[Biggler]

Just a question on the pricing on the mini.com.au website.

I know their is the usual dealer delivery charges but the pricing of some of the options appears to be much lower than what I've been quoted by my dealer.

For example

Alarm: $600 (website) $970 (Dealer)
Harmon Kardon HiFi: $930 (website) $1580 (Dealer)

FYI: Base Mini Cooper S $39,900 (website) $42,900 (Dealer)

Does anybody know why this might be. I cannot seem to get a straight answer out of the dealer.

Also anybody know typical dealer delivery charges. For that matter what is involved in dealer delivery?

Cheers
Collin

[warped]

Collin

Welcome to the board

I would be asking your dealer some pretty harsh questions ... the list price on the options should cost exactly what the web site quotes ... obviously on road costs need to be applied to the final cost of the car ... maybe these are the figures being quoted?

I have never heard of options being quoted with their on road cost component included but you never know I would be asking a few more questions if I was you

Dealer delivery goes straight into the their back pocket based on my understanding and would therefore be up for negiotation ... mine was about $1100 due to the Executive Pricing Plan discount ... most other onroad costs are taxes of some description

Cheers
Steve

[swamos]

Welcome to MINI2 Colin Where are you from??

As to the pricing, I have a asuspicion that those quoted prices may be to retro-fit those options to one of the cars they have in stock. The lower prices you found would apply if the options were already factory fitted to car you were intending to buy

[Mike Clarke]

Welcome to MINI2 Colin, $3,000 for dealer delivery is fairly standard, a rip off maybe, but nevertheless standard. Can't comment on the options prices, Swamos' theory sounds good.

Have you tried contacting another dealer for comparisons?

[martymini]

Welcome Collin.

I experienced exactly the same issue when purchasing. I also was unable to get a straight answer out of the dealer, a combination of dealer delivery and on road charges. I was also surprised that the dealer would not negotiate AT ALL on any aspect of the price.

Fortunately, I was able to scam a few freebies out of the dealer and their service has been up to the expected standard.

[21Blue]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Clarke

Welcome to MINI2 Colin, $3,000 for dealer delivery is fairly standard, a rip off maybe, but nevertheless standard. Can't comment on the options prices, Swamos' theory sounds good.

Have you tried contacting another dealer for comparisons?

Dealer delivery is around $1800 for a BMW. $3000 sounds too steep. Maybe the $3000 involves other costs too. ( CTP, Rego, Delivery, Stamp Duty, Plate Fee etc. )

The money that you are paying for dealer delivery covers the costs for transporting the vehicle to the dealership from the factory. It also covers the costs of preparing the vehicle before they deliver it to you.

You can always negotiate on the on road costs too.....Good Luck with it~!

[Mike Clarke]

If the dealer can sell everything they can get their hands on then there is no hope of negotiating much of a discount. $3,000 is the standard dealer delivery mark up in Perth it is shown on their printed price list, maybe in states with more than 1 dealer there is more scope for discounts.

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Clarke

If the dealer can sell everything they can get their hands on then there is no hope of negotiating much of a discount. $3,000 is the standard dealer delivery mark up in Perth it is shown on their printed price list, maybe in states with more than 1 dealer there is more scope for discounts.

I can't speak for any other states, but in Brisbane you can get 2.5k of a brand new (03 model) MCS with your eyes closed. I have heard of up to 4.5k discounts for astute hagglelers (??) .

This is bad news for resale...... <little voice in steve's head> Don't start Steve they are still recovering from the EB spray....</little voice in steve's head>

[eltel]

Quote: Originally Posted by swamos

As to the pricing, I have a asuspicion that those quoted prices may be to retro-fit those options to one of the cars they have in stock. The lower prices you found would apply if the options were already factory fitted to car you were intending to buy

Nice theory, but I've been advised by a dealer who knows, that H/K retro-fit is not possible, and therefore there would not be a published price for it to be added after delivery.

By the way, I was hugely impressed by the H/K in a demo car.

[snoopy]

Quote: Originally Posted by eltel

Nice theory, but I've been advised by a dealer who knows, that H/K retro-fit is not possible, and therefore there would not be a published price for it to be added after delivery.

By the way, I was hugely impressed by the H/K in a demo car.

eltel H/K is retro-fitable, it will just cost a lot of money.

If the both iteams are being retro fitted the price on both is quite good. The best alarm retro-fit price I have got is about $1200------about $860 for the kit and 4.5h labour.

[Biggler]

Thanks for all the input. It's been reassuring.

I knew with only one Mini Dealer in Perth it was going to be difficult for negotiating.

Anyway I've narrowed all my options down to the following:

Mini Cooper S
Electric Blue with white
Alarm
Automatic Climate Control
Leather Upholstery
Sunroof

They quoted $51,900 on road. From what they told me it will be around 4 months before I can get one I'm gonna go in this weekend to see if I really want the sunroof and if indeed this is the car for me.

[swamos]

Quote: Originally Posted by Biggler

Thanks for all the input. It's been reassuring.

I knew with only one Mini Dealer in Perth it was going to be difficult for negotiating.

Anyway I've narrowed all my options down to the following:

Mini Cooper S
Electric Blue with white
Alarm
Automatic Climate Control
Leather Upholstery
Sunroof

They quoted $51,900 on road. From what they told me it will be around 4 months before I can get one I'm gonna go in this weekend to see if I really want the sunroof and if indeed this is the car for me.

