[Peter Crowl]

<sigh>
My wife and I solidified our position on the wait list in Denver for a MCSC late last week.

This weekend we brought it up with my parents and some friends. My dad - who's 91 and drives a 2002 Buick Park Avenue - was appalled at the price and we were just discussing the base $25K. When I asked him what his Buick cost - about $29,000 purchased with 13,000 miles on it - he brushed off the comparison.

One friend had the same reaction to $25,000. I posed the question...how much was your '03 Toyota 4 Runner? $29,000. But that's different. He wants a Honda S2000...Base MSRP ...$29,000 (Detect a theme here?)

We were at a cocktail party with neighbors Sunday evening....same reaction...same question...same reply...same dismissal.

Today at work I brought up our having gone to see the MCC on Thursday to my partner...did not mention our commitment to the MCSC...$25,000??? How much was your 03 Jeep Cherokee? $29,000...but that's different.

So......I guess my only option is to refrain from talking about it .. other than with fellow enthusiasts. God forbid the people in my life know that it will be more like $30,000 when finally spec'd.

Has anybody else run into this dismal reception? I cannot remember being so excited about a new car....but obviously I'm a party of one !

Sign me

Perplexed in Denver.

[mjg315q]

Quote: Originally Posted by Peter Crowl

<sigh>
My wife and I solidified our position on the wait list in Denver for a MCSC late last week.

This weekend we brought it up with my parents and some friends. My dad - who's 91 and drives a 2002 Buick Park Avenue - was appalled at the price and we were just discussing the base $25K. When I asked him what his Buick cost - about $29,000 purchased with 13,000 miles on it - he brushed off the comparison.

One friend had the same reaction to $25,000. I posed the question...how much was your '03 Toyota 4 Runner? $29,000. But that's different. He wants a Honda S2000...Base MSRP ...$29,000 (Detect a theme here?)

We were at a cocktail party with neighbors Sunday evening....same reaction...same question...same reply...same dismissal.

Today at work I brought up our having gone to see the MCC on Thursday to my partner...did not mention our commitment to the MCSC...$25,000??? How much was your 03 Jeep Cherokee? $29,000...but that's different.

So......I guess my only option is to refrain from talking about it .. other than with fellow enthusiasts. God forbid the people in my life know that it will be more like $30,000 when finally spec'd.

Has anybody else run into this dismal reception? I cannot remember being so excited about a new car....but obviously I'm a party of one !

Sign me

Perplexed in Denver.

I got loads of this as well "£22.5k for a mini!!"

All the people that have said that now understand when they look at it in the flesh. Many people I have come across relate to the new mini being the same class of car as the old mini, they think it should be a budget run about and get quite a shock when they see the quality of build, features and specification that comes with it.

Cheers, Peter

[SugarBelly]

imho, American's have a difficult time balancing money in the "Less is More" equation.

You know it's worth every penny, Peter!

The HONDA S2000 is a fine car, holding it's value just as well, but comparison's to MINIs are nearly impossible. What other small car can load a boxed 32" tv in the back, corner like it's on rails & offer more style than most folks come across in a lifetime?

Take dad for a spin after your break-in period. It'll remind him how fun it was to learn to drive, some 70+ years ago!

Cheers!
Lucie

[Meg]

If it's the car you want, it's going to make you happy, and you feel it's worth it then don't listen to what others say.

[Peter Crowl]

I have no reservations about what we're doing....I haven't felt like this since I was 9 and waiting for my PEZ dispenser to come in the mail !

Oh I went through a brief flirtation with the Honda Element...but have decided to wait till they are on the used market, low miles, for around $12,000. That's how I recently bought our 2000 Honda CR-V.

I posted for two reasons...

A: To see if I'm alone in receiving this type of response from people that I would expect to be enthused for me

and

2: To acknowledge that I'll be sliming around the forums seeking the validation and enthusiasm that I'm not getting from the aforementioned. :~)

It's a bit unsettling actually.... When others have announced an impending new car I've always been supportive...well...there was an issue about the color Silver with one friend...not something I'd buy...but really...supportive.

