[Chucksta]

Hi,

I'm located in Perth WA and looking at buying a new mini.

Would appreciate any advice/tips.

What sort of new car discount can you expect?

Not sure which mini to buy for my partner. I really like the idea of xenons and run-flat tyres for her.

Do you think it is worth waiting for the checkmate/parklane models? I wonder if the other models will drop in price?

Also, I have noticed that it is nearly impossible to find a used mini in WA.

thanks

Chucksta

[minigolf]

Welcome to MINI2 Chucktsa.

Are you thinking Cooper or Cooper S?

Runflats are standard on both models anyway as there is no spare provided. I would definitely opt for the xenons, and in that case would probably go for the Chilli pack option which comes with a few other things, can't remember them all off the top of my head.

As for a discount, I can't speak for the Perth dealer (but from what I hear they are very good), but when I bought my MCS in 2004 I was able to get almost $3K off the RRP price. I reckon anything over $2K off RRP is a good deal.

Good luck!



Cheers Liam

[Mike Clarke]

Welcome to MINI2 Chucktsa
Auto Classic sell every MINI they can get their hands on so your chances of a discount are remote; sorry to be the bearer of bad news

As you say, very few 2nd hand MINIs in Perth and when they do come up they are quickly gone. One clubMINI member in Perth "imported" his 2nd hand MCS from the East and is very happy with it.

If your partner does not have her mind set on a particular spec for the car then just drop in to Auto Classic and have a look at what they have available. They turn over their stock pretty quickly but they will be able to tell you what they have coming in over the next couple of months.

keep an eye on the clumMINI.com.au/wa website for upcoming events; you and your partner would be welcome to join us for a chat about MINIs

[stchad]

Yes ditto re Auto Classic. They have been very good but as Mike said, they sell everything that comes in so not much chance of discounts....I did get a couple of freebies when I bought my convertible six months ago.....I think that was to sweeten me up after a three month wait for the car!!!............Go in and see Nic....he is great to deal with....have a test drive etc.

[Gr1zzLy]

Hey Chucksta,

Don't know so much about Perth dealers, but just thought I'd drop my 5 cents worth. I've talked with a couple of the guys here, and they're all keen to get the last of this model before the engine moves to the turbo. The reason I hear is because it'll be a new design and so on, so there'll be some teething problems. The current crop have been refined and most if not all the quality issues have been sorted. So whether you want to go for the checkmate/parklane or get a chilli, I recommend you go for the current crop as they'll be the new "classic" if you get my drift.

Another thing to consider is if you're buying the hardtop, consider whether you want the sunroof. Because if you don't, then you shouldn't put an aftermarket one in later as it'll just stuff up the car. That's one of the things I've read on here that sometimes people forget about, and think that it can be easily added later.

Anyways, best of luck.

[minigolf]

Turbo + $1500 bucket of chips = Fun x lots and lots!

[OZChris]

I got about $2.5k off the Cooper S I ordered in September. Just prepare to bargain hard

[Mike Clarke]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiM

I got about $2.5k off the Cooper S I ordered in September. Just prepare to bargain hard

But you are not in Perth.
Life is very different in the West Chris

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Clarke

But you are not in Perth.
Life is very different in the West Chris

What about if he threatens to buy a Suzuki MINI and put bonnet stripes and lights on it

[OZChris]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Clarke

But you are not in Perth.
Life is very different in the West Chris

I hear you Mike, but my Cooper was bought from QLD - saved almost $4k delivered to Melbourne. Surely shipping from east coast to west coast < $500. Where there's a will there's a way

[Mike Clarke]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiM

I hear you Mike, but my Cooper was bought from QLD - saved almost $4k delivered to Melbourne. Surely shipping from east coast to west coast < $500. Where there's a will there's a way

Yes, I'm sure buying from the East can save lots.
WAs state taxes are the highest in the country and a lot of high priced cars are bought from interstate, mainly QLD, costs the WA state government in revenue and the local dealers lose sales but the buyer saves heaps.
Shipping East to West can be expensive. In 2004 I was quoted close to $900 to transport my MCS from Melbourne to Perth and $600 from Adelaide to Perth.

[n00b]

Ditto on the shipping cost - it was $960 to send a car from Sydney to Perth via Toll in 2004 then last year I had to send the same car over there again, geez, $1140.

Mike, just curious, can you (if you got the time) explain a bit more on the WA tax/duty? I've heard about it couple of times before but still wouldn't understand why a car with NSW or Vic or QLD rego will cost less to do a transfer once it arrives in WA.

[Mike Clarke]

Quote: Originally Posted by dairyboy

Ditto on the shipping cost - it was $960 to send a car from Sydney to Perth via Toll in 2004 then last year I had to send the same car over there again, geez, $1140.

Mike, just curious, can you (if you got the time) explain a bit more on the WA tax/duty? I've heard about it couple of times before but still wouldn't understand why a car with NSW or Vic or QLD rego will cost less to do a transfer once it arrives in WA.

Register the car in QLD, Vic, NSW and run it on that rego until it expires then just take out WA rego, no change of ownership so no transfer costs. I imagine if the car was just bought from an interstate dealer and shipped here unregistered then WA fees would apply. I've got no personal experience so just repeating what I glean from newspaper articles.
Of course I could be completely and utterly wrong (again)

[n00b]

Thanks for that Mike, now it make sense

[minigolf]

You guys in WA need to organise a reverse cartel … we won't buy unless you drop the bottom line!

[Babes]

I personally think it's fantastic that very little to none discounts are given here in Perth, keeps the resale value waaay up there. Infact I recently had an argument with Shannons where some **** in Melbourne just decided to drop the value of my car by 6K based on values in Vic not in WA. Needless to say it is now back to where it was.

[Chucksta]

Hi

Just test drove a mini cooper S and cooper today (both auto). They only had the cabrio version available for test drives. (Perth dealer)

Initial impressions:
1. Rather SLOW (cooper) but loud supercharger whine for cooper S
2. Alot of road noise (probably cos of the soft top)
2. Handles very well
3. Fantastic build quality

I'm on the verge of ordering a cooper for my partner. Possibly a Park Lane.

Thing is.. i'm worried that a new model will be released next year, meaning 2nd hand values will drop considerably.

Dealer would not discount. Only hinted at a possible $400 discount. Apparently no 2nd hand minis available in Perth WA.

Any thoughts?

thanks

Chucksta

[Mike Clarke]

If the Cooper was slow then you weren't driving it hard enough you have to keep the revs over 4500 in the MC.

The runflat tyres generate a lot of noise

The more you drive them the better they handle

Build quality improves with each model

Given the relatively low numbers of MINIs sold in Perth I doubt if resale values will be much affected by the new model. The Park Lane looks like a good choice.

Oh, now merging this thread with your original thread

[IML337]

Slow?

try ones with manual gearboxes mate

[kyl72]

Mike's right, the CVT goes but you have to keep the revs up, if you still think it lacks guts, whack it into sports mode, it runs on higher revs and she sings!!! Don't be afraid to plant your foot because when you do she flies Also according to the figures, for some reason the Cabrio is slower than the hard top. Not sure why but thats what i have read. It is slower in the 0-100km test.