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MINI Cooper - READ ONLY

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Messages Page 60 of 268

#583 of 2671 Flippin the MINI - not by rickrover

May 10, 2002 (11:30 pm)

I was planning to flip my first MINI - can't say I'm upset over that plan not working out, no big deal. Nothing wrong with trying to subsidize my car addiction. Actually, the fact that demand for the MINI has fizzled so early in it's launch makes me want one that much more.
 
I've been at my dealer 3 times in the past two weeks deciding if I want an S now or not. I got a call two weeks ago this Monday telling me they had an electric blue S available now - I'm supposedly 14 on their S list. They had a blue, silver and red S's sitting there unsold and available to the first buyer. There were 7 or 8 Coopers there with sold signs as well. Went in last weekend and the red and blue were sitting there with sold signs on them along with most of the same "sold" Coopers Went down yesterday with a friend that got on the list when I did and saw the red an blue still sitting there with sold signs on them - the silver S still hasn't been sold (all have premium and sport) and 5 of the same "sold" Coopers still there. I asked the sales manager why they haven't delivered the sold S's and all the Coopers that haven't been delivered either - he said the people that bought them are "out of town and will pick them up when they return" - what's up with that, did they take a slow boat to China? two weeks? I seriously get the feeling they are creating demand with sold signs.
 
Anyway to make a long story short - I asked for my deposit back and so did my friend - we plan to get one from another dealer, maybe Flow in North Carolina - they are fantastic to do business with - I have an M Coupe in my garage from them - I bought an X5 from this Orlando BMW dealer last year - that will be the last time I do any business with these jokers.
 
I'm not in a huge hurry for the S anyway - I have a highly modified 2002 turbo GTI for a track car that suits me just fine for now. It will be replaced by an S. This will give me some time to research performance mods for the S as they become available - I hear Dinan is comming out with a bunch of go fast stuff for the S - it's all good -

#584 of 2671 Unsold / Sold cars by richardjenkins

May 11, 2002 (1:53 pm)

Rick - At what dealership exactly are you seeing the sold signs on the Minis?
 
rich

#585 of 2671 Many unsold/ "sold" Minis possibly in Orlando Florida by gildlb

May 12, 2002 (3:01 pm)

Now that's interesting. I stopped by the local Mini dealer in Orlando Florida a few weeks ago, and they also had many "sold" Minis at their location. About 5 or 6 outside and at least 7 inside their main show room. There were no actual sold signs on them, but I was told all but one of them was sold.
 
I asked why all these sold vehicles were still there, and I was told people were taking there time to pick them up. I never did check back to see if any of them still might be there, but now I'm wondering if rickrover may be onto something with dealers trying to create a demand with sold signs.

#586 of 2671 seems weird though by hpulley4

May 13, 2002 (4:49 am)

That's how it was here too but if I wanted a different colour (including one on the lot with a sold sign) then I was told I'd have to order. I find it hard to believe they'd keep a pile sitting on the lot just for 'excitement'. I came in 3 times to look and once more to pick up my car and they were delivering some during that time. Along with those deliveries I must say it snowed a few times, up until even the week when I bought my car and all the ones on the lot, like mine, have summer tires so maybe they were waiting for winter to finally end (doesn't explain things in Florida though). Maybe I'm just gullible?
 
Some people have had deposits on them since last year or early this year, especially the Canadian Launch Editions which 'sold out' in January. I don't know how long they can wait to pick them up but I wonder if the excitement has worn off for some of those people and they are getting cold feet now after such a long wait? How long can a person usually hold a car with a deposit? My car was available only, supposedly, because someone backed out of a deposit and got a 3-series Beemer instead.

#587 of 2671 Xenon Lights Out for May/June Production by aerostar45

May 13, 2002 (8:40 am)

I just received an email from my Mini dealer that the Xenon light is not available for my June 7 production Mini Cooper. I was very disappointed when they told me that the auto-dimming rear-view mirror was not available, I ordered the car anyway cause I think I can live with that. However, if the Xenon light is out too then they took away too much fun of the car. By the way, my order was a CVT. I test-droved it last weekend. It was not very impressive.
 
