Greeting all! As befitting this area of this forum, I'm new here and this is my first post! Here's my story: I've got a '99 Mazda 626 and I'm bored out my freaking mind with it!! The wife suggested it was time to get a new ride so I've been looking at my options in the hybrid, sedan, "family car" -type rides. Blah. For the past couple of day I've been on the MINI site maniacally constructing my RG MCS and it's really starting to wear on me that I can't get out there and take a test drive until next weekend!! Here's the plan: since the wife wants me to explore all my options (regarding cars) and not get tied in to one particular model, soooo....I'm gonna get her behind the wheel for the test
drive. I figure it'll be all done except for the paperwork at that point. heehee


As for the Virginia/D.C. contingent here on the boards, has anyone got any experience with Crown Mini in Richmond? I was wondering how they are in regards to sales, maintenance, and possible overcharging on the "total price" on the Mini website? I'm not adverse to going to No.VA or maryland to get a car, but I'd just as soon go to the dealer 5 minutes away.

Thanks y'all!
Ashley

 

I Bought mine from Crown back in March of 02 and Nov of 02. Salesman at the Time was a Gentlemen named Barry. Great guy to work with and yes he would bend over backwards to work with you. Since then ive been in and out doing my own mods but getting parts and other things. I've always had a good repore with them. Currently the Main Sales person is Kelly also a Nice young lady to work with.

As for the Service department. It seems a Hit or Miss sort of thing. For me I've never really had a beef with them. Since i use to be a Mechanic and i know things that can come up depending on the repair. That can be out of the control of the shop causing delays or very minor things that can be missed which is mainly cosmetic touches more than physical. That i would have them fix since i know what im looking for. I've heard others had MUCH MUCH worse experience from them than me.

As for Overcharging not really but that all depends. They do things by the book which is a give or take sort of thing. If the book says it takes 3 hours to do a job and it takes 30 mins.. you are charged the 3 hours, But on the same respect if later they do the same Job but due to bent, rusted ,.. etc problems incountered and the job take 5 hours to complete you are still charged for only 3 hours. Main problem with this type of shop (unless you know the mechanic) is when doing Combonation jobs. For example(this did not happen but can) Lets say you were replacing the Transmission book says takes 5 hours and you also brought in a set of Drive shafts to be replaced which takes 2 hours. Since the Drive shafts have to be removed to replace the Transmission you would think the labor charge should be only the 5 hours since no extra work had to be done. This is incorrect you would be charged the full 7 hours for the work. But if you let only the Mechanic know about the Drive shafts he may put them in at no charge and the bill will show only the 5 hours of labor instead of the 7.

Only Beef i can say i had was when i pre set a repair date since the place know i work at night and was my only tranportation (there shuttle doesnt go to my house). Is that when i came to drop off the car for the repair is that they weren't ready. The parts weren't all order for the repair so they werent all in. They didnt have a Loaner that was also pre-setup for me to drive. But like always i try and have a back up plan. Call my brother to come pick me up and borrowed a car from my sister for the week. Which i also Pre-Set up just in case this would happen.

As for MSRP. I bought it when they first came out so it was AT MSRP no over. Havent really looked at the prices since then so i can't say.

The local Richmond club is River city Mini's there sight is www.rivercityminis.org drop on over give out a shout and you can get more responses than just from me.

 

I was going to buy one there but they wouldn't budge on the the $399 "processing fee". I don't even want to talk about the "paint sealant" for $599. Why should I pay $399 for some guy to do his job? I was going to pay cash and not finance. I ended up spending $320 of the $399 I would have spent on two plane tickets for my wife and to fly to SAn Antonio. I will be taking delivery of my MINI June 14 and driving it back to Richmond. Nothing like a good road trip. By the tme I get back it will be broken in.
Justin

 

Don't forget about Checkered Flag in Virginia Beach. They charge sticker (no mark up) and don't add anything you don't want.

However, they do have the processing fee to deal with the DMV, other state stuff, etc.

Of the 7 that work there (Sales Mgr, Finance, 4 MA's and a lot attendant), 5 own/lease MINIs... so they buy what they sell!

