This may have already been discussed at great length, but I'm new here and still shuffling through all the old threads... and the search doesn't pick anything up.

But, really.. how many of you have had dealers force packages on you that you really didn't want? I placed an order for a MCS with an estimated wait time of 10 months, but the dealer swears they don't have any forced add-ons. Other dealerships that I've talked to have much less wait, but, well... shaft you on the $1000-5,000 packages. I'm already fine with paying MSRP.. is it really so low that dealerships aren't making ANYTHING on the cars themselves?

Is this something normal that I should accept? Something illegal that I should scream about?

I realize that the car is GREATLY in demand and so dealerships can pretty much do whatever they want to in order to make whatever they want to on the car, but I'm mostly curious about how many other dealerships are doing this sort of thing.

Thanks!

~Rachel, dreaming of her car... someday....

 

I've seen posts by the dealer in Westchester,NY and
they seem pretty straightforward. You can also check
review of dealers in the daeler rating system.

 

I know depending on where you live has alot to do with what you pay. I live in South Florida and had a few different dealers to choose from. Even with a selection some most have mark ups except one. And I ordered from them. I am not stuffing some rich dealer with my hard earned money !!! My dealer who I bought the car from did not add on any mark up items. I paid full MSRP. It really was strange doing that for a car but like you said demand is high and you will pay for it. The best I can say is look for a dealer who has no mark ups and only pay MSRP. They are out there you just need to look. One hint though, dealers with cars on the lot for sale are the ones who have high mark ups. Good luck.

 

I purchased my MINI from Lori Abrams at Westchester MINI in Elmsford NY. Very smooth, totally above board, MSRP, no surprizes, no mark-up, no forced accessories, and doing the out-of-state sale was not a problem. I flew out on a one way ticket and drove the car back. From what I gather, the service department there could use a little work, but Lori and Chris in sales are awesome.

 

okay, I've got an email in to them to start talkin'... out of curiosity, what was your wait time for your car?

I know, too long

 

I wouldn't worry about your local dealer starving...the official overseas military sales price for a base 2003 Cooper (U.S. spec) is $15,100. My sales guy seems to be feeding his family on his commission on that price, so I'm sure the stateside guys are splitting up the extra 2K+ to make ends meet! I understand that the MINI USA guys were not happy with the $14,700 base price for the 2002's and made them raise it for 2003.

You don't want to know what I can get a BMW 3 series for over here!

 

None....my dealer was very laid back about add-ons.....he asked me if I wanted any extras and then didn't press the issue when I said no. All I really wanted was floor mats and that was totally cool with him...... :smile:

 

Don't forget the dealer 'holdback.'

 

At Desert MINI in Las Vegas there is a "standard" $2500 above MSRP charge. For that you get permaplate/permaguard and a choice of a CD changer, rally lights or something else I can't remember that I really didn't want.

 

I won't say what I paid for the car...let's just say it was a lot!!! I didn't mind because, in all honesty, I'm not paying for the car, and I got the luxury of choosing what I want on the car. My wait time will be 2 months on the 11th (when the car will be getting into port). I got a call from my dealer today and said it should only be about 2 1/2 or 3 weeks until the car is ready for pickup. I wanted the changer, and so I had to purchase a package with it. Oh well, I just want my car!!!

It sounds to me like the dealers who aren't gouging do, unfortunately, have longer waiting lists.

 

I ordered from Crevier and might get stuck with permaplate and lojack, but I want neither. If I tell 'em I don't want it, they will probably still charge me...but I'm working on it...I mean, this is california, why do I need permaplate? sheesh

 

my wait won't be representative of the wait now. Best to contact Lori directly

Lori Abrams
Weschester MINI
914 347-6464

She also goes by the screenname miniqueen on this forum.

 

Of course... but some dealerships just DO have longer waits, and always have... like the dealer near me.

 

Of course... but some dealerships just DO have longer waits, and always have... like the dealer near me.

 

>>I ordered from Crevier and might get stuck with permaplate and lojack, but I want neither. If I tell 'em I don't want it, they will probably still charge me...but I'm working on it...I mean, this is california, why do I need permaplate? sheesh

A couple fo weeks ago I talked to Crevier about thier dealer practices/morals (or lack of) They said permaplate and lojak we standard and you couldnt avoid it, oh and by the way, here's the best part, this "protection package" will cost you $5,000. Or the way I look at it, $900 worth of add ons, and a $4100 markup. Not sure if this applies to ordered cars, but this was my experience, and I called several times because I thought the salesman was just misinformed. My suggestion, call them ASAP and ask them what you drive out cost is going to be, it will be very obvious when a non s cooper is costing you $27k that your getting screwed. Sorry to have to report my experience.

