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MINI Cooper Prices Paid and Buying Experience

1491 messages,  Last post on Apr 23, 2013 at 2:35 AM

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What is this discussion about? MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper Clubman, MINI Cooper Countryman, Coupe, Hatchback, SUV

Messages Page 145 of 150

#1434 of 1491 Re: New Purchase [thunedr1013] by kida1

Apr 23, 2011 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: thunedr1013 (Feb 23, 2011 9:53 am)
Wow, this is insanely great deal! Where are you located? I feel like I got ripped off then. I just put a deposit down on a 2011 Mini Cooper, premium package, automatic trans, with Mini Connect no navigation. MSRP was $24300 and I tried to get them to go below $22000, but they wouldn't budge off of $22725, which was pretty much the option credit! They gave the same story about "double dipping", that the credit doesn't come off their invoice, but I thought that was bs. I was kind of annoyed but they had to transfer this specific car from the port, so I thought it was still a pretty decent deal considering all the leg work they did to find the exact car I wanted. I'm located in So Cal and wondering if anyone has had success negotiating in this region. Bleh, I really want the car and actually don't mind paying that price until I saw that you got your car close to 2K lower than mine!! ignorance is bliss..heheh.

#1435 of 1491 Re: How good of a deal is this? [kent2k] by blueginger

Apr 24, 2011 (11:46 pm)

Replying to: kent2k (Apr 14, 2011 9:53 pm)
I'm in LA. Dealer is Southbay internet dept. Please private msg me for the name of the internet mgr who took care of me. It was painless and actually a great experience! I just picked it up this weekend and I'm in love. I have been dreaming of this car for a long time and it's finally a reality!

#1436 of 1491 May 2011 - looking for new Mini by carsearch16

May 16, 2011 (6:07 am)

Looking to buy a new Mini cooper within the next two weeks. A couple of questions -
 
1. Any sense on price flexibility? I know that most minis are customized, so it may be difficult to do exact numbers, but roughly a couple thousand or so?
 
2. Any idea what it takes to actually get the 0.9% financing they advertise? (I have great credit, but sometimes that's not all their looking for.)
 
3. Are brokers like carwoo or others actually good ways to buy a car, or is it better to just go straight to dealer? (I live in CT.)
 
Thanks!
 
Elizabeth

#1437 of 1491 Re: May 2011 - looking for new Mini by hachica

May 25, 2011 (1:54 pm)

Hello Elizabeth --
 
I don't know if you have had much luck in CT, but here in Southern California it is a really crazy time for Mini shopping.
 
I don't know if it is gas prices, the impending summer buying season, or the current Mini promotion, but they are flying off the lots here. If you see a car one day, it will likely be gone within a few days. This is true for hardtops with the premium package, and especially true for S versions of the cooper with premium package and automatic transmission.
 
Also, all dealers are telling me that production is slowing right now. One attributed the slowdown to the fact that automatic transmissions are coming from Japan, another said that they are changing their coding system, and yet another said that they gearing up for a transition to the 2012 model. It is tough to verify the validity of these claims, but considering they are all saying variations of the same thing, it is worth noting.
 
In terms of pricing, most dealers are willing to honor the 1 free package promotion, though they usually only have premium packages here. Keep in mind that they will only discount the invoice price of the package -- not the full retail value. As many others have noted, it is very difficult to get further reductions on Coopers (though it may be easier for S versions since they are usually more loaded). Expect them to offer only the package discount, and work from there. If you mean a couple of thousand beyond the promotion discount, I would say that is almost impossible at this point. Maybe in a year -- as long as they don't make significant changes.
 
I am close to closing a deal on a Cooper S with automatic transmission, premium package, and a few more options that I don't really need. I thought there would be more wiggle room, but dealers are standing firm. I'm sure if I don't buy it, someone will.
 
Oh, in terms of interest rate, the .9% is for 24-36 months, I think. Something a little short. 2.9% for 60 months. If you have good credit and are willing to borrow a certain amount, you will likely get approved.
 
Hope that helps! Anyone else shopping for a Mini right now?

#1438 of 1491 Looking for a new mini by neverfollow

May 30, 2011 (11:14 am)

I just got back from a dealer and this is the quote that I got:
2011 mini hardtop S, manual transmission, premium package, armrest
MSRP $26,200 (including destination fee which is $700)
Discount that I got is $1884.92. They charge delivery package which is $299.00 so the price total purchase price is $24.614.08 plus tax and $599 doc fee.
 
Do you guys think this is a good deal? I got the one option package free discount which is $1750 and they didn't want to move away from msrp as you can see, only $134.
 
Thanks

#1439 of 1491 Re: Looking for a new mini [neverfollow] by plekto

May 30, 2011 (5:37 pm)

Replying to: neverfollow (May 30, 2011 11:14 am)
I wouldn't deal with a place that charges $599 doc fee, just out of principle. And the $299 delivery package? What's that?? They already charge you the destination fee. That's $900 in extra padding for 2 hours of paperwork and prep which they should do anyways. Doc fee should be $200, tops. It should be MSRP+destination fee+taxes+doc fee in that order.
 
