back to her (since I had actually bought it for her) - so when I found out the Convertibles were coming, I travelled one hour to my dealer to test drive a convertible S when they got there first demonstrator in a ordered one on the spot. My Balck Eye Purple MCSC was available to be picked up from my dealer on my 52nd birthday and I did not feel senile, I felt like a teenager again!
Enjoy your MINI and Motor On!

[stephenjc]

The correct terminology for this personality disorder is "SOCC" (same old car challenged). Please don't use words like "insane" or "crazy" or "nuts". I am a confessed victim of this disorder myself. Many common symptoms of this disorder include the following:

1. Buying a MINI.

2. Buying a MINI even in conditions unlike all other car buying experiences including paying sticker price or more, waiting months for delivery, and in many cases buying vehicle from a dealer hundreds of miles away.

3. Agonizing over usually simple choices like color. With so many choices to make this can turn an ordinarily decisive person into a basket case.

4. Obsessing over tracking the exact progress and moment to moment location of a car built thousands of miles away from the day of order to the day of delivery.

5. After delivery, obsessing over the care and modifications of the MINI. This can turn into a sub disorder concerning the constant changes to a vehicle that really had nothing wrong with it.

6. Giving the vehicle a name as if a child or good Friend.

7. Driving the MINI "just for the Fun of it" with no particular place to go, thus putting life at limb at risk for no reason.

8. Those with this SOCC disorder have contradictory feelings of wanting to be unique and thus buying a rarer vehicle but then not wanting to be alone and joining clubs and participating in forums with others having the same disorder.

9. Almost constant thoughts of actually putting one's self through the entire agonizing process again upon the purchase of second or even a third MINI.

10. Feelings of euphoria from simply owning a MINI and especially from driving a MINI. For example just today as I went for a drive for no reason, at one point I found myself in the position of having caught up with a line of six vehicles which included four minivans and two SUVs. The euphoric feeling of not being one of the many same old car drivers created a large smile and eventually a rash display of nimble horsepower as this line of six vans and suvs was soon transformed from a view in front to a view in the rear view mirror and then out of sight completely.

You do not have to have all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with this disorder. In fact you only need one and that is the first one. But is is extraordinarily rare if not unheard of to have the first symptom without also having many of the other symptoms. There is no known cure for SOCC but take heart as with effective counseling those with this disorder can often live an otherwise long and productive and almost normal life. I would suggest that you stay active in this support group forum as it helps to discuss all your issues with those similarly afflicted.

[Tazminia]

Thank you all for the welcome to this great site and I promise to keep the updates coming about our newest addition. I especially want to thank stephenjc for the astute analysis on our present affliction. It's always nicer when there is a great acronym for what ails ya! We identified with the first 4 within 4 minutes of placing our phone order. (others will follow, we're sure)
The color choices was particularly funny as we thought we had made our choice before even dialing but changed our color choice no less than twice while on the phone. My wife in one ear and the dealer in the other...it made for quite a lively debate.
By the way, numbers 6 and 8 have also presented themselves since the last posting.
I (we) think having SOCC needs to be legitimized by the AMA soon.

[fred3]

aboard! It's close to a turning 50 thing. Saw my first in the late 80's overseas. Loved it then. Saw the BMW/MiniCooper when it first hit Americas shores a few years ago(I was 49 :-). Test drove it in Florida. Finally bought one last November(now 51). Just love it!!! Enjoy!!!!!

[stephenjc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tazminia

Thank you all for the welcome to this great site and I promise to keep the updates coming about our newest addition. I especially want to thank stephenjc for the astute analysis on our present affliction. It's always nicer when there is a great acronym for what ails ya! We identified with the first 4 within 4 minutes of placing our phone order. (others will follow, we're sure)
The color choices was particularly funny as we thought we had made our choice before even dialing but changed our color choice no less than twice while on the phone. My wife in one ear and the dealer in the other...it made for quite a lively debate.
By the way, numbers 6 and 8 have also presented themselves since the last posting.
I (we) think having SOCC needs to be legitimized by the AMA soon.

Yes you are well on your way to a severe case of SOCC. Most cases are severe. After delivery there is at least some chance of displaying symptom 5 which can be anything as minor as some sort of organizer which again shows the complexity of buying something small yet wanting a place for all of your stuff. Or some get the fever for pulleys, air intakes, exhausts and more with seemingly no end in sight for gathering more horsepower. You will also almost definitely come down with symptoms 7 and 10 and eventually at some point it is likely you will get number 9 with some people even having multiple MINIs at the same time and will even stoop to buying one for a spouse or child - just to be around more MINIs.

The symptoms i listed are just the common ones. It can manifest itself in many ways and many variations. I have even heard of those who will write a nasty letter to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences every year that Minnie Driver does not win an Oscar. Of course those people who do that invariably spell Minnie's first name incorrectly (you know what I mean) whether consciously or not is unclear.

