I ordered 6 weeks ago tomorrow, and my CMS is currently en-route, scheduled to arrive into L.A. on the 18th. If all goes well, I'll take delivery in under 9 weeks total.

So - pretty impressed for a west coast delivery. I also took an existing production slot, I had a production number 2 days after ordering, and production started another 2 days after that. Longest wait was at the port, waiting for a shipping vessel. That seems to be the most variable part of the process after production starts.

 

STILL haven't heard from my MA, who wrote in an e-mail Wednesday night, "I'll check tomorrow and get back to you." I don't want to be pissy towards him, but that sucks. Do you guys think I should just e-mail him again on Sunday? Or should I do something more?

 

I still hadn't heard from my MA, so I finally e-mailed him last night, and here's what he had to say:

How long does that mean? September? What do you guys think happened?

 

I'm not sure how I feel about this "2012" thing. I definitely would want to start negotiations over. I didn't negotiate on the 2012 price (which I assume is different) or options (which may or may not be different, right?). I'm a little POed right now.

 

Just to add in another thing to worry about . . .

As noted in my Voyage thread - Pure Orange landed in B'more on Sunday, 05/01 - as scheduled. Loaded on a delivery truck 05/05. And he is still sitting at the VDC. I guess it has to do with gas prices, but the truck won't move without a full load of MINIs to deliver to DC. I'm just stuck waiting and no one knows for how long.

 

At this point, I'm not going to get all fussed about it. If they're really oversold or having a production problem, they can damn well renegotiate with me for a 2012 model. I'm not just going to pay whatever the difference in price is and accept whatever the difference in options is. And I'm not going to just accept a 2 or 3 month increase in the delay without some kind of compensation for the difference between what they told me on 4/30 and what the reality is today.

 

I order mine on mid April but I won't got it until mid aug... Thats crazy long ... I don't know why I have to wait so long ... But that's Wt my dealer told me ... (coffee mini all4)

 

I just found out from a different dealer that the model changeover from 2011 to 2012 is going to be June/July and should reflect (his best guess) a 1% to 2% increase in MSRP. Any Countryman ordered now or recently will probably end up taking longer than the 6-8 weeks that people were originally getting and will probably be a 2012, though they don't expect major design changes.

 

OR, I could run up to a different dealer that has 11 CMs on the lot and just buy one tonight...get my $1000 coupon, negotiate a little more on price, and screw the other dealer for being so bad at communicating with me.

I imagine they'd have to give me back my $500 deposit. They just told me I won't be getting a 2011 CM, which is the car I put a deposit on, so there should be no issue getting that deposit back.

 

There are still some dealers that have order spots available and they are still giving out build numbers, so I would guess and say that not all 2011s are spoken for. But in your case tippy, it sure does not look too good.

Isn't there usually a pause in production from one year to the next? At least a few weeks for any new tooling and training needed.

 

So what do you guys think? Buy a 2011 tonight (assuming there's a color and options package I like)? Or wait 10-12 weeks or longer and have a 2012 ordered to my specs?

Remember that I get $1000 coupon if I buy tonight and pay 2011 prices, not the potentially higher 2012 prices. Plus, the guy seemed friendly about free accessories. He said I could have whatever stripes I wanted.

 

They absolutely should give back your deposit. They are usually very accommodating about that in my experience.
Personally, I am pretty impatient and if I could find one at another dealer with what I wanted then I'd go for it. But, I never once found one on a lot spec'd out just the way I wanted, so we have ordered and waited for all 3 of our MINIs. There should be some small improvements in the 2012 and the bench seat should be an option if that interests you, but you will probably pay $4000 more or so for the 2012 from what I've read here and on other MINI sites. If you can get some money off the 2011, then that's pretty sweet.
Sorry, I'm not helping at all with your decision, but you will be driving the CM for the foreseeable future and need to make sure you are thrilled with it.

Annette

 

Those are the concerns that I have, though I don't think the price increase will be that much. I think it'll be closer to 2% than to 15%.

There are several color combos that I think are kickass, and since I can have stripes put on an unstriped car, I can customize a bit that way. I'm going to take a real-life look at the 11 ALL4 Manuals they have on the lot, and if any sings a song to my greedy little heart, I'll buy it on the spot.

