It kind of feels like graduation day... commencement... an end and a beginning!
This entry should be posted as we (Todd has a kinda sorta "comp" day) are well on our way to North Scottsdale to pick up my 2006 MINI Cooper.
The "Day" countdown (or was it a count-up?!!) is complete, but the MINI Cooper Chronicles will continue on...
I sense that my days of vehicle anonymity are pretty much over. On the MINI boards they have such discussion topics as "Adventures & Stories" and "Life as a Celebrity"... so I am pretty certain there will be many more MINI-related posts in the future.
Figured this was a good time to review my Cooper timeline...
Nov 12th - Placed my order, put down deposit
Dec 15th - Production slot (for January) opens
Jan 10th - Scheduled for production
Jan 20th - In Production
Jan 26th - In the Paint Shop
Jan 30th - Production Complete/Awaiting Transport
Jan 31st - At the Port/Awaiting a Shipping Vessel
Feb 5th - Leaves Southampton, UK
Feb 28th - Arrives Port Hueneme, CA USA
Mar 3rd - At Vehicle Distribution Center
Mar 7th - At Dealership
Mar 10th - Pickup!
So just a couple days short of 4 months. I don't know how typical this wait-time was, but I do know it is not unusual. A lot of it is luck...
- How quickly you receive a production slot (I missed out on December, so it was pushed to January, further delayed by a scheduled plant shutdown)
- Catching the next ship out of Southampton
- Where you live (since I was West Coast, that added 2+ weeks... but saved some time being less than a one day's drive from the coast).
So check back over the weekend (or Monday at the latest)... I am sure there will be a lot to talk about and, of course, pictures!! That is, if the weather holds out... figures the day I get a new car, our 140+ day drought here in Phoenix is scheduled to end!

Wow, you are lucky. I ordered my only a week after you and mine is only now being shipped over. :-( I want it now!
Any idea why I my VIN number isnt bringing anything up on the shippers site?
Posted by: Christine | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 12:46 AM