Thanks again for everyone who responded to my initial post about alternatives to waiting 10-12 months for a MINI with the local dealership in Tacoma, WA.

I'm going for a test drive tomorrow at the local dealership, and have pretty much made up my mind already that I won't be buying from them. It seems like all their inventory is REALLY expensive. I don't know if they're just selling at a huge markup, or if all their inventory is just totally tricked out with every possible package, but their 2006 models are all around $32k.

I talked to MINI of the Hamptons and Classic MINI today and they would both be able to get me a ship date in May (MOTH) or June (Classic) so I'd get my MINI by July.

Both dealerships are selling for MSRP + shipping costs. MOTH told me shipping would run around $1100-1200 and they use open carriers. Classic told me shipping would be $1300-2000 and they use ONLY closed carriers.

Does anyone have any advice about these dealerships, or about the open vs. closed transport used for shipping? My MINI will be travelling across the country to get to Seattle, WA, so I'm tempted to go with the closed carrier just to avoid any possibility of debris flying up and damaging my car en route.

Thanks!

 

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Oho, interesting! I will definitely have to point that out to them. Thanks!

 

I mentioned this in the other thread, too. $500 shipping to Seattle, itemized on the order, MA is Jerry Halloran.

 

Yeah, I was wondering about the $500 shipping thing, which everyone seems to be getting. I'm sure I can get them to lower their price.

 

I have liked my limited experience with Classic. Why don't you fly out and drive it home? You woul dalmost be through the break in by the time you got it home.

 

$500 shipping from MOTH to Northern California for me too. Maybe they're seeing more business these days, and are charging what shipping is really costing them. The $500 they charge doesn't cover it.

Jerry or Mike at MOTH have been straight-shooters with me.

 

Taking delivery of our 3rd MINI (2nd time from Classic) in a week or 2 & I'll be driving this one back to CA like we did #2. Had nothing but good results out of Classic. $1200 or more to ship was too much for me. It won't be costing me that much in gas (even at $4/gal) or lodging and besides, I get to see the country again, all while driving a brand new MINI!!!

I highly recommend Classic.

I did see a post somewhere about a dealer who has free shipping, and MSRP, but I can't remember where I saw the post. Either here or on MINI2.

Good luck,

SkateMom

 

yeah, they told me $500, too.

You should also check with Patrick MINI in Chicago. I just bought mine from there and I'm flying out in May to pick it up and drive home to - guess where? - Seattle!

Patrick MINI has a local dealer/sales officer who works out here and he offered me $960 closed carrier, but I prefered to drive the car home myself (much more fun and cheaper!)

When I ordered from Patrick I got a production number THE SAME DAY and my car went into production the following week. Right now it's on the boat...

Good luck!

 

I am also very pleased with my experience with PatrickMINI. I trade email with my MA (John G.) other couple of days and he has answered every question in a very timely manner.

My MINI should arrive there today and I am taking a train over (about 3 hours away) to pick up the MINI next week.

 

Well cool! Sounds like I should give Patrick MINI a call and see what they can offer.

I'm definitely willing to pay $500 to have the car shipped. As much as I'd like a road trip, it would probably cost that much just for airfare to Ohio or Chicago. I'd consider it is the best shipping rate I could find were more than $1000. I'll have to look into dealers with free shipping, too.

Thanks everyone!

 

$129 on Travelocity Seattle to Cleveland

 

I bought Rory from Classic Mini, started with Julie Saxa and then worked with Mike Snyder after Julie left.
I would definitely recommend Classic to anyone,enjoyed my email and phone contact with Julie and Mike, and was very impressed when I met Mike and co. in person on April 3 (I flew to Ohio from AZ to accept delivery and get a thorough checkout on the car). Everything I ordered was in place and they kept Rory on the showroom floor until my trucker picked him up this week--I'll have him on Wednesday,finally!
I could not take the time off to drive my car back, so I arranged for an open truck to deliver him to me here in AZ for $900. I will leave feedback re the open truck option and its effect on the car after I put Rory in his garage on Wed.
Classic offered me a closed truck option for $1500,but I would rather put the extra $600 into mods for Rory
Classic Mini

 

Use Expedia - they have a best price guarantee!

http://www.expedia.com/daily/highlig...ee/default.asp


(shameless plug... i'm a product designer for expedia... )

 

Haha, no problem. I like Expedia!

