Looking to buy a Clubman S stick and we've got it all priced out. I keep reading posts about some dealers throwing extras in and ours here in Albuquerque has made it pretty clear they charge MSRP plus their $149 processing fee and that's it. Anything extra (locking lug nuts, floor mats, etc) you pay MSRP for that and they won't throw it in.

Does anyone have any suggestions for some in the neighboring states that would make it worth our while to travel for the car? I'm thinking Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah and/or Arizona. Not sure if I'm willing to travel further than one state away, but I might be if the price is right.

I'm pretty much ready to go purchase and this is my last sticking point.

 

Ralph Schomp in Denver sells for msrp with NO added-on fees of any kind: car and accessories plus tax, that's it. But then other than a full tank O gas there are NO freebies, and all accesories are msrp.

Give them a call; waits should be minimal now. awesome dealership, lots of New Mexicans purchased their cars at RS before the Kirky dealership opened.

 

is the "processing fee" for plates and title registration, etc.? Most dealers are able to charge some sort of documentary fee, plus the actual costs of the filings.

 

As a former new car sales manager let me clarify this:

The "destination charge" that's worked into the msrp covers mfgr to consumer, not mfgr to dealer, and is a direct factory subsidy to cover most delivery expenses--transport, prep, detail, paperwork. So in essence U are already paying for these services.

However, the destination charge does not cover all the expenses and labor associated with new car delivery. Ralph Schomp eats about $60/car in unsubsidized prep and delivery labor charges, but does so in the interest of providing fine customer service and generating repeat sales--like me.

Thus, I tell most people that any prep/doc fees that exceed roughly $50-80, depending on the market, are pure dealer profit for the one aspect of a dealership that generates the least profit--new car sales. This is an approximation, but a good general guideline. IOW, resist all unreasonable fees; it is NOT futile.

 

Good to know. That is basically how I understood it. I'm just not used to not being able to negotiate for extra accessories like with this Mini.

All else being equal, it probably won't be worth going up to CO from Abq for the sake of a couple hundred dollars. If I were in the area already, I would consider it though. They sound like they have a very happy customer on their hands.

I may push for my local dealership to waive their processing fee though, since I know there is an alternative available.

 

I don't think you'll find a better deal in AZ than you already have in ABQ...They're at MSRP, with a $489 doc fee, and there's been no mention/offer of anything being "thrown in." In fact, I'm having to pay installation to have the OEM bumper strip installed on the rear bumper.

I will say that I got an immediate production number, and the car was built very quickly after my order.

Good luck on your purchase, no matter where you end up.

 

I bought mine from Momentum Mini in Houston, Texas from Matthew Kelly. He was great!

I paid MSRP with free mats, tire locks. I paid a $50 doc fee and the costs of the filing the necessary documents nothing more.

 

I had similar concerns with the dealerships here in Florida. My issue was not about freebies or accessories but the outrageous $599 dealer prep fee. When I went to my nearest dealer (65 miles) ready to purchase I simply told the MA, "you don't have to sell me on the car but you do have to sell me on your dealership". It didn't take too much more negotiating to dissolve that prep fee.

That said. Use email/phone to find a dealer near you that will give you what you want....if you can. Get it in writing and show it to your local dealer (assuming you want to do business with them). Either they will match it or not. Don't spend your $$ driving all over the area to save a couple of hundred dollars on accessories.

 

Prob with the OP's location is there arent that many dealers in the mountain time zone, only 4. But TX and OK offer many more choices to research, and they get their cars faster (thru the east coast) than cars delivered to albuquerque or denver (via Port Hueneme in CA.)

Last time I was in OKC Jackie Cooper was quoting $149 prep/doc fee.

 

Morristown Mini in NJ discounts the extras on there internet site.