Ok, so here's the gig:
I want a MINI Clubby...bad. (Like everyone else on here it seems like. Only difference is owners, and they just want to drive their MINI...bad). I just graduated, have a full-time nice and spongy job, and want to take the plunge and part from my beloved Jetta and started looking the last weekend of June.
My dealer (Passport of Alexandria) found one that met all of what I wanted and in my second-choice color DS (it more tied my first-choice of LzB..but it had to be one of those two. CR would be considered because the MINI is the only car I would ever get in red, it looks so sweet, the car really makes the color work). Signed the paperwork, got a great deal for a MINI, and off I went.
Turns out, the other dealer wouldn't give Passport the car, then sold it while I ran away on vacation expecting to come back to my new baby. While I did have a sixth sense of Passport just effing me over because they wanted more money out of me, I let it go (hey, it's not a bad assumption on stealerships in general, and they were mighty quick to offer me another car they had already "pre-arranged just for [me]!" that fit into the negotiated price of the other car, and she offered to just give me the same price...hmmm )

So. Here I am, almost to the end of August. I was going for a nice packaged-out 2010 to get more bang for my buck. I'm coming from a 12 year old car so I didn't appreciate all the bells and whistles 2011s added. Also didn't appreciate the massively higher price tag. But now I'm out of 2010 options unless I want to ship a car from Washington state. After thinking everything over, I think I can afford a 2011 model with exactly what I want, I just can't throw in any "gee, those woouullldd be nice" extras I would've gotten on the '10. And, what's another month of waiting?

So, here are my questions:
1) The dates being thrown around have confused the heck out of me. Sept 18th is when the roll onto dealership lots. But, when can I begin building one? Another thread made it seem like it was supposed to be online this week.

2) Right now I can get 1.9% financing. I don't expect that, but what can I expect it to rise to given past history? With the economy the way it is, you think they would keep it in the 3-5% range, but who knows. 2011 BMWs are rolling out with 0.9% financing, and seeming as those cost more on a whole, maybe MINI will keep it low?

3) Can I make it to October without going nuts waiting?

 

As far as I know Sept 18th is the official release date.
Concerning pricing and the new configurator...those seem to keep being delayed. The latest info I have is from the Motoring File post on the 2011 Cooper S review stating the rather cryptic, "Look for pricing on the 2011 model range in the coming days." That was yesterday.
I am uncertain as to MINI's practices, but most offer low financing and rebates at the end of the model year, not at the beginning, but we'll see.

I will not be ordering until late '11 or early '12, so if I can do it...well maybe I can't either

 

You can wait, there is a support group on this forum for people like you

My advice would be to search this site for a 2010 clubman for sale that someone has already modded (and loved). That will save you $$ in the long run anyway!!! A bank would finance pretty low on a 2010 maybe 3%? shop around for the perfect car and the perfect financing

This Laser Blue JCW is nice...https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t/11042/cat/49

Good luck!

 

Well then I'll just keep an eye out

As for used, I don't want to go that route. I built one last night with everything I want, and even with taxes, I come in under my budget, so I think I'm on on a 2011.

 

If you think an option might be nice, go ahead and order it while you can. It's unlikely to make a HUGE difference in your monthly payment, and will cost you a lot more to add later (if you can add at all).

Kicking myself for not springing for the $500 for bluetooth/USB, and to a lesser extent for not just doing the JCW aero kit at the time of order (that one doesn't necessarily cost more later, it's just that I'd have it now instead of continually putting it off). I think most MINI owners have some kind of similar regret. Try to minimize yours.

 

if you're looking to finance, BECU here in washington state has excellent rates.

i just bought an 2008 six months ago and was able to get 3.49% on up to 72 months. BECU considers a car "new" if it's no more than two years old. definitely check them out.

www.becu.org

 

I had wanted a Mini since they came over to the states in '02 but couldn't really swing the extra cash until last year. I was all set to place my order with deposit check in hand at the dealer when I was told that they wouldn't be able to guarantee the finance rate and I'd have to go with whatever the prevailing rate was at the time of delivery. It made a huge difference as the price fluctuated anywhere within a $175/month range on the interest alone. Apparently at some point this changed, so when I went looking to order a 2010 MCS in July, I ended up with exactly what I wanted, a locked-in rate and the option credit. Had I ordered the same car a year ago, I would've been paying another $125 a month.

The finance rates usually vary from 0.9% to a high of 5.9%. They can go above that but usually don't. The Clubman's usually get the better discounts compared to the regular coopers. I really don't know the answer to the question on dates and I couldn't wait so I got the 2010.

 

I can get 3.7% through my local credit union, so it won't go higher than that.

As for options, I'm getting Cold/Prem/Sport, along with Pacific Blue interior. Probably going cloth seats because I hate the burn of hot leather, and hope I can tack on auto-dim side mirrors, even though prices aren't out yet. Anything in the Conv package seems silly, I have none of it now and don't see the true appeal, other than maybe the auto-dim rearview, but am I really THAT lazy?

Also debating on which USB option to get...

 

don't forget good old penfed credit union. I think they are down to 2.9% new/used/refi

 

I can walk into Apple in the morning and get a check that afternoon. A .6% difference is not worth the extra hassle. Should be interesting what BMW offers since it's offering 0.9% or 1.9% on every single 2011 model except the really high ends.