Hi
What should I expect from the sales manager and or finance manager when I pick up my new car?

 

They had something like 6 packages offered. Ones I can remember:
- Wheel / Tire protection
- Paint Protection
- Extended Maintenance
??

They didn't push them very hard, just asked if I was interested while signing all the paperwork.

 

Depends on the dealership, doesn't it?

But you don't have to buy any of them, don't be easily swayed - do your homework and come prepared. Then if something makes sense to your particular situation it's there and available for you to take advantage of....

 

Agreed, it was a simple "want this? no? okay...moving on"

 

I was surprised that they didn't try to sneak anything into my contract. Most car dealerships I've dealt with I've had the finance person try to worm something into the contract without my realizing it.

When I bought the Mini it was all very straightforward except for one thing, she first offered me the usual wheel/tire insurance, extended maintenance, etc...no pressure, no BS, which I declined but then she offered me gap insurance. It was slightly misrepresented. She told me it would only be 11 dollars a month and I could cancel it at any time. I was thinking about it and almost bought it but at one point while we were estimating what my payments would be I mentioned offhand something like "well, they'll start off at $X but then when I cancel the gap insurance when my car is no longer upside down, they will go down by 11 dollars...." and then she was forced to explain to me that no, my payment would remain the same till the end but I would get a check for the unused balance which would be a couple hundred bucks, but it would not lower my payment in any way even once I canceled it. I felt that she presented it to me in a slightly misleading way but given the experiences I've had with finance managers in the past, I shouldn't really complain.

I've had finance managers try to add as much as 300.00/mo. to a car payment that should have been about 250 bucks. Yep, that's right, I had one present to me a payment of 550/mo when it should have been 250. But that was a ford dealership back in the early 90s. My experience with Mini was a lot better.

But I'm still very wary of finance guys at dealerships. That's where you have to be the most careful because most people let their guard down by that time thinking that all of the negotiating and wheeling and dealing was already done with the salesman and now they're just signing the papers as a formality and often they don't pay attention and get things added without their knowledge.

 

Honda was the worst. Note there is only one new Honda on my list below. I'll never forget that day. It was he ll.

My MINI experience with FLOW was fantastic. No pressure.
I decided to sign up for the extended maintanence based on I had spent the first two years of my newly married wife trying to keep cars going.
I just wanted out from under, have somebody else worry.

It was fairly expensive but gave me a breather.

I have no had any warranty issues in fact this has been more reliable than my honda which was bought new also. So I'm glad I didn't sign up for the extended warranty which was very expensive.

 

At MINI of Baltimore, they do the dealer add-on BS for things you do not need like nitrogen filled tires for 120 bucks.

 

It was pretty easy at NW MINI when I picked my car up this weekend, extended maintenance, extended warranty, wheel protection, paint protection, gap insurance.. I don't remember if there was anything more.

I'd already had the paint protection (clearshield) installed, and she actually refused to sell me GAP insurance because of the size of my down payment.

I just said no to the rest of them for now, I can always extend the maintenance and warranty later if I want.

 

I got the maintenance package because they gave it to me for dealer price without me asking. Now if I could just get them to go down on the extended warranty...

 

The real money at car dealerships is made at the finance desk selling the extras.

My take on extended warranties - If the car is giving me that much trouble I won't be keeping it anyways. Most money people will tell you extended warranties make the sellers money, why else would they offer them. Most consumers will not need the coverage. Just say NO whether it's a video camera, TV, fridge or a car.

It was easy at MINI, one sheet with all the offers and a simple NO from me. The NO was easily accepted and no sales pitch had to be listened to.

I had a dealership sell me GAP when I had a huge down payment on another make. I did not do my homework and let them push GAP and extended warranty on me. Woke up the next week, read the fine print on how to cancel, and canceled both. That felt good.

Went in to MINI prepared to say NO and did, that felt even better.

GAP will be cheaper thru your insurance company, if you need it.

 

My finance lady didn't try to sell me anything. Actually... she shook her head no as she asked me if i wanted them.

 

The Wheel/Tire warranty or whatever but I want to get rid of my runflats anyway, the usual extended warranty (again, we chose to deny that option because we didn't want to end up voiding it if we are going to do mods to my car) and Gap insurance which we did get...just because you never know!

 

Hi
Picked up my CM on Friday at Prestige MINI. Ther whole experience was perfect. Bob my MA went over everthing and answered all our questions. The finance manager did not try to "sell" anything. She just went over all the options without one ounce of pressure. Just purchased the tire warranty.
Just love the car and would recommend Prestige MINI.
Barry

 

Get everything in writing or watch out !
I have been waiting for over two months for a set of white racing stripes and was told by stealership that I would get a loaner car that day to have them installed . Got a call yesterday from stealership and they said stripes had finally came in , but no loaner car . Now i must drive 2 hours to stealership . Have to get up in morn. at 5:00 am to make it to stealership . Talked to salesman & he said a car will be there for me to use . Why do you have to have all this hassel for something plain and simple = service for the consumer . Thats what Mini is Missing ! The whole Boat !
El Tiger

 

Tried to get me to buy the Extended Maintenance-$1799, Tire Replacement-$999, Ding Shield-$499, Key Replacement-$259

 

You don't "have to" do anything. Have the stripes mailed to you and find a local installer.

 

My experience has been pretty awesome with my dealer. My MA didn't try to sell me a single thing I didn't ask for. When I asked about extended maintenance and warranty, he actually soft sold them. He said he thought they were a good deal for some people, but reminded me that I didn't have to buy them with the car and I could do it any time before they expired.

As far as financing, I came in with a kick-butt pre-approval from my bank, so their finance folks are currently playing a game of "can we beat that?"

I'll update if there's any funny business that happens when I actually go to pick up the car.