[daisygirl]

We are trying to decide whether to buy a demo with 2500km Black Eye Purple Cooper S Chilli and have immediately or spend an extra $1000 and wait until August for a new one.

Took it for a test drive last weekend and I am in love but not sure if we are getting the best deal possible.

What would you do???

Also what sort of deals have people been able to ask their dealer for (ie the best savings off the RRP in the brochure). Seems like Mini deals dont give as much discount as other cars such as when I have bought my Corolla.

[ButtonIt]

I bought an Ex-Demo car this time round, and the one I bought before was a year old with low mileage. I don't much like buying new cars, I'm too impatient, and if I've found one that I like then I want it

Also, it's the first owner that takes the biggest hit in depreciation (although MINI's don't depreciate too much). I also think that you can bargain and barter more with a nearly new car. I managed to get a good deal on my new Hyper Blue MINI, the dealer knocked a grand off the advertised price and gave me an extra £1500 more for my part exchange (Electric Blue S) than anyone else was offering.

So I guess, if you like the car, want it soon and try a bit of bargaining with the dealer, then a demo one will be the way forward

Oooh, another thing... most problems happen in the first few months of ownership/ first few thousand miles, so an ex-demo would've had most of those fixed

[wibbly]

I bought an ex demo JCW a year ago with 4500 miles on the clock and apart from a dodgy boot release that has been fixed twice under warranty the car has been a joy....

It also saved me at that time waiting about 4 months which I couldn't have handled, and I haven't regretted it all

[poki]

There have been some very valid points made about depreciation and waiting times and with any other car I would feel exactly the same.

With the MINI though, I loved tracking its progress to me. I love knowing that it was made just for me - just the way I wanted it. I don't plan to sell it for a long time so I don't give a fig about my resale.

It is all relative - depends what you want and how important money is to you - cause thats what the decision will basically come down to.

Best of luck.

[IML337]

I have to agree - the excitement of getting your exact spec, tracking your car, waiting, all of that stuff - it's worth it I think.

That and the fact that 90% of people who get into a demo car for a test drive flog it within an inch of it's life...

Depends how fussy you are, I guess

[Mr G]

There's two side to this. I personally would never buy a demo, becasue I've seen how salesmen treat their "executive driven" ex fleet vehicles. Karen (Mrs G) has worked in the motor industry all her working life, and for the last few years before her retirement she worked in distribution.

But 'tracking the car' to you can be just as painful. cars come off boats needing re-sprays, and with ceased engines, and they get shipped off to panel yards, and there's a "delay at the docks with your particular car - its not just you i've got 35 customers screeming at me" a week later, the friendly salesman has personally sorted the dock problem out to get your car for you, and you are none the wiser.

If you ever have 4 hours to spend and want to hear some second hand dodgy new vehicle stories, talk to Karen.

some of the really bad ones though end up in stock and hte dealers hear the stories and don't want to touch them so guess where they end up? on the demo program or the company fleet. We once drove a South African build Freelander that was painted in a colour they never came in.

Its a lottery. You could buy a demo that's fine (you'll probably thrash it just as much as the salesman anyway - and at least its well run in) or you could wait 3 months and get July 02, oops I mean lemon.

sorry, a long story, but not much help. Um, ok. a decision. ummm. $1000 isn't enough. you could haggle that sort of discount anyway. especially if you buy a stock vehicle then there's no waiting. problem solved QED.

[minigolf]

I think with the advent of the Chilli pack I'd be more inclined to buy a demo. Some people will say never buy demos, but I've bought one in the past and got 180,000 reasonably trouble free kms out of it (1992 Pulsar SSS). The main reason I ordered my MINI was because I wanted the options I got, obviously, but seeing as most of these are in the Chilli pack, I could see that, colour pending, I'd have gone with a demo if that was an option available to me at the time.

If you want it, get it!



Cheers Liam

[FUNSIZE]

I'd spend more than $1000 and have it exactly the way I want it... that's what I did in "real" life, too
August's not too long...

[Mike Clarke]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf

I think with the advent of the Chilli pack I'd be more inclined to buy a demo. Some people will say never buy demos, but I've bought one in the past and got 180,000 reasonably trouble free kms out of it (1992 Pulsar SSS). The main reason I ordered my MINI was because I wanted the options I got, obviously, but seeing as most of these are in the Chilli pack, I could see that, colour pending, I'd have gone with a demo if that was an option available to me at the time.

If you want it, get it!



Cheers Liam

I'll second that view Liam.

I've bought 2 demos, 1 MC & 1 MCS because I'm too impatient to wait.

[FUNSIZE]

Well, why don't you buy the demo for the time until your dream car arrives?

[daisygirl]

Thanks for everyone advice, some very valid points.

Signed up today for a brand new one as only $700 more than the demo and at least we know it will be brand new. Willing to wait and give us a chance to sell our existing cars in the meantime.

Went for Cooper S Chilli in Black Eye Purple with white roof and chrono package and interior chrome package so hopefully by July. Also give me plenty of time to scroll the webpages and look at even more accessories. Pity we only got back from America two weeks ago as seems like lots of accessories over there.

[21Blue]

Quote: Originally Posted by daisygirl

Thanks for everyone advice, some very valid points.

Signed up today for a brand new one as only $700 more than the demo and at least we know it will be brand new. Willing to wait and give us a chance to sell our existing cars in the meantime.

Went for Cooper S Chilli in Black Eye Purple with white roof and chrono package and interior chrome package so hopefully by July. Also give me plenty of time to scroll the webpages and look at even more accessories. Pity we only got back from America two weeks ago as seems like lots of accessories over there.

That's great news. Where did you end up buying from?

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by daisygirl

Thanks for everyone advice, some very valid points.

Signed up today for a brand new one as only $700 more than the demo and at least we know it will be brand new. Willing to wait and give us a chance to sell our existing cars in the meantime.

Went for Cooper S Chilli in Black Eye Purple with white roof and chrono package and interior chrome package so hopefully by July. Also give me plenty of time to scroll the webpages and look at even more accessories. Pity we only got back from America two weeks ago as seems like lots of accessories over there.

Hi,

Welcome

That sounds like an beautiful car you have specced

Cheers

Robbo

[minigolf]

Good on you daisygirl, the wait will be tough at times, but you won't regret it. Congrats!



Cheers Liam

[poki]

Congratulations on the decision I am the least patient person ever but I found the wait for the car easy.

The months will fly by - I cannot believe I have had my car for over 12 months.

[daisygirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by 21Blue

That's great news. Where did you end up buying from?

Ended up buying from Fortitude Valley because we had spent so much time there last weekend and they were cheaper than the other quotes by $150.

[FUNSIZE]

Way to go daisygirl!

So good to know you're really getting what you want