 

I've already gotten the lojack and permaplate off (in writing too no less), but they are still trying to get me for an extra $2500 for 'dealer markup' and that is the part that I am trying to get knocked down or elimated. Worse case is I have to pay it, but it doesn't bother me because I'll be taking delivery in less than 2 months, as opposed to having to wait as long as 6 months or longer if I would have ordered from Long Beach, or go through all of the hassles if I would have ordered out of state or from any other non-local dealer. As it stands, right now, my drive off is going to be 25,200 or so and I don't have a problem with that.

Also, if you talked to a girl by the name of Sharin, she can be, um, less than pleasant. I quit dealing with her after she told me to go to Long Beach and wait (I almost did, but my sales guy got me all squared away).

 

I too live in SoCal, and I got fed up with the dealerships bs (except long beach), try giving judy a call at mini of hawaii, shes great, I secured my dream car with her this weekend and should be recieving it in a few weeks. They have quite a few cars coming in very soon, and they sell at MSRP, and no ad ons! Best part is, I thought I was going to have to pay $900 to ship it to la, but turns out they can do a "courtesy delivery" and essentially drop ship it to a local mini dealershop (Long Beach) and I pay long beach for the dealer prep charges, and then pay mini of hawaii the cost of the car itself (MSRP). Works out really nice. My car was at the Oxnard recieving dock at the time of the strike so it is a bit delayed, but should be heading down to LA in a week or so, then it's time for some serious motoring. If you call judy tell her blake sent you. Best of luck.

 

No dealer add ons at Mini of Murray, Utah. Ask for Karen, she's great.

 

Let's cut to the chase...

There is no reason to pay over MSRP unless you are impulsive or have a good reason to buy from a particular dealer.

I live in Texas and on October 10th I ordered a car from Road Show MINI in Memphis because of their high rating on the Dealer Rating System (and because at the time Texas had not yet opened dealerships). From my signature below, you can see the factory options I ordered. I put a $1000 deposit down and my cost will be MSRP plus $199 processing fee and $149 etching fee (total of $348 over MSRP). Because I want the Harman Kardon stereo, I had to wait for a December Production. Otherwise, I could have gotten the MCS before the end of the year. As it stands, I have a December 20th estimated production date and my car will be in Memphis in February. So, my total wait will be 4 months.

Who says you have to pay a premium for what you want !!!!

 

Ordered my MCS in March, put $500 down. Notified of delivery in Mid-August, but when I got the invoice, there was a $500 "dealer fees". I called to see what this was and was told it was the charges for floor mats, prep, etc. I said no, I didn't want all that, but was told I had no choice, pay it or don't get the car. After ordering the first Mini on Jan 1, then getting screwed by that dealership, I had been waiting over 8 months for this car and I was willing to pay the money to end the wait. However, I am also in Texas and we will have not one, but two dealerships fairly close to me soon! (Woo-Hoo) We have been told that one of them currently charges $1500 over MSRP "because they can"; but when the other one opens in December they will not charge over MSRP. Guess which one I will be doing business with?

 

I ordered from Classic Mini. I got lucky, however, as I technically ordered the car back in March or so, but kept pushing back the build date (long story). When I picked it up, Julie showed me the sheet of all the required add-ons, but told me that they were optional for me, since I technically ordered the car before they implemented the add-on policy. Thank the gods... I mean, come on, a grand for floor mats and some stupid paint protectant? I think not.

 

I decided I wanted a MINI in July. I ordered and put down my $1000.00 deposit on July 9th. I drove home my car on September 16th and paid only MSRP. In fact I didn't remember to tell them I wanted to buy floor mats, and nobody even mentioned selling them to me. I had to go back the next day and buy mats. (they were $85.00 for the MINI logo carpet mats) So, I guess I am satisfied overall.

 

>>I too live in SoCal, and I got fed up with the dealerships bs (except long beach), try giving judy a call at mini of hawaii, shes great, I secured my dream car with her this weekend and should be recieving it in a few weeks. They have quite a few cars coming in very soon, and they sell at MSRP, and no ad ons! Best part is, I thought I was going to have to pay $900 to ship it to la, but turns out they can do a "courtesy delivery" and essentially drop ship it to a local mini dealershop (Long Beach) and I pay long beach for the dealer prep charges, and then pay mini of hawaii the cost of the car itself (MSRP). Works out really nice. <<

Blake,

I am in so Cal and ordered through MINI of Hawaii. My car is in but I was never offered this "courtesy" drop ship thing. Can you tell me more? What are they charging you for prep at Long Beach?
thanks.

 

I had the BS glass etching and paper adminstration added to my ticket which came up to just over 500 buckaroos, then they added this other fee for something to the effect of space rental on my car while its shadow was on the ground at the dealer, BSBSBS :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

What I saw...is what I got....
Bought her off the lot , and was glad to do so :smile:

Peace,
D