[Paul]

MINI2 News:

MINI Cooper Diesel, Sidewalk Convertible Exceeding Sales Expectations

This thread is to discuss that news item.

[AMT]

This news doesnt surprise me. Public demand for small diesels with good fuel and tax costs are in incredibly high demand so mini's figure of 5% market share was always going to be on the low side. As we said last month.....

http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-coop...ml#post2980117

[Paul]

Have to agree, I think they've underestimated the demand, and I suspect it will increase as word of mouth spreads and, if it all works as expected, the congestion charge exclusion is confirmed.


This is also probably good news for current owners, and future buyers, as there's only so much shuffling of the deck they could do, so residuals should be stronger than an average MINI, which is still very good as it is.

[Harpo]

I would always listen very carefully to any offer for my CD.

Bidding starts at £20,000.

[AprilWhine]

Maybe MINI will reconsider sending the CD to the US.

[Triffid]

Kudos on the Cooper Diesel can only grow. I had £18k max to spend on a car. I wanted an R56 S for 3 months, then changed my mind when the costs of running a diesel compared to an S per year over 15k miles:

I worked out Id save £550 on fuel, £105 on tax, and at least £80 on insurance
(FNCD - 38y/m) per year.

Am I the only one that resents paying all the taxes on running a car?

Not forgetting the residuals improving with the escalating price of fuel to come once the pound softens against the dollar and tax keeps being added on top by whoever's in power...

I really do enjoy my Dooper as much as I enjoyed a 2 hr test drive of the S so I'm well happy!

Is there any car that has the a) the character, b) the economy, c) the mid range pace and d) the looks of the Dooper?.

Only works as long as you don't have a family to cart around!

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Triffid (original)

Is there any car that has the a) the character, b) the economy, c) the mid range pace and d) the looks of the Dooper?

I think, as an overall package, the answer must be "no". Which is why I was confident the Cooper D would do better than they seemed to expect.

[jdcooper]

Yeah! I think is the perfect car thus the sales....
because of this:

- Nice looking car "its a mini"
- Environmental "118g/CO2"
- Hardly depreciates
- Highly economical " mine average 46.8mpg urban..
- Very powerful
- Low tax "just 35 a year"
- definitely no congestion charge
- Servicing for 5 year TLC

What else you can ask for!!!!!

[rentagas]

What else you can ask for!!!!!?

A build date!

I'd forgotten just how useless Sytners are

[Harpo]

My dealer chases spare production slots, so whenever there's a cancellation he's in there for his customer.

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Triffid (original)

Am I the only one that resents paying all the taxes on running a car?

I hate paying taxes on everything, as the revenue is never spent effectively. At my current geographical location, I would still stick to a Cooper S despite tax/fuel consumption, as without a family (that I started!) my disposable income is all my own.

However if I was in London, I would go for the Dooper. If it's exempt from the C charge (and if your sat still most of the time in traffic), then the fuel economy would be the clincher.

Bear in mind though, that as soon as the revenue from the C charge starts to drop (and the revenue from road tax) as people move to 'cleaner' cars, the gov't will just move the goalposts again. Nothing like 'green taxes' to save the world

But anything that means more MINIs on the road can only be a good thing, so bring on the Doopers

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

I think, as an overall package, the answer must be "no". Which is why I was confident the Cooper D would do better than they seemed to expect.

I think the Cooper D could be the car for you Paul

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by rentagas (original)

What else you can ask for!!!!!?

A build date!

I'd forgotten just how useless Sytners are

The only reason I can think of that the particular Sytner dealership you are using can't give you a build date yet is because they, unlike many other dealers, have already sold all of their allocation of Cooper D build slots.

Surely that makes them the exact opposite of useless?

[rentagas]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

The only reason I can think of that the particular Sytner dealership you are using can't give you a build date yet is because they, unlike many other dealers, have already sold all of their allocation of Cooper D build slots.

Surely that makes them the exact opposite of useless?

Gosh someone willing to defend Sytner's -a rarity indeed....................................

I do have some "history" with Sytner's unfortunately they now own every MINI dealer within a 50 mile radius of my home so I have little choice if I want a MINI.

The tale of the customer driving forward the deal against indifference and ignorance from the sales staff is an oft repeated story on MINI2 so I won't repeat mine (and to be fair is not peculiar to MINI, the local VW dealers are much, much worse). My opinion is not just based on the last month or so.

They say they do have build slots available, the problem is trying to get them to take my order

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by rentagas (original)

Gosh someone willing to defend Sytner's -a rarity indeed....................................

I wasn't really defending them, just querying why you were saying they are useless just based on them not being able to confirm a build slot...

Quote: Originally Posted by rentagas (original)

They say they do have build slots available, the problem is trying to get them to take my order

...but if this is the case then, yes, I agree, they are useless and should be avoided.

Whereabouts in the UK are you, as I am sure there are dealers a bit further afield that would happily accept your order?

[ASTON]

ordered my cooper D from Sytner's cardiff on easter sunday and took delivery last Friday 18/5/07. A 1st class service i would say

[rentagas]

Quote: Originally Posted by ASTON (original)

ordered my cooper D from Sytner's cardiff on easter sunday and took delivery last Friday 18/5/07. A 1st class service i would say

It's true I'm being a bit harsh....................hopefully I'm ordering tomorrow

Despite the luke warm reviews in top gear and what car, this is clearly a car that will have a significant following. Just trying to not spec it too high!

[rentagas]

Now I was going to order a week 26 build but instead I want of these!...............

Increased driving pleasure, reduced fuel consumption: the new MINI in the model year 2008

August 2007 build on

Perhaps Sytner's were doing me a favour after all

[akwaba]

Explaining the diesel exceeding sales expectation seems easy.

But , i try to explain the sidewalk demand :

- the last represant of "old design" with no botox (r56) at all (all natural)
- An improve engine, easy to repair and well know (since 5 years, no mistakes).
- pleasur to drive an exceptionnal cab, fun before austerity of diesel
- necessity to be different from all people: from these looking after a diesel, always a diesel, trying to justify the choice par environmental tolerance or high technology...but in fact, only a probleme of money

Somes see sidewalk as they are and say why ? I dreaming for a sparkling silver sidewalk S and say ...why not

ps : sorry for bad english, hope you 'll understand that's not serious !

[Paul]

I see where you're coming from, BUT, by ordering a "special edition" such as the Sidewalk, you're being far less individual than those who specify their own MINIs completely.