[lespurgeon]

Well,
started with my closest one, but there was a year's wait - looked 200 miles away, but it was no shorter. Went 800 miles away to get 6 month wait.

MINI needs to do something about their dealer allocations if they actually care about the people who want to buy a MINI. My wife suggested we go get the GTI, because we could have had it that week - I had to talk her down.

[minibat]

I am going to be in the market for a Mini real soon. Under the heading of what influenced you dealer decision...Has anyone actually paid a fair price? Local dealer told me about 2 grand above MSRP and possibly a 90 day wait. I was a little floored by this. I know that the car is popular, thus i can understand the 90 day wait if you order your Mini the exact way that you want it, but 2 grand above MSRP!? I have never paid above MSPR...dealer mark up is a friggin joke. For new cars that are popular have typically enjoyed a little mark up above MSRP for like the first year or so, ie, C5 Vettes and PT Cruisers, but the mark up fades quickly. I have seen one ad for a Dealer, I believe on here about a place in L.A. that sells for actual MSRP. L.A. is a ways away (7 hours). Has anyone gotten one for less than MSRP? I have 4 dealers within driving distance. Sac, Oakland, Pleasanton, and San Francisco. Has anyone had any good or bad dealings with these dealers? Lots of input needed here. Also, one more side note...I see that Consumer Reporst mention that the satisfaction department of this car is OUTSTANDING, and any Mini nut can tell ya why, but what they did bomb on was RELIABILITY. Anyone have any input as to what is unreliable about them? Honest answers are important here...as they are not going to sway my decision to buy one, I just want to know what I am in for. A Mini IS coming my way...no IF'S, ANDS or BUTS about it.

Thank you,
C2

[Duckie]

Quote: Originally Posted by minibat

I am going to be in the market for a Mini real soon. Under the heading of what influenced you dealer decision...Has anyone actually paid a fair price? Local dealer told me about 2 grand above MSRP and possibly a 90 day wait. I was a little floored by this. I know that the car is popular, thus i can understand the 90 day wait if you order your Mini the exact way that you want it, but 2 grand above MSRP!? I have never paid above MSPR...dealer mark up is a friggin joke. For new cars that are popular have typically enjoyed a little mark up above MSRP for like the first year or so, ie, C5 Vettes and PT Cruisers, but the mark up fades quickly. I have seen one ad for a Dealer, I believe on here about a place in L.A. that sells for actual MSRP. L.A. is a ways away (7 hours). Has anyone gotten one for less than MSRP? I have 4 dealers within driving distance. Sac, Oakland, Pleasanton, and San Francisco. Has anyone had any good or bad dealings with these dealers? Lots of input needed here. Also, one more side note...I see that Consumer Reporst mention that the satisfaction department of this car is OUTSTANDING, and any Mini nut can tell ya why, but what they did bomb on was RELIABILITY. Anyone have any input as to what is unreliable about them? Honest answers are important here...as they are not going to sway my decision to buy one, I just want to know what I am in for. A Mini IS coming my way...no IF'S, ANDS or BUTS about it.

Thank you,
C2

HEY!!! join the Army, get stationed in Germany, and buy a MINI for invoice!!!! Might get sent to Iraq, but what the heck, right??? (just kidding of course) Good luck with buying your new MINI!!! Of course I know nothing about buying one in the states....

[minibat]

Change status from 'in the market' to 'buying'. It is actually built to my specs, built and sitting on the other side of the pond waiting for a boat ride

[minEman]

this is a really stupid reason but i chose my dealer so i could have an Oxford number plate. I had to wait 3 months extra compared to reading (next closest dealer) but you can tell the minis near the factory are company cars a mile off coz BMW register all there fleet cars in reading and have a reading plate on them.

Also it gave me a little extra time to save for some additional opitional extras!

[scooperman_uk]

for me it was the nearest dealer, infact about 4 miles away. easier for after sales issues etc...

[Electra]

Choosing a dealer was not hard because they are all so nice. What was harder was deciding how much to pay for the vehicle, how much to pay for documentation charges, how long the wait was and how far away they were.

