Hi All-

Thanks for all of the good advice these past few weeks....it's helped me a great deal. Please bear with me, as I've got one more question to cast out your way to those who have gone through the ordering experience.

As I've actually never ordered a car before from a dealership, having always bought what was on the lot, I wanted to find out a couple of things. Aside from having to put down the $1000 or so refundable deposit to order the MINI, does one also go through the credit/financing stage at the time of placing the order at the dealership, or is that done once the car arrives 6-8 months later?

Just 'awonderin'

Tony

 

The credit and financing items are taken care off typically when your car is on it's way from the factory to the dealer. I took care of mine the day it arrived on the dock and then I picked up my car about a week later (the day after it arrived at the dealership). If you are planning to trade a vehicle in you may need just a little longer lead time for it to be appraised etc.

You'll enjoy the car tremendoulsy. Trust us!

 

>>The credit and financing items are taken care off typically when your car is on it's way from the factory to the dealer. I took care of mine the day it arrived on the dock and then I picked up my car about a week later (the day after it arrived at the dealership). If you are planning to trade a vehicle in you may need just a little longer lead time for it to be appraised etc.
>>
>>You'll enjoy the car tremendoulsy. Trust us!


Thanks for the quick reply. Was wondering how that all happens when the car you're interested in taking delivery of is scheduled to arrive so far in advance.

If you don't mind me asking - did you arrange your financing throungh MINI? If so, how are they? Are they flexible and willing to work with you?

 

If you don't mind my asking, where are you getting your MINI from? I can speak from experience Giles is the finance guy at Sterling and was probably one of the best auto finance guys I have ever dealt with. He not only explained what each charge was and what was done on the paperwork, but also why each thing was done the way it was. I've purchased several cars, but the process there was the least confusing.

We handled the all the financing when we picked up the car. However my advice to you is to shop around, MINI Financial's rate was ok, but we got a better rate from our bank. You might also want to try LendingTree.com there were a few people here on MCO who got decent rates from one of the lenders there (not me though). Your other option is a credit union.

 

We filled out paperwork the day we ordered, but were told that we had up until the time we actually pick up the car to decide if we wanted to go through them. Our MA even let us use his phone to call our credit union to check their rates. He told us what their best rates were, and that if we found better we should go with it. After you give your deposit, he gives a receipt with the price of the car, he said we could give that to the credit union and they would cut the check for that amount.

 

>>If you don't mind my asking, where are you getting your MINI from? I can speak from experience Giles is the finance guy at Sterling and was probably one of the best auto finance guys I have ever dealt with. He not only explained what each charge was and what was done on the paperwork, but also why each thing was done the way it was. I've purchased several cars, but the process there was the least confusing.
>>
>>We handled the all the financing when we picked up the car. However my advice to you is to shop around, MINI Financial's rate was ok, but we got a better rate from our bank. You might also want to try LendingTree.com there were a few people here on MCO who got decent rates from one of the lenders there (not me though). Your other option is a credit union.

Am hoping to order mine through the good folks over at Mini of Sterling. Am also a member of a credit union here in town, so will shop around for best rates once I've placed my order.

 

Actually, am planning on putting down my $1000 shortly to place my order. Then, am figuring on smacking down an addtional $7000 or so in cash by the time the car would arrive in the Fall, along with a credit on the trade-in of my current car (valued at $2500 - $3000) leaving me to finance the difference - roughly about $12,000.

At least, that's how it's all looking on paper as of now. :smile: