Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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No problems yet. Thought one time that the auto trans was having trouble finding a gear, but has not recurred.
Bought a bra for it through MINI Mania..and an armrest (needs it badly), glove box organizer (needs it badly), nice berber floor mats. And a trunk liner (the battery is under a lid in the trunk. One bad spill in the trunk and could short you out) from Moss Mini.
Dealer said he had just been to sales conference. MINI will not be expanding production to a second plant. They want to keep production limited. Get maximum profit out of each vehicle. Likely to mean no expansion of the dealer network. Which could be tough if you take it on a trip to an area with no dealer.
I have found only one mini dealer so far. Going to check out some more tomorrow.
what waiting time do the people in socal normally get?
I live in DC and was told there would be a 6- 7 week wait for my order (3 down already!).
2 months is the average for the east coast, and I've always heard it was much longer in CA. I don't think you'll find better in CA and it'll be the same elsewhere.
Good luck!
Latest issues of Consumer Reports and Car & Driver have reviews on MCS Convertible
Ray T :shades:
Wow, actually you had a better experience then I did @ Crevier in Tustin.... I wanted an MCS a few months back w/Trade In of my 10+ year old Beemer..... they wanted $ 6,000.00+ for a dealer markup. While questioning them about this, it appears it's standard procedure ... I walked.... I will probably go to Vegas myself either via Carmax, EBay Motors or just another dealer.....cjm
I am looking into a 2005 Mini Cooper S with a sports package, premium pacakge and ipod adapter and the dark silver metallic color. I have already gotten a dealer quote.
It was 23456 which includes free floor mats
What do you guys think about the price? Do you think they would negotiate more?
and was quoted MSRP with September delivery or 5 months. Regular Minis
were quoted for July delivery.
I think the dealers quoting MSRP are also quoting a somewhat longer delivery and those adding a premium above MSRP are quoting as little as 8 weeks. Good luck.
I want a base Mini Cooper with as few options as possible, but I'm flexible on the color (I have several combinations I like) and I'm also flexible on options. I'll even take either transmission if that will help, though I prefer a manual. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Jamie
- Mark
I picked up my Dark Silver/White+stripes MCS on June 1st. The dealership experience gets a mixed review Thumbs up for Part 1, Thumbs sideways for Part 2.
Part 1 was just fine. I dealt with Tate MINI of Annapolis on April 9th and the dealer and I took a test drive in an '02 Elec Blue/White MCS. Later, we went over all the options I wanted and I signed off on the order. Minutes later, I realized that the bonnet stripes were not included in the sport package and he had no problem making the addition and having me sign off on the revised order. As we dealed, he had two other appointments come in, and I must say, he skillfully was able to get the two other parties into test-drive mobiles as we finished up my order.
Part 2. The car came in on Wednesday, May 25th and the dealer told me that the alarm could be installed by Saturday, when I could pick it up. Well, Saturday morning, the dealer calls me to say that his service dept failed to tell him that the alarm stalks were on back order and that they would come in by Tuesday. Fine, I still go to Tate MINI to give them my down payment and sign all the forms. I decide to leave it for the weekend so it could be worked on Tuesday to be picked up Tues. night.
Tuesday morning, I call my dealer for a status check and he says that the truck with the parts will be in on Wednesday morning, not Tuesday as he told me. He says if I leave it, I could pick it up Wednesday night with the alarm installed. Okay, so I'm slightly annoyed. The next morning, I call my dealer for him to tell me that the parts are still stuck in port in NJ and that I should just pick up the car, and make an appt. to get the alarm installed later. Okay, so I picked it up sans alarm.
I wouldn't have minded making an appointment if they would have just told me that the alarm would have to be installed at a later date, but they gave me the runaround instead. It may be true that the depts were not talking to each other, but that needs to change. On the bright side, they did make a last minute change for me regarding the floor mats. They changed the color from gray to black and added a boot mat for me over the phone. In this case my dealer and the parts dept were talking to each other.
