Hey everyone,

Kinda new to the forum and the MINI car scene

I'm really interested in getting the JCW 2011 and I decided to design my own.

2011 John Cooper Works Hardtop
Color

B24 Eclipse Gray Body Color

ZCV Convenience Package

382 White Roof/Mirrors

473 Center Arm Rest

522 Xenon Headlamps

White Bonnet Stripes

JCW Aero Kit Cooper S

That's about all I wanted done on my JCW at the moment...

and this is the invoice online ---> $34,521.00 with everything included above without tax and title

This is gonna be my very first new car that I have bought on my own and I'm located in Houston, TX.

I was just wondering if everyone thinks this is a reasonable price or should I try and bargain with them? I'm not sure about how much to bargain for or even how to bargain... but that's why I'm here trying to get the advice of you wise people =)

 

I too am interested in knowing this information also but here's a similar thread that is currently discussing "negotiations" when building....

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-building.html

or you can view the thread I started for information on what others paid for their JCW

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-2011-jcw.html

 

You can't really bargain with them when you custom build it. Sounds like a good build though!

 

First, make sure that you are aware in advance of any incentives from MINI Financial Services, along with the current finace rates (assuming you are going to finance through MINI FS). These incentives are outside the scope of negotiations.

If you walk into the dealer and know exactly what you want, and you are serious and ready to place an order, then they should work with you. Let them know that you are ready, and will work with whichever dealership has the best deal. And/or you can have a printout from the configurator in hand, and tell them exactly what you are offering for that exact build.

Discounts can be geographically specific, so I'm not sure what the market is in Houston. But I would expect that $500-$1K off MSRP is very reasonable, plus whatever incentives are available through MINI FS.

If they know that you've done your reasearch, and are a serious buyer, then you will be in the best position to negotiate. If you act unsure and uncertain, then they will have the advantage. Remember, they do this for a living.

 

Respectfully disagree with this feedback. I've been getting discounts on custom ordered BMWs and MINIs for many years. Even when the market was at its peak.

 

Agreed. I got nearly 2K off MSRP. To put it another way, I split the difference between MSRP and dealer invoice. I'd recommending get a ball park for MSRP by using the configurator. Don't forget to consider the extra cost of any dealer-installed items you may have selected. Then go to a site such as Truecar.com to find out what the invoice is for your build. Good luck!

 

I second that. In February I ordered a 20011 BMW X5 and paid $200 over dealer invoice. Or in other words... I goth the car for more than $6000 off MSRP.

BMW and MINI want you to custom order cars. That is the way they are set up to do business.

 

You got that number from the configurator?

The aero kit is actually less than waht the configurator says. They haven't cahnged it on there, but since April the aero kit is $1500, so your MSRP is less than what you got up there.

 

It is getting kind of close to the line with getting any more 2011 JCWs. They seem to go through in batches. Mine is in production now along with a few more guys on here. I was lucky that my car got moved up. I am just guessing, but I would think there would be only one more batch before the 2012s come out.

 

Everyone has been so helpful! Thanks a lot!

JackMac, CannedTuna, Biggripper - Thank you for the great advice on how to negotiate with the dealer

nykwan - Thanks for letting me know how much the kit costs now

Spice Orange JCW - Do you happen to know when the 2012's are coming out?

 

I ordered mine with the mini connect with nav. I made it in to this months production and I ordered at the end of April. The month of June will see no cars built with the mini connect with Nav. Since there was no way I was going to take a car without it they told me that my build might be pushed to July which would have made it a 2012. So I think July would be the cut off for builds. Again, I might be wrong. Maybe someone else will chime in. Since you do not have that option on your list you should still be able to get into a June built car. This is as long as your dealer has a spot open in their allotment.

 

As mentioned above, a lot will depend on the dealer's allotment at this point. Going solely on my purchase last year, I'd say you should still be in the 2011 build cycle. I ordered my MCS in July and it arrived at the begining of August. They were still taking 2010 JCW orders at that point as well, and said that all orders were still making it in through mid-August.

 

Jack - I was just wondering what the incentive part means? I went to truecar.com and it said this about incentives and bonus cash and rebates....

"Up to $4,450 in customer cash, bonus incentives and rebates are available for the 2011 MINI Cooper Hardtop.

When available, customer cash and dealer incentives can have a significant impact on a car buyer's ability to negotiate a great deal. If you are negotiating the purchase of a new Cooper Hardtop on your own, TrueCar recommends keeping all rebate and incentive information in hand until you come to an agreed purchase price for the specific Cooper Hardtop you want to buy. Better yet, avoid negotiation altogether and leave the handling of MINI customer cash and dealer incentives to TrueCar, as we factor these values into all of the Cooper Hardtop pricing automatically."

Would you find information on the incentives at miniusa.com?

 

Spice Orange - Did you get the mini connect w/ nav free along with the 0.9% financing incentive? How do you feel about the nav? Also how much was your tax and title on the car? sorry it's the very first car I'm buying and I have no idea how much tax and title should be

 

aw man. they're not taking any more orders for the 2011 models, so I have to wait till the end of June in order to make an order for the 2012 and then I won't get it till earliest September.

 

Hmm..don't feel bad I'm going to be in the same boat as you....


Or I may hold out until they have any good incentives and order around that.

 

You could have your dealer do a search around the country and see if there's one out there matching what you want. Can't hurt.

 

I do not have my car yet. It just entered into paint this Tuesday morning. You must realize that those incentives are when you pick up the car and not when you place the order. So if you place an order in the end of may you might not get the car until July and would have to see those incentives. As for my Mini connect incentive I did not get this since I leased the car. I did get 1000 dollars off for a event they were having and 700 off because I wanted to pay no more that a certain price a month.

 

ah okay that makes more sense...but when you place the order, do they already have the invoice ready for you on how much the car costs with tax and title? My understanding is that if i order i have to place a $1000 deposit, but i was confused as to whether or not the price would be negotiated already?

 

When you talk to the dealer, you negotiate the price. They can tell you exactly how much it'll be including the tax, and title. Then you put down $1000 and then they place the order.

When you car comes 6-8 weeks later, if there is a promotion going on then that you qualify for, such as you ordered premium package and the promo is premium package is free, then you would then get that knocked off the price you originally negotiated. Its kinda of a gamble when you custom order a car though cause you don't get the promotion when you order the car, but when you take delivery. So thats why you just cross your fingers and hope to hell the promo is there again by the time your car comes. I had the JCW suspension negotiated into the deal on the assumption and gamble that I'd get the Premium package for free back when I ordered in March. I was so happy when the package was free again in May!

 

That was really helpful to know! Now I'm kinda iffy about custom ordering =/

If you don't mind me asking though.... what did you end up paying for your car? I would like a a total to work with. I've done edmunds and it was 35k



the invoice at one of the dealers

 

Any clue what changes/improvements the 2012 JCW might bring?

 

From all that I've heard there shouldn't be any major changes to the 2012 JCW....

 

There is a huge variance in Houston's three dealers. One, the newest, is the most likely to work with you on price and finding one that's already built or in the pipeline. The second newest MIGHT work with you. If you go to the original H-town dealer, hold on to your wallet.

 

Do you also live in Houston? I've tried going to clearlake and they weren't willing to negotiate at all. Momentum seemed to be a bit more receptive to giving discounts.