Universal City Mini (North Hollywood, Ca) wants $1500 over sticker, but they have the cars loaded up with several thousand dolloars of stuff I don't want. Other dealers in the LA area seem to be loading the cars up with a lot of stuff too. No one would accept my offer of MSRP on a S the way I wanted, even if I was willing to pay it all up front and wait! Universal City, the dealer closest to me, won't let anyone test drive the only S they have until the 7th, and I'm scheduled to drive it on the 9th. It will ticket out at nearly $30,000 with T & L and all the stuff they have added! I'm not going to pay that kind of price, but I want to actually drive the S before I decide if it is that much better than a regular Cooper. With the Focus SVT to come in a couple of months and it's supposed to be under $20,000 and have 170 hp, I will probibly wait to drive one before I actually buy.

 

No one should pay those kinds of prices. Give it time... the gouging will stop.
As for the Focus.... I don't think there is much comparison. The Focus is going to be a quick little car for the money but with the Mini you get a quick car that is very refined and an absolute blast to drive. Oh and did I mention this thing is Fast!!
SW

 

If you are willing to head to Santa Ana Crevier BMW/Mini they have both an S model and a Mini Std Demo you can test drive same day. I saw a post regarding an Omni??? If you are willing to pay 1500.00 over plus options installed that you don't want then by all means jump in. I would like to be able to buy an S model with the options I want and color without paying some dealer 1500-4000 over MSRP. I mean 899.00 for a cd changer, 1000.00 for a sub woofer, XM radio and Flames Ect.... I don't want that stuff and not at those prices...anyway SW you got the right idea wait a bit and let the newness wear off the prices will get more realistic. As for the Omni well I won't go there, hope your wife enjoys the new ride they are sweet.
Later,
ZB

 

Alrite... for sure I'm getting my first car and for sure I want it to be a Cooper S!!!! For those of you who already own one or negotiated with the dealers about the price of the S, any tips for me before I step into a dealership and get shot down by the dealers and end up having to pour out a huge sum of money in which I don't have just because I love this car so much?!!!! Since this is gonna be my first car I don't have any experience in shopping for a car and it seems to me I'm gonna be having a hard time negotiating with dealers due to the high demand for the S.

My MINI will have the metallic grey, white-top w/ sunroof, sports pkg, leather seats, & on-board computer: MSRP= 23750. Am I looking at around 29000 drive-out now at all the LA dealers? Around 26000 drive out would be ideal for this MINI. Does anyone have a strategic plan to help me get the price I want for my MINI Cooper S in the LA market?

 

There are apparently a lot of people in the Los Angles area willing to pay whatever the dealer wants to be the first to get an S. I refuse to do that. If I have to wait 6 months or more to get the car as I want, and to pay window sticker or less, than so be it. I don't think customers have any power right now, as in the LA area, demand well exceeds supply, and most are paying substantially over window sticker and being forced to buy items that have been puton the car that they really do not want. I would say wait.

 

Well it's Friday which means most of us will be over at the Mini dealers getting another look. I was in Irvine this morning (very early) and took a drive by Irvine BMW/Mini. There were 5 out front all Mini Std from Racing Green, Blue, Silver and a Red if I remember correctly. It was 6:00 am and the service guys were not even there yet, 2 Mini S inside all nice and warm and dry a Yellow and the Light Blue. All the Minis outside had Lojack 795.00, Armor Plate 795.00 (I am guessing paint sealer/wax?) and Floor Mats 79.00. They averaged 21-23,000 with the only mark up the 3 items mentioned otherwise everything was Factory installed. Premium Package, Leather on some and other nice features. Anyway if your out looking this weekend and in Orange County, Ca. I would recommend Irvine Mini over Crevier in Santa Ana. Crevier had some pretty wild add ons bringing the same cars up to 26,000...Ouch
Happy hunting,
ZB

 

>>Alrite... for sure I'm getting my first car and for sure I want it to be a Cooper S!!!! For those of you who already own one or negotiated with the dealers about the price of the S, any tips for me before I step into a dealership and get shot down by the dealers and end up having to pour out a huge sum of money in which I don't have just because I love this car so much?!!!! Since this is gonna be my first car I don't have any experience in shopping for a car and it seems to me I'm gonna be having a hard time negotiating with dealers due to the high demand for the S.
>>
>>My MINI will have the metallic grey, white-top w/ sunroof, sports pkg, leather seats, & on-board computer: MSRP= 23750. Am I looking at around 29000 drive-out now at all the LA dealers? Around 26000 drive out would be ideal for this MINI. Does anyone have a strategic plan to help me get the price I want for my MINI Cooper S in the LA market?