The free option package, btw, should be the sport suspension, as it dramatically changes the driving dynamics. Add the options that you want, one at a time as it will save you money (ie - the premium package is only worth the AC, which can be added by itself). The one option that people want on used Minis is the sport package. Doubly so if it has manual.
 
Also, remember, that the dealer literally will have his rear end on the line if you give him poor marks on the feedback, so that's plenty of leverage to get that silly "delivery package" markup removed.
 
Here is what I would get:(in the configurator on their website)
Mini Cooper S, (free sport package), (manual) [so far, base model price], (color of choice - the Ice Blue with black roof looks nice and if $0 extra), and the following options you pay for:
 
Color: Ice Blue with black roof ($0)
- Design - Anthracite headliner if ordering black roof ($250). Chrome line interior ($250).
 
- Packages - only the free sport package ($0)
 
- Performance - All season tires ($0), Sport Suspension ($500), Auto dimming rear mirror ($250).
 
- Instruments - Nothing ($0) Stock AC is fine, $500 for your iPod is silly - I use MP3 CDs andyways. 50 cents each and I can fit 50-60 songs, typically on a "mix" CD. Spend the $500 on the better looking interior.
 
- Accessories - Wheel Locks ($64), Mud Flaps ($66), Floor Mats ($119), Glovebox Organizer [also gives you a place to put you iPod if you get an aftermarket connection kit/jack installed in the glovebox] ($57), Magnetic Stone Guards ($36) , Bumper Protection Strip ($46)
 
- JCW - Strut Brace. This is horribly important to tightening up the front end. ($277) Order it at the time of delivery so that it will be installed for you.
 
Total:$25533. All sport, a few nice options to add to the looks, and the basic accessories. High resale value as well. But you'd have to order it tomorrow.

#1440 of 1491 How to Deal? by wannamc

Jun 07, 2011 (10:24 am)

Just test drove the Mini Cooper Hardtop and right now the local dealer has very little in stock, but a few coming in this month. Two of those look interesting, but how much can I expect them to budge on pricing? Both are 2011 base model, manual trans, with Premium and Cold Weather pkgs in the color I like, with sport seats (which I liked). Both have bluetooth and USB/ipod adapter (for $500, seems silly to me, but all of them coming have this).
 
#1 version has the black alloy wheels for $750, which I despise -- can't they switch those out to the old wheels? -- priced at $24,600 w/destination charge, then they'll take $500 off for it being a manual (really pushing them since autos are out of stock) plus $295 for dealer crap (mats, etc.) = $24,395.
 
#2 Version has center armrest (which didn't matter to me) plus the really nice leather/cloth seats for an extra $1,000, which I don't really need, but they are pretty nice. $25,100 minus the $500 as above, plus $295 as above = $24,895.
 
So how to proceed? Do we go back and make an offer, or are these things in such short supply that dealers won't budge? Guess we should have shopped last month during the free package deals, but didn't know we'd be shopping (my car DIED, so we need something soon).
 
Any advice welcome. Thanks to all for enabling my admission to the MC Club!

#1441 of 1491 Re: How to Deal? [wannamc] by plekto

Jun 07, 2011 (3:29 pm)

Replying to: wannamc (Jun 07, 2011 10:24 am)
See my previous post. What you do is you custom order the vehicle and then you get it exactly as you want. And you really DO want the sport package.

#1442 of 1491 Re: Need a lot of HELP!!! [bad_haggler] by ctorres3307

Jun 09, 2011 (10:01 am)

Replying to: bad_haggler (Feb 11, 2011 8:33 pm)
I just purchased a mini for my wife who happens to like fast, fun cars. She had a 3000 GT VR4 that I really liked as well as a BMW M3 that turned out to be a favorite. We just purchased a 2009 John Cooper Works for $23K with 10 K miles. You could always try and negotiate the price down. The dealership usually has a markup just because they know people typically want to feel that they talked there way down and have gotten a better deal than the "Average Joe". Bottom line is, do your due diligence and find a price for the car you want. Then try to get them to the price you are willing to pay for that car. If you have done your research, they will know and they will understand you are looking for a fair price. I paid asking price on my mini because through all of my research, I knew I found a great car at a good price. I love our JCW!

#1443 of 1491 Just Ordered a Mini Clubman. Past expierience stories anyone? by miss_pulkadot

Jun 16, 2011 (9:50 am)

I ordered my Mini Clubman on the 9th of June. This is the first car I will have ever owned so needless to say I am SUPER excited. I got a pepper white ext. with black bonnet stripes, Nav system, sunroof, and auto transmission. And its the 2012 so I am quite happy about that. In the owners lounge for mini owners it says it is still on order, the first step. It has been 7 days, when does it usually go into production? I am more than anxious about it getting here!!! I live in Florida, so abut how long should I be looking at for anticipating the call from my dealer telling me it has arrived?! Thanks!

Messages Page 145 of 150

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