[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

An interesting news article here:

http://www.mini2.com/article438-mini...006-sales.html

I wonder why the USA has reported a 14.9% reduction in MINI sales in the first quarter of this year?

The interuption in production with the launch of the new R56 only affected last year, didn't it? Shouldn't MINI USA have experienced an increase in sales with a major new product launch?

So, I wonder what went wrong?

Tigger.

[*Vikki*]

maybe its put some americans off reading some of the problems on here with the r56? dunno..

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

I remember logging on here for the first time in May 2004 (after I'd ordered out original Cooper) and reading about problems that would have put me off if I hadn't already ordered the car However, the problems we are reading about now are a lot worse and more frequent than they ever were in 2004.

You may have a point there Vikki...

Tigger.

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

The interuption in production with the launch of the new R56 only affected last year, didn't it? Shouldn't MINI USA have experienced an increase in sales with a major new product launch?

Production doesn't technically affect sales, it affects deliveries.

Sales figures are based on the number of orders taken over a time period. Here we are comparing March 2007 and March 2006.

If we look back to last March, the US was receiving the Checkmate and Park Lane packages for the Cooper and S, and these will have sparked a fair few sales.

I'm not so sure the model changeover will spark the same desire to change?

I guess next months figures will tell all

[Paul]

"MINI UK will see its biggest monthly sales record since the car went on sale in July 2001. Preliminary figures indicate 7,854 sales in March. The previous record month was in March 2006 with 7,687 sales. The new record signals the successful launch of the second-generation MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S in November 2006"

From here: The success story continues: MINI makes a million

[CooperS4us]

Interesting. I have only seen a handful of new R56 and the car will enter its second month of sales here very soon.

I will bite my tongue until next month's sales figures are released but it seems to me the R56 is not selling as briskly (at first) as the previous car did.

Hope I am wrong.

[minicabrio]

Quote: Originally Posted by CooperS4us (original)

I will bite my tongue until next month's sales figures are released but it seems to me the R56 is not selling as briskly (at first) as the previous car did.

To be fair it never really would sell as well as the 1st Gen....

There was so much hype around the launch of the R50/R53 that lots of people rushed out and bought one, as always happens with new models. This was the same when the convertible was launched in 2004, there were long waiting lists.

The R56 is simply a model changeover so won't command the same amount of fuss as a new variant, so the best it could ever hope to achieve is for sales to remain constant rather than ramp up.

[c_Athena_go]

The problem has been that we didn't receive the R56 until late Feb. Until then we were still receiving '06 MINI that people really didn't want since they were all waiting to see the new '07. On top of that, for the first few months, all coopers were built with an automatic and all S's were built with manual trans. A few options were delayed as well.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

To be fair it never really would sell as well as the 1st Gen....

There was so much hype around the launch of the R50/R53 that lots of people rushed out and bought one, as always happens with new models. This was the same when the convertible was launched in 2004, there were long waiting lists.

The R56 is simply a model changeover so won't command the same amount of fuss as a new variant, so the best it could ever hope to achieve is for sales to remain constant rather than ramp up.

To say the new car isn't selling as fast as the old one isn't accurate, as early sales and production wound up very slowly indeed.

I feel one of the reasons there's so many apparent problems with the 2nd generation MINI is the fact that they've had to "hit the ground running" with a lot of ground-up production changes. Last time they could take it really slow, this time the most they could do was limit options and supply a little depending on regions and such.

[Lil_Mini]

I have to agree that reading this forum is very scary. I read about all the problems and how people want to reject their new Minis and it's very difficult for me to be exited about the delivery of mine now. From reading on this forum, I am starting to regret ordering an r56. This forum use to get me so excited, but now it seems kind of depressing. If I read this forum about all the r56 problems before I ordered one, then I would've bought a different car to save myself the hassle.

[Paul]

To be honest, as I'm now out of the MINI market, looking around most other car forums is much the same deal.

Used to be told when I worked in retail if you're happy you tend to tell two people, if you're unhappy, ten. That was before the internet was so popular, so I imagine you can add a few zeros on that now!

[Gromit801]

One big issue with sales over here, is the lack of performance options compared to the 1st Gen Mini. Also, the 2007 is a LOT pricier compared to a 2006 with the same options.

In hanging about the dealer showroom while my 2006 was getting normal service, I heard a few people say that they didn't like the restyling of the 2007's. Gotta agree with them on that one.

