I'm still in the research phase, and haven't visited a MINI showroom yet.

Looking at what's on the dealer lots (via website) I think I'll probably end up ordering to get it exactly the way I want it. A few questions about the process...

• Does the sales person walk me through the option choices, or do I need to have my exact options in mind already?
  
• I assume there is a deposit required to place an order?
  
• Are stripes easily added or removed later on if I change my mind?
  
• Do I need to be decided on Finance vs Lease at the time of the order?

I think half the fun of a MINI is picking from the large assortment of excellent colors. I think at this point, I'm leaning toward Spice Orange, BRG or one of the blues...

Thanks for any feedback on the ordering process. Sounds fun!

 

Sadly, I have purchased two MINIs and not been able to order either of them. However, I can probably answer some of your questions. Stripes are easily added or removed at a later date. However, the factory stripes are handsome and a good deal at $100 installed.

I would guess the MA could walk you through the options and help you understand them. They are not all clear/obvious in exact detail until you see/try them, so it might be helpful to check them out in the dealership (for example, iPOD/bluetooth connection - didn't realize how neat that would be until I had it). That said, I would go through the configurator online a couple of times and at least get a rough configuration and print it out. Option creep can make this a very expensive car very quickly, so watch out for that.

You are not buying the car at order time. You generally will have to put down a deposit, but your financing does not need to be complete. I would be prepared to negotiate on final price at the time of order, however. Keep in mind the Test Drive Take Down events are running now. Register and attend and you'll get a $750 off certificate if you take delivery by a certain date (July 2, I think).

 

I'm sure others will chime in as well, since I did not deal with financing or a lease.

1. Check out http://www.miniusa.com/... you can build them yourself and change anything... this is what they did to come up with the specific options I wanted and at the end you can even print out, which they will use to submit the official order... or at least that was how my dealership did it.
2. I put down $400 for a deposit, but I've heard others require different amounts.
3. I did not order stripes... so I can not speak to that, but I believe I can order or have them put on later.
4. Again, I did not do financing or leasing.

They say on a youtube video I watched of the production line that no two in a years time will be exactly the same... check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uLYZLZvrHk

 

When my wife retired from teaching a few years ago, we decided that she was going to get a 2010 MINI Cooper S. I went online and built a few examples. When she was happy with the final product, I printed it out (along with all the specs), and we went down to the MINI dealership (MINI of Pensacola). The MA (Justin) went over all the specs and checked the pricing. We placed a small deposit and he placed the order for the car right then on his computer. Since we were paying cash, we did not bother about financing. In about 12 weeks, she had her car, just like we invisioned it. It was really neat. From computer, to paper, to reality.