Hi all,

Just wanted to drop a note and say "Hello." I have been researching new cars for several months now (currently driving a '98 Honda Civic that's looking a little ragged). Mini Cooper is #1 on my very short list and far ahead of the other choices.

I am still trying to schedule a test drive -- my local dealership is a little lackadaisical about responding to inquiries so we're going to drop in tonight to look around and collect some brochures even if they can't fit me in.

I am sure as I move through this process I am going to have a lot of questions -- I've already read MANY threads on the forums here that have answered some, but with 10M combinations, there will be more!

So happy to see such an active forum for a car -- it speaks volumes about its personality. :D

-sarah

 

Welcome, which ever "MINI" you choose will be a great car. You might want to go to MINIUSA and build your own MINI and check all the options you can put in it and play with the colors. Enjoy

 

Welcome Sarah! Don't be put off about the dealership not getting back to you. They are super busy these days. When you drop by there might not be someone immediately available but they should be able to get you into a MINI for a test drive.

But then I warn you... you will be truly done for. Once you drive a MINI its all over.

 

Happy hunting. Though sometimes I wonder who exactly catches who.

CROC 411

 

Welcome to the forums! I too am still "shopping around", but am definitive on the fact that I'll be buying an '08 MCSa soon.

My advice, skip the calls to the dealer and just stroll into the dealership and ask for a test drive.

 

Thanks for the welcome, all! I have spent what feels like (and probably is) many, many hours in the configuration tool on the Mini website!

Yeah, just going into the dealer is going to end up being the fastest way to get a test drive. I do want to drive a base and an S back-to-back to see the difference. I will not mind if I have to go back another day for the test drive, just being able to poke around with some real Minis instead of craning my neck at every one that passes on the road will be information gained. I also want to see some of the colors in person that I haven't seen on the road.

-sarah

 

good luck laundrygal! once you stroll into the dealership you may roll out with a MINI on order. That's what happened to me!

My baby should be getting off the boat tonight or tommorrow! I'll be driving him soon!

 

its good to shop till u found the ONE...u should be able ot just drop in at dealership to test drive...

 

I'm back from the dealer. The only test-drivable cars they had on the lot were pre-2007, except for one loaner that had not been picked up yet. They had plenty of new Minis in the backlot behind the BMW dealership, but they were all plastic-wrapped inside, etc. So the salesman let me drive the loaner car around a bit. I am a bit suspicious about that whole experience -- no test drive cars? What? Strange! But it was nice of him to let me take the loaner out for a spin. It was a Base Cooper with automatic, about 4500 miles on it. Needed a vacuum.

Anyway, he showed us the controls and popped the sunroof for us and my boyfriend and I went for a spin. The dealer is next to my office building so I know the roads and could do a lot of corners, stop-and-go and take off from a few stops. I LOVED it. My biggest concern going in was that I would feel like I was in a very small car -- not safe. But the sense of space inside the car and the pretty solid body made it feel like I was in a much larger car.

Finally, I talked to the salesman about ordering, etc. He said they had about 8-10 spots left for ordering 2008s. He said they are expecting the specs on 2009s in July or August and don't expect them to change too much from the 2008s, in terms of options or prices (he said "a couple $100 here and there" and waggled his hand). They are offering to do order sheets on 2008 but hold them and submit against 2009 Coopers after re-reviewing with the customer. These would be for delivery in October sometime.

My boyfriend thinks I should go ahead and do the advance order to reserve my spot for a 2009 instead of rushing to get into the last few spots for 2008. My Civic runs fine so there is no problem waiting that long. And I guess I could change my mind a lot more.

That was the first I had heard of dates for 2009, even in threads on these forums about next year releases. I do not know if he was trying to get me to push my order for some reason.

Anyway, I purposely left all forms of payment at home so I could not possibly buy tonight. I need to mull things over (hehe, plot out my options strategy). The salesman was very nice and helpful, did not pressure in any way. You could tell that there is no need for them to heavily push these cars, they DO sell themselves. He did not seem at all sorry that there was not a variety for me to test drive.

-sarah

--
Needs to make a signature showing she is "dreaming" about her order.

 

Hi Laundrygal,

I just ordered my mini clubman about a week ago - in chil red with black bonnet stripes - and have been getting more and more excited each day. I hear and read nothing but great stuff about this car. Tonight I saw some people in a mini and asked them how they liked it. They said it was the best car they ever had. Lots of fun to drive! So I think you can't go wrong with ordering one - the 2008's are selling like crazy so you might as well wait for a 2009 but you might want to get one ordered so you won't have a long wait. Our salesman said we ordered at the right time because so many ordered right after that that they will have a 2 or 3 month wait. Happy Hunting for all the colors and options! We added several things in the next few days after we ordered!
Good Luck!

 

I was fortunate to get one of only two spots left that my dealership had for the convertible.

 

Funny you should mention this. I just talked with my MA this afternoon. I ordered last week (was it really that long ago??). He said the following day, they closed on August build dates and from then on it would be September. Though he's a low / no pressure sales guy, he said people people didn't believe him when he suggested they put a down payment on a lot vehicle. They'd say, "no, I gotta think about it" But by the next day, invariably, that vehicle was sold. Via the internet, I watched my dealer's inventory go from about 30 to 6 in two weeks. I wasn't ready before I ordered, but if I had done it a few weeks earlier, I wouldn't be waiting until SEPTEMBER for my MINI to arrive!

Good luck with your decision, whichever way it goes!

 

What part of the country are you in? I was told August delivery for the Chicagoland. I do have a prod # but no word on when my baby will be born.

 

I'm supposed to get mine mid July although I just ordered on 6/10 - I'm less than an hour from Charleston where the car will come in. I was surprised to hear that some people ordered in May and won't get theirs until September. Apparently it does depend on the dealership and where you are in the USA.

 

I'm in western NY; ordered from Towne MINI in Williamsville NY. A very enjoyable visit with the MA other than the bad news about the long wait (which is really on me, much as I hate to admit it).

 

I'm jealous. But good for you!

 

Ah but how far are you from Spartanburg, where the VDC is?

 

Did you order a Clubman?