I'm about to pull the trigger on a Clubman S but hate, hate, to pay MSRP. Any suggestions, recommendations, experiences?

Any help is very much appreciated!

 

You could just tell the dealership that no car company is getting MSRP these days and you refuse to pay it, but in a polite way. Or you could do like I and many others did and get dealerships to compete for your business. If they know you're willing to drive a little farther to get the best deal then they'll be likely to deal. At this point I wouldn't accept anything less than $1k off the MSRP of the car.

 

Thanks! I'm gong to mail my configuration to dealers in a 200 mile radius and see what happens.

 

The more you spend the more you will be able to negotiate. I bought a pretty base model but was still able to get $1200 off. That said, some of that was in extras I was going to add anyway like bonnet stripes w/ installation, Mini brand cross bars for my factory roof rails, and a few other small things plus some cash off as well. They are more likely to "discount" with free items you may be buying anyway than to give you lots of actual cash off. Don't expect to pay MSRP now though. Not even MINI Coopers are selling for MSRP now for the most part. Good luck and enjoy.

 

Or instead of mailing your configuration all over the place, you could go to your local dealer - the place that will service and warrant your car for the next 4 yrs/50k miles - and negotiate a deal that you feel is appropriate on a car they have in stock.

You get your car right away, they get a new customer and maybe get to continue in business for a while longer....and you get to form a good relationship with a local company and support them.

It's not ALL about the price.......

 

Knocking 1000 or so off the MSRP is not the way to do it. The dealer will complain and moan and eventually say OK, making you feel guilty in the process, and they'll still be making a lot of money on the deal.

#1. You MUST be ready and able to walk out of the dealership if you don't get the deal you want.

#2 For #1 above to work, you must come in educated and know what you're willing to pay and why.

#3 To accomplish #2 above, you must research the actual dealer cost of the car and any options you want. Once you have the actual dealer cost in hand, add 500 dollars and make your offer. They'll say no way. Hold your ground and then offer 1000 over dealer cost. You might go 1500 over dealer cost but the car's got to be worth it.

#4 Know ahead of time whether you really want the extras a dealer will then offer you. For instance, undercoating is a rip off and frequently causes more problems than it solves. Upholstry treatments are way, way over priced and you can accomplish the same thing with a can of Scotch Guard.

#5 Stand your ground and did I mention be ready to walk if you don't get the price you want?

 

It all depends on how many dealers you have nearby. If you only have one Mini dealer nearby, you're at their mercy. If you've got the luxury of a few, you can bounce around and play them off each other.

You can only negotiate if you've got a strong hand, i.e. multiple dealers and/or lots of inventory.

 

Hello All,

I to am in the market for buying a Cooper S 2010.

It has Cold Weather
Sport Package
Pano Roof
HK Sound system with BT/iPod
English Oak
Metallic Racing Green
Some other minor bells and whistles

MSRP is 28k

Dealer offered $26,470

I am offering $26,000

What do you think?

 

Well first of all, there are a TON of incentives now - up to $1750 off depending on what it has on it, pretty good interest rates and more. They are knocking off either $1750 (if it has premium package), $1250 (if automatic) or $500 (if cold weather).

 

Thanks fellas. I'd really not buy one off the lot and I think that's making it difficult to get much off of MSRP.

It is about the money though, I'm not interested in a "relationship" with a salesman or the dealer, really. I want a good price.

In my mind maintenance is a completely separate thing. If I pay full price are the techs that do my oil change really going to do a better job? I doubt it.

Thanks so much again.. I'll keep you all updated!

 

Thanks All,

Looks like I and my wife will be contributing writers here. They agreed to $26k and are throwing in some extras (Union Jack Roof Decal, floor mats, and side mirrors decals).

I will post some pics when we take possession.

Cheers,

btw KV I was juggling 4 different dealers and they don't like to move much around here in MD/VA.

 

Not too many Cooper dealers in most areas of the USA so good luck , unless you fly to dealership and make a deal over the internet ! Good luck !

 

Dealer offered $26,470

I am offering $26,000

What do you think?[/quote]

You're offering 98.22% of the dealer offered price. I personally would be shocked if the dealer doesn't accept your offer. Just my $0.02. Keep up updated, and good luck.

 

You're offering 98.22% of the dealer offered price. I personally would be shocked if the dealer doesn't accept your offer. Just my $0.02. Keep up updated, and good luck.[/QUOTE]

Original was 28k----got roof decals, custom mirrors, floor mats for 26k.

It has cold weather
sport
BT/iPod
HK sound
English Oak interior trim
Pano Roof
And some other toys

 

Congrats on your purchase, I'm sure you'll have lots of motoring fun. My original reply to your thread was a bit disjointed, but as I said I would be shocked if the dealer didn't agree to a 98.22% counter to his offer.

 

Valentines Gift for wife.

 

OMG, that's a great V Days gift, I can't wait to read your posting of what the wife gives you next year for V Day

 

The most I've been offered on a custom ordered car is $500 off. Seems light, what do you all think?

 

Hum only $500 bucks in our economy . I would settle for one off the lot or a good used one . Would have to be A R56 newer 07,08,09

 

We really want a new car and there are no built cars that meet out criteria, believe it or not. If $500 off is the best we're gonna get I fear mini ownership is not in our future.

 

Call MINI of South Atlanta, ask for Amanda and tell her WMW sent you. They have some deals cause they have so many cars in stock that they can give you a REALLY GOOD deal, and beat that $500 no problem.

MINI of South Atlanta
677-478.4666

 

You could buy a low mileage demo or used. I got my 2009 JCW Clubman for around 12k off sticker. It was one year old with 2840 miles on it, perfect in and out (actually much better condition than the 2009 JCW Clubmans (Clubmen?) I looked at on the show floor of my local dealerships.

 

Where the heck are you shopping? I had a manager actually yell at me and was mad that I would not let him make a counter offer to another deal. He actually put in print I will undercut the other dealer by $1000 after he had already low balled twice..

I live in MD btw.

His attitude was so poor I said no thanks and sacrificed what could have saved me an additional $400 dollars in the final deal.

We are picking up my wife's new toy on Saturday.

It will have:

Bristish Racing Green (metallic)


Options

ZAH
ZSP
ZCW
Black Bonnet Stripes
Black, White, & Silver Union Jack Roof and side mirrors
Dual Pano
HK Premium Sound
BT & iPod Adaptor
Floor Mats
English Oak Trim
Leatherette


Cooper S

Under 26k

MSRP ended up over $28k

Forget Towson btw I don't know how they stay in business. Poor CS rep and pricing wasn't even close.

I am actually thinking about buying another Cooper JCW for fun driving to offset the MT x3 I have.

I'll let you all know (and pics) once the deal is closed.

 

Simple. Buy dealer stock off the lot, buy a car that has lots of options and accessories, or buy an untitled demo.

Ordered cars are a whole different story. I mean, why should a dealer give you a hefty discount ($1,000 off msrp or more) for an ordered car just because you hate, hate to pay MSRP? They'll just laugh, laugh you straight out of the dealership, eps if it's a dealer with not a lot of nearby competition.

Good thing you didnt try to buy one a few years back when msrp was the rule not the exception. but back then the cars were not so devalued as they are now, due to increased production numbers, a higher percentage of used MINIs on the road, over-incentivizing, and the ball-busting attitudes of cheapskate potential owners with deep pockets, short arms, and unrealistic expectations.

 

Now, that is a more realistic number.