Hey Hugo great choice on your first car! Mini S models are at a premiem but they are out there try Irvine Mini, (sounds like your in the LA/OC area) and see what the have in the way of Mini S models I saw at least 2 inside, had my face pressed up against the glass like a kid waiting for the toy store to open. Irvine BMW is right off Irvine Center Dr and Research Dr out by Irvine Meadows or what ever they call it now. I will probably be out there myself looking to order my Mini S. Have fun and let us know what and where you end up.
ZBnull

 

Thankz zbrider!!! I called Monrovia, Universal, and LA, and the Sz are all fully loaded and if I want one I'll need to be on the waiting list behind hundreds of ppl and put down a deposit. I haven't even seen this car in person or even test driven it, yet itz for sure my kinda car cause I speed up on the turns and I bet it will be the perfect car but only if it was at the perfect price. I'm looking to put 11000 down and finance around 15000 which will be around 350 a month which isn't too bad for me. But it seems like I'll be ending up paying around close to 30000 total if I want this car rite now.... thatz a bummer!!! What ever happened to the the moto: AFFORDABLE and "in financial reach of anyone"??? But I'm still hunting... and I guess OC is where I'll be looking so thanks again zbrider and by the way, what's ur config. on your MINI S???

 

Hey Hugo, I was pretty much set on Racing Green with Black roof and mirrors and Bonnet Strips until I saw them in person....the Silver and black and the Metalic Blue are both on the top of my list...I want the Prem package and the Sport Package combo...Panther Black interior (leatherette) and I will be one happy camper. All this and still around 22,600 MSRP. The HK sound system and the sensing wiper and auto dim mirror will not be availabe until 9/02 due to supply problems per miniusa.com.
See you out there!
ZB

 

Hugo,
If you get a chance go for a ride with Mark from Assael BMW in Pasadena. He'll take you for a e-ticket ride. I went with him on a ride today in a Cooper with 17" wheels and Yoko tires. After flying through traffic at 90mph he took a frwy off ramp that circles around at 67mph. It was unbelievable, and let me tell you the DSC was hard at work. Go try it out, I'll looking forward to reading your reply... (hehehe)

 

Kaos, do I just call up Assael BMW and schedule an appointment to test ride with Mark? Alrite, but do they sell the MINIs there? And can I test drive it too?

 

Reading these posts its amazing how inconsistent the various dealers are. I was told by one of the three Chigago area dealers that there are only about 40 U.S. dealers in the Mini network. Among those 40 they get to divvy up one-third of Mini's total U.S. allocation for the first year of 20,000 units (out of 100,000 worldwide) that will be produced as the S. I'm not sure if all dealers get equal allocations or not, but if they do, that breaks down to only 14 Cooper S models per dealer per month. If the law of supply and demand gets a foothold it looks pretty bleak for those of us who hoped to pay MSRP.

However, there may be some hope, at least at some dealerships. I have visited the two Chicago area dealers closest to me, and was suprised to find these differences:

1. Dealer One is adding a sporty dealer package (at a sporty price), Dealer Two is not.
2. Dealer Two has one S, for test drives only. Dealer One has none.
3. Dealer Two told me a week ago the wait for an S will be 15 to 18 mos. Dealer One says I'll have it this August or September.
4. Dealer Two started taking "reservations" many months ago, requiring a $500 refundable deposit. Dealer one started taking orders requiring a $1,000 refundable deposit in late March.

I made my first visit to Dealer One a week ago last Saturday and test drove a standard Mini. Liked it, but it was a bit of a slug until I got it up to about 4,000 RPM. The salesman told me that if I ordered an S that day I would take delivery in July or August. But they didn't have an S to test drive, so I went home and had several beers and pondered. Then I called the next closest dealer (Dealer Two) and discovered they had an S. So I made an appointment for a test drive last Wednesday. The test drive cinched it, I was hooked, but was put off by the prospect of waiting 18 months. So that evening I called Dealer One, spoke to the sales manager for the first time and said I was ready to order. He said they were no longer taking orders for the S!! I informed him that I was told I could get one in July just three days earlier. This was at 7:30 pm on a Wednesday night. He said he was swamped with customers, but that he'd call me back that very evening. And he did. He also said he'd make an exception and accept my order. In order to do that he said he was going to have to give up one of the S models that the dealership was going to add their own options to, which is how they make a few extra dollars. That was a rare display of integrity you don't ordinarily find at a car dealership.

So, I placed my order last Saturday with Dealer One. When I asked how much I was going to pay, he said, "MSRP." He claimed that the dealers aren't making anything on the S, so if Mini chooses to raise any prices they will pass them on directly. He vowed, however, that they will not mark up the car further. We'll see.

