Names changed to protect...everybody
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 558
Likes: 2
From: Middle TN
Had a similar situation.
My dealership A is about an hour and twenty minutes from my house. It's where I first stopped to test drive and pick their brains. I told them I was just looking and getting questions answered and that I would buy from whoever gave met he best deal. The MA scoffed at me and said "With MINIs, the price is what it is." They were decent in answering questions but nothing really outstanding. Also, the cars they gave me to test drive were literally running on fumes. The gas warning light was on the entire time on both models I drove and I got less than 10 minutes in each one. I found that to be sorta rude. *shrug*
When I called dealership B(which is two hours away), they talked to me on the phone for half an hour, told me how many slots they had in their build, and that the still had a priority one slot open for July. I drove up there a week after I was at A and signed the papers.
One week after signing my papers(two weeks out from test driving at A), dealership A contacted me for the first time to see when I wanted to come down and sign the papers for my car since I had emailed them my build from MINI's site the day that I test drove. I explained that since they were unwilling to negotiate price and I hadn't heard from them at all that I chose to go with another dealership. They tried to tell me that they had already ordered my car and acted incredibly put upon that I went with someone else. To me, that just reaffirmed why I went with the other dealership. There's no way that they got a car into production that quickly and no way they would build a custom order car without getting their deposit from me. Hell, even if I DID go with them, I had made changes to the build when I ultimately ordered it.
I'm extremely happy that I gave my business to the dealership that's further from me even though it's going to cost me more in gas. It's moot because I received a thousand times better service and got a better price over dealer A anyway.
My dealership A is about an hour and twenty minutes from my house. It's where I first stopped to test drive and pick their brains. I told them I was just looking and getting questions answered and that I would buy from whoever gave met he best deal. The MA scoffed at me and said "With MINIs, the price is what it is." They were decent in answering questions but nothing really outstanding. Also, the cars they gave me to test drive were literally running on fumes. The gas warning light was on the entire time on both models I drove and I got less than 10 minutes in each one. I found that to be sorta rude. *shrug*
When I called dealership B(which is two hours away), they talked to me on the phone for half an hour, told me how many slots they had in their build, and that the still had a priority one slot open for July. I drove up there a week after I was at A and signed the papers.
One week after signing my papers(two weeks out from test driving at A), dealership A contacted me for the first time to see when I wanted to come down and sign the papers for my car since I had emailed them my build from MINI's site the day that I test drove. I explained that since they were unwilling to negotiate price and I hadn't heard from them at all that I chose to go with another dealership. They tried to tell me that they had already ordered my car and acted incredibly put upon that I went with someone else. To me, that just reaffirmed why I went with the other dealership. There's no way that they got a car into production that quickly and no way they would build a custom order car without getting their deposit from me. Hell, even if I DID go with them, I had made changes to the build when I ultimately ordered it.
I'm extremely happy that I gave my business to the dealership that's further from me even though it's going to cost me more in gas. It's moot because I received a thousand times better service and got a better price over dealer A anyway.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
Similar experience the 1st dealership i went to was a little pushy about selling me the test drive hardtop used W/17k miles, tire, gas, and service light flashing. When i explained i had wanted roadster they insisted i needed a countryman for my family i explained I needed a commuter its me and a backpack after 15 mins of arguing i walked out. The 2nd Dealer actually explained that roadster was not available yet to purchase or test drive and explained that they had a coupe for "fit".
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
Well...guess what. Everybody wins. B(altimore) went down the $400, I didn't have to make the goofball drive through the DC beltway midday to A(lexandria), so happy--Baltimore are lovely people to deal with AND local. That was 930am; he just called me (12pm) to tell me he secured me a build slot. Props to MINI of Manhattan for trading that to Baltimore. And props to Ray Shefska at Baltimore for doing right by me. And thanks NAM people for such great advice! Now you have another member who will probably be squeeing watching the car go port to port. (And by the way...I don't actually use the word 'props.') And as you can see, I'm happy to name the dealerships now that everything's copacetic.
For curious people:
MCSc PW/B, manual, PW dash (don't know why I love that part so much), carbon black color line (looked more interesting than the anthracite, and costs a whopping $0), black wheels, cold weather, tech with nav, black headlamps/xenon with the inevitable white turn signals, and a big whopping :D from me...
For curious people:
MCSc PW/B, manual, PW dash (don't know why I love that part so much), carbon black color line (looked more interesting than the anthracite, and costs a whopping $0), black wheels, cold weather, tech with nav, black headlamps/xenon with the inevitable white turn signals, and a big whopping :D from me...
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
I did the same thing although I would have REALLY preferred if they offered a COLOR line that matched my car since they only seemed to offer red, brown, white, gray, and black. :/
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
Is it weird that I got a production number the day I ordered? Or is that cool? Or is that just how things go? When I plugged it into the owners' lounge it yelled at me that I was too early and wouldn't let me register. Had to give it a shot 
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
The day I went up to the dealership to order my car, I had a production number before I even got home. Too bad the space time continuum is proven to screech to a halt the moment this happens. Trust me, the past 6 weeks have been decades.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
So if I go order five MINIS, I'll live to be 180 years old ??
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: New York, NY
I got a production number right away and when I registered with the OL it showed different information than my actual car. From researching it here it sounded like this was a good thing, since it meant it was originally a dealer spec order which was already in the system, but hadn't actually gone into production yet. So they just change the specs and I take that spot in line.
Unfortunately, unlike most of the people I had seen posting their car going into production the next day, mine ended up taking a week. And now it turnes out the plant is closed for two weeks (this was the first week they were closed, so one more week of shutdown to go). So it turns out my car is just going to take forever. I've learned to live with it.
While I'm getting a Countryman so we're talking about the Austrian plant, I heard elsewhere that the plant in the UK was closing for a month. So you may need to adjust your expectations accordingly!
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: SW Ohio
God forbid someone should make $400.00 profit, (do you have any idea of the operating expenses involved running a dealership?) and I assume your time is worth nothing to you as well. Not to mention keeping you purchase local. Please drive the extra distance, then I am sure you will badmouth the local dealer for not giving you a loaner car, even though they told you in advance that loaner cars are for the loyal customers who purchase their cars from them. And people say car dealers are jerks.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
I hear ya! I think that's might have been why I like the pepper white dash so much.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
to which he responded, "Yes that is normal they do that every August, but your car becomes a priority because it is a sold car. I’ll keep you posted as to its progress."
Still nothing but great news, though. I still can't believe the thing is ordered!
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: San Diego County, California
OP is doing what consumers do, weighing choices. Dealers weigh choices too, and badmouthing consumers is one of those.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA