Actually, I don't yet have my MINI :smile:

 

Watching Speed Channel the other day and the indicated that the MINI was currently the "Fastest" selling car in the US. Average time spend on a lot is less than 14 days. Mitsubishi had the worst with somewhere around 160 day's average life spent on the dealers lot.

I feel so lucky. I decieded on a Thursday back in May that I wanted to buy an MCS. Spec'd out the car I wanted on the Internet and contacted my local dealer Friday morning. They had just gotten their 3month allocation the day before and had 10 MCS's on the lot. I went to the dealer and checked out the cars and only one was CR/W the color I wanted and it had the exact options I had wanted but it had a "SOLD" sign on it. Crap... looked around somemore and planned to order one but after talking to the dealer the car was being sold to another dealer and they let me buy it instead on the spot. Drove home a few hours later in the exact car I wanted at MSRP minus the Clear bra protection they put on and wanted to charge $800 for. Motoring ever since....

 

I'm not surprised the MINI doesn't sit on the lot very long. Once you see it you want to drive it and once you drive it you buy it! :smile:

 

Lots of people buy MC for the same reason I did: they wanted the awesome handling of the cooper (mc or mcs, obviously both have that) - but just prefered the look of the MC over the MCS.

I know that was my preference. I very much was attracted to the aftermarket scene once i had my car, and I don't at all regret not getting the MCS. The options are more limited in gains, true - however the most important gains for me and a lot of people is handling - not power.

That all said, a lot of people think: Faster is Better. So I am kind of surprised that the MCS isn't closer in sales to the MC

 

One of the big draws of the MC for me is the better mileage. I commute about 70 miles a day round trip.

 

>>I think it seems as though there are more MCS' out there because there seems to be more MCS owners here and also at meets. OK, my reasoning is as follows and is in no way meant to offend anyone or indicative of a preference so put your flamethrowers away. I think, IN GENERAL, there are probably more MINI enthusiasts who buy MCS whereas many people, but not all, who buy the MC are looking for a cute commuter car. These people are less likely to post on forums, go to meets or compete in autocross. I love both the MC and MCS and everything that makes each one unique. I'm definitely a MINI enthusiast. In fact, it's bordering on OCD

This is what I was thinking. Racers are more likely to join and talk and are more enthauiastic about their cars. Look at the BMW clubs but I have never seen a Hyundai, Chev Geo, or Kia club. (Sorry if I offended anyone, I just have never seen one).

Earl

 

Right on - there are more MCS enthusiasts than MC enthusiasts for that reason.

That said, we clearly still have MC enthusiasts

 

Sales of both the Cooper and Cooper S are very strong if the colour combination is a correct one. Chili Red/White or Black cars sell themselves. Indigo Blue, British Racing Green with any roof colour are also very strong sellers. The Silk Green and Violet Red did not sell so well.

At a Philadelphia dealership someone managed to order a solid Chili Red Cooper S with the Lapis Blue Leather interior. Unfortunately the buyer had to back out of the deal, and the car sat on the lot for three months before anyone would buy it. Now this colour combination is no longer produced.

September sales for the Mini of down 60 percent from last September. So the market is starting to get a little soft.

 

Super_MINI said, in part:

>>I feel so lucky. I decieded on a Thursday back in May that I wanted to buy an MCS. Spec'd out the car I wanted on the Internet and contacted my local dealer Friday morning. They had just gotten their 3month allocation the day before and had 10 MCS's on the lot. I went to the dealer and checked out the cars and only one was CR/W the color I wanted and it had the exact options I had wanted but it had a "SOLD" sign on it. Crap... looked around somemore and planned to order one but after talking to the dealer the car was being sold to another dealer and they let me buy it instead on the spot....

That is interesting. I wondered what the source for the many "used" MINIs I see for sale with 10 miles or so, being offered at high markups by non-MINI dealers. It would also explain why the local dealers rarely seem to have any cars on hand so one must go onto a waiting list.

 

>>Lots of people buy MC for the same reason I did: they wanted the awesome handling of the cooper (mc or mcs, obviously both have that) - but just prefered the look of the MC over the MCS.

I'm with you there. I honeslty like the look of th MC better than the MCS. Also, a lot of people on here talk about speed and everything...The MC will still fly. Yes, you're right, it does not go 0 - 60 as quick as the MCS, and it's 115 hp, but really....People act like it's a scooter or something.