I am thinking of ordering a Mini but cannot bring myself to pay over MSRP. In fact, have trouble paying MSRP as I never have before, but am resigned to that with this car.
I live in Atlanta and would be wiling to drive to get the car but don't want to pay shipping as that is more than the markup on the car. Any thoughts?

 

Over MSRP? No, Never! MSRP? Probably. Check out your dealer, as well as those within a reasonable driving distance. Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati, to the north and west offer good value for $. Check the dealer rating system or some of the threads regarding these dealers. You shouldn't have to pay over MSRP for any MINI.

 

The only dealer I'm familiar with is Roadshow/MINI in Memphis TN. The expectation here seems to be that you should pay MSRP. However, there is also a $249 "preparation fee" and a Memphis tax that amounts to about $60 on a $20,000 transaction. This means they are asking more than MSRP. With a little effort you can get at least enought of a discount to offset these fees and bring the selling price to true MSRP. If you purchase a car already in stock instead of ordering one you are likely to find a bunch of high profit options already installed. I'm not sure how much success you would have in negotiating this away.

My guess is it won't be long until discounts are routinely available.....but I would never expect the kind of discount you can get on an "ordinary" car.

Don't pay more than MSRP.... :smile:

 

The dealerships are greedy,mine wanted 2 grand over MSRP on any in stock S model but would order you one at MSRP which is what I did.

 

The markup at the dealer I am talking to is "documentation fee" of $399.50. Just a markup, pure and simple. They must have enough business as they say that is the best they will do.
I went out of state for my Boxster (under MSRP AND fre delivery) so I will look elsewhere....

 

Hey merbel,

I just purchased an '04 Mini from Mini of the Hamptons in NY. They sell at MSRP and they have many in stock. Check out thier website!

 

You don't have to pay over MSRP. Only if you want the car from that dealer. They may charge whatever they think the traffic will bear. Try somewhere else.

 

$1000 shipping makes that a no go...

 

Merbel:
If you don't mind going to Louisiana, "Brian Harris Mini" Sells at MSRP.
A few of us who live in California have bought our cars from there.
Cali dealers want 15-25k over MSRP or they have you on a looooooooong waiting list. My name has been on a wiating list at Longbeach Mini since Aug O2 and they haven't called me yet. Ordered from BH Mini and drove away in 8wks. 1200miles is the break in, the drive would help run the odometer to fun time.

 

hey i'm in atlanta too. which one did u go? both?
Global is high
Hank aaron is OK
How did you came out with both?
No deal?

 

merbel,
I was in Atlanta last december and checked the used car ads and found a TON of used MINIs for sale. You might check the newspaper, you might find something good for cheap. Or at least look and play off those for sale against getting a new one. The dealer is making enough profit selling at MSRP without tagging on more extras.

Since used MINIs are plentiful you should not really have to pay above MSRP unless you have to buy new. But don't tell them that just say you can buy used for alot less and that you want to buy from them (the dealer) but the best you can do is MSRP and that is firm. Your offer is not unreasonable. Then if they say no then you had better walk- I think when you walk then they will call you back and say OK on MSRP. Tell us if this is what happens. If I were the sales person I would not let you walk. Stupid.

You have to look and act like you mean business. Have the newspaper clipping all marked up with notes like you talked to them all and show them you are serious. You checked out the competition and you are ready to buy.
Scare them

 

I have found a dealer in Winston Salem NC that will sell at MSRP so I will go there if ATL dealers won't match.
TO the ATL dealer question above, Hank Aaron wants 399.50 over MSRP but will throw in mats. Test dorve at Global but haven't pushed their bottom line yet..

 

Global is pretty similiar to Hank Aaron. They will sell to you for MSRP, but have a dealer prep fee of around $399, can't remember the exact amount when I bought mine. That included mats as well.

 

Hank Aaron never told me anything about floormats.
I'm picking it up this week,
they said it should be here tomorrow, if you read oct club you will know what happened to me.

It is so good to hear about what dealer promise everyone. I will ask them for mats!
Anyone else has other deals with their MINI?

 

I would recommend purchasing new instead of used for MSRP somewhere. The early Mini's did have some quality control issues. With a used model selling very close to what you pay for a new one, I would say order exactly what you want (color, options) for a brand spanking new 2004

 

FYI I'm paying MSRP at Tom Bush in Jacksonville FL. I don't have a dealer in my city so I had to call around.

Check out the "Dealer Rating System" link on the bar at the left under "Features." A lot of people will mention stuff about pricing there. It helped me a lot. :smile:

 

Merbel,

Deal with MINI of Charleston. It's the same distance from Flow in Winston -Salem and they do not charge over MSRP for their cars, and they are extremely nice. It is close enough for you to drive and pick it up. Anymore questions, please don't hesitate to PM me.

FrogGuts

 

Merbel... In March, I went thru the same ordeal as you. Never paid MSRP, let alone OVER MSRP before. I knew exactly what car I wanted, and I started calling any dealer within 500 miles of Tampa. And some that weren't. The only dealer in the Southeast USA that I could find who would guarantee me that I would pay MSRP, no markup, no accessory fees, etc. was Braman in Miami. No teling if this is still their policy, but it couldn't hurt to check. Luckily for me, they were ALSO the only dealer that had the car I wanted ON the lot.

I see there were a few other posts naming delers who don't jack up over MSRP, but it never hurts to have more options. Watch out for outrageous paperwork or prep fees, and don't get suckered into believing anything you DON'T see online as standard *is* standard eqpt. One dealer here adds alarms & "Clear Shield" and tells you it's standard, even though it's added onto the MSRP right on the sticker- over $1k above MSRP. Another makes you pay $1500 for accessories, whether you buy accessories or not. Just be shrewd about it & you'll make out OK.

Any dealer you call should be able to give you an out the door price over the phone, since they're not negotiating price. If your out the door price doesn't jive with MSRP on line (plus REASONABLE fees, i.e.TTL), go elsewhere.

Bill
Tampa

 

Back in January of 2003 I first went to Brecht MINI in Escondido and they wanted almost $5,500.00 over MSRP for a loaded up MCS. I went to LA and found a dealer that would sell me an ordered car for MSRP with no add-ons. I had a production number the first part of February and took delivery in April. Shop around.

 

I just got into my 2003 BRG MCS at Tom Bush Mini in Jax, FL for under (albeit, just under) MSRP. They had it in stock and ready for immediate delivery. Getting around dealer fees is going to be difficult---of course the dealership makes tons of cash in the back-end (finance), but they insist that a "dealer fee" is used to pay the salaries of those working in the back office. They do all of the background paper, like tag and title work. But just try to work down their initial asking price with this "non-negotiable" fee in mind.

Hey, it's a MINI....it's worth it, right?

Miniature

 

Hi Merbel
welcome to MINI motor world!! you are going to enjoy the first adventure...getting a car...

I wanted to put my 2 cts in. I wasn't about to pay over MSRP for a MINI, but then I found out if I wanted to buy this car in California, getting one at MSRP would be the best deal outside of theft that I would find. I ordered my MCS from Classic Mini in Mentor OH. ( Cleveland) They are an MCO sponser and a very nice ride, so far. A nice thing about Classic is they are the only MINI parts house that will discount bmw parts. 20-30 %. And when you buy out of state, no sales tax on parts, services or shipping for parts.

Also the sales staff is very helpful and going the extra mile for you. is their mission. If you want an extra special MA experience contact Julie Saxo ...and you will know what its like to be treated well