Howdy.. I've been lurking this site since I stumbled upon your Mini rally at Deals Gap early last month. Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves.. do you know how much money you're fixin' to cost me..

Regardless, after a test drive at the Mini dealer in Winston-Salem, I was all but hooked. To make matters worse, I happened to drive by the Mini dealer in Greenville, SC the Sunday before last on my way back from a vintage m/c rally in the mountains of north Georgia. Although I didn't stop at the time, I did check out their website when I got back to my home in easter NC that evening. Their "Current Inventory" of "S" models on the lot showed two hatchbacks built exactly as I would have ordered one, so I sent 'em an email.

The next morning I get a call, and the sales guy tells me that no, they don't have any '07 "S"'s with the automatic transmission (really bad knees), but that he would be glad to take my order. No kidding, I thought.. I thanked him and told him that should he get a car in that was close to the description that I'd emailed him about, to give me a call...

.. the phone rang at work yesterday.. the bastiches!.. They'd just received a S hatchback with all of the options that I would have ordered, and none that I would not have ordered, and the car was (IS!) available. I asked him to fax me a copy of the window sticker, which he did, and I decided to go for it. I kicked it around last night and figured, what the heck.. it's only money..

I called him this morning and promptly put a thousand-dollar credit-card deposit on the car to hold it until I can get over there this weekend. I honestly didnt' think it would last until Saturday if I didn't put a depost on it.

Then he faxed me a buyer's order form to take to my credit union, and it showed two "added accessories" that we had not discussed:

• Their "Delivery Package", which includes lots of little goodies like floor mats, etc ($599)
• Their "Ultra Shield Package", which includes the clear vinyl covering for all the front surfaces to protect the car from rock chips/etc. ($799)

I called him back.. beginning to feel like I was trying to buy a new car or something .. (I've hated buying new cars worse than anything other than jock itch my entire life..). I asked him about the two additional costs, and he explained that the "Delivery Package" is a routine add-on that they put on all their cars (added profit), and the "Ultra Shield Package" is optional, that I can buy the car without it. Ok, I'm thinking, maybe this isn't such a bad deal after all. Of course then there's the obligatory "Document Fee" of $325, which incenses me since I know from spending a short period in the car business that doc fees are nothing more than added profit. But they have become standard practice, and I don't see any way of getting around paying it.

So.. full retail ($31,300), plus $599 Del Pkg, plus $950 NC sales tax (fixin' to go up if our state senate has its way), and I'm in the car for just over $33K.

My question to those of you who've bought new S Hatchbacks is, am I getting bent over and lubed, or is this pretty much the standard way Mini sales are conducted? I honestly don't see it as a bad deal, since - 1) the car is available now, and 2) I'm not paying over MSRP as I understand some folks in the western part of the nation are doing (is that true?)...

...but I can't help but wonder..

Any advice and/or comments are more than welcome. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up the car this Saturday..

BTW, FWIW, the car is SS/Redwood Lounge/Roof in Body Color/Convenience, Premium & Sport Pkgs/Chrome Line Interior/Piano Black/Rear Fog Lamp/Hi-Fi sound system/auto trans. What other dealer installed/sold accessories should I consider before I leave the lot?..

Wish me luck!.. (I told y'all that you were going to cost me some money...)

Chris in NC

 

You are not getting a REALLY bad deal, but you can probably talk them out of the $599 dealer package and get them to throw in free mats. It really depends on the dealer though. Just last week, one dealer here wanted me to buy a $2000 dealer package! When I say no, they told me I may be better off buying it elsewhere which I did. I ordered one yesterday from Amanda at South Bay Mini a vendor on this forum without dealer package.

If you really don't want the dealer package, I suggest you tell them. If they won't do it, shop around. When you found one, you can always tell them the car you want is at Greenville, SC.. and they can get it for you unless it is sold already.

 

You should be able to drop the "delivery package" and choose the dealer-installed options that you really want: IE Floor Mats @$95., wheel locks @$45., etc. The Greenville dealership is owned by the same group that has Global Imports in Atlanta, and while the Greenville folks are less arrogant, they still practice the "delivery package" sham they use in Atlanta - excessively priced mark-ups to increase profits. My favorite dealership in the SE is MINI of South Atlanta - ask for Amanda. They can likely deliver a car to you for less than the Greenville dealer is quoting.
Remember that you also pay sales tax on this add-on.

Good Motoring

 

I was immediately offered and paid MSRP. The delivery package they want you to take is obviously a rip-off. I would say "hell no".

You should note (and probably even tell the guy) that rubber floormats are a default throw-in. I didn't even ask for them and at some point during financing the guy assumed that they'd already been thrown in. Getting floormats thrown is so commonly mentioned that I assume that every dealership gets a memo telling them to throw them in or that somehow they cost the dealership essentially $0. In other words, I wouldn't get very excited about them as part of a package costing $599. Just ask for them seperately.

 

Hogtied,

I JUST this morning put a $1,000 deposit down on my dream MINI: an 07 Oxygen Blue MCa. This summer I am visiting family down South, and decided to buy my MINI now instead of accepting my parent's offer to drive their beloved Mercury Grand Marquis. An American classic to be sure, but I wanted a MINI.