Now...and this will be the first new car we've acquired since...if you don't count 2 company cars in the 80's...ever!...those same people are acting like I just announced my intent to replace the toilet tissue in our bathrooms with rolls of 50's.

No...despite the kind encouragement here I won't be equipping myself with verbal armour...I'm just going to stay mum about it. Once it's here they can like it or lump it.

Regardless...I will be the happiest person in my zip code!

Peter

[LagunaSol]

Tell them you'd be happy to consider any 4-seat convertible they can find for under $20k. Wish them luck in their search.

Seriously, compared to all the neighbors pimping around in $50k Suburbans and Escalades with $5k wheel/tire packages, the MINI is a penny-pincher's paradise. Ignore the naysayers. They'll never "get" it.

[LagunaSol]

P.S. I want to see Lucie get that boxed 32" TV in the back of a MINI droptop.

[ScottyB]

No experience with the Convertible, but when I purchased my MCS (which - bog standard with a set of R90s - came close to $50,000 AUD) everyone told me I was crazy to spend that on a MINI

Crazy in Love I say

And enjoying every minute of it. Best thing I ever did was buy this car. Price tag means nothing when you consider the amount of fun value it brings.

[deco]

Quote: Originally Posted by Peter Crowl

<sigh>
My wife and I solidified our position on the wait list in Denver for a MCSC late last week.

[/i]

//

(...small world. i was at the same dealer ("ralph schomp bmw")
on saturday. the salesman mentioned that they had just finished
the cutoff date for the first convertible sign-up list. they took
_50_ deposits. (the cab's are going to be popular in colorado.)
so, it seems like you'll be 1 of the first 50 in the state. congrats!)

//

Quote:

This weekend we brought it up with my parents and some friends. My dad - who's 91 and drives a 2002 Buick Park Avenue - was appalled at the price

__deletia__


One friend had the same reaction to $25,000.

__deletia__

We were at a cocktail party with neighbors Sunday evening....same reaction...same question...same reply...same dismissal.

Today at work I brought up our having gone to see the MCC on Thursday to my partner...did not mention our commitment to the MCSC...$25,000??? How much was your 03 Jeep Cherokee? $29,000...but that's different.

So......I guess my only option is to refrain from talking about it .. other than with fellow enthusiasts.

__deletia__

Sign me

Perplexed in Denver.

my probable approach:

a. excuse myself, pointing to my cell phone;

b. offer to disclose the price but refuse by
stating that it's not good form to brag about
my deal;

c. state that it's none of their business; or

d. get new, less "nosey" acquaintances.

ymmv.

luck!

kthxbye.

b.

//

[mikeythemikey]

top spec cooper s's hit $40k+ here, you americans have it lucky!

[abs0lutely]

I've only really had one negative reaction.

Apparently I should by a Clio... or a Megane?

I think this person may have had some kind of brain defect... surely it's plain to see that neither of these cars even come close to a MINI!

[SeattleCabrio]

I have had the same reaction from people who only remember the old Mini's. Our Cool blue MC comes in next month and it will be fun to see the reaction from the same people when they see the car. Mini's are more fun to drive than should be allowed, so don't worry. These "freinds" will come around when they see the car.

Dan
Seattle

[Peter Crowl]

I'm just naive as well. For some reason I had it in the back of my mind that I would get some version of "Wow - good for you...you've been waiting so long you must be thrilled!" as opposed to.."Huh?"

I don't have to rationalize this to them...They don't think any less of me...they just can't get their minds around any price point over about $18k for a "little car". I think there's a certain "How much is it by the pound" mentality as well. Wait here a moment while I run up the Price per Pound comparisons....

Ok...I'm back...the Mini is about $10.86 / lb using the base MCSC vs 2300 lbs. The Toyota 4Runner is $6.75 per pound and the Buick comes in at $8.73. So the MINI looses that round..but that is, of course, a ridiculous method of valuing a motorcar. It's just what many people think. Pointing out the price of the Z3 or the S2000 isn't going to matter either

One thing that does help is pointing out the tremendous resale value of any MC...my goodness they hold their value :~)


No...I love my friends...they are who they are... once they get in...once they drive it...they'll understand.

