My cousin and her newlywed husband have just moved to Germany. He's stationed there, and I just read a few posts concerning a sweet, definitely-nothing-to-scoff-at, $2000 off MSRP deal fitting his description.

I really want a MINI, and even though that'd be like ...almost a year's wait (production + 6 mo. to ship tax-free), I'd be willing to do it... Does anyone know how much it'd be for shipping? Are there any negatives to this? Other than it'd be really mean for a newborn Cooper to have to wait around for 6 months to be driven...

I've been considering getting one now, but apparently, there's a big hold on them anyway due to waiting for the '09s to come out.

Edit: I have my max config for the MINI set at $30,450, which with $2000 off MSRP is only like a 6.5% discount, but that's like throwing in free NAV...or free Cold Weather and Premium packages.

 

The base price in Germany for the MINI Cooper S is over E22,000. That's about $12k higher than the US base price, so $2k off of that doesn't get you anywhere.

Germans should buy cars here and ship them back, provided emissions on the US model don't prove a problem.

http://www.mini.de/de/de/mini_cooper_s/index.jsp

 

Are you talking about their buying the car through the military sales program, and then later your buying it form them as a used car?

Or just rolling into a german dealer and buying a new one off of the lot?

Gobs and gobs of us have bought them through the military sales program -- which is a pretty sweet deal. It use to include shipping back to the States, but I am fairly sure that's been dropped. Privately shipping it back is somewhere between $600 and $1k (check with EH Harms -- they shipped mine for me this summer and I was pleased with it).

 

I'm talking about the military sales program. It lists the MCS at $19,500...

I think they bonked out the free shipping... That's still not that bad... Do you know how much they charge for destination & handling? There's no configurator (that I can find) on the site I linked.

 

I just ordered one through military sales. The MCS lists for $19,850 (dollars, not Euro) without options...up modestly from the $19,500 listed on the current site. Destination, handling and Title is $284 here in Germany. With no tax it truly is a sweet deal, even if shipping back to the states is extra.

 

in order to buy a mini from military sales, you have to have valid orders here and a DoD id card to reap the benefits. sometimes they offer free shipping back to the states which is good especially when it cost me $2k to ship my R53 here. i bought my mini here and paid lower than what the blue book is now and its a year old.

 

What you also need to be aware is taxes that apply to you in your home state once you try to get it titled.... since your title will be a manufacturer title at first your state will charge you up to 5% of the selling price (don't quote me on this) when you get it titled in the U.S.