Since the wait up here in Puget Sound, WA is at least 3 months for just the Cooper, I decided to do some snooping. Since I'm flying into Dallas-Fort Worth, I contacted MINI of Dallas. Lo and behold, My Oxygen Blue had just landed in port. I can't say she was exactly exactly as I might have ordered (after dozens of saved configurations), I do think she is better than I would have imagined as I stepped out a bit in the interior.

Regardless, MINI of Dallas did not charge me a dime over MSRP ( I signed the PO this morning at MSRP). My suggestion to you is to tell the dealer you will pay MSRP. If they don't accept it, do a search if you want a road trip around the US. They are available for the first time in I don't know when. In other words, my guess is they will want to sell you your beauty

I had an 05 S, and the new 07s blow me away in their improvements.

Good luck, Hogtied!!

 

Also, a lot of this depends on your area. On the west coast, excepting southern California, it has been hard to get MINI's. Other areas of the country seem to have plenty especially the midwest and likely the southeast. If they were able to find you a car with the exact options you wanted, that quickly, then they probably want to deal. Also, you want a lot of options, and so you are already looking like a good customer to them. J

Key part of negotiating: convincing them that they can lose your sale if they don't treat you right. Just be very firm on saying "no" to that silliness and I bet you they'll back off. Also, get them to agree to that over the phone. It's harder to say no once you're on the lot and they'll try real hard to get you there first.

 

Sounds like a real sweet ride

In st Louis they charged $500 'dealer prep fee' all I got was floor mats
Doc fee was $69.50
Tax in Iowa is 5%
Ultra shield wasn't offered, seems kinda pricey.
As for addtl. mods... have you considered sports stripes or checkered mirrors or... on & on
One thing's for sure, your gonna love it !!
Good Luck

 

Oh reeeeaaaallllyyy?!?!?!?!

 

Wait a minute--didn't you say you put down a deposit on it over the phone? Wasn't that on an agreed upon price? How can they then add the BS you're quoting?

Don't go for it! Any part of it. After all, floor mats are an option, not a requirement (and they're usually thrown in free). That's just one example. I ordered and paid list price, no add ons, and a $150 document fee. That was it. Go to MINI of The Woodlands if you want that kind of deal. It's near the Houston airport, and I'll give you a ride if you need one!

 

Most dealerships are still charging something over MSRP but you can find a few that don't. (say goodbye to the super stellar re-sale value - it'll just be stellar if all the dealerships start charging MSRP)

 

That was my question as well.. When I agreed to put the telephonic deposit down, it was with the understanding that if the deal wasn't fully consumated before Friday, I'd get it back. The Friday cancellation date is my decision.

I'll address the additive costs (only the Delivery Package, I've already decided to axe the Ultra Shield Package) when he calls me back Thursday morning. I'll ask him to explain exactly what every dollar of the $599 is going for, and if they won't budge, I may let 'em keep it. I really want the car, and I don't mind paying full sticker (hell, I know guys who paid $5K over MSRP for a $14K Harley 10 years ago), but I'm not going to let them bone me over it. At my age I've learned a lot about patience..

Great feedback.. appeciate all your comments.

 

Weelll, MM, I'm not sure about "most." West Coast, yes, and probably where you live, but not necessarily the rest of the country...

 

My car will be arriving at the dealer any day now and I will not be paying anything more than the price we agreed to on the sales slip. There was a $185 dealer prep fee, no sales tax, and no dealer package. I know they are going to try and talk me into the warranty and all, but I will do it down the road if at all. If they do not throw in the mats, that is fine by me. I will just go and buy better ones than they will give me at a store for less money.

 

I bought both of my MINI's from Century. You can get them to work with you on the price of the "Delivery Package." I would also recommend you revisit your decision on the Ultra Shield. It really helps protect the front of the car. They will also work with you on that price. Your MA can't help on the prices much, so you'll be dealing with the office folks.

 

$600 ain't that bad, if they're giving you something for it. You're on the right track with getting them to itemize it.

Bottom line is who's more stubborn. Either you want the car bad enough to pay the extra, or they want to sell it bad enough to waive it.

You could go to www.edmunds.com and price out the specs. It'll tell you how much profit they're making. Point out that the $3k or so they're already making should be enough, and that they shouldn't be willing to lose a sale for a $600 upcharge.

 

I paid MSRP and they threw in the floor mats on my S at CLASSIC in cleveland, ohio.

 

Well, I'm sorta back to square one.. I was all set to ride over to Greenville to pick up my new MCS tomorrow (Saturday) when I heard on the early morning news Thursday that a good friend had been killed in a 1-car wreck Wednesday night.

After I got to work, I called the dealer Thursday morning and turned everything off.. telling them that I'd be back looking in a week or two after I get things sorted out between my ears and after the memorial service on Monday.

I'd just about decided to pull the plug anyway, due to the comments above about 'hidden costs', but right now doesn't seem the time for me to buy a new car. After Monday, things will likely be much different.

Life's short, y'all.. enjoy each and every day of it as though it might be your last.. Once again I've been shown that we can be here one second, and gone the next. Life is so very precious.

Drive safe, and often...

 

So sorry to hear about your friend!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future...

 

You should price your car via the WEB based configurator, then take the MSRP from it, subract 5%. THAT is the TOTAL you should pay for your car, period.

It is that easy.

 

How on Earth did you pay 5% under MSRP Birdman?