[dalboyne]

I'd love to know how Cabrio sales are holding up at the moment - anyone got any idea?

[Streeters]

a few local dealers are starting to run very low on their allocation up to runout, apparently they stop building in july

[ScoobyDoo]

Well I have a word today with my local MINI dealer about getting my name down on the list for the R57.................

[jordangpboy]

I may of also spoken to DW about getting my name down. ;-)

[ScoobyDoo]

'May have also..............' LOL
I love the way that you have left the date open on your car in your sig Mr T

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Streeters (original)

a few local dealers are starting to run very low on their allocation up to runout, apparently they stop building in july

So they are going to have a gap of 6 months maybe with no production - maybe that will help push values of used Cabrios up a bit

Ian

[sav112]

So the R57 is just the new Cabrio......No harm to the Cabrio people but the Mini in my mind just looks funny in that version. Personal taste probably but its certainly not for me. The local dealer up here has a whole forecourt full of them, so much so I asked what it was all about. I had to drive in the other direction 12 miles to another dealer to take a look at the second hand cars they had. st the Cabrio?

[Streeters]

Went to the factory the other week on a tour and "didnt" see a pre production R57 at the start of the line - none painted or nearly finished though sadly. couldnt really see much tbh

Mark

[fl0r15t]

Did you see many R52 cabrios on the production line at all? From what I can tell they seem to have almost died out on the car transporters I see leaving the factory (I usually see at least two transporters while jogging the Oxford Eastern By-pass). I saw one cabrio (Pepper white) in total yesterday, which is probably a new low - especially with the onset of spring. Maybe the overseas ones that are railheaded show a higher percentage.

I think people are holding fire for the R57, yet I'd almost considering trying to get one of the last R52s, but not if they are stopping this July!

[rkw]

Quote: Originally Posted by fl0r15t (original)

Did you see many R52 cabrios on the production line at all? From what I can tell they seem to have almost died out on the car transporters I see leaving the factory (I usually see at least two transporters while jogging the Oxford Eastern By-pass). I saw one cabrio (Pepper white) in total yesterday, which is probably a new low - especially with the onset of spring. Maybe the overseas ones that are railheaded show a higher percentage.

In the US, R52 sales has fallen dramatically.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by rkw (original)

In the US, R52 sales has fallen dramatically.

They are interesting figures. Not the MINI ones, but their other sales (especially of the X3 and the X5's) are absolutely terrible! Has the large SUV market in the US died overnight?

It's such great a shame a cabrio just isn't practical for use (growing daughter, large-ish dog and, invariably, lots of luggage!), otherwise I'd be urgently looking to spec a nice new R52 MCS before the July '08 production deadline! It still feels like a great opportunity is slipping away though....

Tigger.

[sony]

Do you reckon it's worth buying the convertible at this stage? I am wanting one- but it has to be said that it's officially 7 years old. I don't know what to do!!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

Do you reckon it's worth buying the convertible at this stage? I am wanting one- but it has to be said that it's officially 7 years old. I don't know what to do!!

Actually, the cabrio was launched in July 2004, so that makes it just under 4 years old, although the car it was based on is 7 years old. There's absolutely no reason not to buy it, unless you are very fashion conscious.

You know what the original-new MINI is like, you know what the new-new MINI is like; you know what the cabrio is like and the new cabrio will offer absolutely nothing more than the new-new MINI with, pretty much, the original car's soft top. So pick which MINI you prefer and either buy now, or wait. The fact that it is "7 years old" can only mean that they've pretty much ironed the bugs out of it by now.

Tigger.

[sony]

Think you're right Tigger. I just love the current shape too!

[wizgleeson]

Hi sony,
Go and have a drive in both an R52 and R56, think about the differnet styling and decide if you want to wait for the new design to come through.
It could still be a bit of a wait

[jordangpboy]

Name down for one! yay!

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by jordangpboy (original)

Name down for one! yay!

Really - you are a long way behind me in the queue!

Ian

[Streeters]

Quote: Originally Posted by fl0r15t (original)

Did you see many R52 cabrios on the production line at all? From what I can tell they seem to have almost died out on the car transporters I see leaving the factory (I usually see at least two transporters while jogging the Oxford Eastern By-pass). I saw one cabrio (Pepper white) in total yesterday, which is probably a new low - especially with the onset of spring. Maybe the overseas ones that are railheaded show a higher percentage.

I think people are holding fire for the R57, yet I'd almost considering trying to get one of the last R52s, but not if they are stopping this July!

Funnily enough there were quite a few on the line in fairness, probably as summer is coming (aparrently), saw one in laser blue that looked awesome i've never seen one on the road in that colour. As much as some people will hold off i think there'll be others who wont want an R57 (R56 haters) due to the interior and lack of rollbars i suppose

[fl0r15t]

Quote: Originally Posted by Streeters (original)

As much as some people will hold off i think there'll be others who wont want an R57 (R56 haters) due to the interior and lack of rollbars i suppose

I certainly wouldn't classify myself as a hater but I personally don't think it's a step forward in the looks department, looks much blander to my eye but each to their own. I will mourn the loss of the supercharger, on audible if not economic grounds. I'm not sure where I stand on the roll-bars yet - I actually like them with the top down but they do seriously hamper the rear view with the top up - so every silver cloud etc.

Realistically I will definitely be having the R57 as my next car - I'm just not sure I'm excited about it! Which is a real shame.

[dalboyne]

There are all those who miss the suprchager in the R56 S - are they all buying the cabrio in S guise?