 

thanks for the responses guys! Yeah, i know how the usual repair department "charge by the book" jobs. Doesn't seem like a benefit to the customer, but then again I suppose it's not supposed to be. That does suck about the "processing" fee; I hate that nickel-and-dime crap. San Antonio seems a bit far to go though . The checkered flag in Va. Beach would probably be a good bet. I used to live behind the Lowe's at Rosemont and Holland when I was stationed in Norfolk. It'd be a good chance to get back to the old neighborhood, and it's great to hear that they treat you right.

 

I just thought it would be a great road trip. Wife did too. She has never been there.

Justin

 

I bought my Mini at Checkerd Flag in Va. Beach also and the entire experience was excellent! Really great people there! (My MA's name was Simon. )

 

i second checkered flag, thats where i got mine. the 4 hour drive was worth it!

 

I will third Checkered Flag, after having had some experience with Crown. The sales people at Checkered Flag are way more enthusiastic than those at Crown.

 

Sweet. Sounds like it's decided then. Looks like the wife and I will be rolling down to the beach on Sunday.
Y'all tell me if this is strange...say a fella (at this time) doesn't know how to drive stick and want's to order a Mini. Would he be crazy to test drive an auto, and if he really liked it, order a manual and learn to drive stick before it's delivered? Just wondering, cause...uh "this guy" I know is in this situation. :D

 

When you get to Checkered Flag, ask for Jason Reidy and tell him Chad sent you. He's been great to work with, and actually owns an MCS.

As for the auto/stick dilemma, no, "this guy" would not be crazy to test drive an auto and then order a stick. Many people here will tell that the manual transmission is the way to go, and might also tell you that learning on the MINI would be great.

 

Hey guys,

I'm in a similar situation... might be going from an Acura TSX to a Mini. I've been talking to a guy at Mini of Towson. Any expirience with them? He seems like a good guy, been pretty easy to deal with so far. I'll probably go out to Mini of Sterling soon to test drive since its the closest to me, but I don't mind traveling a bit to buy it. Any expiriences with either of them?

 

I've been dealing with MINI of Sterling and they are incredibly pleasant. My MA is a bit difficult to contact by email, but very nice in person. Plus, they put in the order for me right away, which held my space in the line, even though I had not yet picked out all the specs -- which was incredibly convenient!

 

Well due to a change in plans we didn't make it down to Checkered Flag on Sunday. However, we did get to Crown on Saturday!! It kinda started off on the wrong foot 'cause when we pulled in apparently parked on the "BMW" side of the lot and got jumped by a salesman over there. Upon hearing I was interested in a MCS, he proceeded to ask me what he could do to get me into a Bimmer. Well after that and more perpetuating of all the bad car salesman stereotypes, we walked over to the Mini side of the house. Much better over there. We were helped by Ashley (who is quite good looking and who's last name I can't remember, wife's got her card though), who put us in a PW MCSa. WOW! What a fun ride! I stuck with the original plan of letting the wife drive first, and it payed off. She really liked it, in fact at one point she said we might as well get the leather seats if we get one! It was kind of nerve-wracking riding with her cause she missed the light turning green at every intersection cause she was messing with every control inside, and turned around looking at the back seat. Going into the test ride I was worried that the runflats would give a ride that would knock my fillings loose, but turns out it wasn't bad at all. And I particularily love taking that on-ramp from 33 to 295 at excessive(?) speeds and merging into to traffic. Man, that thing got going fast far before I realized it, the road noise was almost unnoticeable. Altogether a very fun car.

The wife was pretty worried about the prospect of a baby seat in the back seat due to the fact that there's (virtually) no trunk to cushion the passengers in a crash. Has anyone got a link that addresses the safety issue of children in the car? Just wondering. Unfortunately now I/we have to look at other cars (Prius, Honda, etc.) so we get a better look at what's out there. But I already know what I want , dammit!!

Besides, I read that Consumer Reports debunked some car manufacturers MPG claims, like the hybrid Civic getting 23mpg vice the supposed 46mpg. Things that make you go, hmmm...