So, I've been lurking on the site picking up information as I wait out the 4 months for my MINI Cooper JCW to arrive. The day before it was to be loaded on the truck from the dealer to make it's way across the country to SF...it was backed into by a huge vendor truck in the dealer lot by a guy making a delivery! Smashed in the hatch, clipped the right rear quarter panel and bumped the front end into the car in front of it. I'm stunned. It sat around on the lot for nearly a month waiting for it's group buy buddies to show up for shipping out west.

The dealer offered to repair the MINI and (have insurance) pay for shipping ($1200) and possibly give me $500 cash also...or I can wait until mid October for a new 2005 model. I'm not inclined to take the repaired MINI because it will have been officially in an accident and thus hurt resale value - plus I'd always be concerned about the repair job...but I'm also concerned that the JCW package is not yet available for the 2005 model...plus I was really excited to get a 2004 before changes were made.

Any thoughts on what you think would be fair compensation for the repaired MINI or if you think the dealer should throw some compensation my way if I order a new one? I know they're not obligated, but right now I'm thinking they owe me something...

Thanks!

 

Reorder. You will always feel bad knowing you took a hurt baby. Call miniusa and tell them the story. Tjey can prob rush things along.

 

Wow, that really sucks! If the dealer is willing to pay for shipping and give you a refund on a repaired car, they may be willing to offer a discount on an '05. I wouldn't accept the car with the knowledge that it was damaged.

Maybe you can contact the company that owns the delivery truck and see if they can compensate you for anything, maybe make them pay the bill for the deposit on an '05.

 

Reorder dude! I wouldn't touch a repaired car with a 20 foot pole, so you'll be much better off getting a 2005 and installing the JCW kit at anytime.


Don't let the JCW be the deal braker! Re-order and get the '05 and perhaps by the time it gets here, the 220HP JCW upgrade will already be available.

 

If it was just some light bumper damage I might consider it, but with the quarter panel crunched, that's a deal breaker. Reorder is my advice. Hopefully whomever you ordered it though can put you at the front of the list to speed up #2.

Best wishes,
Ryan

 

If it makes you feel any better, and it probably won't, my Mini got your spot on the truck out west. (What a small world. I got the call this afternoon, then immediately wondered whether it was a NAM member's car.)

Bittersweet. This bump up in delivery time means the car will be here for my wedding (September 5), in which it may even play a role. I won't deny that I'm happy that my Mini is coming now instead of September, but I feel absolutely awful for you.

Hoping your JCW comes in at 220hp with limited slip differential, and comes to you fast,
dlaugh

 

Thanks everyone for the advice and sympathy...and good luck with your wedding dlaugh! I'm happy to hear another MINI took my spot on the truck and will get to it's excited owner sooner.

I'm probably going to get signed up for a 2005 tomorrow. My understanding is that the LSD won't be available until Jan. 2005? Also, this is the first I've heard about the 2005 JCW coming in at 220 hp - is that a confirmed number?

Cheers, Deryk

 

Thanks!

Yes, I think LSD is due 1/05. Here a bit of info on the JCW kit. Still rumor.

 

that really sucks. You waited that long, let's wait a little more and

get you a brand new one. :smile:

 

Holy crap! Sounds like you're in my group...I'd be devastated if that happened to me. My car's been at the dealer since June 28, and been waiting till now for delivery..my sympathies, and hope you get a nice 2005 MCS. Hope everything works out... :(

 

Like several others have said, I would pass on the repaired car. When a car is that badly damaged, it's never quite the same.

Plus, if they repair it, ship it to you, and you're not happy with the repair work, you'll have to find a way to get the car back to them so they can fix it right.

I think you'll be much happier with the '05.

 

There is always a silver lining:

If this all results in you being able to get an LSD then you might even think of it as a win. Driving standard S with a Quaife in Autocross is a huge improvement. With an open diff and only MCS HP there is no way to get the power down unless you are going in a straight line!.

 

I had a very similar thing happen to me in early June, I reordered. That would be my recomendation, too many issues with repairs, and hey it is not a new car anymore. Would you buy a used car if it had been in an accident that caused the same damage? If not, why would you buy a new one that had?
So at what dealer was you mini?