Man, now I am seriously considering doing the road trip thing. Since I'm new to driving stick (I drove a manual and an automatic at the dealership today and though I didn't COMPLETELY embarass myself driving stick, I do need some practice ) it would be a good opportunity to learn while driving from Cleveland to Seattle!

Thanks everyone for your feedback! It looks like I will probably go with Classic MINI and do the road trip, if I can get time off from work and actually find someone to come with me to keep me company :D

 

road trips are always fun and what better excuse to spend plenty of time in your new MINI as everyone wants to and you get to break it in.

 

Hubby couldn't take the time off work to go with me and our daughter is still in school with AP tests during that time, so I had to ask a friend. It's like I've always wanted to do it someday anyway...a Thelma and Louise type road trip across this great country! I'm as excited about getting my car as I am about the trip with a girl friend. We don't even have the itinerary planned out, we're kinda winging it. The emphasis is to get to the MOTD, but if the timing is off for that, we'll have a great time either way we go. One thing I know for sure is the stop in Dresden, OH at the Longaberger Basket factory. She and I both collect Longaberger and this is like icing on the cake

 

It *will* cost you more than $500 to fly out and drive back by the time you add up the airfare, gas, lodging, food, etc. And driving boring Interstate highways is the worst way to put miles on a MINI -- even if you remember to vary your speed when breaking-in your engine. Once you get home, you can subtract those 2100+ miles you just drove from your warranty coverage -- just getting the car to your driveway.

$500 to have the car shipped to you is a bargain. Find some local, twisty roads to put miles on your MINI, not the superslab.

 

i (personally) disagree... if you have the time there's some great non-slab twisties between seattle and the midwest.

Pancakex - I'm doing this same trip (roughly) in about a month. maybe we can help each other and compare notes/research on good roads, etc.

I'm using yahoo's maps beta online which allows you to do multi-point road trips - perfect for this sort of planning.

lucky for me, i'm an expedia employee so the airfare/hotels are discounted

ChuckinIndiana gave me some great tips on roads between South Dakota and Spokane, I'm just working on filling in on either side.

you do make a valid point, though, that you will get home and suddenly have put 2500+ miles on your no longer brand-new car. But if it's a car you love, what better way to give it some extra love right from the start!

 

I wanted to take delivery at the dealership, so flying out and driving back. Motoring is about the path less traveled. Part of the fun is finding interesting routes while you're mapping out your trip. The other part is, checking your map, and taking a different turn because it looks interesting.

I can safely say that the LAST thing I'll be thinking about on my drive home is how many miles I'm substracting from my warranty.

 

I also highly recommend Classic Mini and the roadtrip. I live in Ojai, CA and purchased my MCS through Julie at Classic. Flew into Cleveland for $99 one-way, Julie picked-me-up at the airport, drove me to Classic. We test looked at my ordered MCS, test drove it, and finished the paperwork. The next morning I drove south to New Orleans, stayed a few days and then did the drive back to California....3900 miles in two weeks! I did 1700 in the first two days! A great way to get to know your Mini....as has been said...skip the cruise control for a while and vary your RPMs with your foot or shifting from 6th to 5th while on the highways.

Enjoy...we just got this one life to live!

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=66027

 

Hey, I did a little more research and Travelocity's $129 ticket price is actually $143 when you add all the taxes and fees (the exact same price as Expedia's for that flight)! These lyin' cheatin'...

Anyway, Expedia also has a flight for $139 - and Expedia always includes all those nasty little taxes and fees in the price

Just thought i'd share...

 

A lot of times those sites charge you a fee to book with them. I usually use priceline, cheaptickets, ect. as a reference then to go the actual airlines site to book. This way if you have to cancel your ticket you don't get charged by the expedia and the airline if you have to change your ticket. Plus a lot of times the actual airline charges a few dollars less too because they don't have to pay commissions to expedia. Just my .02.