Anyone investigate getting a Countryman through Costco's car buying program? At least in my part of the country, the Countryman is in their system, but they warn that manufacturer participation varies by region of the country.

If you can share any stories re buying through Costco, would love to hear them!

Thanks!

I bought a Honda through Costco a couple years ago, and I can say that it's the way to go if you happen to be car shopping with a severe hangover. Wasn't my idea, both of our 12+ year old cars were in the shop and Mrs. Mangler wanted a new car NOW! I recently found a good article online about Costco and other buying services, the upshot was they get you a pretty good deal but if you don't mind a lot of haggling you can probably do better on your own.

With a hot new model like the Countryman, hard to say. Mini probably isn't haggling, but they may not be giving the services a deal either. The new CRV had just come out when we were shopping, and the dealer was selling it at sticker through Costco. Might have been charging others even more, I don't know.

Your best bet is probably to contact the internet or fleet rep at a few different dealers and see if any of them are willing to deal.

Great advice to contact different dealers. The 1st few dealers I spoke with said the countryman was strictly msrp, no discounts. However they were also quick to point out that other dealers were supposedly charging 1000-5000 over msrp. I contacted every dealer around and none were charging over MSRP, but I found one who would give me 850 off msrp so I jumped on it.

where is the dealer that offers below MSRP for a MINI? Can you share?

So let me share my experience with the Auto Program:

When I started shopping earlier this month, I immediately looked at the Costco Auto program first to try and get the best deal. Unfortunately, the closest dealer to me that participated was Rasmussen MINI in Portland (I live in the Seattle area).

I did reach out to them and the MA there told me that while there was no Costco pricing for the Countryman, they'll do MSRP. I talked to NW MINI and they also agreed to do MSRP, so I've been dealing with the closer dealer.

I have heard good things about the Costco program from other people, it just looks like they won't do much for the Countryman.

I think it's really the dealers who aren't willing to do much for the Countryman as opposed to Costco. If the dealers are selling their inventory and order slots without a problem then there is no incentive to give any discounts for Costco folks. I can understand....even though I tried to get a costco discount too with no luck:-)

I ordered my CM at HerbChambers Boston through the Costco program. Essentially sales are so good, the car price is just MSRP. No negotiations. So at least the Costco program knocks a few thousand off the final price. It just about helps to cover the sales tax.

Just as an example, I recently changed my order to add on the auto-dimming side-view mirrors. MSRP is $250. Costco price: $225. Hey, every little bit helps...

I am confused

If it is just at MSRP, how do you save a few thousand? and enough to cover tax?

meaning accesories you buy after are cheaper?

(have been looking at Herb Chambers, but was not impressed with my visit - and they would only offer me $750 off MSRP)

hhhmm... time ot chekc out costco

I was checking the inventory at the various dealers throughout the midwest and saw that at least a couple had "specials" listed on the Countryman as a $1,000 off "downpayment match".

Do you mean invoice?

The way it was explained to me was that you get the 'Costco price' for each line item. Because we were working off of the MSRP for base price and each option, it was fairly straightforward. In the end, it seemed to be roughly 10% off the sticker price. I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but the invoice was about $35K and I will be paying $32K. That savings should cover the sales tax when I register the vehicle. I placed the order after Christmas and am looking at a mid-March delivery.

If you really got 10% off MSRP then you did exceptionally well. I'm a little skeptical however that any dealer would discount a Countryman to that extent at this time. Was a trade involved?

No trade. Maybe that made things a little easier. I'm just going on the fact that in order to be in program, they have to follow the specified pricing.

Costco gets their cars the same place that you do - the dealer. If the dealers aren't discounting due to demand, Costco doesn't get a discount either. OTOH, if Costco quotes you a discounted price, chances are you can take that (in writing) quote to your dealer and they'll match it. But don't forget, Costco isn't doing this for their love of cars - they make money too - so the price you pay thru Costco will be marked up some too.

Everyone wants a "deal", but when a car is hot on the market, MSRP is probably the best you'll do.

I've always gotten my best deal by simply sitting down with my dealer, telling them what I want and negotiiting from there. The best deal is one that results in a sale - at least to me!

Getting the car you want is far more important to me than getting $100 off the sticker. When you drive it off the lot, you're driving a car, not a deal.

As to Carlc42's deal, there isn't that much markup in accessories that you can get $3K off, so however you worked it, good for you - but I don't think it went down the way you said, it doesn't make sense...

Agreed. Doesn't make sense to me either.

Well, even though you say it doesn't make sense, it is what it is. All I can say is, use the configurator to come up with a Countryman with all your options, save it and and send it to this dealer. Ask for the Costco price (you may have to supply your Costco membership number) and see what is offered.

So you said you got the car at MSRP but accessories at Costco pricing and you are saving $3k.....literally that just doesn't add up. Even if you load up the car with every conceivable option the difference on the MSRP vs Invoice Price of the options comes nowhere near $3k. The costco price on any of those accessories is not lower than invoice so I just don't get the math.

Perhaps you are just not explaining it correctly?

The only way I see to get 3k in savings is if you get the car at invoice versus msrp. If he did, then he got a great deal and I feel like a chump paying msrp

He said that MSRP was the base price and the Costco price was calculated from that. Invoice on MINI's is roughly 10% off of MSRP, so I'd take it to be invoice and they make their money on the holdback and any back-end incentives at the time.

MINI does not have holdback, and I can pretty much guarantee there are no factory to dealer incentives on the Countryman right now. I too think something sounds strange here. I can see some dealers in highly competitive markets offering a token $500 or so off of MSRP, but no reason why ANY of them would want or need to discount to near invoice (which as correctly stated is very close to 10% off of MSRP on MINI's). Let's see the buyer's order.

Unless proof is available I just don't believe this one bit.

If it is true I'm gonna cry like a baby.

Amen. +1

No holdback? I would be very surprised if that's true. I'm sure there aren't any special incentives on such a new model, but numerous dealers here in the midwest are advertising 1,000 off.