Even if I don't get my deposit back (which I will, or there will be hell to pay), I get $1000 break on a car bought today because of my Rivals coupon, so losing $500 at a different dealership is still a net gain of $500. Not to mention the time difference.

I can afford to wait because my Jeep is still running well, but instant gratification is nice too.

 

PS - if the one I want is a demo car, what do you guys think I should ask as a break? It has 700 miles of test drives on it, so I sure as heck ain't paying anywhere near MSRP for it.

$2000 off?

 

UGH! You're killing me! 11 Manual ALL4s on the lot!!!
Nearest: 1 manual ALL4 - black
Next nearest: 1 manual ALL4 - black
Next nearest: 0 manual ALL4

No wonder we're not getting any slack on MSRP!

 

8 weeks to the date ordered Sadie arrived at the dealers. Got the phone call today she is here. Will be picking her up on Thur., still needs her inspection and XZion+ coating. The end is in sight.

 

Just bought a True Blue CM with a white top, MINI Connected, and a few other goodies. Ready for me Thursday.

I got nowhere on MSRP, but I did manage to get an OK deal on the trade-in (32% more than they offered initially), free accessories, etc. And then, when we were all done, I said "Oh yeah! I forgot! I have this "Rocks the Rivals" coupon!" and got another $1000 off the total.

So considering I was a highly motivated buyer and that they're getting calls from all over for their remaining stock (which I believe, given the experience of others and the fact that the other MINI dealer in CT only has 3 or 4 showing on their web inventory), I think I did OK.

Even if I don't recover the $500 deposit (which I think I have a good chance of doing, since they essentially told me the car I ordered isn't available), I still come out ahead.

 

GREAT.

Did you get the tranny, options you wanted? (I can't see how the dealer could keep your deposit since they didn't fufill their half of the deal.)
I know when I first went looking for a CM, I saw exactly the car I wanted at the local dealer. Unfortunately, it was a newly ordered car for someone else. I knew I couldn't get that lucky. All the other CM's in the area were not close to what I wanted, so I have to wait. I'm pretty sure my car is built, and waiting for transport. We'll see how much patience I have.

Good luck with your new car, and be sure to post some pictures.

Mark

 

I did get the ALL4 Manual. That was non-negotiable. I got one of several color combos I liked and an upgraded interior with MINI-Connected, which is more than I was initially going to get.

It also has the fold-flat floor, which was pretty important to me, and racing stripes, which is a less common exterior option that I really like.

Got premium and cold weather packages too, though no convenience package, so I'll have to stick the fob in the slot instead of keeping it my pocket. :(

Oh yeah, and the adaptive headlights. I thought that was super cool but didn't order it on the other car.

 

Hey congratz!! Looks like you will need a new sig!

Oh, and great colour combo.

 

Thanks! And I was working on the new sig when you posted!

Soon I can take a picture of my ACTUAL CAR instead of using stock photos, lol.

 

Congrats! I'm picking up on Thursday too!

 

Congratulations! You will love it!

 

Just in case anybody's following my saga and looking for clues as to what might happen if they order a CM, I wanted you guys to know that the one I ordered was finally given a production number today, still with no direct communication from my MA.

Since I already signed for one at a different dealership on Thursday, I called my MA and asked him to cancel it, which I thought would be OK since it was simply scheduled for production, according to OL, not in production at all. I also called within a couple of hours of the e-mail with the production number, so I can't imagine it was a problem to cancel it.

He canceled it and offered my deposit back with no hassle. So thumbs up again for good customer service and honest business.

22 hours till I pick up my CM!

 

So, it's sort of my first time actually reading through these posts on the site. Posted this in wrong thread originally, so I'm reposting here.

I have figured out a few things from this thread. 1) I should be hearing from my dealer about when they ordered my car (I put the deposit down on 5/4). 2) I should also be hearing from my dealer about access to the Owner's Lounge. 3) I may be hearing from my dealer about delays in production and the possibility of getting a 2012 model instead of 2011. Am I on the right track?