Any update on the EPA hold up with certification? Spoke to my MA re: the October 1st release date to the US....Cautiously non-optimistic was the result. My car will be finished this week, but I most likely will not see delivery to sometime early October due to the EPA B.S.

 

Congrats on the BMW 328. It's a nice sedan. I had one for 6 mos., and sold it outright...I did not like the car....It's a sedan, and just not for me. It cannot perform like the MINI nor does it have the personality. But for a sedan, it's nice. What color? Most of these are silver w/black interiors....

 

Hey D.D. welcome to the club! Where is your MINI gonna be parked for the next couple months? I keep googling BMW/MINI press releases to see what they say, but nothing shows up yet.

 

I wonder whether there's a good contact person in the EPA. Maybe we could convey some sense of urgency, or at least get accurate updates.

 

Becky1711...Thank you for the club welcoming! MINI will most likely be parked in Elizabeth N.J., Veh. Proces. Center till the EPA releases it. I expect it to be shipped when complete as long as I miss the factory shutdown. Near as I can tell, the shutdown will occur the third week in August. Wanted to take a tour, but was only offered dates of next week and the final week in August. No dates were available the third week of August, so perhaps this is the shutdown.

 

I had a business trip to London a couple years ago. 3 months in advance tried to book a tour for the week I was there, but no openings. I was bummed. That was October, so no room on a tour could just mean they are booked.

 

I sold my car today and will have not ownership of a car until my Mini comes in October.

 

What did you sell? My '09 MCS was sold a week after placing my order. I had another vehicle to drive, but didn't plan on needing to drive it quite so long

But still think it was better to sell; I would have needed to do the front brakes by now and I didn't like the risk of something going wrong -- though the car did fine for the five years eight months I owned it, but I did fear the cost of repair post end of warranty coverage should something have gone wrong.

 

06 PT Cruiser with 146K miles on it. This is the buyer that I was going to sell my car to; he bought the car for his daughter before school started, when I thought I was going to have mine in the next week or two. If I did not sell It to him at this time, I was going have to found a new buyer which I did not want to do.

 

Looks like our "port queens" have company. Some folks talking about a possible EPA hold on some BMWs too: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?p=8504047

 

I was told that EPA randomly picks x amont of cars each year to do this testing interesting same company? Does the big 3 ever get pick for EPA holds?

 

I left my MA a phone message asking whether he knew of any plans for Mini to somehow "compensate" those of us whose Mini is here but subject to the EPA hold. October delivery is definitely not what he or I had in mind when I ordered the car!

We spoke this morning and his comments were interesting: this issue has been discussed at the dealership and they do want to offer something that will keep us interested. What that is, he didn't know yet.

To me it seems that Mini may have instructed dealers that they are to handle "customer relations" with their customers. Mini's not going to get directly involved with the dealer's customers. If this is correct, Mini will have to offer something to its dealers which they may or may not then pass on to those of us who are affected by the hold.

I hope this situation becomes clearer soon, but for now we can't ignore the possibility that we will have to renegotiate the purchase prices once the cars are released for sale.

 

There was a Saturn Sky on one of the used car lots near my house in June. I could have driven that car all summer.

 

Gee--head on over to the Little Rock MINI dealer and you can have a new (never-titled) one with 500 miles on it.

 

I work for the gubment. If a government agency gives a time estimate and lives up to that date it doesn't happen very often. The are not like the dealers, who want to get the cars delivered and financed. Better hope somebody in Mini has some juice with somebody in the EPA. We need lobbyists!

 

You had this idea?

 

Me? Nah, never. You have to walk around the thing to get to the front door, though.

 

I now have 10/8/14 on the review order, and it also has the following disclaimer "This date is only an estimate. contact your dealer for specifics."

 

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but there now is a $250 Owner Loyalty credit available on the 2015 hardtop's if you finance with Mini Financial. It says it runs through Sept 2, which is mildly ironic, but when I pointed out that this would be impossible to fulfill I was told they only show the promo's a month at a time and it would be there in Oct.

I'll likely grab this, then refinance with my credit union which is oddly giving a 1% rebate back on car loans refinanced with them -- and still offering the same 1.5% rate on loans up to 42 months.

 

Yes, BUT I believe you must keep the loan for 3 months before paying it off to get the $250.00. Even at the minimal amount of financing, which is $7500.00, you will pay more in interest for the three months than the $250.00. Buyer beware...No deal here with the $250.00...............

 

Math was not your major? Three months interest is not $250, not even close.

But I will check the terms. But in CA, there can be no prepayment penalty, and once the credit is given, which if not given at time of financing, it's an easy pass. And never seen a loan that can't be paid off right away.

FYI, here's a cut and paste of the terms:

The MINI Loyalty Royalty Credit of $250 is available to past and current MINI customers. Offer valid to customers who enter into a new contract of new 2015 MINI Cooper Hardtop or 2015 MINI Cooper S Hardtop models with MINI Financial Services August 1, 2014 - September 2, 2014. Qualified customer must have owned or leased a MINI within 12 months of the new contract. Loyalty Royalty Credit offer valid for qualified customers and not everyone will qualify. All new contracts are subject to credit approval and other requirements. This offer assumes excellent credit history. This Loyalty Royalty Credit is available through authorized MINI dealers to qualified current MINI customers described above and eligible individuals residing in the same household as a qualified current customer (proof of residency required) and is non-transferable to other family members or friends residing outside that household. Offer limited to one Loyalty Royalty Credit for each eligible vehicle that is returned. Offer may be combined with other offers unless otherwise stated. Offer is non-transferable except as provided in these terms. Sample lease payments of $232 per month for 36 months based on MSRP of $22,550 which includes automatic transmission and destination & handling fee of $850. $2,557 cash due at signing is based on $1,600 down payment, $232 first month payment, $725 acquisition fee, and $0 security deposit (not all customers will qualify for security deposit waiver). Tax, title, license, registration and dealer fees are additional fees due at signing. Lease financing is subject to credit approval. Lessee responsible for insurance, excess wear and tear as defined in the lease contract, $0.20/mile over 10,000 miles per year and a disposition fee of $350 at lease end. Purchase option at lease end (excluding tax) is $13,981. Payments do not include applicable taxes. This offer assumes excellent credit history. All figures presented are estimates only. Actual MSRP may vary. Lease offer not available in Puerto Rico.

 

OK.......Than I am mistaken. However, the MA was reinforcing to keep the loan for three months for no reason at all??? It then becomes a question of ethical practice..No?

 

I suppose there are some ethics involved, but a loyalty credit really should just be given period in my opinion. But I'll give it some thought when the time comes. October seems a long way away today ...

 

Mine's now showing 10/9. Is that progress, or just teasing?

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2014/08/...nis-in-the-us/

I'm sure some of you have read this already.

I'm sure the expectations of receiving the car by X date and now having it pushed a month+ is such a disappointment to you all. But if you plan on driving the car for 5-10years another month after it passes will seem like such a small wait and in the end will be worth it. I hope things speed up for you all!