[supersneakers]

so,
i live in southern california, didn't want to have to pay over msrp nor wait a year to get a cooper s. my folks live in houston and my father informed me that momentum is selling their cars at msrp and the wait is 3-4 months. perfect. last xmas i visited the dealership, thought they were great and after a little trepidation re some particulars of mini accessory pricing—80 bucks to screw on a 43 dollar shift knob????—i, or i should say my father put down a deposit and ordered a, basically, stock car. the car arrived sooner than anticipated. joy of joys. here's where the madness begins. after agreeing to a fairly reasonable percentage rate on a comaker loan, the dealership informs my parents that they were very upset that they were in danger of "losing their allocation" for the car as it would be registered in california though sold in texas. does this sound suspect at all to anyone out there? in addition i am informed that according to BMW policy i must fly to houston and sign the loan papers in person. does this sound supsect? my guess is that they are doing their best to have my folks give up and take the deposit back so they can sell the—though custom ordered basically stock car—to someone else. any help would be greatly appreciated.
b

[AmRov]

A lot of that sounds like cr** to me. Are you planning to not pick up the car in person, but have it shipped to you in CA? I don't see why they can't Fed Ex the docs to you and if they are concerned about them not being signed by the "real you," they could require that they be notarized.

I also don't understand the "allocation" argument -- you have a contract for the car, right? I don't see how they can back out of it now. Did they just recently learn that you were going to take it to CA, or did you mention that from the beginning? In any event, many MINI owners have gone out of state to get their MINIs, and this is the first I've heard of any dealer balking at that.

Have you asked to speak to the Sales Manager? Hold their feet to the fire; this is crap.

Good luck!

[supersneakers]

my father (the other name on the loan) was going to drive the car to me. i don't know if i have a contract. are those usually issued when the deposit is placed? they are now claiming that the deadline for signing the loan—72 hours—has expired and they are going to refund the deposit.
b

[supersneakers]

they new i would be registering the car in CA from the very first time i set foot in their dealership. i spoke with mini customer service: no help but to give me bmw financial service's phone number and seemed unconcerned that the company's public representatives were acting in this manner. they informed me that they have no policy stating that the signers of loan sign said in person at the dealership. they said that those "policies" are determined by the sales manager at the dealership. my folks are dealing with the sales manager directly.

[buz]

I sense really bad vibes about this dealer. Get your deposit back and go elsewhere. Mini of the Hamptons was great. Talk with Mike Dito (631) 283-0888, ext 131, or toll free ( 888) 476-9503.

[AmRov]

I'm at a loss here! You waited 4 months, and NOW they pull this? Clearly, the only reason they are doing this IS because they want to sell it to someone else. If they wanted to sell to you, they would be working with you. They might prefer to sell to someone local who will use their service shop; you obviously will take your service $$ to CA.

Really sorry about this; I hope you are able to work something out. But if you can stand the wait, perhaps it would be easier to go elsewhere -- as Buz recommends. On the other hand, I think they may be violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by breaching the deal with you (your paying the deposit has some legal significance there), and they seem to be lying about financing and other issues to get you to back away. If you could stomach the confrontation, you could mention the Texas DTPA to them, and see how they react.

[Bigtwistee]

My heart goes out to ya bud
Mistakes are one thing, but that is just bad business on the part of Momentum Mini. My advice is to forget those losers and purchase elsewhere. I also think it would be prudent to write to MINIusa corporate, spare no detail.

I have heard that mini dealers do not like to sell cars to folks who will be taking them out of state, but a deal is a deal and and the 3-card monty b.s. after the deal was struck is mighty darned nasty!!

Mini Center in San Antonio does square business. I know several Houston folk who have made the trip to S.A. to make their purchase. They may also not want to sell a Mini that would be taken out of state, but I am sure if that is the case they would tell you up front rather than take your deposit and then change their minds.

Get in touch with corporate. Ask their advice, perhaps they can do something magnanomous in your particular case as an act of good faith.

Twistee

[charlotte]

I live in Vidor and went to Louisana to buy my MINI. I test drove at MOMENTUM in Houston last year. Didn't like the vibes, tho. E-mailed questions to Brian Harris MINI in Baton Rouge since I had seen a MINI with their plates. Super quick and courteous responses. When it came time to buy, e-mailed for availabilities and price quote questions to the 3 nearest dealerships(previously mentioned dealerships among them). Got a phone call from BH the next day with a super deal on a used 2003.The rest sent standard e-mail replies with quotes above msrp.The salesman, Ricky Porche(can you believe that!) was very friendly and professional. No pressure, practically did the whole deal via phone and e-mail.-But on the question of out-of-state. Absolutely no mention of a problem of taking it out. In fact, stated they sell to people all over the States.Paid my t,t,and l in Texas. Will have to get it re-inspected here too they tell me.But no problems.

