Try this on for size: I'm told out of luck ordering a 2006 as the company is sceduled to re-tool the production lines for the 2007 cars. All the remining production slots for 2006 are filled.

So I say I'll take a 2007, as the new turbo sounds exciting and I personally like 95% or the other changes as well. So I plopped down some cash to wait in the que for my turn to design my car and send in the specs. I'm told it should be about 12 months from now before I actually physically get my car.

For me, it works. But I can see how the usual buyer used to a huge lot of availible new cars could be frustrated by new car sales the Mini way.

On the up side: New car production just keeping up with demand makes these cars desirable and they seem to hold their value in the used market as well.

 

Oh wow, are you OK with that? Ya know you could try another dealer, possibly out of state. I know that some don't have a queue and can usually start production pretty quick. Just a thought.

 

I actually am.

I am on scedule right now to be completely debt-free by February, 2007 (except for my mortgage). No more Volvo payments (I bought a pair of 'em, two years ago), no credit card balance, no student loan and the second on my house (used for remodeling and landscaping) is finally gone.

I was originally looking to go for a used car within the next 6 months. I'm willing to delay my gratification a bit longer for a brand new Mini of my own design.

By that time I will also have about $3000-4000 in savings that I intend to use as a down payment on a new Mini. I will be financing the balance... wich is debt, I understand... but with no other bills to pay, I will be easily in a position to handle it (and probably pay off the new car over a 24-36 month period).

Well, that's my financial master plan in a nutshell.

 

Oh that's cool!! Very smart of you!

 

[SIZE=2]Came into an inheritance, paid off the mortgage, no credit card debt to speak of, buying the MINI outright and enough left over for a tidy nest egg. Life is good if I could only get a production date.
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I ordered on 8/2 and was told "worst case scenario" would be 12-15 weeks.



Okay, fine, whatever.

So two weeks later, the Owner's Lounge has no production date, and I just talked to ASK-MINI and they say the order is "confirmed" but they don't know yet what week I am.

Frustrating.

I deal by only allowing myself to call them once a week, because then there is more chance of there being some sort of change