Got a call today from Long Beach Mini. I was thinking they were telling me the car had FINALLY arrived after spending 3+ weeks at the port in England and then another 3 weeks at VDC, which made me suspcious.
He then tells me the car is too damaged to be repaired and I would need to order another car!!!!! I just got totally BLUE BALLED. I had wheels picked out and suspension planned. An intake and exhause were in the works.

I'm tired of driving the damn Odyssey around. I've been tracking this thing since early July when I ordered it. I'm about out of patiences, but would really like to get a car. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of asking for a loaner until my car comes, but I doubt they'll do it for 2+ months. Anything else I should try to get?

I'm also thinking this is someone telling me to just wait for the 135i since it should be here in about 4 months. Problem is, we just picked up a 335i for the wife and that thing is FAST!!! The 135i will be pretty crazy.

 

By PDC do you mean Park Distance Control, or Popsicle Distribution Center?

Sorry for your frustration. What about scouring the dealer lots in So. Cal. to see if you can find anything you like?

 

WOW, now I thought my situation is frustrating but THAT is just ridiculous; talk about a tease! I actually had nightmares of the exact same thing happening when I ordered mine... I'd just recommend following Robin Casady's advice to search your local dealer lots first, then get your MA to do a nationwide search and see if there's a MINI with similar specs to yours which you could pick up or have them truck over, and finally if nothing else just order again. That's the steps I'm currently taking.
Best of luck!

P.S. It's VDC for Vehicle Distribution Center

 

That is painful!

But I had always wondered where they get the cars for those crash tests in the videos.........

 

Maybe your MA can give your order the highest possible priority, because of what happened at the VDC? Or give you a nice fat discount? See what your MA can do for you....

Good luck!!

 

Yup, I'd ask the MA to do a nationwide search for a car that is as close as possible to your config.

 

similar thing happened to TheOfficeMaven here on NAM

 

I would simply meet with the sales manager (ya I know MA manager) and say... What are YOU prepared to make this right?? and be FIRM

their first respose will most likey be "its not my fault" Well, it sure as hell is not the buyers fault - again, I ask, what are YOU prepared to do to make it right???

 

Absolutely, demand a loaner. And not a rental car type--a MINI. It's their fault if it takes 2 months to get another one, not yours...

 

While that would be the best solution for him, I think you are setting him up for a lot of frustration. If he's lucky the dealer will give him a loaner for the whole time but chances are they won't.

If he gets unreasonably demanding then everybody involved will be frustrated. Calmness can at least make everything go smooth and give a chance for a good (although belated) experience.

 

how much was the mini going to be, and how much was the 335? 135s are supposedly going to start at 35k, and are pretty hefty apparently, ~3400lbs vs ~3600 for the 335. just seems like kind of a rip off vs a 335.

 

I know it's frustrating and disappointing, but the truth is, the dealer doesn't *owe* you anything. They're not contractually-obligated to deliver your car by a certain date, and it's not as if you've already started making payments on it.

I went through the same thing with my MINI - it was delayed a month because the factory mistakenly stamped a 2007 VIN on my 2006 car. MINI USA threw in some nice freebies, since this was a mistake that affected almost 150 cars and it got some high-level attention. But although I think it was a nice gesture, I didn't feel like they owed me anything.

Sometimes people screw up, and options are missing/incorrect, cars are damaged in transit or prep, parts suppliers run out of stock, workers go on strike, or any number of other circumstances arise. It would be different if you already had the car, and it was destroyed while it was at the dealer getting an oil change or something like that, but in a case like this, the inconvenience isn't the same as an actual "loss".

The dealer should do everything he can to move your car closer to the front of the queue if you decide to re-order, or perhaps waive the shipping fees if you find a suitable car elsewhere in the country, but expecting him to pay for a loaner for two months, or give you one of his lot cars for two months, is expecting a bit much. He may do it, and that would be great damage control on his part, but going in there with the expectation that he *owes* it to you is setting yourself up for more disappointment.

 

My Mini was almost $32k.

If the 135 is around $35-37k, it'll be $10k less than my wife's moderately optioned 335. It's about the size of the E46 series (previous gen 3-series), so the weight is about right. It would be GREAT at 3200 lbs, which was the weight of the E36 series, but you have to add the air-bags, side impact protection and nice interior, which all adds up. It'll come with an M suspension and body kit, 6 piston brakes up front and 4 pots in back. And don't forget an EASILY moded and UNDER-RATED 300 HP/300 ft-lbs of torque

 

I NEVER SAID ANYONE OWE'S ME ANYTHING, other than the $500 "absolutely non-refundable 'ordering fee'" since it's illegal in Cali to made a "deposit" non-refundable. There was a contract that the "ordering fee" is refundable if I don't get my car by Oct.

It's just a matter if they want to keep me as a customer for the next 40 years that I'll be driving (hopefully). I already own 2 BMW's so I'm obviously loyal to the brand. There are other Mini dealers in the area too. That "ordering fee" kinda left a bad taste in my mouth as it is.

 

Sorry, my post about what the dealer does/doesn't "owe" you was more in response to some of the other replies in the thread, not your original post.

 

Same for my post too. It does suck for you. At least you can change some options now if you really want to.

Did the dealer tell you what happened to your MINI? I'd guess crushed in a car carrier. I've heard of it many times before (all types of cars).

 

I'm going to stop by this weekend and try to find out what happened to the car. He said it was damage during shipment, but it's been at the VDC for more than 2 weeks, so something doesn't sound right.

I won'd be demanding anything, but want to see how bad they want to keep me as a customer and what they'll offer.

 

Hey aus,

WOW! It looks like your car and ours must have been involved in the same shipping accident. We just found out that our week 34 built MINI was also damaged in shipment (nowhere near as bad as yours though). Did your car come in on the WW ship named Medea???

I'm pretty sure that we're not going to accept the car since I don't like the idea of paying full MSRP for a brand new car that has been damaged and then repaired/repainted. It really sux! For more info on our situation check out the week 34 build thread (starting at post # 280) here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1775287

 

I actually had to reorder in Feb. Totally frustrating to have to do. But that was preferential to getting a car off the lot that wasn't totally configured as I wanted it. I started to look on the lot, but changed my mind and reordered. I'm glad I did.

The dealer definetly should be able to put you high in the que. In fact when I had to reorder, I was put #1 in the que.

 

I have no idea what ship, but I'd put $100 it was the same ship.
What dealer are you using. Sounds like they know how to take care of their customers.

 

Our dealer is Crevier MINI and our MA is Christian Banks. Crevier does indeed treat their customers right. They have taken GREAT care of us through four different MINI purchases and so I'm more than sure that they will completely help us get through this one too.

Once again, I'm very sorry to hear about what happened to your car, and I know (first hand) how much it sucks to be going through the mess you're going through. All I can say is hang in there and choose the car that works best for you. We've looked at all kinds of different cars, but just can't shake the MINI. It's in our blood and nothing else (for the same money) seems to be able to compare.

 

do they markup the price or do they sell msrp like long beach and south bay?