The car is modestly optioned (sport pack w/ web spokes, multi-function steering wheel, LSD, wheel locks, alarm eventually) and out the door it cost me just over 25K. I had been saving up for a while and was able to put down about 46.5% of the total price. So the hit to my wallet isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I do have to get my personalized plates on my own though. I am loving the vehicle and my Olds Intrigue is starting to feel neglected. My significant other will take over the Olds when she sells her current car.
Motor On!
BTW, I fired off a not-so-polite email to my salesperson this morning after waiting for over a week for him, or the parts guy, to give me an update on the stalk. Bingo! shortly after, he emailed back saying the stalk is in! Hmmm.....coincidence? :confuse:
I just picked up my Mini Cooper today so I wanted to say thank you to mahermusic and the other person who responded. Prestige Mini was great. I called them on Monday, they had exactly the car I wanted and were asking MSRP. I paid the deposit over the phone and picked up the car today (Wednesday, just two days later).
I might be the happiest person on earth tonight.
Thanks!
good luck.
David
The folks at Mini2 track this stuff like a hawk and can give you lots more info.
- Mark
If someone had their's shipped, can you share your experience? How was the process (ordering, transporting, costs, registration, etc.)? I heard registering a new out of state car costs more than in state.
I'm so excited, I want to order ASAP, but want to be sure about transporting and registration. Please help! Thanks in advance for your response!
You do want to confirm all this with the DMV and I'd be sure to buy in a state that has lower taxes than CA. I believe CA will give you credit for tax paid out of state, but they won't refund any money if the other state has higher taxes.
I'm always nervous about shipping $20K to a business in another state and hoping an undamaged, as-represented car shows up at my doorstep weeks later. Lots of opportunity for error (dings, car doesn't run right, car has excessive demo miles on it, car covered in oil droppings from car above it on transporter, driver damages car getting on/off transporter, car missing toolkit, jack, etc.) OTOH, most have good experiences. I think flying and driving the car back is much more desirable and satisfying, although I understand not everyone has the time.
- Mark
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Without a sales contract you may be under no obligatoin to actual buy the car and your deposit would be refundable. Once you sign the contract that the terms of the contract dictates what happens if you back out (and the laws in your state).
Or they may just want to start the paperwork rolling on financing or confirm your financing. Or they may want to start pitching accessories and the like.
I doubt they want you to actually buy the car now before it is delivered. That would be ridiculous.
They may not press the issue. Dealers vary in their policies on this.
- Mark
Also, what are typical lease/purchase interest rates and can any negotiating be done on these if negotiating on purchase price isn't an option? We are being told 5.5% on 39 month lease and 6.45% on 4 year purchase or Owner's Choice purchase (with balloon payment at end). Any help appreciated.
The only thing you can negotiate on is the purchase price (or cap cost). The lease rate, and residual value are non-negotiable. That said, is it generally accepted that there is very little negotiation room on price on the Mini. We managed to get them to toss in a trip computer free, and got 50% off on a Mini alarm installed.
There is the delivery and prep fee that you mentioned. It is $1395 or $1495. I forget exactly. But I think it is legitimate because it is listed on the carcostcanada site. It is a little higher than other brands, but not too much so. Honda and Toyota are up to about $1100. And I think Volvo is around $1495 too.
The Classic is a good deal, if you don't care for the traction control, HID lights, and headlight washer. One option I don't like is the big moonroof. Not so much a problem with the roof itself, but the shade is a mesh shade, which does a poor job of shielding the sun. However, if you move up the the regular Mini, I think about 90% of them come with the Premium Package, which includes the moonroof.
When we got ours, we did not have the luxury of being able to wait, so we had to take one with the Premium Package. If I had time to wait, I would have ordered one without the Premium Package, and perhaps spent the money on the Sport Package instead. Another option you may want to consider is the All-weather Package, which includes automatic light control. That, IMO, is useful because the headlights on the Mini turn off when the engine is turned off, but the parking lights stay on. So it is conceivable you could walk away with the parking lights left on, and drain your battery.
