Less than 3800 Mini's sold in September. A 6% drop from September 2007 and a greater than 20% drop from August 2008.

Not sure how much is no inventory, lower factory production in the shift from 2008 to 2009, or if the car industry slowdown is now hitting Mini too. Probably a mix of all factors.

I have to admit I'm somewhat wondering why I'm picking up a new car on Saturday when my current vehicle (which I will keep) is perfectly fine.

If sales do slump, expect used Mini prices to also be hit.

 

MINI is doing relatively well for the auto industry.
http://newsblaze.com/story/200810011.../topstory.html


NY Times story: Hazardous Conditions for the Auto Industry

 

The American 3 amigos are steadily losing sales and the imports are suddenly losing sales... We must be in recession.

 

I conquer.

 

Actually -31% August 2008 to Sept 2008.

5469 sold 08/08.
3762 sold 09/08.

Bigger dropoff than I thought. Ugh!

 

The big drop off in sales will make our Mini's more unique and not so "mass produced" as it should be. No doubt lean times are ahead for all of us, hug your Mini .

 

I don't want to wipe off the wax from my MINI. I will hug the steering wheel tomorrow.

 

Numbers would've been higher if so many cars hadn't been stuck at the VDC for the past several weeks - if you recall many people ordering 09s were slated to receive them in September and they were delayed at port.

We received FOUR truckloads of MINIs yesterday (most all of them presold) on October 1st - if they would've arrived a week earlier the numbers would've been better because I'm sure we weren't the only dealer affected by the VDC holdups.

 

We are waiting for the mpg's to jump up.
Well, that and the economy too.

For example (I forget the exact years) but my
office neighbor got a 2005 honda element, slightly used.
He wanted a new 2006, but the mpg was 10 less or something.
This is a year ago.

I'd like to see something come out like the CRV or similar
that can get a solid 28 city. It's for my wife BTW.
We would get the clubman but the US version only has 4 seatbelts.
Now, I find out the crossman will have 4 seats, too.

In short, we would like to trade in our Passat, but the product
we want is not being produced.

 

What is a VDC? (Vehicle Distribution Center?)

Why are cars delayed at the VDC for weeks at a time? (It appears to have affected only the Bremerhaven VDC for the last 4 weeks.)

Why weren't they delayed in prior times at the Bremerhaven VDC?

Is it true that the cars with damaged paint are railed to Germany for repairs rather than being shipped out of British ports? Are these the cars that end up in Bremerhaven?

Thanks for any clarifications.

 

**** economy and nobody wants to afford gasoline anymore - give us the electric mini stat for under 20K

 

I'm no expert (one who is actually waiting, fretting over taking delivery of their MINI) but lots of '09s (MCSs I hear) were held up at the VDC awaiting EPA testing/results of some sort. It has impacted other makes, too.

 

VDC ='s Vehicle Distribution Center

 

Baltimore, Hartford, Newark, Portsmouth to name a few have been receiving 2009 Minis without delays.

I checked with the local Porsche and Mercedes dealers who have been receiving uninterrupted supplies of their cars. In the process I found that the local Porsche dealer is buying Minis from a California source and selling them for a premium while the Mini dealer down the street has had no cars for several weeks and his first batch is not arriving until October 15.

To me it looks as if BMW just doesn't want to be in the Mini business and they can hardly wait to unload the brand to Fiat where the negotiations are in the finishing stages.

 

MINI's doing great, only Audi is doing better. This chart tells all.

...look at Hummer

 

Hummer sold 96 vehicles /day in September.... amazing.

Why is BMW selling MINI brand to Fiat? I thought MINI was a very profitable branch...

 

I bet you it's more to do with people waiting to get the sports package in December on the 09's then anything else.

 

VDC issue...plus, greedy dealers asking for markups definitely turned off potential buyers who are looking for an affordable ride that is good on gas, but not exactly set on a Mini (though it's always the top choice for the above criteria)...they might end up taking the Civic route...nobody loves to pay markup, these aren't Ferraris after all

 

Is that true? Quote your source. Mini's doing remarkably well especially considering they're sold out of convertables now, and inbetween years as well. They'd be in the black most likely if it weren't for that.

 

If you want to get the most for your MINI just sell it in the summer. Fuel prices are likely to increase every year in May until the end of time or until there isn't any oil left.

 

BMW selling the MINI brand to Fiat? Not in a million years. And if true, please provide a link to the source of such claim.

 

BMW and Fiat are "considering the possibility of co-operation in the areas of architectures and components for their MINI and Alfa Romeo vehicles." That means they would reduce costs for some MINI and Alfa models by going together in some mfg. of the cars.

See: http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/07/...understanding/

BMW cooperated with Citroen/Pugeot on the design of the Prince engine used in 2nd Gen. MINIs. These kinds of joint ventures are done to help them compete with the mfg. scale of Hondas and Toyotas. BMW is used to making more expensive cars.

 

When I picked up my wife's Clubman at East Bay MINI in July, they had maybe 2 or 3 cars on the whole lot that were for sale - everything else was pre-sold or demo. When I picked up my MCS last weekend in Texas, they had maybe 10 cars on the lot. I don't know how many were available, but it obviously wasn't many.

I think that little to no dealer inventory, combined with the normal factory slowdown/changeover in August (and delivery delays because of the storms in September) are the reason for the sales drop. A year ago - even 6 months ago - most dealers lots were well stocked.

 

Is Alfa Romeo Italian? So should we call the joint venture a "Italian job"?

 

those be some strong beer goggles you must be looking through!

sounds like flame bait - and completely false.