MINI2

mimicar · Oct 9th, 2003, 02:51 AM

I finally found a problem with Downtown Mini. I went down there today to conduct some business with the service department and to pick up a Mini t-shirt but there was NO PARKING available either on the dealership property or out on the streets surrounding the dealership.

For those that don't know, Downtown Mini is located right smack in the middle of Downtown Orlando. It's a very small dealership with a very small customer parking lot located at the rear of the service area. Alternative parking is metered spaces out on the street. When I went there today the customer lot was totally jammed with vehicles parked everywhere and the on-street parking was full too. Even if I could have found parking out on the street I had no change with me to feed the meters. Grrrrrr!

I honestly don't know how they expect to stay in business. I returned home empty handed and wishing that they had a competitor in the area. If you intend to go there for any reason be sure to call ahead to see what parking is available.

azimmerm · Oct 9th, 2003, 03:11 AM

While i have many reasons for disliking this dealership, i hardly think you can fault them for a small parking lot. There are plenty of parking garages nearby, and any buisness worth its salt would atleast take an equal amount off your bill.

mimicar · Oct 9th, 2003, 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by azimmerm

While i have many reasons for disliking this dealership, i hardly think you can fault them for a small parking lot. There are plenty of parking garages nearby, and any buisness worth its salt would atleast take an equal amount off your bill.

Yeah, right.

CooperS4us · Oct 10th, 2003, 09:14 PM

Downt town MINI is the only dealer in Florida that has its own "Boutique" style store and it is not adjacent to a BMW dealer. The dealer itself is very nice and I have heard good things about the service dept. I, however, dislike their $1500 on mandatory accessories gauging policy.

mimicar · Oct 11th, 2003, 04:04 AM

A lot has been posted here about the accessories policy and no one is thrilled about it. Personally I like to see Downtown Mini get some competition. As it is now they have a lock on the Orlando area market. In the short term I'd like to see them move their "Boutique" over to Fields BMW where there's some reasonable parking.

I can't imagine leaving my car there for service given the tight parking situation.

CooperS4us · Oct 15th, 2003, 03:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by mimicar

A lot has been posted here about the accessories policy and no one is thrilled about it. Personally I like to see Downtown Mini get some competition. As it is now they have a lock on the Orlando area market. In the short term I'd like to see them move their "Boutique" over to Fields BMW where there's some reasonable parking.

I can't imagine leaving my car there for service given the tight parking situation.

Their closesr competition is Ferman MINI in Tampa (72 miles) and Lauderdale MINI in Ft Lauderdale (Around 200 miles south). Many people in Central Florida have come down south to Lauderdale as they don't have any mandatory accessory buying policy and in fact they never had since opening day.

Lauderdale MINI has to compete with 3 other dealers in the South Florida area: South Motors MINI (Miami) Braman MINI (Miami and West Palm Beach).

So far Lauderdale is the best of them all among all Florida based MINI dealerships.

Oct 9th, 2003, 02:51 AM	#1
mimicar MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Local Time: 03:24 PM Posts: 153 Offline	Orlando FL Downtown Mini I finally found a problem with Downtown Mini. I went down there today to conduct some business with the service department and to pick up a Mini t-shirt but there was NO PARKING available either on the dealership property or out on the streets surrounding the dealership. For those that don't know, Downtown Mini is located right smack in the middle of Downtown Orlando. It's a very small dealership with a very small customer parking lot located at the rear of the service area. Alternative parking is metered spaces out on the street. When I went there today the customer lot was totally jammed with vehicles parked everywhere and the on-street parking was full too. Even if I could have found parking out on the street I had no change with me to feed the meters. Grrrrrr! I honestly don't know how they expect to stay in business. I returned home empty handed and wishing that they had a competitor in the area. If you intend to go there for any reason be sure to call ahead to see what parking is available.

Oct 10th, 2003, 09:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
CooperS4us MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Florida Local Time: 03:24 PM Posts: 947 Offline	Downt town MINI is the only dealer in Florida that has its own "Boutique" style store and it is not adjacent to a BMW dealer. The dealer itself is very nice and I have heard good things about the service dept. I, however, dislike their $1500 on mandatory accessories gauging policy. '02 Cooper CVT PW/B Leatherette, MFSW, 15" 8-spokes '05 MCS CR/W

Oct 15th, 2003, 03:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
CooperS4us MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Florida Local Time: 03:24 PM Posts: 947 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by mimicar A lot has been posted here about the accessories policy and no one is thrilled about it. Personally I like to see Downtown Mini get some competition. As it is now they have a lock on the Orlando area market. In the short term I'd like to see them move their "Boutique" over to Fields BMW where there's some reasonable parking. I can't imagine leaving my car there for service given the tight parking situation. Their closesr competition is Ferman MINI in Tampa (72 miles) and Lauderdale MINI in Ft Lauderdale (Around 200 miles south). Many people in Central Florida have come down south to Lauderdale as they don't have any mandatory accessory buying policy and in fact they never had since opening day. Lauderdale MINI has to compete with 3 other dealers in the South Florida area: South Motors MINI (Miami) Braman MINI (Miami and West Palm Beach). So far Lauderdale is the best of them all among all Florida based MINI dealerships. '02 Cooper CVT PW/B Leatherette, MFSW, 15" 8-spokes '05 MCS CR/W

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Downtown MINI	quicksprint	General Discussion	1	May 22nd, 2005 06:28 PM
Downtown Mini Orlando FL	wingspan	Dealership Feedback	44	Mar 18th, 2005 02:57 AM
Downtown San Francisco Mini Dealers?	Pauline	Northern California Region	11	Jan 16th, 2004 05:09 AM
A MINI Cruise-In: The Downtown Beach Party in Bedford, PA. 6/21	aMini2Go	Mid-Atlantic Region	2	Jun 17th, 2003 09:12 AM
Downtown MINI has cars at MSRP	BigMack	Delivery, Shipping & Order Tracking	0	Oct 3rd, 2002 09:39 PM

MINI2

Fuel for your MINI obsession

Discuss your experiences with MINI dealers worldwide

Today
Sponsors	Sponsored Links Registered members do not see Google Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts. Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum

Oct 9th, 2003, 03:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
azimmerm MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Local Time: 02:24 PM Posts: 441 Offline	While i have many reasons for disliking this dealership, i hardly think you can fault them for a small parking lot. There are plenty of parking garages nearby, and any buisness worth its salt would atleast take an equal amount off your bill.

Oct 9th, 2003, 11:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
mimicar MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Local Time: 03:24 PM Posts: 153 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by azimmerm While i have many reasons for disliking this dealership, i hardly think you can fault them for a small parking lot. There are plenty of parking garages nearby, and any buisness worth its salt would atleast take an equal amount off your bill. Yeah, right.

Oct 11th, 2003, 04:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
mimicar MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Local Time: 03:24 PM Posts: 153 Offline	A lot has been posted here about the accessories policy and no one is thrilled about it. Personally I like to see Downtown Mini get some competition. As it is now they have a lock on the Orlando area market. In the short term I'd like to see them move their "Boutique" over to Fields BMW where there's some reasonable parking. I can't imagine leaving my car there for service given the tight parking situation.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)