[BeeJonesey]

Hi.

I'm a new poster, so take it easy on me.

I want a MINI, I live in Southern California, I want to pay MSRP. I don't care if I have to wait, but I don't want to wait a year. I've never bought a brand-new, unused car and I want it to be MY car, but I can't afford to pay thousands over sticker.

Long Beach MINI says they charge MSRP on special orders. Assael MINI, who I'm much closer to, geographically, says nobody does (well, I guess they WOULD say that...).

Somebody please give me the honest skinny. Can it be done?

Thanks.

[NEMINI]

buy out of state

[BeeJonesey]

Quote: Originally Posted by GMINI03

buy out of state

Any dealer recommendations?

[NEMINI]

have a search around, there's been many california buyers who've shared their out of state buying experiences, there's many dealers that have been used. The MINI is 50 state legal so you can buy it from anywhere in the US

[headswami]

Based on my own research and reading various mini sites, there are only two dealers in California that don't charge above MSRP. SoCal- Long Beach. NorCal- East Bay Mini. I am getting mine through east bay mini, regular cooper 4-6 months (my wait was 6 months but I believe 4 months is standard. Mini went light on allocation for regular coopers during the months of Nov and Dec, so it caused a bit of a backup). Hope that helps.

[BeeJonesey]

Nick Alexander says $1500 above MSRP for anything in their inventory (which, for anyone who cares, is huge right now; they say their really "slammed," but they desperately wanted to sell me something off the lot and I saw no fewer than 20 MINIs while I was there) and $2000 for anything they ordered for me.

Long Beach says I can order next month (I've been on their list since last April) and they only charge MSRP for orders.

Assael was just plain mean.

[NEMINI]

gee how can a dealship be 'slammed' if they have lot cars they can't sell???? idots contridict themselves

[BeeJonesey]

Yeah, that's what I wanted to know. I mean, they say they're now the #1 dealer in SoCal because they moved so many cars last month, but it looked to me as though they did a huge buy and now don't have as many takers. Anyway, for those financially able to spend $1500 over MSRP, Nick Alexander has a plethora of MINIs.

I feel just fine waiting.

[plugot]

You might try Bob Smith in Woodland Hills. They (finally) just opened and might want to get some presence with MINI. As far as anyone else, forgot it. Assael is full of sh*t; Universal MINI still won't deal, etc., etc. I bought out of state with some other Californians and we split the cost of closed transport. Cost us nearly a grand to get them here, but the car was ordered and delivered within 8-10 weeks. So, if you can find one for under $1K over MSRP, and they have an open allotment, you're doing great. Long Beach is 12 months because they only have so many slots, and a very long list. Go check out the thread under buying out of state. It's been discussed many times.

[speacock]

BeeJonesey,

We were in a similiar situation. My wife called around to various dealers west to east and found the same thing. Best one was when she called one dealer and the person who answered asked what MSRP was. Skipped that dealer

We settled on Westchester MINI in early July because they had an available factory allocation. We picked up our Aug '03 MCS to our specs slightly under MSRP (free floormats) on Sept 3rd and spent four days and 3,000 miles getting to know our new baby. It was about 65-75 days from serious decision to MINI.

Be aware if you buy out of state you will need a smog check and DMV will want their money up front in a check. Use the DMV web page to find an office that is less crowded and be prepared to wait. If you buy in-state that is usually taken care of in the financing.

Sean

[ZAMIRZ]

I also was not willing to pay the markups here ($3000 was the cheapest they'd go when I was looking in August of 2003) so I ended up ordering from Classic Mini in Mentor, Ohio. I ordered the car to my exact specs and had it shipped to CA from Ohio for $900 enclosed transport. I couldn't be happier, got exactly what I wanted, no BS and no hassles. Call Classic and talk to Julie, she'll treat you right. Their number is 440-266-6700. I'm not affiliated with them at all, just a happy customer. The funny thing about Alexander is I went there and test drove an S and told them I'd be ready to seal the deal at MSRP right then and there and the sales guy just kept saying "aaaah, I don't know if Shep (sales manager) can do it, we can't sell at MSRP, it's an awesome deal at $3000 though". Pffft, yeah f***ing right.

[BeeJonesey]

Well, I'm glad it's not just me. I know MINIs are still in high demand, but I just can't bear paying the markup.

If what Long Beach says is true and I can place my order in February and get the car by May, I'll buy through them. If not, how troublesome is it to do all the required DMV stuff yourself if you buy out of state?

Thanks again.

[speacock]

DMV is easy, slow but easy. You show up with your proof of purchase, checkbook and smog check certificate, wait in line, go to the counter, pull your car around, wait for an examiner, take proof of examination, go inside, wait some more, write a check and two hours or so later you are done. I went to the east LA office.

Sean

[SeaMonkey]

I am new to these forums because I just started looking at Minis. I recently went to Alexander Mini to see the cars. One attractive selling point to me is that Alexander will send a flat bed truck to my home and provide a loaner car during routine servicing over the first three years. I'm not certain if all dealers will provide such service. Doesn't buying a car from a non-local dealer (i.e. - from out of State) effectively negate this "benefit"? Also, if you purchase from a not-so-close dealer (i.e. - Long Beach is about 45 minutes away for me) can you get the three year "free" service from a closer dealer?

Also, Alexander told me that a custom order car would be $3,000 over MSRP while a car on the lot would be $2,000-2,500 over MSRP. Do those prices seem reasonable?

[tavis1]

Quote: Originally Posted by SeaMonkey

I am new to these forums because I just started looking at Minis. I recently went to Alexander Mini to see the cars. One attractive selling point to me is that Alexander will send a flat bed truck to my home and provide a loaner car during routine servicing over the first three years. I'm not certain if all dealers will provide such service. Doesn't buying a car from a non-local dealer (i.e. - from out of State) effectively negative this "benefit"? Also, if you purchase from a not-so-close dealer (i.e. - Long Beach is about 45 minutes away for me) can you get the three year "free" service from a closer dealer?

Also, Alexander told me that a custom order car would be $3,000 over MSRP while a car on the lot would be $2,000-2,500 over MSRP. Do those prices seem reasonable?

It doesn't matter where you buy your MINI from any MINI dealer HAS to service it. I just got my MCS from Long Beach yesterday. Paying anthing over MSRP is rediculas IMO. Why give them extra money? You could never get it back when you go to sell the car. That money could go twoards a alot of stuff for your MINI. To me it is legal extorsion.
I would either ride out the wait at Long Beach or go out of state.
Tavis1

[buz]

It sure would be interesting to learn how many of California's Minis have been ordered from out of state dealers.
I found the sales side of the SoCal dealers to be quite arrogant. $3,000 - $8,000 above MSRP!!!!! Add to that a 12 to 16 month wait!!!!! I may be dumb but I'm not stupid.
Talked with many very nice and very helpful MA's after doing some dealer research. I selected Mini of the Hamptons and within a matter of moments had a production number for my specified CooperS. Eight week wait, no surprise add on's so common with SoCal dealers. Yes, there is a nominal transport charge from Southhampton to Orange County, but my S will cost far less and will be delivered to my driveway 10 months earlier.

[SeaMonkey]

Is "flat bed" service standard for Minis?

[yohman]

after calling all the southern cal dealers, i ordered my mini through Bob Smith Mini in Calabasas right when they opened in January. at that time, they promised a 6-8 week delivery on a $1000 mark up. everyone else was charging 2-4K mark-ups, and i didn't want the "long" wait with "long" beach.

i have read in these forums that since, they seem to have raised the mark up to around 3K?

if i knew then what i know now, i would definitely go out of state.

[speacock]

SeaMonkey,

It all comes down to simple math. Out of state will cost you about $1000 delivery or about a week of your time to pick up and drive back. Alexander is charging $3000. Assuming you only need normal service, you are looking at one visit at 10K, a second visit at 25K and maybe if you drive hard enough a third visit around 40K before the warranty is up. That adds up to ~$650 each for the loaner car and flatbed service. Now if you get a less than perfect MINI, it could definately pay off.

In 13K miles I've been to the dealer twice, once for a cracked windshield at 3K and a second time for my 10K service. The windshield was a overnight weekday stay and the 10K service took a little over an hour at Irvine MINI on Saturday. For me I'd rather have the additional $2000+ in my pocket or in options.

Sean

[SeaMonkey]

Thanks, Sean. I'm such a newbie that I didn't know servicing was so infrequent. Now, even more reason for me to get a Mini.

One benefit I see with Alexander Mini, is ordering time. Alexander is saying it will take 8-10 weeks to order a Mini. Given that Long Beach is stating six months (on their web site), an extra 3 1/2 months is attractive to me (Like everyone, I would like to be in a Mini sooner than later). Is 8-10 weeks reasonable? Or is six months more likely?