Buying a 2007 MCS: The Long Wait

We’ve had a coupe emails asking about my new MCS and its status. By now I had hoped to not only have pictures of my new car but to also have a week’s worth of impressions to share. With the car sitting at the VPC in South Carolina for the 2nd week in a row, that’s unfortunately impossible. The installation of the JCW body kit and the iPod adapter has apparently put my car (in what seems to be) in a very slow moving queue out the door. It’s missed two ship dates now including yesterday. Had things gone to plan it would have been at Knauz MINI July 3rd or 5th. And even that would have represented a moderate wait considering it arrived on US soil on the 23rd on June.
My MA David Olenick has been fantastic in keeping me updated and contacting the VPC regularly. But it’s simply a waiting game at this point that few people have control over.
Another change of plans has been the timing of both the JCW Engine and Suspension kits. With the delay of both, my car will be delivered in stock form and will remain that wait until the suspension is installed in a week or two. The engine kit will most likely be sent out in late July for an early August install. Of course I’ll have thoughts on the install and performance as soon as possible.
All of this wouldn’t be so bad had I not sold my previous MINI almost a month ago! However, at the end of the day I’m just thrilled to be getting exactly what I want in such a relatively short time frame.
42 Comments
Good luck Gabe hope you get your car soon. I am sure it will be worth it.
I just ordered mine yesterday, My delivery is expected to be mid October (September Production) 🙁
Sorry Gabe..
I still remember the agonizing wait I had from May to August almost 5 years ago.
As you know, it will all be worth it when you finally get your hands on it.
If you need to take mine for a spin for your MINI fix, let me know!
As frustrating as the wait can be (I am waiting for my R56, too) we should all celebrate the fact that we can get our Minis exactly the way we want them. Without paying for one unwanted option; without settling for a vehicle missing a desirable option. I remember ordering a car from the factory in the ’80s because I wanted certain options (a four-speed, for one) and waiting more than six months. When all is said and done, it’s incredible to me what Mini is able to deliver on a worldwide basis.
Sorry to hear that Gabe. The “wait” is worthwhile since you will get what your heart desires. It will be your greatest MCS and the subject of our envy.
ps: don’t bit your nails like I did 🙂
Sorry to hear about the delay. I hope it makes it your way, soon.
So close, yet still so far. As frustrating as it may be, it’s only a few more weeks.
I had to wait 9 months for my MCSc and was MINI-less for 6 of those 9 months! Oh I still remember the pain…
Make sure that the delays are being caused by the items you mentioned and that there isn’t anything else wrong with the car.
Anticipation is such a great feeling; I’m happy for you right now…(and a bit envious)
This sounds like one of those things that just cannot be planned for. I was in a similar “boat” (drum roll) 2 years ago when I ordered my MCS (I sold my old car way too soon before my MINI arrived).
At any rate, it gives you a chance to focus on the iPhone and recovering from a whirl-wind vacation :-).
Gabe, what’s the deal with the VPC? This isn’t the first I’ve heard of such delays and sadly I’ve heard them on go on for much, much longer. Why can’t these items just be shipped to the dealer and installed there? Why is the VPC so slow in putting things on the cars?
>Gabe, what’s the deal with the VPC? This isn’t the first I’ve heard of such delays and sadly I’ve heard them on go on for much, much longer. Why can’t these items just be shipped to the dealer and installed there? Why is the VPC so slow in putting things on the cars?
I had the choice to either have these items installed at my dealer or at the port. I chose the port for several reasons. First off the iPod adapter has proven to be a fairly tricky install in the last few months at some dealers. I figured the port would offer more experience in doing the job. I wasn’t as concerned with the aero kit based on my dealers steller body-shop. However I do feel pretty good knowing that the port has done thousands of these kits (more so than the dealer) and seemingly has the process down to a science.
Secondly cost – the list for both products is very similar to the dealer but I’ve found there’s a little more room for a discount in going with a port install.
I should have been a little more clear that I’m not upset over any of this delay… I just wanted to give an update to those who have been asking.
That sucks Gabe. Anticipation can be a killer, lol.
Glad to hear that you’ve got the right attitude though 🙂
on the positive side, you’ll get to experience your car immediately before and after the JCW kits are installed, and will have the best sense of the contrast.
I’m looking forward to your feedback, it will definitely influence my decisions as I near the (hopefully) September arrival date.
Thanks for the update Gabe, have been watching Motoringfile closely hopping to see you taking delivery of it. Think the staggered install of both the suspension and the engine kit will be interesting. It should give you a chance to do a very interesting comparative view about your basic ideal car, then about how the new JCW suspension feels, and finally giving a debrief on the total package.
My new Mini should be getting on the boat the week after next, so I already know I am facing the same wait through the VPC
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
For once in my life I consider myself lucky. My MCS went into production a week after I ordered it and was barely a few weeks before it was in my driveway. One help was the dealer pushed to get the nav and ipod adapter in quickly so they could get my car delivered before the end of the month to boost their sales numbers.
And my old car was transferred to its new owner the same day I picked up the MCS (in fact the buyer gave me a ride over to the dealer).