Good luck with it. Our spec is very similar, only add 17" S spokes, and DSC, and loose the roof. Good taste I think

It does sound a little pricey though, as our car was almost exactly 50 on the road, and we had to pay for MFSW, and the light pack that you got for free

[Biggler]

Quote: Originally Posted by swamos

Good luck with it. Our spec is very similar, only add 17" S spokes, and DSC, and loose the roof. Good taste I think

It does sound a little pricey though, as our car was almost exactly 50 on the road, and we had to pay for MFSW, and the light pack that you got for free

Thanks swamos.

What is MFSW. Also what free light pack?

[eltel]

Quote: Originally Posted by snoopy

eltel H/K is retro-fitable, it will just cost a lot of money.

If the both iteams are being retro fitted the price on both is quite good. The best alarm retro-fit price I have got is about $1200------about $860 for the kit and 4.5h labour.

I agree snoopy, ANYTHING is retro-fittable (possibly), but in this case is there a set fee for retro-fitting H/K? I was just trying to clarify that even though it may be possible, I did not expect it to be published on the mini.com.au web site after discussions with two dealers.

And why does the web site say that dealer fitting of the alarm is $970, yet your best retro-fit price is $1200.

[21Blue]

Quote: Originally Posted by Biggler

Thanks swamos.

What is MFSW. Also what free light pack?

MFSW is the Multi Function Steering Wheel. The light pack are just lights inside the car to help you see better in the dark. These 2 are part of the 2004 year update model. It was not included on previous cars so they are considered free now.

[Mini2v]

Biggler

I see you have not made up your mind on the purchase, has the dealer let you take a MCS for a drive as yet? Once you drive one you just can't resist it.

My EBW with MFSW, Alarm, lights, 17's, Exnons, DSC and Data Dot security plus window tinting was just on $50,000 in Jan 03. Sounds like your dealer is a bit pricey, all options were as quoted in website, no arguements from dealer, and no price cutting. Had to wait 3 1/2 months (ordered Oct 03) But worth it. Why not talk to a delaer on the east coast, might be cheaper to fly over and drive back in the MCS, if you don't have time for this i volunteer, just cover costs. Heee Heee!
Mini2v

[swamos]

Ooooh, I forgot we got Xenons headlights and washers. That's another $1100

So to re-cap our car has.....

Xenons
17" wheels
climate
alarm
leather
light pak (now free)
mfsw (now free)
metalic paint
cooper S exclusive colour (oh, sorry, it's not exclusive anymore)

[Biggler]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini2v

Biggler

I see you have not made up your mind on the purchase, has the dealer let you take a MCS for a drive as yet? Once you drive one you just can't resist it.

My EBW with MFSW, Alarm, lights, 17's, Exnons, DSC and Data Dot security plus window tinting was just on $50,000 in Jan 03. Sounds like your dealer is a bit pricey, all options were as quoted in website, no arguements from dealer, and no price cutting. Had to wait 3 1/2 months (ordered Oct 03) But worth it. Why not talk to a delaer on the east coast, might be cheaper to fly over and drive back in the MCS, if you don't have time for this i volunteer, just cover costs. Heee Heee!
Mini2v

Went for a test drive last Saturday. The car is very FUN Went on a 20 minute ride around town to put it through it's paces. I just love the sound it makes when you put your foot down. Boy does it have some power for a little car. I particularly liked the 270 degree freeway off ramps. Sure does hold the road.

The price discrepancies from the dealer vs website still bothers me somewhat as I do like the car but not enough justify dealer profits. I think because their is only one dealer over here they can name their price. Might be an option to go east, could use a holiday!

[snoopy]

Quote: Originally Posted by eltel

I agree snoopy, ANYTHING is retro-fittable (possibly), but in this case is there a set fee for retro-fitting H/K? I was just trying to clarify that even though it may be possible, I did not expect it to be published on the mini.com.au web site after discussions with two dealers.

And why does the web site say that dealer fitting of the alarm is $970, yet your best retro-fit price is $1200.

There is no set fee for anything only a RRP. The cost break down is about $860 for the retro-fit kit for the alarm and then 4.5h to install it in the car. This can add up to about $1450 for the alarm installed at the dealers. I though the only way to get it cheaper was at the factory and then it will cost you about $600.

But if the MINI website states a dealer alarm install is only $970 please point me to it, as at that price I might get it done.

Snoopy

ps Ans to org question: I would tell your dealer in Perth to get his hand off it or buy it from a east coast dealer.

Pss Eltel there is a full and proper retro-fit kit for the H/K, have a talk to im337 as he looked right in to it.

[Mini2v]

You're right about the freewy off ramps, you just dial in the power and turn the wheel, knock it down to second and and it grips like nothing else.

The drive back home would be a great way to run it in, if you could resist using the power for that long. I took my MCS for a 1200k run from Sydney to Coffs Harbour and back for the weekend in the first week after purchase and if it wasn't for Cruise i am sure i would have lost the licence, but being patient and not using the copious amounts of get up and go was difficult. But one WRX spec station wagon Impreza got a hell of a shock off the lights in Coffs. That was worth the 50k on its own. But you have to appreciate the MCS for what it is and what it was, then there would be no doubts about purchase. I wonder how many MCS owners remember the old S's of the 60's, i bet a large % of new MCS owners do.