Anybody have knowledge of Flow Mini in Winston Salem or Hendrick Mini in Charlotte Recommend one over the other?

I am close to putting in my order for a 2008 Mini Cooper Oxygen Blue, white roof, 6 speed manual, convenience package, sport seats.

What is the ordering process like, steps, wait time, etc.

Thanks

 

Both dealerships have their fans. I bought from Flow and had a very good experience with them. You can get your car serviced at any MINI dealership regardless of where you buy... BUT dealerships will only give free service loaners typically to customers who buy from them. That's Flow's policy for sure. So, in my case, since Winston-Salem is closer than Charlotte, it made sense from me to buy from Flow.

The process - figure out what you want by reading LOTS on NAM, playing in the configurator, and (even better) coming out to some MINI club events and seeing different cars with different options and talking with folks about what they like and why. Go to the dealer and test drive different cars.

Then - go to the dealer, review your config with a motoring advisor, put down a deposit on your car ($500?). The dealers have cars allocated for production already - they will find the earliest car that's close to what you want (e.g. MC vs. MCS, coupe vs. convertible) and change the config for that car to match what you ordered.

Wait time depends entirely on where that dealer's car fell on the production schedule - mine took about 9 weeks - but they can take less time...

 

Thanks, I live in Apex, see you are in Holly Springs, so I agree that Flow makes more since. However I am in the Air National Guard and travel to Charlotte once a month for my Drill weekends so I could do service during these times as needed. I heard that Flow will drive down into the Triangle area pick up your car and give you loaner while doing annual maintenance, etc. I think the service costs $50. Have you heard of this?

Any upcoming Mini events in Raleigh area?

 

Hey, BooBerry!

I have an MCS on order with Hendrick in Charlotte. Week 4!! Woot! Aimee Byrley was my MA, and it was her FIRST SALE EVER! I felt honored... Colin Klein is the Financial Services manager and he helped Aimee and I thru our first Mini-buying experience together. He was knowledgeable and helpful. (Aimee was so cute! Very young and VERY tiny; has a MC on order and learned to drive a manual last week! The test drive was a hoot...)

Anyway, I had built my Dream Mini at home and ended up placing the order that day with Aimee and Colin at Hendrick. The entire process took about 20 minutes and was completely painless. I expected MSRP for an ordered MCS and that's what I got, but they gave me floor mats and helped me with installation of chrome for the bonnet scoop.

I considered visiting Flow, but quickly realized that I was going to order and it made no real difference who placed the order; Hendrick is closest to my house and I've also purchased a BMW Z3 from Hendrick and got good service. Of course, I've not picked up the car yet so I don't have the full scope of the service experience with Mini, but I would definitely recommend them for the purchasing experience. Price-wise, comparison shopping will probably not net you anything unless you plan to buy off the lot, and I still would expect that Flow and Hendrick would be within a few dollars of one another.

I hope you contact Aimee at Hendrick Mini (704) 566-2510 or direct at (866) 676-1405. Please tell her Marie Williams recommended her (and tell her I am anxiously awaiting my own Baby.)

MiniRee

 

MiniRee

Thanks for the info! So what did you order? How much longer on the wait?

 

booberry,
Welcome to the wonderful world of MINI! Either dealership will bend over backwards to help make your purchase seamless and easy.

Blimey is our VP of Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club and he holds events in that area every month. Please consider visiting one of our meet & Greets and learn so much about your MINI and all the great people you'll meet in our Club.

Mark Vogler
Founder - Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club

 

hi booberry ... bought mine from Hendrick since they were the first to respond when I sent an email out to both dealerships though I heard both were good. All the advice above is spot on and I think you should go with the place that makes you feel the most comfortable and where you can get the best deal, as well as meet your service needs.

I go to CLT and the surrounding area a few times a year for work so that made it a bit easier to justify purchasing from there. Had a great shopping experience.

Took 6 weeks to get the car after ordering.

We're also blessed with a dedicated MINI mechanic in Thomasville, Dan at Grassroots Garage.

Good luck with the purchase and definitely join the TMMC ... one of these days I hope to make it out to an event as well.

 

I added my specs (and a stock picture) to my signature. I was told 6-8 weeks from order date (1-12-08), but I am hoping it will be around 5. I can't wait!

EDIT: Where my pretty picture go? Off to find the answer in the proper forum. Back soon with pics...

 

ANYONE able to get any money off MSRP. I've read that in some places people are getting $1000 off MSRP !!!

 

Picked up my first car today. Ordered another one for my son while I was there. Yes, really.

Six weeks to the day for me from order placed to delivery taken. MSRP on both. Worth every penny...

Both from Hendrick...

 

Flow's the way to go - they've always done right by me and my Mini just celebrated it's fifth birthday. I did have one nightmare servicing experience with a particular tech (the first and only "off" experience) but the service advisor bent over backwards to make it right and then some.

BTW, the Oxygen Blue is my favorite of the new colors - I wish it was offered on the Clubman.

 

My dad and I both got our MINI"s from Hendrick and couldn't be happier. He ordered his and it only took about 5 weeks to come in. They are all really great there, and once a month our club hangs out at the dealer for a few hours, chatting with customers and the sales people. If you can hang out at a dealership for hours and love every minute of it, you know it's a great dealership.
Our club M2C2 has a Raleigh chapter, and quite a few other chapters, and we do events ALL the time, so check out the M2C2 forums. We have dinners monthly and drives all the time and they are a great bunch. You get all kinds of discounts with the club, a monthly newsletter, and tons of great folks to hang out with! Hope to see you at some of our events and good luck on purchasing your MINI!!

 

M2C2 is a great club, and has great people (many of whom are my friends) - but not much M2C2 action going on in the Triangle area... lots of THMMC events are, though, so it's all good. And definitely lots of M2C2 stuff going on around CLT and in SC.

 

If ya like to GO then GO TARHEEL!!!