Hi there, not a owner yet, having recently started my research on Mini's. I'm currently on 2 wheels (2004 BMW 1100s), and I haven't had a car for pretty much a year. My household has 2 bikes, and a Nissan Xtera.

Up until about a week ago I have been gnawing on a decision to buy 1 of 4 different cars. I was looking at getting either a BMW 3 series two door, waiting for a 2008 A4 or A5 or getting a Mini. So .. what pushed me over the edge? A combination of a few things. First one of my co-workers recently got a new Mini and brought it down, I was impressed, and more importantly I finally found out that I fit in one (I'm 6'2") with room to spare. I then decided to check the Miniusa site and configured my "own" car (well lots of them actually). I checked youtube for videos of the interior of the car, how they handle, anything and everything I possibly could find about this fantastic little car.

One of the videos on the youtube site was an interview with Mini's VP. I was surprised to find out the mini features something I have come to know as "hill gripper". I was first introduced to this technology when I owned my first new car several .. several years ago (Subaru). I'm sure there are some folks out there that aren't as excited about this as I am, but it truly brought back some memories of the first time I tried this feature out, I was very nervous. :-)

There are a lot of other features that just made me say "oh holy cow that's cool". So I'm on my way to actually getting one soon. Still need to go down to the dealership and take a few test drives to make sure this is something I'll like.

I've tried using the search function on this site, scrolled through endless pages, and I still have some questions regarding the purchase process.

When you really want to order your own, custom made Mini and have it delivered, what do you need to do? Do you just give them a check for $500 and waltz off the lot? LOL. I'm curious how this process works, as this is my my conundrum:

I don't want to wait for the 2008 line to bump the prices up, and I totally understand why that would happen, given changes to the US dollar. So I want to get a car ordered now before prices change. On the flip side of that coin, I have a nice big fat check coming in January, and I would love to add it to my $7000 I have now for the car. My hope is by the time I get my car I'll have $10 to $15k cash to put down on it.

I talked to the folks at Mt.View Mini here in the bay area (briefly) and they were telling me that it usually takes anywhere from 4 to 6 months (and the gal stressed that the S takes longer) to get an order in. If that's the case I want to get this ball rolling now and not later, as it's time to add a car to the fold, and every day I wait is another dollar in the bank toward the Mini.

I'm hoping many of your remember your first buying experience and have some advise and info here! Thanks so much for reading my long post

 

Hope the process goes well! You'll probably get MANY more responses from people a bit closer to you who will have great, specific advice!
Welcome!!!

 

Hey, Jimmie. I was pretty much in the same boat as you a few months ago being a total noob to the purchase of my first MINI. I'm also in the south bay and ordered my MINI thru Mini of Mt View. The process of ordering is pretty much as what you thought. You go in..do the test drive...yada, yada.. At this point, you can go ahead and place your order if you've already gotten down what you plan on ordering. Or you can go home and mull it over on the configurator some more. I actually made several configurations beforehand before placing my order after I did some research here and going to the dealers to see some of the options in person. When you're ready, go back to the dealer to see a MA(motoring Advisor) to place your order. My MA was Mike. They require a 1k fully refundable deposit. If for some reason like finances or you just don't want the MINI once it arrives, you can get your money back completely. After you guys go over the options you want on your MINI and sign some papers, you're pretty much just gonna be waiting for it to arrive. I ordered mine the last week of July and just got it today, the last week of Sept which is about a 9 week wait though I was told it could be 12 weeks. So, you should go ahead and place your order. There could be an opening within that time frame that might bump you up a bit. You never know. At the very least, it'll get things going and you'll stilll have some time to save more for a downpayment if you want. If their wait list seems long for you, you could try East Bay. I know SF charges over MSRP and for some reason Mike was telling me Concord started doing it again as well. Not sure on that one.

 

It was nearly three years ago for me and I do not live in your area but everything for me was pretty much the same as darmog described. I was told 12 weeks and it turned out to be 8.

The only thing I would add is that when I ordered, I was told that I could make changes to my selections at any time before the build date. They said I would be informed of the build date. I wasn't. I heard about the build date after it was built. It didn't really matter to me as I don't think I had any changes I wanted to make anyway.

 

Good info folks, thanks for your time! So the gist is that I take $1000 down and say "Here, take my money and order me one o' them shiny thangs". What's the "paperwork" that needs to be filled out? Is it just putting down on paper what you want, or is it some sort of legal agreement?

Sounds good, I'll check around for pricing first and try and get a sense of how each dealership treats their customers. I did some checking on Mt. View here on the boards, I didn't find anyone that had anything bad to say, in fact a lot of folks like them and there were some nice references to the East Bay dealership as well.

Thanks again for the info!

