Ok, since many of you have heard most of this numerous times over the years, I will keep it to the reader digest versions...
I was looking to get out of my luxury cars and suv's and get in something fun. I had not had a fun road car in a long long time. ( the kid thing ). I started looking at G35s and some used supras, 300z's, prowlers ects.. but they all seemed to common ( ok, I do kick my self for not getting the 98 turbo Supra with 25k on it in 2001). I have alway like cars to be differant. Even my Lexus LS400 had custom wheels just to make it look different.
I had heard the MINI was comming to the US. So I started to research it in Europe. Then when they started selling them on the east coast, I contacted MINIUSA via web site for local info. Found out Phx had a dealer comming, and would be contacted by them when they had details. Come around March 02 was informed that due to the hi demand around the US, most of the inital years supply would be presold. They will be having a contest though for the 1st 10 cars alotted to the dealer. Those 10 will be sold on the first day of opening. At that point, 1st come 1st served on the " wait list ". I dont do wait lists, so i figure if I was going to get a MINI, I would have to do the contest.
The Contest...write a essay or make a video saying why you diserve a MINI more the the next quy... Now, It was stated, the 10 winner will have no choice in car, color or options. They will be assigned as they get. So I go home that night and made a video.. Couple week later I go to the temporary location on Camelback rd to see if there were any decisions. I walk in, and next thing in know, im being pointed at and laughed at. " Its him, the quy with the foot. ( you will have to see the video ).. Im told that they all laughed their butts off at my video ( with I understand that it had made its way to the regional meetings ).. They told me at that point I had their favorite entry.. And that I was the only one who will get to choose my car from the batch. ( there were no S models yet ) .. so a month or so later.. MINI #1 in AZ was delivered..
The following Feb I went to the first AMVIV. After seeing over 100 MINIS there, and a large number of the being S's... I started feeling the need for more power... I went home and when right to MNS and asked about a S.. and was told,, You know the drill, give us 1000.00 and wait a year... HHmm, i think not. As stated before, I dont like to wait.. 2 week later, I was in Miami on business.. and as a part of my new hobby of visiting MINI dealers, I went to the 3 local dealers there. Much to my surprise, between the 3, there were over 90 MINIs available. After looking and thinking for the next 3 days.. I bought my 2nd, and shipped it to PHX. No wait list...
Fast forward,, 1 year,, and 50 more dealer visits...MINI releases Info on the GP... I recieve a couple calls from dealers that I had visited over the year, offering a spot for a GP. After looking at the pictures, I didnt like it. So I turned them down. The while on my way home from Philly one time, I stopped at one of the dealers there that I had go to know some of the people. I walk in, and there sat a GP.. what the crap was i thinking, that car is beautiful... and not available. So home I go, kicking my self where I cant physicly see.
A month later, I stop by to schedule a oil change on my 04 ( and really to go see the new BMW 335i ). I go up stairs, and there sat a GP.. one that just got turned down by the person who ordered it.. he didnt like.. I bought it on the spot.
So, now needing a daily driver, I had the opertunity to get the 08 Clubman in a once in a life time deal.. This gental man won a MINI of his choice through Samsung Corp, and didnt want.. So we struck a deal over the phone, and I got to order what I wanted.. When the car came in, he signed the papers, paid the fees, and handed title over to me at a huge discount off the the build cost... so thats the short story of Samsung..
Ok, thats it.. as short as I could do... sorry