Oh and i forgot to say welcome to the family. Oh and for your information the rumors are not true and the MINI does not come standard with a straight jacket in the boot. Your family and/or friends will have to supply you with one of those. I think someone was working on making straight jackets available in colors to match your MINI with the MINI wing logo embroidered on front but DeadCanDanceR has one with the many logos. We'll keep you posted on that.

[DeadCanDanceR]

Quote: Originally Posted by stephenjc

The correct terminology for this personality disorder is "SOCC" (same old car challenged). Please don't use words like "insane" or "crazy" or "nuts". I am a confessed victim of this disorder myself. Many common symptoms of this disorder include the following:

1. Buying a MINI.

2. Buying a MINI even in conditions unlike all other car buying experiences including paying sticker price or more, waiting months for delivery, and in many cases buying vehicle from a dealer hundreds of miles away.

3. Agonizing over usually simple choices like color. With so many choices to make this can turn an ordinarily decisive person into a basket case.

4. Obsessing over tracking the exact progress and moment to moment location of a car built thousands of miles away from the day of order to the day of delivery.

5. After delivery, obsessing over the care and modifications of the MINI. This can turn into a sub disorder concerning the constant changes to a vehicle that really had nothing wrong with it.

6. Giving the vehicle a name as if a child or good Friend.

7. Driving the MINI "just for the Fun of it" with no particular place to go, thus putting life at limb at risk for no reason.

8. Those with this SOCC disorder have contradictory feelings of wanting to be unique and thus buying a rarer vehicle but then not wanting to be alone and joining clubs and participating in forums with others having the same disorder.

9. Almost constant thoughts of actually putting one's self through the entire agonizing process again upon the purchase of second or even a third MINI.

10. Feelings of euphoria from simply owning a MINI and especially from driving a MINI. For example just today as I went for a drive for no reason, at one point I found myself in the position of having caught up with a line of six vehicles which included four minivans and two SUVs. The euphoric feeling of not being one of the many same old car drivers created a large smile and eventually a rash display of nimble horsepower as this line of six vans and suvs was soon transformed from a view in front to a view in the rear view mirror and then out of sight completely.

You do not have to have all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with this disorder. In fact you only need one and that is the first one. But is is extraordinarily rare if not unheard of to have the first symptom without also having many of the other symptoms. There is no known cure for SOCC but take heart as with effective counseling those with this disorder can often live an otherwise long and productive and almost normal life. I would suggest that you stay active in this support group forum as it helps to discuss all your issues with those similarly afflicted.

So that's the name of it?...SOCC? What a great disorder to have!!! Fantastic post Stephenjc!!!

Now it's time for me to put on my MINI embroidered "straight-jacket" pijamas and have some exciting MINI dreams!

[twouptons]

You only think you've lost your mind.

You won't truly lose your mind until you log in to the USCG traking service four times a day watching the boat with your car on it sail across the Atlantic. That's when you're toast

Though maybe after ordering the white wheels despite reading here how dirty they get

We knew for sure we were going to buy the MINI when we got out of it giggling after the test drive. Not many cars do that.

-Eric

[stephenjc]

Quote: Originally Posted by twouptons

You only think you've lost your mind.

You won't truly lose your mind until you log in to the USCG traking service four times a day watching the boat with your car on it sail across the Atlantic. That's when you're toast

Though maybe after ordering the white wheels despite reading here how dirty they get

We knew for sure we were going to buy the MINI when we got out of it giggling after the test drive. Not many cars do that.

-Eric

See - here is a perfect example. twouptons was probably a perfectly sane person until the day twouptons test drove the MINI. Started with the giggling and it didn't take long before this once sane person was an inetrnet junkie - not on porn web sites or chat rooms but on the coast guard web site. I am sure there was some thinking of joining the coast guard reserve just to maybe get a view of a crossing freighter that might have the MINI.

[Tazminia]

I think we have a corollary to affliction #4 (obsessing with tracking). I believe 4.1 states that tracking our MINIs at work and not waiting until we get home might qualify. Today I am at work for the last time (retiring in the morning) as a firefighter and I can't even wait a lousy 24 hours until I check the status of our Coop. How sad is that?
While I am here, my browsing today has brought on a few questions I'd like to pose if you don't mind. (Moderator: feel free to move where necessary if inappropriate for here)
1) As twouptons mentioned, white wheels will get dirty but I was wondering if putting ceramic brakes would eliminate that problem and if so, does that screw up my warranty?
2) According to my saleslady, the production number can initially give a wrong description about our MINI and to give it a few days for it to correct itself. This came to pass as the first description was for a silver MC. Two days later it corrected itself to be a CRMC (as it should be) but says we ordered it with the CVT and the Harmon Karmon package, neither of which is right. Should I call our saleslady to have her check up on that?
3) Since I am retiring tomorrow...is there a chance the USGC has an opening for a slightly worn 50 yr old? (great idea about being a watchdog for MINI-carrying freighters!)
Ok. scratch #3. I am looking forward to dropping the wife off at work and using my newfound free time to help break in the MINI to want to work!

