[ny152]

Went to Parks Hamilton first. They were helpful and gave a decent test drive. They appeared keen to do business and followed up with a phone call. But trade in deal was a bit low.

Went to my local next, Fairbairns Glasgow who were okay, but nothing special at first. They took details of my trade in and said they would call back...

In the meantime went to Menzies Stirling. The guy there was helpful and went through every single option and offered his opinions, which were not always the dearest either! Even phoned 3 dealers about my trade in while I sat in front of him. But the trade in figure was a bit of a joke and delivery wouldn't have been till September.

Then Fairbairns phoned back with a great trade in offer and August delivery or a demonstrator in early July (diesel) Went up and signed with them then took a test drive to check out the demo car. Decided to go for the August option and then called them back to see if they could do a better deal on finance than standard offer.
The revised rate was very competitive with online banks and since then they have replied promptly to any emails. The staff seem friendly and willing to help as well, strangely even more so after signing (normally they lose interest then!).

But if the offer had been better on the trade in Menzies would have got the sale down to the knowledge and enthusiasm of the salesman but money talks!

A MINI adventure. THE END ;-)

[MINIMARK]

well I picked my dealer because they were really helpfull!

[ABG]

I've bought BMWs from Wollaston (Northampton) 17 miles away because of the truly auful "service" from my local dealer Victoria in Milton Keynes. This time I just couldn't be bothered, and did the test drive / spec thing at Victoria. At the last minute I decided to get the full monty and add the JCW upgrade. I expected it to be around £3500 fitted - I was wrong. BMW Victoria wanted £3800. On top of a £20k MINI I thought this was a bit rich. A bit of time online and I found I could save £395 by getting the car direct from JCW. So that's who got the order. They even offered to get the car ready in August but the plate change has an impact on resale so I'll wait until September.

I did offer Victoria the chance to review their price as they had put in the sales work, but they never called back with an answer. A relief really - I trust JCW WAY more than BMW Victoria.

[sgray]

can i choose my own option:

[X] They had the car I wanted in the showroom and offered the best part exchange.

[CorgiMini]

I live in Washington DC and visited the Towson Mini dealership last Fall. A retired former rally driver (he used to race Minis in England) went with me on the test drive. He did 90 miles an hour on the Baltimore Beltway, 70 miles on the exit ramps, and took three quick 360 degree spins to show me the great turning radius of the car. I felt queasy. When it was my turn, I was a tad tentative (it was my first time behind the wheel of a Mini), so he told me to buy the Cooper because "you cannot handle the power of the S." No sale.

When I learned that silk green was being discontinued, I called/checked online all the dealerships from SC to NY. Checkered Flag had one (CVT, not my choice, but the right color) and they were fantastic over the phone. Took Amtrak down to the dealership on a Saturday, and got pick up in a EB/W Cooper S. Drove 260 miles home, getting acquainted with my Mini. Great experience at Checkered Flag.

For service I go to Mini of Sterling, which is 50 miles from home. Not convenient, but I am pleased. And when I got a Sebring Convertible as a loaner when I got the rally lights installed, I could not wait to go back and get my Mini! I love driving my Mini, and chuckle everytime I see a Mini S, the car I was deemed unworthy to handle!

[Dustikins]

We went to three dealerships before we ordered our Jasper. MINI St. Louis was first (we weren't really looking to buy then, though, hubby just surprised with a test drive for our anniversary). They charge $500 over MSRP, though so they were out. Then we went to Bill Jacobs in Naperville and Patrick in Schaumburg. Both only charge MSRP and had the same wait for a car, but Bill Jacobs was closest to home and we liked the sales staff better so we went with them.

[sbgobig]

first of all thank's to mini2 for all the helpfull advice. I live in Socal and don't want to pay 30k for my mcs or wait another year so I called all around the country and found that Moritz in Texas is my best bet. They are 1500 miles away but will ship my 2004 pepper white mcs to me in October at msrp. plus approx. $800 for shipping.

[MiniMinor]

Local dealer.