 

Wow, congrats on your new car! :-) You wouldn't happen to be the Mini I saw in the lot that was Lightning Blue with the Nav system in it would you? It had a neat little note on the dash saying it was someone's baby. I would have spent more time at the dealership with them (asking these pesky questions), but my mother was in town and we were just driving by that area when I decided to just stop a few minutes and check them out.

Anyway, enjoy that new ride!

 

At that point there wasn't too much paperwork. I think there wasn't more than 2 or so pages of forms to sign. I think one was a tentative agreement on what your payments were gonna be depending on your down/trade in and the other was their privacy policy. You do get another form showing your car with the options you wanted. Don't think anything was signed there.
No, that LB MINI wasn't mine. If you happened to be in their showroom today from 10-12, mine was the PW/B Mini that was in there ready for pickup. It was scary to drive that thing home. My trade is was my Rav4 so I developed a lead foot to get that thing moving or to stop it. Took a few hours to adjust my pedal control so I wasn't revving up too fast or braking too hard.

 

Well thanks to the great folks on NAM I went into East Bay mini today and ordered up my Mini. Looking forward to the many weeks biting my nails and fretting over how far my Mini has progressed.

Thanks all for your recommendations and help!

 

wow... that is one loaded mini! congrats!

 

This is NOT true... I bought mine from EB in Pleasanton - 8/31 finished build on 9/7 - actually canceled that order and did a re-order 10/3 - that build is now on the dock to be loaded on the ship tomorrow and will be in CA in a little over 3 weeks... There is a member here (Guy Simpson) He had the same story from MT View - I suggested he contact EB (Blair) - he canceled his order at Mt View and called Blair on the phone (CooperS) did all his work on the phone - Last week - the order was placed and the Mini was built in a WEEK - So, believe Mt View and wait or shop around... Call EB - talk to Blair - what can it hurt?? Ya, you will have to drive 40 miles - but get your Mini a lot faster and "Thats what's all about"

You will love the test drive. I was very please with my three (3) test drives... they just gave me the keys and said (see ya when you get back = try to not be longer than 20/30 min) try that with Toyota.... Tell Blair the Turlock Fire Fighter sent ya... I owe him...

 

One thing to keep in mind = MT View is telling all new customers, they do NOT have any Production slots left for 07's so if you order a Mini from them - it will be an 08 and cost more... Not sure how many slots EB has, so move Soon....

 

I just looked at your list of options... Wow,,, Now, it seems $$$ is not a big deal to you here - the $85 for the bonnet strip... that is Just for the decal - the dealer will charge about $250 to install it... looks nice though

 

If you really want to drive a bit... I ordered mine from Mini of SA (San Antonio) and it should be there in about 2 weeks (10/26/07). It was ordered 9/15/07.

 

would you buy beer and hot wings at HOOTERS on the River Walk???

 

I must be getting really old.... I missed the post that you already went to EB... Sorry... lol

 

Harley, thanks for the feedback. Ya I tried Mt View twice and just didn't like em, so I actually did go to Blair (but he wasn't at work today so I talked to Jesse). I guess they're fully aware of the business that Mt View is sending them as the guy ahead of me was in there after trying Mt View as well. So .. not sure what's up with them, I was more than happy to drive 45 minutes out of my way to have professional service and be treated as a valued customer.

Ya we went over the vinyl stripes down the middle of the car, he's going to find out how much they charge for that, if it's outrageous I'll just see about getting them somewhere else and either doing it myself or having someone do it for less I can't take delivery of the car until after January (I'll be out of town for a while) so everything works out pretty well.

Thanks again for your comments!

 

As much as I like EB and Blair - the shop charge is $160 an hour for labor and at least two hours for a stripe = Ouch... but it does look nice... Since you are buying such a high optioned car - ask about a freebee???

 

Ah, ya, thanks for the suggestion, Jesse did say he would work out something regarding the labor, the quote on the sheet he had, showed labor for the stripe around $418 or something like that, I just smiled and I think we both knew that it was a joke. He mentioned he would work something out, so we'll see. I'll see if they can wave the labor and just give me a break. I think I'll also ask for free floor mats as well. Heck why not :-)

 

EB is good about free mats and a tank of gas - with your order $$$$$$$$$$$ that labor just may go away... just be cool about it - I know you will.. I just found out my first Mini is at the Dealer so, I plan a Harley ride tomorrow (if no rain) to check it out.. been at the fire station for about a week straight (nice OT but a longggggg stretch)

 

forgot to ask,,, did you get production number and a production week???

 

Good info, I'll see what happens, figured they would throw in the floor mats since most others on the boards were saying they got them for free.

No production number yet, their computer was down on Sunday, so they're supposed to put the info in today.

I used to be a cop in Oregon, so i can relate to the OT Hope you're getting some down time. Oh and my current transportation is a BMW 1100S, gets me around pretty well, love Harleys too, they're incredible machines. Enjoy that ride and be safe!

 

Once I have my Mini... maybe