I have to say, I just encountered the most ridiculous dealership behavior I have ever seen.

I wen to my local mini dealer about 3 weeks ago to look and test drive. They didn't have any colors I liked, but they did have a new DS/B MCS coming on that was just right. I waited and waited, and called today to check on the status. They are expecting it this weekend. I was psyched! And then they dropped the bomb:

They want to use it as a demo car. They've had me waiting for this car for 3 weeks, and now they refuse to sell it to me at any price, much less the MSRP. I couldn't believe it.

ME: "You mean you are willing to lose a 26,000 dollar sale because you want it as a demo car?"
MA: "Thats what management says"

Have you ever heard of such a thing? It just floored me. I still can't believe it.

 

Show up with a check. That usually changes their minds.

 

 

Just spoke with the manager down there. He states that he HAS to keep an S on site for frachise contract reasons. He said he would see what he could do if there was a another S coming that he could use, as well as seeing what other cars were around.

Wow. I'm still amazed.

 

Talk to th emanager face to face with money in hand and I bet they will see it in your direction, on the other hand if they can get over msrp that means there are still people lined up to sell it whenever they want to and not before. that is exactly why I ordered from Julie at classic, no hassels and great service and exactly what I wanted.

 

They dont have enough demand to sell them above MSRP at all.

Its a little hard to talk to him face to face with money in hand because I need to finance the car .

EDIT: Just heard back from the manager. He says absolutely 0% chance of buying any MCS from him off the lot, as he currently only has a JCW which he has to keep (and I don't want) and teh DS/B one coming in.

Ridiculous. Sounds like it may be time to call up Julie@Classic, though I hate to buy a car sight unseen.

 

face to face and ready to purchase...have down payment ready. Or just call Julie and order one, you already waited 3 of the 6 weeks it would have taken to get exactly what you wanted and at msrp

 

My dealer quoted me 8-12 months for a MCS....are you saying julie @ classic somehow can get one in 6 weeks?

 

I recently took ownership of my brand new MCS, LY05, sight unseen from MINI of the Hamptons. I, too, was skeptical and still can't believe (pinch!) that I bought a car basically over the internet and phone!!

So, go for it! In addition, I got the car for MSRP, which was why I chose MINI of the Hamptons, and shipping was @$1,000 - less than the sticker shock I was experiencing here in So CA! I placed my order late August, and received it 10/30/04. I upgraded the steering wheel for the cruise control option, and changed the standard 17" wheels to 16" so I could get the "spider" looking wheels, not available in 17". Other than that, I got the basic S, no packages. Would have liked the sun/moon roofs, but I live in the high desert, and thoughts of baking didn't appeal to me.

Happy hunting!

 

Maybe there's logic to what the dealer is doing.

If this is the only MCS on the lot, the dealer may be in the position that he needs it to pitch and sell others MCS'. This would explain the corporate position.

If I want an MCS I would want to drive it first, if there isn't one available to me the dealer could lose my sale. Your sale is one lost sale, not having an MCS on the lot can factor into many lost sales.

 

6 - 8 weeks is about right. there are dealers that are not using their full allotment which will allow you to oder and recieve your car much faster. The dealers near me that sell at msrp have a 1 year wait list for an S Again that is why I called Julie and ordered mine. I am very very happy with the car and the service provided from Julie at classic mini

 

Sounds like it's time to call Classic!

Does Julie ever post?

 

I dont think so, probably doesnt have time with all the people buying cars emailing her all the time ( I know this one from experience )

 

I thought Salt Lake City MINI was selling for MSRP?
Utah is a lot closer than Missouri. Take a weekend to drive it back and your well on your way through the break-in period.

A dealer I went to wanted $1,000.00 down just to test drive an MCS (way back in '02). I drove a couple of hundred miles to another dealership and took my test drive for free and bought my car from them.

 

Matt I have had a similar experience and ended up ordering with Julie@Classic.

Northwest does not have the allocation for the demand. I am suprised they have not gone the direction of the Cal dealerships and going above MSRP.

Great service up until I tried to place and order, still waiting for the return to my message.

 

Hard to believe what you folks have to go through to buy a MINIWhere I live you walk in,buy a car off the lot,and drive away the next dayUnless you want to order,then you wait 4-6 weeks.Waiting a year

 

A year! My dealer quoted me a 10-12 month wait on a custom MCS.

 

Classic in Ohio is very popular with the MINI world! You shouldn't worry about ordering what you want. I believe the shipping to the west coast runs about $800-$1000, which isn't too bad. OR you could fly to Ohio and drive your MINI home and have a great adventure. I'd be sure to test-drive that MCS they refuse to sell to you, though!

And Long Beach MINI in SoCal sells at MSRP, but has a HUGE waiting list!

Clover

 

I think the dealer I went to actually held onto someone's brand new MCS for a couple of days just to keep it in the show room... If I was the owner of that car waiting for delivery while the dealer 'borrowed' it, I would be
very very VERY upset.

 

Keep in mind that in reality you are not buying the car sight unseen as you have seen the MINI plenty of times and know the options well. As long as it is brand new the car will not be any different coming from another part of the country vs. your own back yard.

I bought my MINI over the phone 1 day. I got real lucky because I called dealerships all over the east coast and found the exact car in stock I was looking for at a dealership 3 hours away.

I called the next morning and said I'll take it! I then drove up 5 days later and drove home with my new car. I haven't regreted the decision since!

Yes I was a little weirded out over buying a car over the phone site unseen but realized: 'hey the car is new so nothing will be wrong with it and I have seen dozens of them as well as drooled over building 100's on the MINI sight'

That way I new there was no way Icould go wrong.

Start calling dealerships to see what they have or just call classic and have them ship you one!

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Chris

 

I called almost every west coast dealer and they quoted me 12 months to order a new 05. Phoeinx had just opened and they said there had an 18 month wait. I live in Las Vegas and they want a 2.5K premium on in stock cars and 6 month wait plus the premium (Not happening). I called Mini of Murray in Salt Lake City and talked to Juan Coles over the phone and he asked for a 2K earnest money deposit agreement on a ordered S with a three month wait to order and the 6-8 week delivery. He called the day before Thanksgiving (5 weeks later) for a Dec build. I told him I wanted a post Dec build so he said he'd call me later this month. Everything done over the phone, internet and fax machine, and snail mail for the check. BTW, Vegas has a few on the lot and did offer me MSRP however I have been hounding them for two years and they may have been calling my bluff (Vegas Style) just to see if I would bit, however, I didn't like what they had in stock. If I'm going to pay hard eraned money I want what I want

 

Sounds resonable to me. You have a hard time selling something you don't have. How many of you bought without a test drive . I didn't, I took two drives before I bought eventhough I knew I was buying a MCS .

Someone who has never driven a MINI wants to drive before buying and if they sell the only one they have then what?

Earl

 

But he HAS OTHER S's on the lot! I've seen 'em .

 

If they are sold and waiting for the owner to get them that is one thing....if they are just "hanging around" that's another. If they are not sold I would walk in and tell them, "I'm catching a plane to Ohio where they will sell me a car and I will have it broken in when I drive past and blow my horn and wave to you."

My daughter did that when the salesman said, "You can't afford a Corvette." She drove over and showed him her new Lexus and told him to get (you finish it)

Earl

 

Gasp! Then that's just SICK!

:smile: Go to Classic, sweetie! Forget the local yokels! However, keep in mind that you will need to have a semi-good relationship with them, since you'll be needing a dealership to service your MINI, no matter where you purchased it.

Keep us posted! :smile:

Clover