Hi all,
Just joined the forum for some input from MINI owners before I actually go through with purchasing my new MINI.

I am looking to get a new 2012 MINI Cooper S Hardtop manual transmission. A few days ago I testdrove one and I loved the feeling. I also like the decent price tag, the great gas mileage and unique feel of the car. The responsiveness of the pedal was remarkable and coming from a very used Honda Accord 2000 EX, it felt awesome driving (obviously).

A have a few things I'd like clarified and broken down a bit so I have a better idea of what I am in for before I actually buy.

I am looking to finance.

What is the process of ordering/customizing/buying a new MINI? I took a look at the main website MINIUSA, and built one the way I would want it...According to the website, it comes to just over 26k. That would be the MSRP right? So theoretically speaking I should be able to get it for 25k at most right?
How does the whole process work like with the dealerships? I take a printout of the features I would want and then talk price? Is that how it works? I also heard it takes 8 weeks to build

Any advice about getting the best possible price in the NY/NJ area? All input would be greatly appreciated.

 

How much, if any you can get off MSRP depends on when and where you are. There have been times in the past when a premium over MSRP was normal. Things seem to be better these days, it depends on which dealer you go to.

Take the printout to a dealer and ask an MA (Motoring Advisor) about it. They'll put it in their system, they'll customise one of their upcoming allocation to your specs. A MINI only takes a week to build, but it takes a while for it to get into production, and then a while to reach the US. When we ordered the first one, the wait for production was months, and even longer at the dealer which sold for MSRP. Later MINIs have taken shorter times to get into production, one was started the day after the order was placed. Our latest took a few weeks, but the dealer had run out of allocation by the time we ordered.

Once the MINI has been built, it'll take a few weeks to arrive, I think its a 2 week sea journey to the East coast. Here on the west coast it takes 4 weeks, then a week to arrive at the dealer.

 

Thanks for reply. I figure it all depends on luck as far as how soon they can get me a car...

All the cars I have seen purchased by my family and friends have gone at least around a thousand or two under MSRP...so I hope I will be able to accomplish the same

Really hoping someone here knows a great dealership around NY/NJ that is easy to deal with and gives good prices

 

I believe the Costco buyer's program can get you one with an MSRP like that for nearly a thousand off, if you can find a dealer that participates in it.

 

My 2011 MCSm took six weeks from order to delivery here in Iowa.

 

Hmm 6 weeks sounds like what I would expect probably

Also I am intrigued with the Costco Buyers Program, time to do more research
Thanks for the input

 

I bought my Mini @ Mini of Mt. Laurel, but that might be a bit of a haul for you. Princeton Mini is good and so is Mini of Monmouth.

 

Thanks yeah I test drove with Monmouth they seemed nice...but I didn't price with them yet