[tomskilv]

After extensive research, I was all set to buy a base Mini Cooper. I had considered Infiniti G35 Coupe, Nissan 350 Z, Nissan Sentra SER-V, MazdaSpeed Protege, Acura TSX and Lexus IS 300. I have decided to by the Lexus IS 300 because they can be had for right near invoice price.
The reason Mini lost my sale was due to dealers refusing to sell below MSRP and the failure to come through with the rumored Orange color for 2004. (it is said now to be coming out for 2005, but only for the convertible) The fact I was willing to overlook all the quality problems of the mini due its fun factor says a lot. But in the end, the above two issues became deal breakers. The IS 300 is a much better quality car, and can be had for over US $3000 below MSRP, so that makes it all the more compelling. (about $28k US the way I want it)
Best wishes. Tom in Las Vegas

[NEMINI]

good luck to you, just remember your discount now is reflected in your residuals

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by tomskilv

After extensive research, I was all set to buy a base Mini Cooper. I had considered Infiniti G35 Coupe, Nissan 350 Z, Nissan Sentra SER-V, MazdaSpeed Protege, Acura TSX and Lexus IS 300. I have decided to by the Lexus IS 300 because they can be had for right near invoice price.
The reason Mini lost my sale was due to dealers refusing to sell below MSRP and the failure to come through with the rumored Orange color for 2004. (it is said now to be coming out for 2005, but only for the convertible) The fact I was willing to overlook all the quality problems of the mini due its fun factor says a lot. But in the end, the above two issues became deal breakers. The IS 300 is a much better quality car, and can be had for over US $3000 below MSRP, so that makes it all the more compelling. (about $28k US the way I want it)
Best wishes. Tom in Las Vegas

Just don't understand your reasoning. You don't want a Mini because you can't negociate a discount? Do you go into a Bar and not buy your favourite beer because you can't get a discount? Anything really worth having is worth paying full price for. Anything with a generous discount was over priced anyway. Any car discounted before its left the garagae forecourt will be worth less at resale anyway.

And as for colour, well, Mini don't sell their car in Orange, rumours or not. Have Lexus agreed to do your new car in a colour they don't sell??

hope your happy with the Lexus, its a very different car from the Mini.

[bakerjc]

Quote: Originally Posted by tomskilv

The IS 300 is a much better quality car, and can be had for over US $3000 below MSRP, so that makes it all the more compelling. (about $28k US the way I want it)

Quality is an interesting concept, we tend to have different views on what we personally will accept.

MSRP's are set not by the manufacturer's accounting dept, but by the manufacturer's marketing dept. after the accountant's report has been made. Different cars have different markups. I worked for a very short time at a specialized auto center that used "Triangular Billing". Put short, it was expected that the more expensive the car, the more the average joe would be willing to pay for repairs. If they questioned the expense, we could always put our arms around him, give him a big hug, drop the price because he was a "special" customer. We'd still make a damn good profit. Dealers often use the same tactics.

Dealers have a lot of leeway. If cars are not selling, the manufacturers don't drop the sticker price, they provide incentives to purchase. 0% financing or $3000 cash back, bundled extended warranties, etc etc. While good for that buyer, it hurts the buyer that purchased the same car 2 months earlier. Drops the resale value across the board on that model.

I've had my MINI base model nine and a half months now, going in next week for it's 25,000 mile service. The car has been virtually problem free, and any issues that came up were dealt with quickly and professionally by the dealer, MINI of Peabody (Massachusetts).

I paid $17,400 for my MINI. I'm happy with my purchase. I hope you get $10,000 more in value with your purchase.

[Ryephile]

The iS300 5-speed is one of my most favorite cars. Smooth inlilne-6, artful interior and excellent chassis make for a joyful driving experience.

I'm a bit miffed at your reasoning however, which seemed strictly financially based. Most of the other cars you looked at were much more that the MINI's price point, yet you're still troubled by how exclusively non-discounted the MINI is? You ended up spending about 10 grand more over a Cooper, just to NOT pay 13 grand more over a Cooper? Paying 10 grand more just so you also can't get orange on your IS doesn't make sense to me.

[dansmini]

All of the other cars mentioned as considerations are considerably more money than a MINI. If I could have afforded a $30,000 + car I might have considered a 350Z or a G35. But I figure, why not spend half that and get a MINI that in the end may be more fun to drive?

