Wait. He's more clear or you're more clear that you have no deal without 1.9%? I'm confused.

 

I have stated twice to him that we don't have a deal without the 1.9% financing. He is acknowledging that he understands. They've never committed to providing the financing, only stating that the finance offer is good for 90 days from 4/21. I can't confirm with MINI financing until I have a VIN number.

This is the sort of confusion and complexity that arises when a deal isn't written down and signed by both parties.

 

If you've given them a deposit, isn't the deal locked in until you get the car? And usually, the later you get in the year, the better the deals get as they try to make way for next year's models. I don't know if MINI does this but many other brands do. If you're that worried, and you didn't leave a deposit, you could shop around and see if you can get a quicker build date. But with production scheduled for 5/20, you should get the car within 60 days of that shouldn't you?

 

I gave them a deposit. I initially got nothing in return but a receipt for the deposit and an image of the order confirmation. I've been prying documentation of the details out of them via email.

Estimated time from start of production until delivery on the west coast is 36 to 52 days. But I have nothing telling me the significance of that number. The sales manager and MA both claim the 1.9% rate is locked for 90 days from 4/21. I'd like to hear it from MINI Financial so I can get my deposit back now if the offer will expire between today and when the car is likely to arrive. Since I can't do that before the car is built, I wanted to make sure the dealer understands they're building an unusal configuration at their risk.

 

Did you get a bill of sale? How did you pay the deposit? Check or cc? Tell them you want a bill of sale with all options on it and a vehicle inquiry sheet immediately or you will stop payment or call the cc company to dispute the charge. Nothing is stopping you from calling MINI Financial and asking about whether or not your rate is locked because of your deposit. You can make a decision from there.

 

Do you have a number for Mini Financial? The owner's lounge won't let me go there and ASK MINI says it is pointless without a VIN.

 

Here's the info I found on the site:

MINI Financial Services
Customer Service Dept.
1-866-MINI-4ME
M-F Eastern Time

Try them Monday. Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

Thanks.

 

I have seen so much inconsistency with regards to the finance deals. I suspect that there is some lee way that the dealerships have with regards to making deals and offering finance rates through MINI Finance. You will likely have more luck talking to the sales manager or his boss than you will with MINI Finance, get something in writing as to the finance rate.

I asked whether I could close the deal once I had my VIN (someone on the forum reported that is what they did), and was told I needed to be taking delivery to lock in the rate. A build deposit means diddly. I think it also has to do with accounting practices. You can't put something on the books as a sale until the item sold is on your books. I would imagine that MINI owns the vehicle, not the dealer, until the dealer takes delivery from the regional VDC. The dealer can't sell you a car it doesn't have.

 

If a build deposit means diddly, then why do I have to leave one? If the car doesn't belong to the dealership until it is literally on their property, then that's when I should have to pay, not before. I've never had an issue locking in a rate with a deposit with any other manufacturer. Why should MINI be different? This is not directed at you btw. It's just a general rant about a dealership trying to find a loophole and not just make a deal with a customer. I think the practice is pretty bad. And honestly, if that's what I felt the dealership I'm buying from was doing, I'd be writing letters to anyone who would listen if they wouldn't cut the bs. Maybe it's me but as a consumer, I think we're afforded some rights. Not being screwed over is one of them.

 

I concur with christo4ferris.

On another note. Check out my new signature that Craig did for my build.

 

Of course the dealer can't sell a car they don't have. But they can certainly document an agreement to order one, especially when they require a $1,000 deposit. When a dealer makes false statements and then resists documenting what they have offered, it's time to question what they are up to.

I am trying to determine whether or not it is true that preauthorizing locks in a special, limited-time-only 1.9% rate for 90 days or not. I'm confident it does for a normal rate, but not at all certain on the special offer.

Miniusa says contact the dealer for details on the 1.9% offer. They don't say what to do if your dealer's statements are not reliable. I shall call.

I have contacted the general manager and discussed this with both sales managers. I've been around the block a few times.

 

Good news of the day. My MINI was born yesterday and should be on it's way to Southampton!
The bad news is I don't think it's going to get on a ship for a week or so. There are ships leaving today but I don't see how it would have gotten on one so quickly. I don't see any listings from the shipping companies showing a boat leaving Southampton and going to Newark/NYC/Bayonne until the 9th or 10th. If anyone can show me information other then that, please point the way.

 

Yay! One step closer!! As to the shipping, don't fret, that's pretty much par for the course. It takes a day after production is complete to get the car to Southampton, so you're right that there's little chance of it getting on a transport that leaves the same day as production is completed. Good luck getting her(?) across the pond as quickly as possible.

 

Thanks for the support. It's just so annoying that she has to sit there for a week, doing nothing, being bored, twiddling her tires.

 

My experience was Production Complete 4/19, Arrived at port of exit 4/20 and then is was on K-Line's Curitiba 4/24. So essentially 6 days to get going across the pond based on the dates that were shared with me.

I can't tell from reading that sticky on "How to track . . ." whether or not you will see American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier's (ARC) schedule in the WW schedule. There might be something leaving sooner we can't see.

I'd just check that WW site each day to see if you get a hit on your VIN in the interim to keep yourself occupied.

I just realized in looking at those shipping schedules that the Curitiba's arrival date got pushed back from the 3rd to the 5th for Brunswick. Oh well.

Cheers

 

I can see the WW and the K-line roll on/off schedules. I'm pretty sure she'll be on the WW line, I'm thinking the Don Carlos that leaves Southampton on the 10th. If something leaves sooner, then that's even better. I don't have my VIN yet. Maybe I'll email my MA tomorrow and see if he can get it for me. Sorry your date got pushed back. But at least you're close right?

 

That's awesome. Super fast through the build process!

If the OL is to be believed, I've been awaiting transport since Apr 17. If it's any consolation on the shipping wait, I'd bet you dollars to donuts that you get on a ship before I do. I'm pretty sure there are people here who ordered after I did and already have their cars...

Watch and wait is about all you can do...

 

The OL is not to be believed. That still shows as on order for mine. Have you gotten your VIN? If not, call your MA. You can see if you made a WW ship that way. When did you order your car?

 

Quick question. When you go to Owner's Lounge and select 'Track Your MINI' your current status comes up. Have you selected Review Order Detail yet? Your VIN should come up in that view.

 

Yes I've selected Review Order Detail several times. No VIN showing there. I'll email my MA tomorrow and see if he can get it for me. Honestly, having access to all this information is dangerous for me. It just allows me to obsess over it. I wish I could just be in limbo. Then I wouldn't think about it so much.

 

I've been at 'Awaiting Transport' since around the 20th but my MA informed me (and showed me a screen shot of her system that shows) my MINI on the K-Line Curitiba. If OL has shown you in 'Awaiting Transport' since the 17th and are taking delivery in TX, I'd be willing to be you are either farther along or at a minimum you are on the same ship as mine.

 

Sorry. You would think they all would show the same stuff. Hang in there.

 

Yeah in a perfect world...

Thanks for the support. Now to figure out where on earth I can put a spare.