Well, I'm new to the forum. I sincerely hope to be the new owner of a chili red Mini Cooper S in the near future. I was hoping that would be today. So I found the perfect mini, gave an offer that I felt was reasonable, got it accepted by the dealer right away, got approved for the nice 1.9% financing, and...THE DEALER ISN'T SET UP FOR THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS PROGRAM YET!!!! So I languish in the land of old pickup trucks who's AC does not work in 100 degree weather...for a few more days (crosses fingers). I looked on the list of dealerships for California who have registered for Cash for clunkers and didn't see a single Mini dealership. So what's up with that?

 

Where are you located in CA? I'm pretty sure Crevier Mini in Orange County does the program because its advertised on their website.

 

Oh, I think they are all planning on participating, they just haven't gotten all the bureaucratic paperwork done yet and so they aren't accepting cars yet. Well, at least the few I have asked. Including the one where the car I want is at. If you look at the list of available dealers for california on the cars.gov website and search for mini, zero results come up.

 

I've been waiting for my dealer too. It's been driving me crazy! Maybe today....

 

The dealer tells me everything will probably be ready to go tomorrow morning. Around the time I have to go to work. THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!

 

Oh man, you don't look too good. Looks like you are coming down with something, I think you should call out sick. Don't want to spread germs around the office .

 

The dealership is still not accepting cars. The problem is this is the last day I will be able to pick up the car before I go on vacation. I was just looking at the cars.gov website and they have put a gauge up of how much money is left. They have already used 25% of the funds! After 4 days with only a fraction of the dealerships signed up. The program may very well be over and done with by the time I get back from vacation and then I wont be able to afford this car. I may have to light a fire under the dealership because if they don't get this together today, they very well may not have a sale.

 

I sent the dealer an email detailing my concerns. We'll see how they respond. COME ON DEALERSHIP, I WANT TO BUY THIS CAR FROM YOU.

 

My dealer just started yesterday - yay! I was also leaving on vacation yesterday. I picked up the car on my way out of town. I was going to order a car instead of buying off the lot, but I didn't want to wait 8 weeks and miss out on the clunkers deal.

Hopefully your dealer will get it done soon for you. My new Mini is fabulous!

 

Call. In my experience, never assume that a dealer will read your e-mail.

 

Oh, they've already replied with a "we're working on it, so sorry for the inconvenience!" type response. I'm not sure what to do if they don't come through for me today.

 

I JUST GOT THE CALL! MINI IS GOOOOOOO!!!! Assuming all the details work out okay and they don't try to screw me on the back end of the deal.

 

did you get it?? which dealership did you go to?

 

If you want to take advantage of this program you'd better move quick --

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/bu...1clunkers.html

One might bet that the White House will continue this popular program by supplementing the funding, but who knows? Right now DoT is obviously confused...

 

I got my new mini cooper S! I got it from Brecht Mini in Escondido, CA. They were real pros, very friendly and I got no feeling that I was being hassled or being taken for a ride. I was apparently the first buyer at that dealership to take advantage of the cash for clunkers credit, but while I was completing the paperwork, one of the dealership workers mentioned there were four other deals going on also involving cash for clunkers. Just in time! Although maybe they will get the further funding and more people can take advantage.

 

That's odd, because I've been dealing with Brecht MINI as well and I'm having a horrible experience. I also inquired about the cash for clunkers last weekend. I always have to call them back, they never call me. Even when I leave a message I don't get a reply. They are always giving me the run around. I actually drove back out there today and it's almost like they don't want to sell me a car, but I have money and I'm willing to buy, even without the cash for clunkers.

I'm getting in touch with Crevier MINI which is much further away in Santa Ana just because Brecht has been dicking me around.

 

Did you get your sticker? :D

 

@luft: Congrats on the new Mini, post details of the new Mini soon. I purchased from Brecht as well. Maybe I will see you on the road sometime

@CDavis: sorry about your experience at Brecht - I bought from them and in general was a positive experience. They were professional and negotiations were super easy. But their finance manager did try to pressure into buying extended warrantied etc.
They also do seem to have attitude of not 'wanting to sell' - which I did not mind because I don't like pushy sales pitch.
Good luck with your purchase and hope you can get the CARS benefit.

 

Awesome news!

Don't know if this will help anyone out there... but I was watching the story on CNN today about "Cash For Clunkers" and they had a dealer on there. (Not a MINI dealer.)

Anyway, the dealer guy said that people that have a clunker to give the dealership should get an independent opinion on the "salvage" value of the vehicle they plan to get rid of. Once they have that independent value of salvage, they should expect THAT amount of money to be taken off the sales price of the new car. Essentially, the salvage value would be like a trade-in. THEN the "Cash For Clunkers" rebate is applied.

Good luck! Too bad I don't have any clunkers to trade in.

 

@ luft, congrats, i wanna see pics too!

if i had participated, i would totally want one of those stickers from volki

 

Here she is

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickmahaffey/3777004605/http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickmahaffey/3777807768/

 

Congratulations. I ended up getting a Jeep Wrangler for the same price as a Cooper S. But, now I just have the hassle of selling my car.

 

Mmm...sorry for your loss...

 

She's mighty pretty Luft...I L<3VE the color combo.!!

 

That is red, right? HO was discontinued...right?