[cooper4us]

Given MINI's overwhelming success with the MINI in the US, should MINIUSA start to seriously consider offering an 'Euro Delivery' for USA buyers like parent company BMW currently does?

What do you think?

[IBMiniG]

I tried to go that route, but its a no go for now. I think as demand levels off they will offer it. Seems like for now demand is more than production, and all the cars leaving the factory are allotted to dealers around the world.

A holiday and a new MINI, now that would be cool

[Fifth Gear Racing]

what is the benigit of having a European delivery rather than what is being done. Is it the simple fact that you get a liscense plate and the title says that it was origionally from Europe???

[cooper4us]

Quote:

Originally posted by Fifth Gear Racing
what is the benigit of having a European delivery rather than what is being done. Is it the simple fact that you get a liscense plate and the title says that it was origionally from Europe???

No, not at all. When you buy, say, a new BMW under the 'Euro Delivery' program, you are still getting a full US spec car which will eventually be registered and titled in your state of residence once the car arrives in the US.


There are very neat perks about European Delivery:

* Typically you can expect to pay 20% less for the same exact model and equipment if you were to buy it at your local dealer.

* Sometimes the manufacturer throws in 1 or 2 free hotel stay nights at the city in Europe where the assembly plants happens to be located at.

* Free plant tours and full reception of your new car at their delivery center.


* 30 days free of road insurance at no additional cost. You can drive the car anywhere you wish in Europe.


* Upon returning home, you can drop off the car at any participating customs agent in Europe (Paris, London, Munich, etc) and the car will be shipped out to your local BMW in the US 2 or 3 months after returning from your trip. So in reality you take delivery of the same car, TWICE.

* You can turn your new car purchase and delivery into an European roadtrip vacation.


There are more details here, straight from the BMWUSA.Com site about the European Delivery Program:

http://www.bmwusa.com/

(Go to "Virtual Center" and then click on "European Delivery").

Granted , Euro delivery is not an option tailored for everyone but if you want to make your next car purchase a little more interesting an fun, the Euro Delivery is an option worth considering.


Would like to see MINIUSA follow the same steps of BMWUSA on this subject.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by Fifth Gear Racing
what is the benigit of having a European delivery rather than what is being done. Is it the simple fact that you get a liscense plate and the title says that it was origionally from Europe???

Cooper4us gave the long answer, but here's the short one in case you missed the main point:

You get to drive your new car throughout Europe for up to a month or so (no need to rent a car) and the savings on the purchase price vs. the US retail price can, in many cases, pay the expenses for your European vacation.

In short, the elusive win-win situation: new car and ‘free’ vacation!

[Fifth Gear Racing]

OK my next new car will have the BMW European Delivery, man that would be awesome. Now i remember reading this somewhere, i think BMW and Mercedes had the best and Porsche had the worst for European delivery. Something like that. To bad the mini doesn't do that, but then again these are relatively cheaper cars.

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by Fifth Gear Racing
OK my next new car will have the BMW European Delivery, man that would be awesome. Now i remember reading this somewhere, i think BMW and Mercedes had the best and Porsche had the worst for European delivery. Something like that. To bad the mini doesn't do that, but then again these are relatively cheaper cars.

I know a guy who did the Mercedes European delivery, and he says it was awesome - 5-star hotels, free auto insurance, plus they check over your car before sending to your local dealer at the end of your trip.

I was in Stuttgart at the Porsche Museum (playing tourist while on a business trip), and there was another American there with his son, picking up their new Boxster. The father was obviously an enthusiast, but his kid didn't even know what the Goodwood Festival of Speed was (Porsche had taken one of their Martini 911's there that year, and it had the number decal still on it).

I'd be interested in a MINI Euro-delivery program. Imagine - take delivery in Oxford, drive to the auto-train terminal for Eurostar, and go cruising through Luxembourg and the Hunsruck mountain range!

Chip H.

[lotatoys]

I'd love to take delivery of a Mini in Europe, but I don't think the car has the price tag to make it work for the manufacturer. BMW wants to make money on the car and given it's MSRP, I don't think they'd be able to knock off 10-20%, throw in tickets or hotels and pay for a month of insurance and still be profitable.
I purchased a '94 325is under the Euro delivery program and received 10% off MSRP and the insurance only. No hotel, no airfare. Mind you, it was still worth it to me and I'd jump at the chance to do the same with a Mini. I just doubt it will ever be feasable from a manufacturer profitability standpoint.
My two pennies worth...

[stryder]

Quote:

Originally posted by lotatoys
I'd love to take delivery of a Mini in Europe, but I don't think the car has the price tag to make it work for the manufacturer. BMW wants to make money on the car and given it's MSRP, I don't think they'd be able to knock off 10-20%, throw in tickets or hotels and pay for a month of insurance and still be profitable.
I purchased a '94 325is under the Euro delivery program and received 10% off MSRP and the insurance only. No hotel, no airfare. Mind you, it was still worth it to me and I'd jump at the chance to do the same with a Mini. I just doubt it will ever be feasable from a manufacturer profitability standpoint.
My two pennies worth...

The price issue is related as far as I know to import duties and other fees. If you drive the car in europe, its then imported as a used car into the US. Much lower fees. I can't imagine BMW would be doing the Euro delivery if they were actually losing money on it. Its a niche market thing, its not worth the advertising and technology like say Formula 1. My guess is they'd be able to knock off the percentage but it would be lower, (say 5%, that's still 1 cheap price ticket to the UK), and then not offer any other perks. I'd still go for it as just a fun vacation, you save money in rental cars too which is great. I bet there's a market if they charged full price, since the perks of touring the factory and driving (Autobahn anyone?) would be unmatched for any US customer.

[Willy]

I would do that in a minute. I tried to see if I could pick my MINI up at the Spartinburg SC factory (they prep MINI's there), since it is 15 minutes away from my house. That wasn't even available.

[lotatoys]

Just think what would happen to the break-in period out there on the Autobahn! I remember promising myself I'd mind the recommendations of the owners manual and the nice gentleman who introduced me to my 325. Within five minutes of hitting the road I tested the limits of the governor!
If there's a way to do it, Mini should cave in to demand and provide Euro Delivery.