As more and more Mini's are seen on the roads of Alabama; one would think a dealer would see the $$ potential of a dealership. After all, the majority of the profits a dealership makes is on SERVICE. The idea that Mini doesnt want a dealership is Alabama is questionable. How else could Atlanta have 2 so close together? Profit share? I think not. When the time comes for service I'll make it back over to Union City, and call it a Road Trip.

 

Tom Williams wants a dealership & has allotted a parcel of land for it in their massive dealership complex. It is truly Mini who won't let them open one. Makes no sense to all of us either but that's life here in Alabama

 

Jeff at Global explained to me that MINI wants to control the trickle of cars, and they were happy with the amount of dealers and didn't want any more.

Put that way, it doesn't bother me as much. For example, the PT Cruiser was a waiting list car when it came out. Now, each of us probably sees twelve on a given day.

But yeah, the parent company of Global, TW and Nashville ought to let their MINIons service what they've sold.

 

Tom Williams even told us that they were willing to train their service techs to work on Minis & open up a Mini service bay at their BMW dealership. We petitioned Mini to let them do it but MiniUSA said

 

I know we are just kicking dirt on this subject.. but I'd like to know MINI's rules on who gets to be a dealership. I thought the bottom line to be profit, and the more the merrier. I wonder if the other current dealerships in TN and GA might play a part in this matter. Tis' life in Alabama? Yeah.. but I like it here.

 

I had heard, from two different sources, that TW service quality ratings were not up to MINIUSA standards. No tellin' whether its true or urban legend...

 

They are getting a shiny new dealership in Nebraska this month
Glad for the Nebraska folks but man it really ticks me off for us Alabamians.

 

So- TW cant win approval for a Mini dealership. There are other potential dealerships in the state that might be able to meet the criteria for a Mini department. Why not approach the others and suggest that they start selling Mini's????? I was going to contact the Century Automotive Group in Huntsville with a such suggestion.

 

Century wanted it but could not get it. At least that is what my wife was told off the record back in '03.

Now they don't seem to have the room even if they wanted.

 

Century could make room. Buick is no longer made, along with the Isuzu Rodeo. Century still services both, but that's it. (I own a Isuzu Rodeo, so I know that there is nothing new coming down the pike. and btw- Izzy has been parked ever since I got Miranda..lol)

 

They could get rid of Land Rover and Jaguar also. Who actually buys those? The old ones were good but the new ones..............?

They need to keep Porsche. They sent me an invite for a test drive so I'm waiting for a nice day then head up there to find a Cayman.

 

This may be old news & who really cares but I just noticed this week that the name of Hank Aaron Mini has changed to MINI of South Atlanta.

 

Thanks for the headsup on the name change for Hank Aaron Mini. That's were Miranda came from...

 

But is it just a name change or is there new management? If it's just the name then I can continue NOT going there

 

I have given both Global & Hank Aaron a try. I prefer Hank Aaron. I am not going to Nashville as it would add 50 more miles to my drive each way

 

Well, I had an "experience" with Hank Aaron. And after the poor customer service I dealt with with my Audi, my new policy is 1 strike and you're out

 

You will run out of Mini dealerships pretty quickly with that policy

 

Well, once I'm out of Dealers I'll have to modify the policy then

 

Back in January of 07. Hank Aaron mini was sold to Nally Automotive group.
I wonder if Tom William could buy a mini dealership and bring them to Bama...

 

If I gave up on a dealership because of one snafu, guess I'd be able to afford a new car every year. Yes, I'd like a dealership in Alabama... Huntsville, Birmingham, whatever. I had to take my Isuzu Rodeo in for repair today... the gentleman next to me had his BMW in for repair. He informed me that my 'love my Mini' attitude will wear thin once the warranty expires or 50k and it cost 6k to have the electronics replaced. Hopefully by then, all the kinks in the new version will be worked out and I'll upgrade.

 

How odd I mean did the BMW guy think you were poor or something because after all he is driving a BMW & by his comments his "love his BMW" attitude will be fading also as he faces the same or greater repair costs when his warranty expires. I hope my MINI runs long after 50K as I have no desire for the new MINI & don't exactly consider them an upgrade at their current state of developement (of course that's just my humble opinion)

 

Actually the BMW guy was talking about the 6k 'he'd' paid to have his BMW repaired (electronics going bad, leak in the radiator, electric window motor going bad, etc). When I told him I'd had my Mini since November, with less than 10k on it.. he replied 'oh, you don't drive it do you?'.... if I could have shoved him out of the shuttle van, I would have. I'm very pleased with what I have.. and intend to take proper care and not drive it into the ground. Sometimes I wonder if I should have gotten a 'S'.. but all in all Miranda is the best thing I've ever done for myself, with no regrets. The BMW guy's attitude is pretty typical of those I've met. They seem to think they are so much better than most. As a Mini owner I've enjoyed getting to know other Mini owners, and I'm proud to say that no matter what walk of life we come from, we're all 'family' when its comes to owning a Mini.

 

When I went to pick up my Rodeo from Century Automotive (btw-they said they couldnt find the problem and didnt charge me either... surprise surprise).. I spoke with someone about Century Automotive Group getting a Mini dealership. (There was a Mini sitting out front that had been traded-in on a BMW. 'What were they thinking?' ) This person suggested that I email George or Tracy Jones owners of Century and make the pitch to them. (gjones@centuryauto.com or tjones@centuryauto.com) Since this group has won so many nationally recognized awards for outstanding dealership, customer satisfaction, etc.. one might think that MiniUSA would see them worthy of a dealership. Always worth a try. uh?

 

Tom Williams is owned by the "Sonic Corporation " which owns Mini in Nashville as well as Global in "HotLanta " plus dealerships all over the state and more . If Tom Williams now wanted Mini ( they did not in the past , Sonic turned down the line because they did not feel the demographics in Birmingham would support that investment and their funds needed to be chaneled towrd more inventory for BMW and Lexus) they could not get it because Mini will not ok that line extention as of yet , not enough production and they want a Mini building for sales & service which two sites are in line: 1)were the employee parking lot is now , between BMW and land Rover . 2) on the side were the car wash is on BMW lot. I worked with Tom Williams, yes I own a MINI -S cabrio, earlier this year and did see several Mini's being delivered by BMW transit for Demo's as well as orders being taken ,they did service my Cooper with oil change and tire rotation .

But being a dealership was in the air as of June 2007 but no set ground breaking .

Funny how they side skirted the issue when i brought it up , but management all looked and talked about my Mini , how many were in Birmingham ( they have figures from Nashville and Hotlanta ) and how Birmingham would and could support a dealership ........but no comitment to when !

 

Tom Williams being a MINI dealership has been in the air since I ordered my MINI in 2004 They did want a MINI dealership in the past. They were supposed to have it finished & built by March 2005, then it was pushed back to June 2005, then to June of 06. TW proceeded to take orders for MINIS & even delivered a few of them in May 05 before they found out MINI would not let them open a new dealership. We even staged a mini MINI sit-in in June 05 & had a long talk with the BMW manager/head dealership honcho (I forget his name). The manager told us at that time Tom Williams wanted to open a MINI dealership & even had a parcel of land set aside in their complex for it but that MINI USA would not let any new dealerships open until the Oxford plant expansion was complete. FF to 2008 & we are still patiently waiting & I know of only one new dealership that has been allowed to open in all that time