[CooperS4us]

Grommit I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. The new car is bloody expensive in comparison to the outgoing model. In 2005 I paid for my '05 MCS 6-speed (Lightly optioned, but still very nice) about $22K (before taxes and fees). A new '07 R56 MCS similarly equipped will set me back $25K before going out the door. A $3,000 price increase in just 2 years is hard to swallow.

[CooperS4us]

In the 1st gen New MINI, the JCW kit was not made available until mid 2003. So for the first year, all you could get from MINI was a 163HP stock S. Any mods at that point came from the aftermarket.

[Gromit801]

Except that now, the Mini has been out for several years, and when you tell a new Mini buyer that they will now have to wait a year for a JCW, they won't quite understand.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gromit801 (original)

... the 2007 is a LOT pricier compared to a 2006 with the same options.

Quote: Originally Posted by CooperS4us (original)

The new car is bloody expensive in comparison to the outgoing model. In 2005 I paid for my '05 MCS 6-speed (Lightly optioned, but still very nice) about $22K (before taxes and fees). A new '07 R56 MCS similarly equipped will set me back $25K before going out the door. A $3,000 price increase in just 2 years is hard to swallow.

The 2007 base price plus destination is $2,000 more than when the MCS debuted in 2002:

+---------+--------+--------+
|  Date   |  MCS   |   MC   |
+---------+--------+--------+
| 2002-03 | 19,850 | 16,850 |
| 2002-09 | 19,975 | 16,975 |
| 2003-09 | 19,999 | 16,999 |
| 2004-01 | 20,449 | 16,999 |
| 2005-01 | 20,950 | 17,500 |
| 2005-09 | 21,150 | 17,500 |
| 2006-03 | 21,450 | 18,000 |
| 2007-03 | 21,850 | 18,700 |
+---------+--------+--------+ 

I'm not sure on what you're basing your posts as my 2002 MCS would be only $2,410 more if spec'd today:

+------------------+--------+--------+
|  Specifications  |  2002  |  2007  |
+------------------+--------+--------+
| Base MCS         | 19,300 | 21,200 |
| Destination      |    550 |    650 |
| Metallic Paint   |    400 |    450 |
| Sport Suspension |      0 |    500 |
| Front Fog Lamps  |    140 |      0 |
| DSC              |    500 |    500 |
| MFSW             |    350 |    550 |
| Auto A/C         |    300 |    300 |
| OBC              |    200 |      0 |
+------------------+--------+--------+
| Total            | 21,740 | 24,150 |
+------------------+--------+--------+ 

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

Sales figures are based on the number of orders taken over a time period.

In the UK (and presumably the rest of the world?) monthly sales figures are based on registrations, not orders, as this is the only truly measurable figure.

Obviously the US figures for March will be down on last year as the R56 had only been available for a matter of weeks, as opposed to four months in the UK.

[Lil_Mini]

I believe that the r56 got more expensive because it has more standard equipment on them. Like the on board computer use to cost extra but is now standard. Just little stuff like that. Plus with everything going on right now, almost everything is going up in price. The destination charge went up $100 which is kind of understandable since gas prices are so expensive right now. It's just unreasonable that with all the price increase, there is still so many unsorted out problems.

[CooperS4us]

MINIAC, let's do this for comparison sake:

Configure both a 2005 R53 MCS hardtop and '07 R56 MCS as follows:

6-speed
front and rear fogs
Harmon Kardon
Convenience package
exterior chrome package
antharcite dash
trip computer
MFSW
16"tires/rims
ipod adaptor
Union Jack Roof flag
leatherette seats
Chili Red/white

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by CooperS4us (original)

MINIAC, let's do this for comparison sake:

Configure both a 2005 R53 MCS hardtop and '07 R56 MCS as follows:

6-speed
front and rear fogs
Harmon Kardon
Convenience package
exterior chrome package
antharcite dash
trip computer
MFSW
16"tires/rims
ipod adaptor
Union Jack Roof flag
leatherette seats
Chili Red/white

Base Price + Destination = 20,950 vs 21,850
Front + Rear Fogs = 250 vs 100
Premium Stereo = 550 vs 550
Chrome Line Exterior = 250 vs 250
OBC = 200 vs 0
MFSW = 250 vs 550
---------
Totals = 22,450 vs 23,300

The Convenience Package was not the same for 2005 and as it is for 2007. There is no price difference in the 3 options common to both.

No idea on Union Jack Roof Flag and iPod Adaptor accessory price comparison.