Competent dealers in CT?
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 781
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From: Stamford, CT, soon St. James, NC
Thank you all for the good words about MoFC! We now have a little blog, at:'
MoFC.wordpress.com and I encourage you to post there. It's not too exciting, but what the hey -
In addition, I would like to encourage the practice of bringing cookies to one's MA and SAs.... it is a wonderful thing. And, don't forget the Internet department, often located off the main sales floor!
MoFC.wordpress.com and I encourage you to post there. It's not too exciting, but what the hey -
In addition, I would like to encourage the practice of bringing cookies to one's MA and SAs.... it is a wonderful thing. And, don't forget the Internet department, often located off the main sales floor!
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Stamford, CT, soon St. James, NC
Deep breaths....Ahhh now I feel better.
Pbraun, why would I pay for heated arguments when all I have to do is tell my wife I'm playing golf on both days of the weekend and get them for free?
Like I said earlier I would have rather bought from MOFC and I stand to benefit nothing from coming on here and telling my story. The car is already in the driveway (which I'm absolutely psyched about btw).
I just couldn't understand why there was such a huge difference between the two down payments. Maybe you can explain it to me. Both cars had the destination charge built into the sticker price so I cant imagine where the $850 came from. My rep was unfortunately unable to explain it to me very clearly.
I really didn't mean for my explanation to come across as heated as it may have in text. Thats the difficulty of these places.
Pbraun, why would I pay for heated arguments when all I have to do is tell my wife I'm playing golf on both days of the weekend and get them for free?
Like I said earlier I would have rather bought from MOFC and I stand to benefit nothing from coming on here and telling my story. The car is already in the driveway (which I'm absolutely psyched about btw).
I just couldn't understand why there was such a huge difference between the two down payments. Maybe you can explain it to me. Both cars had the destination charge built into the sticker price so I cant imagine where the $850 came from. My rep was unfortunately unable to explain it to me very clearly.
I really didn't mean for my explanation to come across as heated as it may have in text. Thats the difficulty of these places.
Anyway - just wanted to share that with you! Glad you love your MINI - can you come out and play with us at the Summer Splash MINI MEET in New Canaan, Sunday, July 27th?
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Peter,
Fact is that MoFC should not be chastised so much, because I KNOW that differences over there can be assisted with - how about the time that the DMV was giving me the run around with my motor vehicle registration and telling me I owed back taxes to the Town of New Canaan? Turns out that they confused me with another individual with my name in the same town!! That was when I was first registering the car, when the car was just a mere baby.. well, it's still my baby, but you know what I mean.. Susana got on the horn and straightened the entire thing out!! What's more, Scott (who now is at New Country - and if anyone has any discontent over in New Country Sales, why not give him a shot for helping you out... tell him Jonathan sent you
).. assisted in the entire "project" of it all... what other dealer would go through that much trouble? A belated kudos to MoFC for doing that..
If a person experiences discontent with anything, not even a dealership, I think the proper thing is not to give bad publicity but rather try and straighten it out him/herself with that entity.
I also found out about the lease amount of $850 after researching it recently.
Just wanted to say kudos to both dealerships (MoFC and New Country MINI), and we, in Connecticut are lucky to have two good ones that we can choose from!
Fact is that MoFC should not be chastised so much, because I KNOW that differences over there can be assisted with - how about the time that the DMV was giving me the run around with my motor vehicle registration and telling me I owed back taxes to the Town of New Canaan? Turns out that they confused me with another individual with my name in the same town!! That was when I was first registering the car, when the car was just a mere baby.. well, it's still my baby, but you know what I mean.. Susana got on the horn and straightened the entire thing out!! What's more, Scott (who now is at New Country - and if anyone has any discontent over in New Country Sales, why not give him a shot for helping you out... tell him Jonathan sent you
).. assisted in the entire "project" of it all... what other dealer would go through that much trouble? A belated kudos to MoFC for doing that.. If a person experiences discontent with anything, not even a dealership, I think the proper thing is not to give bad publicity but rather try and straighten it out him/herself with that entity.
I also found out about the lease amount of $850 after researching it recently.
Just wanted to say kudos to both dealerships (MoFC and New Country MINI), and we, in Connecticut are lucky to have two good ones that we can choose from!
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
Disagree
I live in Norwalk CT, which is about 10-15 minutes from the Fairfield Mini in Stamford CT. One day i had some extra time before work a decided to check them out. Well all of the sales men kept bouncing me round from one to another. I look a little odd i know(i have my right arm and a portion of my left arm completely tattooed and i have my ear lobes stretched out). People in CT don't see that stuff that often. Well when one of the sales men actually talked to me he just said"well you probably couldn't afford a mini s. we have some nice used base models." Were does he get off telling me that. I make more than enough to afford a new mini cooper s. Not with to many options but still i got some nice stuff in it.
I ended up going to Westchester BMW/Mini. I was very happy with them. The sales team looked past all my crazy tattoos and everything and saw a sale. They were very helpful with them. I oreder a mini and it went smooth and even showed up earlier than what they said.
