2014?

 

@hammerhands

I'm going out on a limb here and going to assume you lost all train of thought and just threw the year in there for good measure?
But if you are seriously asking.......

Then YES , it is 2014.

 

I agree that August was not particularly good for mini dealers. It would seem to me that sales are not what they expected. Not here in southern California anyways. I was able to order a 2015 Cooper S this weekend with $1700 off Msrp plus an additional $500 mini credit.

Dealers in the area still seem to have quite a bit of stock of 2014s they are trying to get rid of. I am sure I could've gotten a 2014 for even less but I didnt even consider a 2014. Not to mention, it seems dealers here are ordering an abundance of stock minis. Come mid October, I would expect even more minis available as dealer ordered 2015s are released and finally arrive on dealer lots.

I would imagine many buyers are hesitant to buy 2014s on dealer lots when they know 2015s are already on the mini website.

 

There are plenty of F56 at dealers around SoCal. I don't think it's because of delays or redesign. MINI is no longer the only player in premium compact area. The competitions have caught up to MINI!

 

Really? Who?

 

Ford is the major competitor to the MINI these days I'd say. The Fiesta ST and Focus ST are both awesome cars. Mazda to a lesser extent. Fiat below that.

 

I have to agree with D.D. I looked at the little Ford, and it is not bad. But it is sure not at the Mini level for looks or quality. But my biggest problem with the Ford is were it is made,.... Mexico. I can't believe the people on the assembly lines in Mexico care about quality knowing they are paid less then Americans or Canadians.

 

GTI is the only one that I can think of. The Fords are not MINI level yet.

 

Gti is also made is Mexico I believe, Gtis are just a bit dull to look at.

 

People buy a Mini because of the whole "Mini culture" -thing they promote and the only vehicle somewhere near that is the Fiat. I'm not talking about performance, I'm talking about why people spend money on a new car. That person is not saying, "Gee, a Ford Fiesta or Focus could be just as much fun". They're buying a Ford because Ford is in their mind, cheap and safe. The Mini is not even on that person's radar. Again, this has nothing to do with specs, it has to do with why people make buying decisions: Emotion and perception.

Mini has done a very good job of identifying their brand with an exotic, fun, edgy driving experience and that's what people are buying into and buying it for.

No clue what sales are like but every time I have been at our dealership, they have lots of inventory and also lots of people talking to the sales reps. They might as well be printing money on weekends in there.

 

+1

I went and looked at every car I deemed to be competition for the F56 (Fiat 500 Abath, Ford Focus/Fiesta ST, VW GTI, Mazdaspeed 3) and the Mini won mainly due it's interior and stellar Mini driving dynamics. My daily driver is an R53 so I'm not coming into the brand "blind".

We put an order in for a base model a few months ago... only a few weeks left to wait

 

I liked the Honda CR-Z.

 

I recently got a chance to drive the 14 hardtop. Wow. Could not believe how much they improved the ride quality. Pricey but really nice!

 

I'm sure all of us would readily choose the MINI over the competitors, otherwise we wouldn't be here :P Just based on my experience with my friends who used to be MINI people but have moved, they've all gone to either Fords or Mazdas. A few went the Fiat route but only temporarily.

Actually, you can toss the FRS/BRZ up on the board too. I personally would have gone with a Miata had it gotten better gas mileage.

 

I'm thinking the numbers will increase, because, let's face it - you have to be STARK RAVING MAD to buy a first model year of a car with a widespread reputation for poor reliability. Utterly nuts.
And I am, and I love love this car. Damn the world, let them catch on late or not at all. Looks great, rides great and the cabin fits me like a glove. The Harmon Kardon sounds fantastic; the dynamic chassis control works like a charm. The LED lights are superb. Blah blah blah.

 

And don't forget about B48's awesome powerband where the near/maximum torque kicks in just off the idle at 1250 rpm and pulls hard all the way until the rev limitter retards at 6000 rpm. Then, it awards with you easy 35+ mpg if you are being easy with your right foot. This new sweet mill (first ever 100% BMW for MINI) is my favorite part of the 14 MCS.

 

What he said. When you get into the $30k range for a compact car it's all about the image as much as specs/performance. Ford Fiesta? I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Abarth maybe, but not Ford. I rented a Mustang recently and man that was a freaking SLED.

 

I'm an old guy. Is being a "freaking SLED" good or bad?

 

It's generally used in negative ways when describing cars - old, big and heavy. Not fun to drive, like many American cars made in 50's or even later.
Old folks should know!

 

A Sled in yachting is a very fast downwind boat.
Typically long, narrow, light, capable of surfing, and has an abundance of sail area.
READ E Ticket!!
One of the new Jags would be closer to a sled in my mind,
certainly not a mid sized overly horse-powered Ford.

 

 

 

No a sled in car terms is just a sled. You know what that is.

 

The Car Salesman's Dictionary:
Sled/TurdA junk car.
Now, does that epitomize a Mustang?

 

Mini F56 sale are down because a lot of the cult hardtop followers already made the move or waiting on the 2015's. The new to Mini buyers are having a hard time justifying the price for a tricked out S in the mid 30's.

It's a lot of faster and really nice cars in the marketplace in mid 30's + price range for people to consider.