I canceled my order, but I may re-order it when those goodies are available.

#588 of 2671 Downtown Mini - Orlando Florida by rickrover

May 13, 2002 (1:18 pm)

That's where all the "sold" MINI's are and where I cancelled my place on the waiting list after a year and a half.

#589 of 2671 hey aerostar45 by m37steve

May 13, 2002 (2:04 pm)

I ordered a Cooper w/ CVT and Xenons, hoping for a July build. My dealer doesn't have a CVT demo unit yet, so I'd like to hear more about the unimpressiveness of the CVT. Unimpressive compared to a Cooper with manual? Unimpressive compared to another car? More info, please?

#590 of 2671 Downtown Mini by richardjenkins

May 13, 2002 (6:45 pm)

Hi Rick - thanks for the info. I had assumed that was the case since you were in Central Fla based on your other posts.
 
I drove a yellow Cooper 5 speed on Saturday at Downtown Mini, and am going back to drive an S next weekend. Like you I was a little surprised at the lack of grunt in the Cooper, but then again I was not winding it out too much. I was just hoping such a small car would get off the line a bit peppier. Mind you driving on I-4 in the left lane it seemed like plenty of power if you downshifted into 4th...
 
We own a "real" '67 S, so it will be interesting to see the differences between the two cars...I don't know if other folks would be interested in a comparison of the two. I would have thought most folks buying a "new" Mini in the USA would never have driven one of the original? I could be wrong...
 
By the way I am not an autocrosser/racer, just like to drive small fast cars. When we lived in the UK I drove a Rover Cooper as a daily driver and the S on the weekends to shows and such. I always enjoyed driving it. Here in the states Mom has a Minivan and I have a 4D auto sedan besides the Mini at the mo. Would really like to get into one of these. Here's what I wrote down as a first impression:
 
o Sunroof too bright - does anyone know if there is a solid shade vs. the fabric?
 
o Its been real hot (+92F) here in Orlando and the car did not get very cold -- even with auto AC set to 60 ..?
 
o Car could use more grunt
 
o Brakes great
 
o handling and roadholding very communicative as far as road feel goes
 
o steering great
 
o no squeaks or rattles
 
o car pulled to the left on the highway at 70+ (!)
 
o Back seat seemed bigger than I thought it would be
 
o clutch/brake were hard to heel and toe - I am 5'6" with small feet and I could not do it
 
o turn signal lever trim/lettering seemed like it would not last/wear off quickly
 
o hard to see speedo in middle of dash - not because of location but because of grey gauge face and orange needle. Perhaps this is better at night. Well anyway I drive on the tach. (I liked the fact the tach was right "there"; on my S I have a genuine period 60's accesory mounting for my Smith's 0-8000 RPM tach which I plan to move onto the steering wheel one of these days:)
 
o Passenger seat on the test car had a broken latch
 
Sum up: A pretty cool little car.
 
All the best...rich

#591 of 2671 sport pkg vs. non sport pkg by jr47

May 13, 2002 (6:46 pm)

Hi,
Does anyone have any feedback on the Base Cooper with the sport pkg vs without it? I've driven one without it and am wondering how much different the sport pkg feels. Is it much stiffer? Is there much difference in the seats? How much more bumpy is the ride?
 
Thanks!

#592 of 2671 sport seats by hpulley4

May 14, 2002 (4:06 am)

I've driven MINI Coopers with and without sport seats but otherwise the same (same suspension, same 16" 195/55R16 tires) and much prefer the sport seats -- they are much more supportive and have side bolstering so you can really corner fast without sliding out of your place. I don't know how the ride with 15" wheels would compare.

Messages Page 60 of 268

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