I ordered my mini from the original Miniqueen in Westchester NY way back in 02. It was trucked out like it was a million dollar show car by Intercity transport. I got it at MSRP from them when they wanted almost 6 grand over sticker here in L.A. The 1550 trans fee was a bargin compared to the local gouge. On a side note when I took the paperwork into the DMV to register the car they only taxed me on the 18k base price not the full 26600 ( every option known to man ) . Never could figure that one out and I wasn't about to ask
Randy

 

You can always give a call to Mini of Charleston 1-800-763-0283 talk to either Martha or Dana.:smile: :smile:

 

Randy, you owe the great State of California $480!! Now which office did you register at, and what was the clerk's name?

 

On a different note...pocketrocketowner, what have you got against the BRG?? It's just a color!! Which happens to be my favorite color, and the color of my car, but come on, you have posted some comments regarding the car and blaming the color...wazzup with that?[/QUOTE]



They are slow and they are ugly....nuff said......PLUS they are NOT babe magnets.......like the white jobs....people should buy white jobs......

 

asaulo1... In 2002 when I bought my MCS, I threatened several dealers with buying out of state. Finally worked a deal for $1500.00 over (same as freight cost) from Universal.

That said, my well sorted car with all the right upgrades (15% pulley, Alta CAI, Nology wires, Webb/Powerchips ECU, H-Sport springs and sway bar, adjustable lower rear camber links, UUC exhaust, Aero front bumper, 17 x 7.5 rims with new 225/45/17 rubber, parcel tray, etc) and Premium package with Lapis Blue interior can be had for $22k... 46k smiles. (and I am here in So Cal... no shipping!)

letmeknow...

Garth

 

Hi
I m in Calif, and bought my JCW 04 MCS from Classic MINI in Ohio. Played the game your started. Figured the 3000 mark up was 1/2 way to my JCW kit. Ordered Aug 14 03 had the car Nov 11, 03 JCW installed.
She will walk it you through it step by step. Transport was about 900.

The best part was the car was in my garage in less than 3 mos from signing on the dotted line.


6700 miles to date. and not looking back.

 

I got mine @ Crevier BMW/Mini in Santa Ana, CA after getting the same $2500-$3000 B.S. from Irvine Mini.

I paid $1500 over MSRP & got the "Value Package" which included the warranty & floor mats. Ask for Kirk, he even pre-orders cars & changes specs on them just before production so I only had to wait 30 days for my custom ordered baby.

 

auaulo1,

Check your Private Messages for a couple of PM's.

BTW, you pay sales tax on dealer markup when you buy in CA; and VLF (vehicle license fee) every year you own the car in CA on the mark up as well.

Charlie

 

I am also a CA resident and shopped almost every CA Mini dealer by phone to order an MCS last year for MSRP. Long Beach Mini was the only retailer for MSRP, but has a 10-12 month wait list. So here is my story:

-Place order with Debbie at Scottsdale, AZ Mini for MSRP end of May. Told it was a 6 month wait. After 2 months, I call for more info. Was told it will be another 6 months before delivery. Cancel order and they credit my deposit.

-Phone Mini of Jacksonville, FL (12 miles from relatives house) the same day. They sell for MSRP, and Lisa takes my MCS order the same day over the phone and gives me a build number. I order a base MCS with one option; Xenon headlamps. MSRP will be $20,500. It is now the beginning of August.

-Car arrives at dealer end of October, and is the first 2004 MCS in PW that the dealer has seen.

-Lisa overnights the paperwork, beats my credit union interest rate, and parks car in showroom for 5 days until my brother can take delivery and park in his garage until I fly in. Because of work responsibilities, I can't fly out for another 3 weeks to pick up my Mini to drive 2500 miles home with my Dad.

-The car is delivered absolutely spotless, and Lisa spends an hour explaining everything about the car to my brother. She was fantastic. He falls in love with it driving it home. "It handles like a go-cart" he says.

- I fly out on a one way ticket for $127 from LAX to Jacksonville, and never get to meet my MA because she is on vacation. It was the easiest, most pleasant and professional automobile purchase I have ever made. It went off without a single hitch.

-I drive back with my 71 year old father who lives near Orlando and spend $126 in premium fuel. 5 days of easy driving seeing the country and explaining the car to people at every gas station. The Mini practically drove itself. The car was steady, roomy, and stable on the freeway even when passed by tractor trailers on the highway.

-I average from a low of 19 mpg to a high of 41 mpg on the trip back. I have the break in oil changed in Texas at 1200 miles to be safe.

-I now have over 11,000 troublefree miles so far

-I call Long Beach Mini, CA in June and get on the 10 month waiting list for a 2005 model at MSRP. With such strong resale here, I plan on ordering the exact same MCS (maybe a different color) with the Steptronic(?) auto tranny so my wife can drive the car and sitting in LA traffic will be more pleasant.


My MCS in Idywild, CA

 

just an update to this... I went ahead and decided to order my mini from Julie at Classic Mini in Ohio... she was really helpful and was able to get me my production no. right away.... all said and done, I got the Mini that I've always wanted and at MSRP to boot.... can't wait til Sept.


here's the low down

05 Cooper S
Pepper White with black top
Premium package
xenon lights
front fog lights
H & K Stereo system

Now.... should we do that JCW thing? ahhh..... one day at a time....

thanks..

 

We live in Arizona, and didn't want to wait 10 months for a MCS, so we got our 04 Cooper S from Jackie Cooper in Oklahoma City. MSRP, no BS, easy to deal with all the way around...I flew out to pick it up, $150 in plane fares and a 940 mile test drive home!!

 

I had the best experience last year when I bought my 04 MCS from MINI of Murray (Salt Lake City area) that I wonder why more So Cal buyers don't do the same. The process and service was actually enjoyable.

I visited three dealers around Orange County and called every MINI dealer in California, Nevada, and Arizona. All either wanted $3K over MSRP or it was MSRP with about a year wait. I was surprised when MINI of Murray said they would sell it to me at MSRP.

I placed the order in August and took delivery Oct 31. My wife and I flew to SLC on Delta (about $75 for each one way ticket). Karen Johnson, our MA, picked us up at the airport in her MINI and she was decked out in her Haloween costume, remember it was Oct 31. We spent about an hour and a half looking over the car and signing papers before driving off for the 700 mile trip to Orange County. Stopped for one night in Las Vegas, had a great buffet at the Bellagio (we could have stayed at the Bellagio for all the money we saved).

The trip was all freeway driving on I-15 so had to vary the speed -- still averaged 75 according to the computer. There is a spot in southern Utah through the Virgin River canyon that has some high speed twisties that put a huge grin on my face as I slashed through them at over 90 mph. By the time I got home the MCS was more than halfway broken in.

The only expense was about $35 for Utah temporary plates and a CA smog check. You pay no Utah tax but pay CA sales tax when you register it.

I would recommend this method for anyone in SoCal thinking of getting an MCS.