I ended up going to Westchester BMW/Mini. I was very happy with them. The sales team looked past all my crazy tattoos and everything and saw a sale. They were very helpful with them. I oreder a mini and it went smooth and even showed up earlier than what they said.
Ouch!
But good for you for getting your MINI at a dealer that served you well. If we (those of us who purchased our MINIs at MoFC) had a heads up, we could have steered you to the MAs who took care of us. I, too, had to hunt around to find the right dealer/MA ... my first experience at a dealership was TERRIBLE.
I think that we need a thread entitled, "Competent Service in CT" .. I imagine it would be quite lively and informative. There does not appear to be a quality linkage between sales and service ... i.e., you can have a great experience with one department and a nightmare with the other at the same dealer. What's worrying me (beyond the search for top-flight service) is that with the increasing popularity of the MINI, it will be even more challenging to find good and timely service. On the other hand, mo' MINIs = mo' experience for the techs and the SAs and perhaps an improvement.
But good for you for getting your MINI at a dealer that served you well. If we (those of us who purchased our MINIs at MoFC) had a heads up, we could have steered you to the MAs who took care of us. I, too, had to hunt around to find the right dealer/MA ... my first experience at a dealership was TERRIBLE.
I think that we need a thread entitled, "Competent Service in CT" .. I imagine it would be quite lively and informative. There does not appear to be a quality linkage between sales and service ... i.e., you can have a great experience with one department and a nightmare with the other at the same dealer. What's worrying me (beyond the search for top-flight service) is that with the increasing popularity of the MINI, it will be even more challenging to find good and timely service. On the other hand, mo' MINIs = mo' experience for the techs and the SAs and perhaps an improvement.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 0
From: Kent, CT
Yikes, willsblackmini08 - I'm both very surprised as well as very sorry to read your experience at MoFC.
Congrats, however, on achieving your goal - perhaps one day we'll see you around for a MINI run or event.
CT, in particular, has a very active MINI life.
Congrats, however, on achieving your goal
- perhaps one day we'll see you around for a MINI run or event. CT, in particular, has a very active MINI life.
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Danbury, CT
Sorry to hear that, Will! Lots of us are guilty of leaping to snap judgements.
I was at a garden show, and just had to go talk to the most unlikely Bonsai expert I would've expected to see - heavily tattoed , shaven head, lots of metal on his face and head...minutely pruning a tender little birch tree in a jade pot!
He was a passionate bonasi master, and head of the nationwide Bonsai club in his state! I got such a kick out of the unex[pected combo.
But back on topic, I hope that was just an off day at MoFC, and not indicative of a trend. And congrats on the new wheels!
I was at a garden show, and just had to go talk to the most unlikely Bonsai expert I would've expected to see - heavily tattoed , shaven head, lots of metal on his face and head...minutely pruning a tender little birch tree in a jade pot!
He was a passionate bonasi master, and head of the nationwide Bonsai club in his state! I got such a kick out of the unex[pected combo.
But back on topic, I hope that was just an off day at MoFC, and not indicative of a trend. And congrats on the new wheels!
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Danbury, CT
"DEALER CONVEYANCE
FEE" MEANS A REASONABLE FEE CHARGED BY A DEALER FOR PROCESSING
ALL DOCUMENTATION AND PERFORMING SERVICES RELATIVE TO THE CLOSING
OF A SALE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE REGISTRATION AND
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH IS THE SUBJECT
OF THE SALE.
(c) EACH DEALER SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE
BUYER OR PROMINENTLY DISPLAY A SIGN IN THE AREA OF HIS PLACE OF
BUSINESS IN WHICH SALES ARE NEGOTIATED WHICH SHALL SPECIFY THE
AMOUNT OF ANY CONVEYANCE FEE CHARGED BY SUCH DEALER, THE SERVICES
PERFORMED BY THE DEALER FOR SUCH FEE, THAT SUCH FEE IS NOT
PAYABLE TO THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND THAT THE BUYER MAY ELECT,
WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THE
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH
IS THE SUBJECT OF THE SALE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
IN WHICH CASE THE DEALER SHALL REDUCE SUCH FEE BY A PROPORTIONAL
AMOUNT. THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES SHALL DETERMINE THE
SIZE, TYPEFACE AND ARRANGEMENT OF SUCH INFORMATION."
FEE" MEANS A REASONABLE FEE CHARGED BY A DEALER FOR PROCESSING
ALL DOCUMENTATION AND PERFORMING SERVICES RELATIVE TO THE CLOSING
OF A SALE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE REGISTRATION AND
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH IS THE SUBJECT
OF THE SALE.
(c) EACH DEALER SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE
BUYER OR PROMINENTLY DISPLAY A SIGN IN THE AREA OF HIS PLACE OF
BUSINESS IN WHICH SALES ARE NEGOTIATED WHICH SHALL SPECIFY THE
AMOUNT OF ANY CONVEYANCE FEE CHARGED BY SUCH DEALER, THE SERVICES
PERFORMED BY THE DEALER FOR SUCH FEE, THAT SUCH FEE IS NOT
PAYABLE TO THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND THAT THE BUYER MAY ELECT,
WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO SUBMIT THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THE
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH
IS THE SUBJECT OF THE SALE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
IN WHICH CASE THE DEALER SHALL REDUCE SUCH FEE BY A PROPORTIONAL
AMOUNT. THE COMMISSIONER OF MOTOR VEHICLES SHALL DETERMINE THE
SIZE, TYPEFACE AND ARRANGEMENT OF SUCH INFORMATION."