The only downside was getting one of the cars that MINI delivered without a jack. Still trying to figure out the reasoning behind that decision.
I bet you could’ve got a Cobalt loaded right off the lot……..:)
Gabe,
I can feel with you. I’m currently waiting for my Sidewalk MCS Convertible to come in september. Since I destroyed my 05′ MCS convertible hot orange in may :-(((
Claus
What is VPC? How does one go about requesting installation of certain parts at the VPC as opposed to the dealership?
Thanks,
Willie
I really never thought I’d see a MINI-less Gabe.
Ever.
Here’s wishing you the best, though! The best is yet to come, no doubt.
:o)
Dude, that sucks, I feel for you.
Sorry for you Gabe … but in one way it’s good, reminding everyone that how quick you do or don’t get your MINI is still a bit of a roulette game. For GB#3 I was lucky, four weeks paperwork to dealer, but that’s not the norm!
It cant hurt that MINIUSA folks read this site. say no more!
>Sorry for you Gabe … but in one way it’s good, reminding everyone that how quick you do or don’t get your MINI is still a bit of a roulette game. For GB#3 I was lucky, four weeks paperwork to dealer, but that’s not the norm!
This should put an end to the rumors I was getting any kind of preferential treatment 🙂
Any idea what the wait is like on the west coast for the new Cooper S? I live in Washington state and it took me 14 months to get my ’05 Mini (seriously!). I’m thinking of upgrading and I’m going to ask Northwest Mini what the wait is when I take mine in for service, but I’m interested to know what the wait times are like up and down the west coast.
Good to know insiders are still treated the same and the rest of us Gabe ;>
Glad you pointed this out when you did, as I am expecting simular issues with mine as it have many of the same choices about where I am having work done on it. Just looking forward on you getting hands on it so I can pencil in something similar on my calender for myself.
<b>Gabe</b> –
Was just looking over all the posts you’ve made related to your new mini (very exciting!) and I wondered about a few accessories that you decided against: The driving lights and the JCW brake kit. The brake kit, BTW, is very vague as to what you’re getting in the online builder.
I’m in the middle of a decision to keep my ’04 MCS which has exactly all the accessories i want except the Works and the lights and of course 50k miles… or buying exactly what I want in an ’07 model… So I’m wondering, why didn’t you choose the above 2 options?
Thanks for your thoughts —
— PhinMak
>Was just looking over all the posts you’ve made related to your new mini (very exciting!) and I wondered about a few accessories that you decided against: The driving lights and the JCW brake kit. The brake kit, BTW, is very vague as to what you’re getting in the online builder.
Everything has been listed in detail in previous posts. Do a search for “Buying a 2007 MCS”
I didn’t get the JCW brake kit because the 2007 MCS has the JCW brakes standard. They are the same size and have the same pads as the JCW kit. They just happen to be sliver and not red. So there is absolutely no performance reason to get the JCW brake kit on a 2007 MCS unless you really like red. You can even fit the JCW Cross Drilled rotors on the stock set-up if you like (an option on the JCW Brake kit). The driving lights are nice but they add weight in the wrong place on the car and will cover up my JCW badge 🙂
Sounds like you’re getting Preferential Punishment Gabe. Fess up – who’dya or what’dya do at MINI United? 😉
“Preferential treatment” is quite an understatement.
Frank – I’d love for you to explain to me how I got “Preferential treatment”. Is it the 3 week wait at the VPC? Is that preferential treatment? How about paying over 30K of my own money like anyone else… is that “preferential treatment”? I’d love to know where I got this “preferential treatment” you’re talking about. It would make this wait easier to deal with.
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NEWS FLASH
it’s on the TRUCK!!!!!
it’s on the TRUCK !!!!
Su-weet! Thanks David!!!!!
Fantastic news!
Let’s just leave it at that….
And….
A heart felt congratulations on your new car. Finally, on its way to your garage!
Leave it at what exactly?
Chris,
I live in Seattle and ordered my British Racing Green MCS from Northwest MINI on March 20th, was assigned a build no. on June 26th, and am told that sometime in mid September the ship will come through the Panama Canal and make its way to Los Angeles. From there in a covered car carrier to Fife…hopefully before October 1st. My MAs first estimate was 9 months, so it was a relief to hear that the baby will be a bit premature. Still…tick, tock…
I just ordered a mini cooper, build in August, delivery “promised” early September. I read on this website that there will be significant engine changes (improved efficiency) for the 2008 models, starting in August 2007. Does anyone know exactly when Mini switches over to the next model year production.
I think someone from VPC is finally reading MotoringFile!
So Gabe has your new tiny ride shown up yet? Hate this last little bit of wait from the VPC to the dealer, almost agonizing.
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Damn, and I just ordered mine from Knauz, the same dealer, 4 weeks ago.
I hope mine isn’t longer than the 2 months they mentioned. So far, I am 5 weeks into it.
I would hate to wait 10 more weeks!
We got the same seats, and a lot of similar add-ons for the interior. I went with laser Blue, and souped up the car pretty hard as well.