Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum here. My wife and I live in Denver, Colorado.

We will be purchasing a new Mini Cooper for my wife and would appreciate any feedback on the purchase process. If any of you have any helpful hints regarding:

1. Negotiating a lower price or reduction of dealer fees.
2. Delivery dates, timing, delays
3. Choice of options on the MC to select, etc.
4. Problems with the purchase process, taking delivery, first year of ownership.
5. Cost of ownership, insurance, etc.

My wife has decided that British Racing Green is her preferred color. Below are her preferred options:

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1. Mini Cooper Six Speed Manual Transmission
2. British racing green with white top
3. Leather Gravity Tuscan Beige
4. Premium Package
5. Rear Spoiler
6. Roof and mirror caps in white
7. Sport seats
8. Interior Tuscan Beige
9.Cream white color line
10. Extended Decor Rings
11. Interior Surface Piano Black
12. All-season Tires

Thanks in advance.

David

 

Welcome from Denver!!!
Please check out our local MINI club web site...... 5280.org
We have our monthly meeting next Tuesday. Please come!!

 

Hi Shellbell:

What is the web address of the mini club? I cannot seem to locate it right off. Thanks.

 

Welcome! There are lots of Colorodans here on the boards.

I'm pretty new as well, but I looked into a few of the questions you've posed, so let me take a stab at things. I'm sure more experienced NAM folks will correct me if I've got anything wrong.

I think they have us over a barrel. Ralph Schomp (which have been great to deal with, in my experience) basically charge MSRP -- the values you get out of the "configurator" on www.miniusa.com .

Anywhere from 1 - 20+ days to go from order to production (it was 1 day for me), about 8 days in the factor, roughly a month to go from factory to delivery at the VDC in California, then roughly a week-and-a-half to get your car to the dealer (where the final touches -- the "Accessories" from the configurator) are added. Pretty much six weeks at the low end of the estimate and "60 to 90 days" at the high end. Of course, if your vehicle gets damaged in transit, you may end up having to order a second time.

Depends on what you're after. I ended up going with "the kitchen sink" for mine. Lots of threads and opinions available if you poke around.

Other folks will have to address the ownership issues. I'm still waiting for mine to arrive!

Gorgeous.

I really like the way this looks on the inside. It's the only light-colored interior available, and that seems to make a lot of sense for living out here.

I went with these as well (the 17" all-season run-flats), mostly based on when I'll receive delivery. If I feel the need to upgrade once the weather improves, I'll have a few month to obsess over my performance options.

Best luck!

~Neal

 

Thanks Neal,

Your commentary was helpful. We kind of decided on eliminating a lot of potential accessories largely because we don't feel strongly about them and of course they add to the cost. We both wanted leather and the color choices.

We have a California friend who owns a 2006 Mini and she had to pay some freight charges and a $600 destination charge, along with some dealer preparation charges. She was kind of shocked when she had to pay these fees before getting her car. They didn't inform her of ALL her costs prior to ordering her MC.

David

 

welcome to nam, it looks as though you have speced out a nice mc

 

Sorry David.... MINI5280.org is the site. The monthly meeting is a week from tomorrow but I haven't seen a location posted yet.

 

I agree with "The Meal" with his comments that it will be harder to get the price below MSRP. Our local MINI dealer added $2-3K on top of MSRP, so I worked with 5 neighboring dealerships and took the best price (Crevier) and asked the local dealer to beat it. I essentially paid no mark up. Of course, it helped that I got a good MA who was willing to be flexible...

 

David,
Welcome. Neal's comments are spot on. I beleive Ralph Schomp does charge a destination fee and more than likely some D&H.

I am awaiting my second purchase from them. Should you ever need to use service, the service department is very good and if you ask for a loaner you get one. Usually a automatic MINI of some kind. Robert is my favorite SA.

The great thing about ordering from them is you walk out with a production number-many other dealerships make you wait for one. If all goes as planned you should see your MINI in ~70 days.

The MINI5280 club does many things year round. Since I live in C. Springs I have to pick and choose my events. The club is active and members are from all over the state.