What seems odd is one would think that with Mini's marketing tact thus far they would have issued some guidelines for dealers to follow. If that was done then it is apparent that a number of their chosen few have broken ranks and intend to cash in on the current feeding frenzy.

Good luck to everyone who has their heart set on getting into one of these little beasts at a reasonable price (current MSRP, for example) and within a reasonable time frame (like before we find Osama).

 

Seems as if the Big Town dealers are cranking the price up through OPTIONS! My dealer has 2 MINI Coopers (one for test, the other is showroom) and one "S" for tests. They only want a $500 refundable deposit for ordering. My dealer had only two slots left for MINI Cooper orders with delivery in June. If I had opt'd for the "S", the delivery would've been November. Quite pleased with the dealer, the operation, and buying at MRSP!

 

Just went on Carsdirect.com's website..... They are marking the car up 5500.00!!
Optioned out the way I want it..... they show 28162.00!!!
Side note: The car showed as being out of stock. So I guess it really doesn't matter. It's nice to know however, that Carsdirect practices such good business tactics.
Note to all dealers: Set an example now and pay in the future.
and the gouging continues.....
SW

Please all, post bad dealers Names and Location.
Something we could all use as a referance.

Also do the same for good dealers.

Global Imports BMW/Mini Good.
Atlanta GA

 

If everyone will email me, mferguson@northamericanmotoring.com, the following information I will gladly create a FAQ for dealers dealing at MSRP and those known to be gouging at this time:

MSRP dealers
- dealer name
- dealer location
- sales rep reference (if any)
- sales rep phone number (if applicable)
- web site (if any)
- additional comments

Gouging dealers
- dealer name
- dealer name
- dealer location
- gouging sales rep name (if any)
- gouging sales rep phone number (if applicable)
- web site (if any)
- additional comments

Many thanks!

_________________
MINICOOPEROnline.com

 

Bump....

>>If everyone will email me, mferguson@northamericanmotoring.com, the following information I will gladly create a FAQ for dealers dealing at MSRP and those known to be gouging at this time:
>>
>>MSRP dealers
>>- dealer name
>>- dealer location
>>- sales rep reference (if any)
>>- sales rep phone number (if applicable)
>>- web site (if any)
>>- additional comments
>>
>>Gouging dealers
>>- dealer name
>>- dealer name
>>- dealer location
>>- gouging sales rep name (if any)
>>- gouging sales rep phone number (if applicable)
>>- web site (if any)
>>- additional comments
>>
>>Many thanks!
>>
>>_________________
>>MINICOOPEROnline.com

 

for the people who already have a mini cooper S....how much did you guys end up paying for it and at which dealership?? Im hearing 25-28 thousand for this car..thats pretty ludacris on my standards...as much as i am a fan for the mini corporation, if the dealerships were gonna charge me that much I would rather get a decently loaded audi A4 or dish out another couple thousand for a Z3 or 325.....

 

I 'special ordered' my Cooper with just a $500 deposit last weekend. I am first in line for the June allocation and will likely receive the lil' devil in early August. No price gouging at all. Sales guy was very pleasant and honest... I think the trick is to order it exactly as you desire and then just WAIT. We actually configured my options using miniusa.com (as I had done many times myself!) and the price listed on mini's site was the price I ended up with.

FYI: I'm gettin a Cooper in Black with a White Roof, Tan Leather, Auto A/C, Cruise, On-Board Computer, Manual Transmission.

I Can't Wait!! I will be getting a production number so that I can track the progress of my car through miniusa.com!

I must add that the dealer did have a lot of JUNK added to the mini's they had on-site though... but it was not really a concern of mine since I had always planned on ordering exactly what I wanted anyway.

The dealer I'm buying through is in Fort Lauderdale, and there is not really another one nearby with cars yet...
Good luck and my sympathy for all those with evil dealers neaby.

 

The dealers in the Los Angles area won't even take an special order for an S, as they are "sold out" for 6 months. They do, however, add your name to the list and will call you if the people above you on the list decide they no longer want the car or don't want it as is (with a lot of dealer installed stuff added on). I even offered to pay full window IN ADVANCE for an S ordered to my chosen specs, and 2 dealers turned me down! :evil:

 

>>for the people who already have a mini cooper S....how much did you guys end up paying for it and at which dealership?? Im hearing 25-28 thousand for this car..thats pretty ludacris on my standards...as much as i am a fan for the mini corporation, if the dealerships were gonna charge me that much I would rather get a decently loaded audi A4 or dish out another couple thousand for a Z3 or 325.....

