Hello all, I'm brand new here, but didn't see anything in the searches so thought I would throw a question out to all you experts. Has anyone purchased a mini via the USAA insurance auto buying program? They currently have a $1000 off deal if you buy through them....this is on top of other dealer discounts. I think I have the wife convinced to let me buy a new countryman all4 and I'm ready to go order one (fell in love with the car after the first, second and third test drive...never test drove a car 3 times before, but it was just that much fun!). I was just wondering if anyone has used USAA to purchase and if they have any advice, or suggestions NOT to use them. I've got 2 dealerships here in the Colorado area and am thinking they may be able to get me a better deal.

Thanks!

 

I researched buying a JCW Coupe using their car buying service but the discount was only $250 and I believe it obligates you to finance thru them.

For a thousand bucks, may be well worth it.

 

Thanks for the info. It's now a 2 part deal. $500 for financing and buying through them, (1.49%) and another $500 for personalizing the car. I already talked to the dealership and they will honor the personalizing portion just by bringing in my proof of insurance. So, it looked like a decent deal on top of the dealer discounts. I think I may loose out on it though if I order one instead of getting it off the lot as I think the discounts go away at the end of the year and it looks like it will take 90 days to get a 2013 from Austria, but I'm not thrilled with the few models on the lots around here. I'm too picky!

 

I used usaa price to negotiate. Got $1000 off, plus free armrest ($250) and not normal event voucher $750 for total $2000 off. And MINI .9% financing. Have you used the usaa website? I think the usaa price is now at least $1500 off 2012 CMS base model. I wish I checked usaa site before I picked up my car cause my MA tried to bluff not honoring the voucher.
I'm not sure about 2013 models. You can also have usaa do the negotiation for you. Knowing what I know now, I'd shoot for at least $2500 and the MA's lunch money.
And if they install wheel locks and want to add $95, tell them to take them off. $95 wheel locks for criminy sake. No way.

 

Thanks for the reply! Yeah I've went to their site multiple times but think I'm now to the point where I need to call them and ask specifically about 2013. You got a great deal.....I hope I can get somewhere near that. I'm really excited about getting the lunch money! My MA has said that if I get one off the lot without using USAA for the purchase, I can still use the USAA $500 coupon, the $750 Not Normal coupon, and their $400 standard off MSRP and the .9%, so not quite as good but not bad. I would be happy to get one off the lot, but I don't like anything they have.

Glad to hear it worked so well for you. Thanks for the advice on the wheel locks. I'll watch for that one! If I get anywhere with USAA on the 2013s, I'll post it here. I can hardly wait to place an order....3 months will really drag by though. It's the first time I've been excited about a car in over 20 years.

Thanks again!

 

My situation was different. I started to do the application on the USAA web site till I noted the interest rate was 1% higher than via the dealer. Well considering I was having problems getting the options for the car entered on USAA site and the interest rate I canceled out of the USAA site and applied for the loan via Mini's site. The next day the Mini Dealers USAA guy called the next day and just told me I'd get the USAA Discount on the car no matter who I financed through. He even offered to work the USAA site to get the options I was getting factored into the discount. I saved right at $1,200 off the final price of the car. Apparently when you give USAA the name of the dealership they notify the dealership your coming in and in my case Mini honored the USAA discount on the car. My disclaimer I was buying the last 2012 Clubman they had on the lot, full of 2013's which may have worked in my favor. I insured the new car thru USAA and was surprised when the coverage for my 2012 Clubman S was cheaper than my 2008 MCS, granted it was just a Dollar cheaper but still...