I wanted to pay no more then MSRP, the least documentation charges, wait only 2 to 4 months and buy as close to home as possible since I plan to pick it up and drive it home.

Living in Southern Oregon, buying from the closest dealer was out of the question due to the LONG wait period (over a year). So that opened up the rest of the country. Since my MCS would be arriving in the winter months I didn't want to buy from the Northern states and get all that sand and salt all over my new baby. That moved me to the sunny South.

Talked to all the dealers East of California to Florida and as far North as Kansas. All charged documentation charges between $197 and $500. Most charged MSRP, the waiting times between 7 weeks and 4 months. Some required between $500 and $1500 in dealer accessories.

I kept checking the dealer map on miniusa and saw an upcoming dealer in New Mexico, Sandia Mini. I had to call directory assistance to get the phone number and called. Their building will not be finished until the end of November but they have cars coming in Nov and Dec. They sell for MSRP, $69 in documentation and my order should deliver the end of Jan. Yippie!

[shijinmini]

There are two dealers in my state. I didn't go to the nearest dealer, for two reasons. One, I hate driving in that direction. Two, a friend of mine had gone to look at Minis at the other dealer (the one I went with) and had said she had a good experience (though didn't get a mini because of her budget).

I am very pleased I went with the folks I did because I got my car early (even earlier than others from the same ship).

Now we'll see how they do on service.

[jason@promini]

ttt

[centre exit]

chose our dealer,ASTLES of scunthorpe, because at the time (18 months ago) we was only looking for a cherished cooper,and the more local dealers had nothing to offer. after the excellent service we recieved off them,we automatically chose them when it came time to purchase a new cooperS,
well worth the 3 hour round trip!!!!!

[merlinsoars]

After getting the ripoff pitch here in so cal decided to do a search via the Internet and came across Roadshow in Memphis. Great to deal with, MSRP and no wait to order the car. Can fly to TN, pick up the car and drive back MUCH cheaper than buying local and a $$ wash for shipping. :

[Sooperlids]

Was going to buy from my local dealer. Decided not to after we went on a test drive. Me & the Mrs had to take turns in the back while the other drove, the salesperson apparently had to sit in the passenger seat for insurance purposes? Also the test drive consisted of a very short drive on a route pre planned by them.

Went to a dealer I have never used before 30 miles or so away. They just took a copy of my driving license handed me the keys & said be back in 90 mins!

That swung it for me!!

[DeadCanDanceR]

An answer is missing in the poll: "They were the only MINI dealer in town"

[Socalcoopster]

They were on the way to work. Although Ive heard a lot of negative feedback from them. Assael Mini in Monrovia.

[musamini]

I've done business with Bill Jacobs over the years for my VWs; they take care of you.

[cooper-minx]

I have two main dealers in my local area (i.e. 6 miles and 11 miles away) so I had a choice. I actually went for the one 6 miles from home mainly because the female salesperson there was not at all pushy, she didn't ring me to ask how I felt after the test drive with her and had a down-to-earth approach - she basically let me make up my mind in my own time. That dealer also has an excellent reputation and I never thought I would be able to buy a brand new car from that BMW garage!!!

[Rudolph Hucker]

I got mine from John Cooper's. I happened to be near there one dayand popped in for a look. I had wanted to buy an 's' for some time but couldn't bear the thought of a 6 month wait, so when I was told I could have one in 8 weeks I placed an order there and then.

[Cooper76]

Only a ten minute drive and they are also my BMW dealership. Nice bunch of guys.

[Roofas]

my local dealer offered me 'duragard'(?!) as a discount, shopped around and a dealer 25 miles away offered me wheel arches painted in body colour ( to match aero kit, mmmmm), velour mats, and all at £350 less than my local. Guess which one I chose..............

[CARVNIT]

Ordered from Int'l MINI in Milwaukee WI, only dealer in state. Would go to another dealer in a heart beat - hey MINI USA how about another one in the new and best BMW dealer facility in the region - Concours. Int'l MINI has a good sales service, but an intolerable service dept. I hate going to the dealership fearing they will damage my car again and not hold themselves accountable. I tell everyone when they ask me about my car how sour my experiences have been at the stealership.