Peter still in Denver

[Peter Crowl]

I have had 2 people give me a sort of smirk and ask how much over MSRP the dealer was charging...as if to emphasize what a dolt I am.

I am able to smile and say...not a dime. Schomp is an MSRP dealer .So there Smart Ass!!

Peter
Waiting patiently in Denver

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Peter Crowl

...the Mini is about $10.86 / lb using the base MCSC vs 2300 lbs.

Actually, the base [$24,950] MCSC tips the scales at 2844 which equates to $8.77 per pound

[Peter Crowl]

Miniac corrected my math...

Actually, the base [$24,950] MCSC tips the scales at 2844 which equates to $8.77 per pound


AH HA! So the MCSC is the same price per pound as the Buick Park Avenue!

Vindication..in an inane sort of way...but Vindication nonetheless!

Peter
who'll take all the Vindication he can get...in Denver.

[DeLaura]

Hi Peter,

I'm new to the message boards, but I thought I would start my first post by telling you that I think the first order of business when your new MINI comes in should be to drive off into the sunset and find some new friends and family! I feel bad for you that they are reacting so badly, but they will come around once they hear it pull into the driveway. Just tell them that you are not offering any test drives, thank you very much, and send them to their nearest Honda dealer where they can purchase a very nice S2000 for $32,000!

I've just ordered my MCSC this week, and am expecting it in Nov/Dec. So far, only one person at work made a negative comment... something to the effect of "You know, you only get one fender-bender in one of those..."

Everyone else I know is checking the blue book values on their own cars to see how soon they can trade in!

Forget the pound-for-pound comparison... if they have to resort to complaining about the price then they obviously have no idea why you would want to drive a MINI in the first place!

[davidjplatt]

I'm really surprised. Everyone I've talked to at work thought the $27,000 (including taxes, tags, processing fee, etc) I'm paying for my Mini Cooper Convertible (Not an S, Premium Package, Sports Seats, Leather Seats, Alarm System, 6 CD Changer, Car Cover, Carpeted Mats and Wheel Locks) was a steal considering it was a Mini (they understand that Mini is owned by BMW) and a convertible and in short supply. Everyone wants a ride and several offered their garages for car storage (I'd never get the car back). There's a "ride list" at work that is about 20 people long and I work in a group of about 40 people.

My brother, who is a car snob and owns a $55,000 Mercedes and a Lexius RX330 (his previous vehicles are a BMW M3 and BMW 850i at the same time, BMW M5, BMW 528i and 320i) was ecstatic I had bought a Mini convertible. He even told me he was very happy I had opted for the MCC instead of a BMW Z4 and thought that since it was a weekend/leisure car for me that he was happy I hadn't gotten the Mini Cooper S Conv.

One of my cousins who up until recently had a Mazda Miata as her family's third card was excited for me - her husband is a car salesman in fleet sales and he thought I made a great choice.

Another cousin owns a Saab 95 Wagon and her husband's leisure car is a Covette Convertible and she wants to put my Mini "through it's paces" because she drove a 60's vintage Mini when they were introduced in the US and thinks they are a blast to drive. She's only read great things about the "baby beamer".

Even my 89 year old aunt said "good for you, enjoy it and I want a ride in it".

I got the exact opposite reaction from my family, friends and co-workers. Most reacted, "only $24,400 MSRP plus dealer options?".

[Peter Crowl]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeLaura

Hi Peter,

Forget the pound-for-pound comparison... if they have to resort to complaining about the price then they obviously have no idea why you would want to drive a MINI in the first place!

The Pound Price Comparison is only a goof...it's just emblematic of the way some view these things.

My friends will all be fine...I think they were just caught off-guard by the price. Have to say, though, that when faced with a similar situation my default is to be enthusiastic and later - in private - question the person's sanity should that be necessary!

Peter