OK heres my 2 cents, I have spoke with 2 dealers in Orange Co, Ca. Both said the exact same thing and that is the only people driving Mini S's are dealers period! BMW made it very clear the 2 S models they each got were demos and under no circumstances could they be sold until BMW gave the dealers,(All of them) the go ahead. They also made it clear that here in Southern California MINI S's were like beach front property and yes you will pay a premieum fro the next year or so...Ouch

 

You are partially correct zbrider. The people claiming few the past couple of weeks to have an S model are not all telling tall tales. Some are, that's for sure. But at the same time some are telling the truth that they have one in their driveway. You are correct in that those S models were DEMOs only... but that did not keep some dealers from selling them. Dealers like Kansas City sold theirs and now BMW has cancelled their contract to sell cars. Other dealerships are rumors to be losing their contracts right now and others are losing partial inventory on future shipments. This only hurts those on waiting lists though which really sucks. Many people have no idea the car they were told they were getting is now in limbo... They may be waiting an extra 6 months now as BMW cut that dealers supplies due to their ethics and other people will NEVER get their car now from that dealer as they have lost their contracts. In a way I like this, BMW is shutting down some of these unethical dealers. It ashame buyers must suffer. I would check your local dealer to see if their status has changed due to some contractual thing with BMW.

Also, if anyone tells you they ordered a "custom ordered" or otherwise hand picked car and its arriving before JULY, they are full of it. Dealers (like the one I ordered from) are taking people's orders now, BUT BMW is not officially even taking these orders till JUNE 1. So it will be another 4 to 6 weeks after this date till people see these cars. ALL MINI S models people can buy in May/June are pre-spec factory cars that people did not build... they just arrive at the dealerships as they are optioned already. They dealers and customers have no say in how these cars are optioned out.

 

It's a shame that customers are being penalized for the actions of the dealer!! :evil:
I say ...... BMW should instead allow these dealers to sell the cars.... but..... instead of allowing the dealer to pay the invoice price they should pay 500. or so over...... (I know, I know...) Then have the dealer sign a contract agreeing to much higher penalties for future gouging or wrong doing. BMW should then do random fallow ups with customers of the dealer to check up on them.....
This way if the dealer continues to gouge or tries to pass the +500.00 on to the consumer..... they will be hit with say 2000.00 or so fines.....
What do you think....?
Would it work?
SW

_________________
Motor On!!..... Mini Me!!

 

I live in LA. Does anyone know what the CA smog rules are? If I buy a car at a reasonable cost in Salt Lake City. Will it pass California's smog requirements or is an expensive smog upgrade required to drive in California?

The Universal City Dealer let me drive a Cooper & an S. There is a huge difference. The S feels like a much larger car than the Cooper. The dealership as of 4/14 has 100 $1,000 deposits for the S and is not taking any more deposits. They have been adding on Lojack & 17" wheels for the Cooper at a $5000 mark-up.

I love the yellow with black top & sun roof!

 

I don't know about the emmision rules... but if you are wanting to buy a MINI in SLC and take it back to Cali that won't work. The Salt Lake dealer is not taking orders or selling cars at all to out of state people anymore. sorry.

 

amagnetta

Your experience mirrors mine in Virginia Beach. Dealer has my specs and will order my S model the first of June and I should take receipt in late August. Built my specs using miniusa.com, no price gouging, they did show me a choice of 3 dealer installed options and I did the math they weren't great deals but the are fair deals I kind of liked one of them but it included the big "rally style" driving lights I wasn't real big on those (I like the look but it has factory fog lamps built into it and they covered a pretty good portion of the grill and I wondered if it would affect cooling) dealer was great allowed me to swap an alarm system for the lamps at same price (a true alarm system not a LOJAC that everyone is complaining about) I could have said no to the package and I am sure the dealer is making a few dollars off of dealer installed options but I didn't HAVE to take one of the packages and I don't begrudge him making a few dollars if I get something useful and don't end up feeling like the little skinny new guy on the show "OZ" in the process.

He then took my spec sheet from Miniusa.com and a copy of the dealer package I had chosen with the change we had agreed on, along with my deposit check and stapeled them into a manilla folder on which he wrote my last name and the number 5. I didn't ask but assume (and hope) this indicated that I would be the fifth "speced out" mini he would be ordering.

So far so good, I feel for the people that are getting juiced, same thing has happened before, You even expect it with something limited run like a Corvette Z06 or a Viper, the one that really got me though was several years ago when the Mazda Miata first came out the goal was a two seat roadster under 10K but dealers were marking them up 5-6K and selling them for 14-15K. Supply and Demand.