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by tomskilv

After extensive research, I was all set to buy a base Mini Cooper. I had considered Infiniti G35 Coupe, Nissan 350 Z, Nissan Sentra SER-V, MazdaSpeed Protege, Acura TSX and Lexus IS 300. I have decided to by the Lexus IS 300 because they can be had for right near invoice price.
The reason Mini lost my sale was due to dealers refusing to sell below MSRP and the failure to come through with the rumored Orange color for 2004. (it is said now to be coming out for 2005, but only for the convertible) The fact I was willing to overlook all the quality problems of the mini due its fun factor says a lot. But in the end, the above two issues became deal breakers. The IS 300 is a much better quality car, and can be had for over US $3000 below MSRP, so that makes it all the more compelling. (about $28k US the way I want it)
Best wishes. Tom in Las Vegas

YAWN!! ................................Flame bait. Blah....blah...blah

Guess I'll go find a Vegas forum and talk about how it sucks and how and why I'll never go there on vacation.

[myspeed]

Hi Tomskilv!
Think that Alan Partridge had a similar dilemma before he chose to buy a Lexus
Enough said!....;-))

[R1]

A mate of mine has a Lexus and ............................
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.................................................. .................. oh, sorry, just seemed to nod off then !!!........................ what was the topic again??!!

[geist]

The reason you can't get the MINI below MSRP, is bcos there are enuff people who want them, so I don't think anyone, especially the dealer will lose any sleep over you buying a Lexus as has been mentioned b4 Alan Partridge !!!! Nuff said.

People buy the MINI cos love the car not bcos they can get a discount on it, well worth the money.

As for the quality issues I am on my second Cooper and it is much better almost all the little niggles have been ironed out.

Hope you enjoy yourself in the Lexus Chatrooms (if they are not busy counting the pennies, they saved on an over priced car !!!!)

[pbraun]

Yeah, right, everyone knows BMW Group vehicles quality is .............. .

MSRP ? Don't forget how much the car is worth in 2,4,6 years from now.......

residual value is extremely high with the MINI, as a previous post indicates.

Best motoring,

[red03miniS]

hello there

the straight 6 in the IS300 is a great car. i have the sc300 with the same motor, and is one of the most pleasant and fun cars i have ever owned. do a single turbo, and whoosh! well i digress.

i am puzzled by a few things. if you could afford an IS300 or G35 or 350Z, why would you have been looking at a "BASE" mini??

secondly, the reason you got under msrp is because the car is being redesigned, so you will soon have the old model

good luck nonetheless, i am on my second lexus, and they are one of the best build cars in the world

[azimmerm]

i don't think i would ever choose a souped up Toyota Camry over my mini. Nor would i want to drive the same car as my grandmother.

[gtshnzr]

The Lexus IS300 is a nice car. It too made my short list. But after driving the ES300 that I recently handed down to my 16 year old daughter all of those years, I really wanted something "different". Granted, my old Lexus was bullet-proof, but I was afraid that the IS300 was going to be a little too boring for my tastes and a rerun of the car I just got rid of. Strange as it seems, the MINI feels bigger inside too.

[red03miniS]

Quote: Originally Posted by azimmerm

i don't think i would ever choose a souped up Toyota Camry over my mini. Nor would i want to drive the same car as my grandmother.

please.

the ES300 is the souped up camry.

the IS300 does not share its motor or platform with the camry. its rwd INLINE 6 as opposed to the V6 FWD camry.

calling the IS300 a souped up camry is like calling the mini cooper a hopped up honda civic.

its a mini board, and we all like minis, but there is not reason to diss a good car like the IS300.

and if your grandmother drives a IS300, i would be proud of that, its one of the sportiest 4 doors around. most people's grandmothers drive lincoln towncars and lexus ls400s

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1

A mate of mine has a Lexus and ............................
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.................................................. .................. oh, sorry, just seemed to nod off then !!!........................ what was the topic again??!!

I'm thinkin maybe troll??

enjoy your Lexus anyway if you have done wot u sed


one thing tho how do u compare a Mini to IS300 totaly different cars imho

[scooterboy]

Enjoy your lexus!

Don't let the screen door hit ya where the good lord split ya...

[Miniweee]

Isn't there a Lexus forum?

[red03miniS]

www.clublexus.com

[azimmerm]

Quote: Originally Posted by red03miniS

please.

the ES300 is the souped up camry.
the IS300 does not share its motor or platform with the camry. its rwd INLINE 6 as opposed to the V6 FWD camry.

sorry. i was confused. i thought the IS300 was the ES300 and the other way around. after all the model numbers are very close. My mistake.