[NEMINI]

There are 2 dealers exactly 27 miles from my house. Westchester MINI and MINI of Fairfield County. I used to pass Westchester MINI daily while working so I stopped in there, not once, not twice but THREE different times and everytime I walked around and saw the motoring advisors give me the once over out of the corner of their eyes and turn their back to me (I was in my work uniform which was clean but did make me look like I worked in a gas station). I figured if they can take one look at me and decide I wasn't worthy of their time I'd take the $1,000 check I had in my pocket for a deposit elsewhere. Thats when I went to MINI of Fairfield County and was welcomed from the time I walked in the door and have been nothing but extremely satisfied since.

[Sharkey]

We just ordered a new '04 EB/B MCS from Mini of Fairfield County (in CT, about half an hour outside New York City), and couldn't be happier with the experience! Although not the closest dealer to our home (MINI of Hartford is about 10 miles closer), we decided to go to MoFC because of their reputation for excellent service and knowledgeable staff.

We weren’t disappointed! Our MA, Peter Braun, is amazing: he's a certified miniac!! He's owned 18 Minis (17 of the 'original' Minis, and a lovely '02 MCS). There may be one or two things Peter doesn't know about MINIs, but after about a bizillion questions I've yet to stump him ) MSRP, no pressure, no bull, no waiting for email replies: it's worth the drive to MoFC!!

[2cheeky]

Anybody deal with Mini of Towson?

[Grimfool]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2cheeky

Anybody deal with Mini of Towson?

Yes I bought my MCS from them back in July. My MA was Ben Edwards and every thing went OK. The only problem I've found since was that the headlights weren't aligned properly and they fixed that and gave me a rental whilst they did it.

[gtshnzr]

Only dealer in the "area" who could promise me one of the then new JCW kits when I ordered the car back in June. The really local dealer could only say that the first wave of kits "had all been spoken for."

[TSizemore3]

My closest dealer is 100 miles away in Palm Harbor. The next closest 160 miles away in Orlando. You do the math! Hopefully the closest BMW dealership in Sarasota (30 miles) will eventually get a MINI trained tech, although they were quite hostile when I approached them about service before I bought my MCS. I found out afterward that evidently they thought they were going to get a MINI franchise and didn't get picked.

Tom

[bobbagum]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini8

I chose Sitner Solihull as the salesman was very good, no bulls**t and gave me a test drive...........unlike Rydale Central where the women was probably more concerned about the zit on her face than giving me information!

Went to Rydale today, walked in, waited for about 20 minutes, walked off, not impressed, will try Solihull tomorrow.

[alicantecooper]

Same case as you Bobbagum. The local dealers here treated us the same way. Wlaked in feeling chippy and excited, walked out 15 mins later really cheesed off. I get the idea though if I had been looking at an X5 they would have been all over us!

So we went down the road to the next town, only 20 miles and had great service. Haven't looked back, and even have managed to persuade a friend to have his services done there!

Bye.

[AmRov]

I had a choice of 3 dealers IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS (that I could find): 80 miles away, 175 miles away, 200 miles away. Chose the one 80 miles away... I'm a little nervous from reading the various posts of the little (or not so little) problems here and there that require frequent servicing; taking my car to the dealer will be an entire day experience, and so not something I can afford often!

[bryandixon]

Quote: Originally Posted by AmRov

... taking my car to the dealer will be an entire day experience ...

But that Austin - San Antonio round trip drive through the hill country will really be fun.

For me same reason as AmRov, MINICenter in San Antonio was closest, but I think they are very friendly and they do not gouge, MSRP only.

[Windshadow]

Never even considered Herb Chambers as I know them of old both personally when I had a M-benz that I did not buy from them and more recently through friends who have been treated like something unpleasant on the sole of ones shoe after walk in the park.

I then read up on Mini of peabody here then I Dropped in last fall without an appointment and was given a 90 min test drive in both models... my dealings with everyone I have come in contact at MoP have been top notch and dealing with a MA like Keith who has bought his own MC S gives me extra confidence
The only bobbles have been their strange inability to provide me with a brochure but the Web Pages at MINI USA were ok if lacking in details about some of the options esp. the Nav system and covered most of what was needed and Keith and all of you have provided the rest

[David Woods]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

Just wondering what influenced your choice of dealer.

I can see the dealers from where I work and is shorter walking distance from where I normally park!
I almost find myself looking for reasons to have work done but to be perfectly honest I have been very pleased with my ONE and consequently it has not been in the dealers much.