http://aolsvc.edmunds.com/advice/buy...2/article.html

This makes for some very interesting reading.

 

I guess if you don't want to play as many games you can go buy a Saturn or go for a used car (still some haggling over prices). Every dealership is a bit different in how they handle things. Also the product you are buying can make a big difference. Not much markup on the bottom model compared to the high end one.

My last few cars bought were in very high demand and all at MSRP or worse so no haggling possible. Also no real delays. My shopping consisted of one or two days tops. Found something in stock and bought it. Didn't order one that could have taken 4 to 6 months longer. No real complaints about my treatment as a customer-everything ran smoothly enough. Both import dealerships.

I never really felt that the sales person was holding me any longer than was reasonable (but I have had this happen at a Nissan and Dodge dealership in the past-neither one had as low supply as MINIs).

 

having insomnia...so decided to finish reading this article. interesting stuff. i've had many of these little tidbits happen to me. good info for anyone looking to buy a car. thanks for sharing.

_________________
i love trouble-free mini coopers, too bad i don't own one.

 

Insomnia??

 

The local MINI dealer tried it all while I was a hot buyer early last year. "12 month list just to order." "Buy now from inventory and we will only charge our discounted $3500 premium." "No special deals for cash."
Life events intervened and the MINI occupied the backburner until this January. Determined not to deal with the local gougers I shopped by phone finding that Mini of the Hamptons had the right attitude, knowledge and experiences for me. Order placed January 7, arrived at dealer February 14, stuff fitted at the dealer, on a west bound train February 25, arrived Southern California March 11, picked up March 12, California plates recieved March 16.
The experience was tops: no ugly dealer trickery, straight forward discusions, MSRP, no hidden add ons, no surprises.
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

Thanks, good to know. How much was shipping?

 

Note: this is a really really old thread from 2004.

Shipping for many MINIs across country is about $800-900.

I just shipped a small Honda from Indiana to Northern California for $795 and it'll take one week.

Price range on my quotes for shipping were from about $750 to $1250+.

 

I wonder if shipping to Hawaii would negate any cost savings on the deal. Thanks Minihune.

I browsed the club website recently. Looks like you guys have a lot of fun!

 

If the total shipping cost is less than the markup you are seeing in your area, then it might be worth the effort.

There are those that have bought in Hawaii and shipped to the west coast.
Let me know if I can help.

 

Last time I checked, shipping with Matson (blech - they smashed my 71 Mini and tried to gloss over it) was around $1150. Then again, that was several years ago so I would expect that it has gone up. (Long Beach to Honolulu)

When we purchased our 2002 MINI Cooper S, we dealt with Aka Demesu (sp?) at MINI of Hawaii. Aka is no longer there, but he really took great care of us. No BS, just a straight deal. I wish all car buying experiences were like that!

 

Aka is working in the Houston area for MINI and working his magic there.

 

Know what you want and do the research, this way there is no BS. You don't get fast talked into something you don't want. Most importantly, don't be afraid to walk away.

 

Last month it cost me $975 from Long Beach to Honolulu. I also checked with Pasha and Horizon and SURPRISE, SURPRISE, it was exactly the same.

In April of '06, it was $855............ Fuel Surcharge they claim.....

 

when we got the MDX, some little punk at a Nissan dealership was a total slime. Things like "I know all about the car (we were considering the last generation pathfinder as well) so don't give me the standar explanation." Then I got the standard explanation.... Kept hitting the overdrive supression button, not saying anything, then pointing out the pull on the freeway. When we got back, the standard "how much can you afford" crap. We'd pulled in in my restored mustang by the way. I said I could pay cash if they had what I wanted on the lot. Then I said. Here's what I want from you:
1) Let me know what interest rate I qualify for, if there are special deals I might finance.
2) Let me see the list of your inventory, so I can see if there's a color/option match that I like that I could buy today.
3) Stop with the BS, and just tell me the two items above, and dispite your behaviour, you might get a sale.

15 min later, we saw him going on a test drive with another buyer. He'd never come back, but someone else was working the interest rates who had seen us abandoned. We stood up and walked out. 3 days later I paid $41k CASH for an MDX in SoCal. When I got the call asking if I was still interested, I said no, and that the jerk had let a cash sale out the door.

The very same day, we went to a ford dealership. The new explorer was out, but the V8 wasn't availble yet. So I said I could order a car that day, but I didn't want a V6. The guy said, and I kid you not, that the computers didn't work on Sunday and we couldn't configure a car!

Doesn't matter the brand, just the dealership and who they pay to make sales. Both of these could have had a sale THAT DAY!

Matt

 

I can believe it. BMW/MINI centers on the West Coast cannot order cars after 6pm on Sat, DCS shuts down for us on the West Coast. Its pretty stupid. Everything is set up for the East Coast.

 

But the fact that there isn't a local client to do the configuring that buffers till the mother ship gets up from her nap is just STUPID! what do you guys do? take the order by hand with the deposit check and enter it monday?

Matt

 

Matt you are correct we would take the info and place the order Sun morning or Monday.......BMW may make good cars but their IT dept sucks!