[buz]

supersneakers,
You may be able to hold the dealer to the perchase agreement but that will not make a bad experience better. Politely ask for an immediate refund your deposit and use a copy of the check as supporting documentation in your complaint to the appropriate state agency and MiniUSA. It is so important to let others know of your experiences with MOMENTUM; post your experience at:
www.northamericanmotoring.com/index.php
This is a widely read site and dealer ratings are important to prospective Mini owners. Read reviews
for Brian Harris MINI and other dealers nearby Houston as far away as Ohio and New York. Make the calls, ask questions, do the homework and due diligence.
I know how difficult all of this may be, but I think you will be much happier and have a lasting positive experience with a more reputable dealer.

[Bigtwistee]

Supersneakers,
Discussed your experience with members of my car club last night and confirmed that this is not the first time Momentum MINI has been accused of bad business. Do indeed share your experiences at www.northamericanmotoring.com/index.php as Buz suggested, also visit the Texas Auto Dealers Associaton website for info about filing a formal complaint.
http://www.tada.org/html/affairs/affairs.htm
Fight the good fight, our thoughts are with you
Twistee

[MOM]

Quote: Originally Posted by supersneakers

my father (the other name on the loan) was going to drive the car to me. i don't know if i have a contract. are those usually issued when the deposit is placed? they are now claiming that the deadline for signing the loan—72 hours—has expired and they are going to refund the deposit.
b

Father says that Momentum Mini's car salesman had extended the "72 Hour Hold Policy" to the end of the month (February). On Feb. 26 parents received faxed letter from sales manager stating "Momentum Mini has been reminded by BMW-FS that, in order for financing to be obtained that all persons who are the purchasers of the automobile be actually present in the dealership to sign all of the contracts, and related documents, for the purchase." Momentum stated that they were exercising their option to terminate the purchase and refund the deposit because son "cannot personally appear at the dealership to execute the contracts and other documents in connection with the sale of the automobile within the 72-hour time period set in Momentum Mini's 72 Hour Hold Policy, of which you are aware, Momentum Mini has chosen to execute its option to terminate any purchase of the automobile and to refund your deposit of $-,---." Yes, father was aware of 72 Hour Hold Policy BUT HE WAS EVEN MORE AWARE THAT THE SALESMAN HAD EXTENDED THE HOLD UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.

Car salesman had telephoned parents and told them that the the car could after all be titled in California. After receiving this good news, the sales manager told parents by phone that the car could NOT be titled in CA. Regarding the telephone conversation with the car salesman: Because mother had learned that Momentum seemed to be the only Mini dealership with so many "peculiarities" she asked the car salesman as soon as he identified himself if he minded if she recorded the conversation and he agreed -- after all he had good news! When mother told sales manager that his car salesman said that it could be titled in CA and what's more she had recorded the phone conversation, only then did sales manager acquiesce. So now Momentum's allocation problems and car titled in CA problems were resolved. After the Feburary 26, 2004 faxed letter, son located in CA and cannot personally appear due to 72 Hour Hold Policy reason to terminate the purchase, one wonders if the car salesman is honest enough to tell his sales manager that he did extend the hold to the end of February. Wonder if any of them would be honest enough to ever tell the truth. Or is it just that Momentum Mini has one other "minor" problem other than the ones listed above: That the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and visa versa.

One would hate to think that Momentum Mini in Houston, TX is in the dark ages and the rest of the country and the rest of the world has left them behind. And since Momentum Mini has spoken for BMW Financial Services NA, LLC, I suppose BMW-FS is in the dark ages, too. Momentum Mini writes and speculates that the reason BMW Financial Services requires that all the purchasers actually be in the dealership to sign is because "We assume that this requirement has been instituted because of the rash of fraud and identify theft which has become so prevalent in the United States in recent years." Yeah, that's the ticket, Momentum Mini in Houston, TX are the experts and can identify fraud and can even know if the person standing in their dealership is who he says he is. A Power Of Attorney was suggested to Momentum Mini and even that wasn't good enough for them.

[Faron]

I have spoke to your mother on the phone a couple of times. I understand what you are wainting to do, and I can meet your needs. I am Faron, the Internet Manager of The MINI Center in San Antonio. We have done a deal somewhat like you are wanting to do, and I know how to get the job done. Nothing your Mom and I have talked about is a problem. All I need is to get in touch with you. Understandably you mother did not want to give me your number, so I am extending mine to you here. 210-732-7129 At the office the best way to reach me is by email. minifaron@yahoo.com I sold both AmRov and Twistie their cars and I am sure both will tell you I am a honest person, and that I will jump through hoops if I need to. I am looking forward to your call.
Faron

[Bigtwistee]

Yup,
Faron is a hoop jumper fer sher. Says what he does and does what he says. In fact with regard to service after the sale, I hear from Faron on a regular basis after owning my MCS since June. All the folks at MINI center of San Antonio are first-rate.
Twistee

[MOM]

Take your pick: MOM--Momentum 'O Mini is full of cr** and needs a dose of MOM--Milk 'O Magnesium. Or, don't mess with texas MOM.

[AmRov]

Supersneakers / MOM -- I hope you see what Faron can do for you. He truly loves MINI's and is very helpful. I received my car exactly when promised, with everything I wanted, etc.