Cars.om also talks about it. I'm sure some of the dealers here might have the specifics of what it is in MINIland.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
It might have to do with the fact that Westchester BMW/MINI, as well as Manhattan BMW/MINI are both owned and operated by BMWUSA.. If I ever get a 1er, which is very likely as my next car, I will probably check Westchester out. The only thing is that the Client Advisor at the BMW side is not there anymore, but I'm sure I'll get good sportsman-like conduct from them
I ended up going to Westchester BMW/Mini. I was very happy with them. The sales team looked past all my crazy tattoos and everything and saw a sale. They were very helpful with them. I oreder a mini and it went smooth and even showed up earlier than what they said.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Dealer conveyance fees are usually state wide. NY dealers are $45, Jersey is, I think $145-$165 and CT is about $245 or so. One thing none of us charge is dealer prep fees. Some mid-west dealerships charge up to $600 extra for gas and dealer prep. None of us that I know of are charging more than MSRP either although we have been contacted by other dealers wanting to buy cars from us at sticker so you can imagine what they will sell for.
Regards... Steve
www.minicooperinfo.com
Regards... Steve
www.minicooperinfo.com
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
I really want to find a mini club in ct but i'm having some trouble finding one. If you know of one i would love to hear about it. I'm still waiting on my mini. it's at the dealership right now, i just have to finalize everything with getting out a previous lease. GRRR.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
Westchester BMW/MINI is great. i ordered my car there and it just came last week. Patrick has been very helpful. He is working on all the paper work right now to get me out of the lease that i am in on a gas guzzler. I would defiantly tell anyone in the tri-state area send anyone to him for there mini cooper buying needs. tell him will sent you.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Currently, there isn't a "club" per se - there are several forums, but not one that actually calls itself a club.
I know that there are several forums in New England/NY that have events (e.g. Hudson Valley NY Enthusiasts: www.tshared.com - contact JeffC for more information), and then there's http://www.nemomini.org/nemo/index.cfm which provides links to many of the clubs and entities around the area.
Quite honestly, though, the clubs just don't exist in this area.
I know that there are several forums in New England/NY that have events (e.g. Hudson Valley NY Enthusiasts: www.tshared.com - contact JeffC for more information), and then there's http://www.nemomini.org/nemo/index.cfm which provides links to many of the clubs and entities around the area.
Quite honestly, though, the clubs just don't exist in this area.
I really want to find a mini club in ct but i'm having some trouble finding one. If you know of one i would love to hear about it. I'm still waiting on my mini. it's at the dealership right now, i just have to finalize everything with getting out a previous lease. GRRR.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
StevenFStein is a good resource for that question to be answered..
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Stamford, CT, soon St. James, NC
I live in Norwalk CT, which is about 10-15 minutes from the Fairfield Mini in Stamford CT. One day i had some extra time before work a decided to check them out. Well all of the sales men kept bouncing me round from one to another. I look a little odd i know(i have my right arm and a portion of my left arm completely tattooed and i have my ear lobes stretched out). People in CT don't see that stuff that often. Well when one of the sales men actually talked to me he just said"well you probably couldn't afford a mini s. we have some nice used base models." Were does he get off telling me that. I make more than enough to afford a new mini cooper s. Not with to many options but still i got some nice stuff in it.
I ended up going to Westchester BMW/Mini. I was very happy with them. The sales team looked past all my crazy tattoos and everything and saw a sale. They were very helpful with them. I oreder a mini and it went smooth and even showed up earlier than what they said.
I ended up going to Westchester BMW/Mini. I was very happy with them. The sales team looked past all my crazy tattoos and everything and saw a sale. They were very helpful with them. I oreder a mini and it went smooth and even showed up earlier than what they said.
Will - so sorry to hear about your experience! Some of us here at MoFC have tats also! I am frankly very surprised, and embarrased to read your story. Certainly not the normal approach here!
Glad you have a MINI and are enjoying it. Come on over to the Summer Splash 08 - Sunday, July 27th in New Canaan - I'll take care of you well for any inconvenience we may have caused.
Peter
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Cenral CT
Nothing to do with the dealer here but.
*Service
I brought in my car this morning to New Country service and Rich the service adviser was extremely courteous and polite. Mike the technician was as punctual. So far I am very pleased with the kind of service New Country has to offer - though I purchased from MoFC.
I forgot a few things in my car and came back before they closed and it was not a problem. Rich brought me where I needed to go and reassured me that they'll do what they can do take care of my mechanical issue.
*Service
I brought in my car this morning to New Country service and Rich the service adviser was extremely courteous and polite. Mike the technician was as punctual. So far I am very pleased with the kind of service New Country has to offer - though I purchased from MoFC.
I forgot a few things in my car and came back before they closed and it was not a problem. Rich brought me where I needed to go and reassured me that they'll do what they can do take care of my mechanical issue.