[stephenjc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tazminia

I think we have a corollary to affliction #4 (obsessing with tracking). I believe 4.1 states that tracking our MINIs at work and not waiting until we get home might qualify. Today I am at work for the last time (retiring in the morning) as a firefighter and I can't even wait a lousy 24 hours until I check the status of our Coop. How sad is that?
While I am here, my browsing today has brought on a few questions I'd like to pose if you don't mind. (Moderator: feel free to move where necessary if inappropriate for here)
1) As twouptons mentioned, white wheels will get dirty but I was wondering if putting ceramic brakes would eliminate that problem and if so, does that screw up my warranty?
2) According to my saleslady, the production number can initially give a wrong description about our MINI and to give it a few days for it to correct itself. This came to pass as the first description was for a silver MC. Two days later it corrected itself to be a CRMC (as it should be) but says we ordered it with the CVT and the Harmon Karmon package, neither of which is right. Should I call our saleslady to have her check up on that?
3) Since I am retiring tomorrow...is there a chance the USGC has an opening for a slightly worn 50 yr old? (great idea about being a watchdog for MINI-carrying freighters!)
Ok. scratch #3. I am looking forward to dropping the wife off at work and using my newfound free time to help break in the MINI to want to work!

Hey i didn't notice before that you are in Illinois - me too. i presume you are in central IL being 3.5 hours away from Chicago area? What dealer? Congrats on your retirement and at age 50 - that's great. I am still a relative newbie myself (I have had my MCS about 8 weeks) and I am no auto machanics expert. As far as what the dealer told you about the MINI info being incorrect, that is the first time I heard it but so far she has proved to be correct. You shouldn't have any hesitation to call her or 1-800 - askmini (i think that's right) and they can help I would imagine. I will warn you otherwise that tracking on miniusa.com can be frutrating. There is a lag from reality to posting of your info on miniusa. By the time I they posted that my MINI was scheduled for production, it was already built. By the time they posted that it left the port it had ben at sea for two days and so on with each step of the way. The cargo tracking through the cargo company web site is better and it is way cool to essentially watch you MINI make its way across the Atlantic. My ship though only reported a few times up to about half way and then didn't report again. So how long did you sales lady say it would be? They told me 10 to 12 weeks and it turned out to be 8 weeks - so hopefully it will be as good for you.

[Tazminia]

stephenjc, you are correct about our location. We are indeed in west central IL. (halfway between Peoria and Moline/Rock Island) As of tonight, our MINI has been upgraded from On Order to Scheduled For Production, according to our MA at Bill Jacobs in Naperville. By the way, the time frame she gave my wife on the phone was 6 weeks from today. Heck, that's not too bad at all! (assuming no delays to mess up our feelings of euphoria)
Does anyone know when a VIN is issued as compared to a production number? (that's just curiosity on my part)
Just for the record...even phone calls from MAs tend to sink one deeper into this "affliction" of ours. We've decided to not fight it...we'll just run with it. hehehe

[twouptons]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tazminia

stephenjc, you are correct about our location. We are indeed in west central IL. (halfway between Peoria and Moline/Rock Island) As of tonight, our MINI has been upgraded from On Order to Scheduled For Production, according to our MA at Bill Jacobs in Naperville. By the way, the time frame she gave my wife on the phone was 6 weeks from today. Heck, that's not too bad at all! (assuming no delays to mess up our feelings of euphoria)
Does anyone know when a VIN is issued as compared to a production number? (that's just curiosity on my part)
Just for the record...even phone calls from MAs tend to sink one deeper into this "affliction" of ours. We've decided to not fight it...we'll just run with it. hehehe

We got our VIN right after being "Scheduled for Production", and having it memorized is another sign you're losing it... WMWRC33...

They issue a VIN just before they actually start building the car - about 10 days before it's finished usually.
Six weeks sounds pretty good. Our car was two months (exactly) from order to pickup, and that includes a week sitting at the dock here in the 'States waiting to go to the VDC (the worst part of the tracking process as no-one knew anything).

Right now, you're at the point where ASK-MINI will be your best source of information.
Once it hits the docks at Southampton, you'll have to switch to the shipping companies as the phone people only know to the docks.
Once it hits the ground here, your MA will be the best person to call, as s/he'll have (maybe) information about delivery at your dealer.

Six weeks puts you at the end of April for delivery, probably a March production, so I would hop over to the Delivery, Shipping, and Order Tracking forum and find a comfy seat with the rest of the March people. The straitjackets there are silk lined

-Eric

[stephenjc]

Quote: Originally Posted by twouptons

The straitjackets there are silk lined

Oooh - nice. They keep upgrading these MINI options and everytime they do you think "Oh I wish I had one of those - can you retrofit that?" The jacket should be an easy retrofit - do they come in XL?

[Tazminia]

I bet us calorically challenged people will have to pay more for that silk lined jacket. I need Double Extra Moose size.

signed, Bullwinkles brother

p.s. As of today I joined the ranks of the (voluntarily) unemployed. Is there a limit to how many posts a guy can do? This could mean that affliction #8 is going to get worse, huh? Considering this nick was for the wife and she has yet to type in a single word. Go figure.