VENTING:
By the time I got home I was almost mad about the whole thing. It wasn't a great experience to begin with...he only let me drive one after scrambling around for keys for 30 minutes and then the one I drove was nothing like what I told him I was in the market for! He wanted to have me drive a hardtop and I was specifically shopping for a convertible so I refused that! Then, knowing I wanted to buy a manual transmission Cooper S, he brings out the keys to an AUTOMATIC COOPER... NO S!!!
...done, thank you. :mad:
I drove what he let me drive and gave him the card to order the one I wanted, but told him not to take the money until he heard from me today. I am desperate for input from someone else who has ordered a mini. Does EVERYBODY have to put down a $1000 deposit ?
Please help me here!!!
I think that is a separate issue from your other experiences at the dealership..
You already seem to be having second thoughts... That is why they ask for a deposit.
regards,
kyfdx
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I feel sorry for the lack of attention given to you by the dealer.
As for the deposit, as I understand it, that's pretty much standard across the board for MINIs. I left a 1K deposit for mine as well.
On the flip side of what kyfdx says, I would add that the deposit holds the car for you when it arrives. Suppose you didn't leave a deposit and someone else saw the car right after it arrived at the dealer and decided that they want it right now. You would be out of a car after two months or so of waiting, with no contractual obligation for the dealer to sell to you.
Keep in mind that the deposit is refundable, so I think the dealer sees the whole thing as doing you a favor, considering the extreme popularity of MINI and the relatively fast turnaround of non-preordered cars.
I have emailed another dealership and asked for their assistance on the purchase anyway. I just didn't feel all that great about the salesman I dealt with last night...he seemed so uninterested in what I wanted! I got the feeling that he just wanted to get my order and get me out of there! I didn't drive 4 hours to look at the cars through the windows!!! I wanted to drive one!
As for the post by kyfdx...I'm not having second thoughts, and "my specifications" are very basic...what everyone wants in a mini. I know "THE PERFECT MINI" would be a hot item on any lot.
I just want to be treated with respect in every situation, not the least of which is when buying a $30,000.00 car!
I am not going to back out of my purchase. I have the check sitting right here and had it with me last night, but was not having a very good feeling about the transaction or the salesman. My husband is in sales and I see how he treats his CNC customers. Mutual respect should be part of every transaction.
I'm not hard to please, I just know what I want, and how to act. I always try to do what is right and I treat other people the way I want to be treated. I guess when dealing with some salespeople that is not always the best policy.
I'll let you know how it goes from here.
My nearest dealer was an hour drive from home or 20 minutes from work, a big factor when considering my Mini purchase.
Mini madness is still prevelant with sales of these cars but someday may subside to point of dealerships offering incentives to buy, but until the Mini Madness craze ends there will be dealers who take advantage of the supply and demand edge they have.
Good luck on whatever your end decision is. Personally I would not travel 4 hours to a dealership knowing that it is the same trip required for service or repair work unless of course there is a closer dealer you did not mention.
Ray T. :shades:
Ray T. :shades:
Nathan
or something coming in next week.
What do you think?
JR
At the time I shipped the car the cost was $659.00. Now to transport the car back to Az. by truck carrier the cost will be upwards of $850.00. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your time!
C. Campo :P
We took delivery of a new 2005 Mini Cooper, red/white roof, auto trans with prem, sport and cold weather packages with bonnet stripes and exhaust tip. MSRP-32,000. We ordered it about 2 months ago and live in Chicago IL. Our monthly payment is $303 with only $450 out of pocket on delivery for at 39 month lease with 36K miles. Tax which is paid up front in Illinois on the entire car was rolled into the lease. This is the best deal anywhere because we got about $1200 BELOW MSRP. The lease was through Lease by Tel which used US Bank for the financing. If you anyone is interested in Lease by Tel for ANY CAR not only the MINI let me know so I can refer you. I have leased 5 other cars before and this was the best lease process I have gone through with everything done through phone/email until we picked up our car in person. I am very happy with the whole experience. Except maybe I should have waited a bit and ordered a 2006. Oh well... :P