Greetings,
Went by Braman MINI this afternoon in W. Palm Beach and the place had 32 Coopers & S Models in stock, nearly half were S models. They were all pretty well loaded. Braman also gets about $ 1,900.00+ over MSRP. I was there the first time about three weeks ago and the inventory seems to be growing. Are MINI sales slowing down?
I am ordering mine from Lauderdale MINI without the dealer add ons. March ?!?!
Best Regards,
Ron
Pure Silver MCS

 

WOW, are you sure they aren't already called for? I was at Patrick yesterday and he said the wait was about 4-5months. If I can get one over there, im well...there!

 

Hey Ron!
I ordered my MINI through Lauderdale MINI. They were awesome, and didn't charge anything above MSRP. Depending on how badly/quickly you want your MINI, you can either plunk down the $1,900 or wait for one you spec yourself... The wait is pretty rough (but well worth it I'm sure!) :smile:

 

I know that Irvine and Crevier MINI both have extra inventory. They have been buying stock from dealers in the south that aren't moving what's on the lot. I haven't checked in a few days, but I'm sure they still have a few ready to go right now (sorry, over MSRP at both dealers)

 

All car sales are slowing...I think the economy is slowing... :???:

 

you think the economy is slowing??

 

RonR,

Welcome to MCO! You live down in my old stomping ground. My wife is actually down there now - most of our families still live in the West Palm area.

I think what you will find, is that most of the MINI buyers are aware now that there are plenty (actually most) of dealers out there that don't charge over MSRP. Any of the dealers that do will most likely start to have inventory.

I know there is still a wait here in Denver, and they don't charge over MSRP. Braman always has, and when I started itching so bad that I couldn't wait anymore for my spec - I checked all over the country, and Braman had inventory then, so it isn't new.

The MINI is still one of, if not, the hottest seeling cars right now. 2minis is right, the entire economy has slowed and doesn't appear to be bouncing back quite as quickly as the analysts originally thought it would. It will soon enough, and the MINI will continue to thrive, here and abroad.

Randy

 

Hey Ron,

I agree with the others when it comes to the public's awareness of how some dealers are hosing their customers, while others do not. In my neck of the woods, there are only 2 dealers in the state. Nashville (+MSRP) & Memphis (MSRP-but orders only). I ended up trading in Nashville, and haggling my way to the MSRP price, but took an awful beating on my trade. Good luck...

Jim

 

why would someone pay $1900 over invoice, nfw, that is why they are building inventory. I am in GA and both dealers have MC available at invoice prices, but, you ARE going to have to wait for the MCS, both Global and HA are on allocation of max 7 MCS per month and they are sticking to MSRP

SBE :evil:

 

I agree with everyone else, it would seem the the extra $1900 over invoice is why Braman still has Cooper's on the lot. Eventually they'll wake up and realize that they have priced themselves out of the market. Until then they will have a bit of excess inventory.

 

There are dealers in the Northeast (NY and MA specifically, but maybe other places too) that have Coopers and S's on the lot, unspoken for, and at MSRP. All you have to do is travel or arrange shipping...and MCO is full of stories and advice about doing that.

I'd say that since about September it's been possible to buy a MINI (Cooper or S) at or close to MSRP at some dealer in the US w/o waiting. The difficulties in doing this have mostly related to people's lack of interest in dealing with out-of-their-local-area dealers AND the fact that (apparently) one of the joys of MINI ownership is choosing/ordering the precise combination of options out of the thousands of available combinations. This results in a wait...which some say is worth it.

But as I've always said...get on the phone and find a dealer who will sell you a car at a price, location, and optioned as close as you can, and GET GOING! This waiting stuff is highly over-rated, IMHO.

(I waited 2 months...but that was during last summer when on-the-lot cars were more rare and almost always over MSRP)

 

jsun is right that there are numerous dealers in the NorthEast (including PA) selling MINIs at MSRP that have inventory available for immediate purchase.

Let me offer this as at least a partial explanation:

Most of us who were interested in the MINI knew about it long before it was even available. Then there are others of us who are simply more progressive thinking, trend-setter types who immediately latched on when finding out about the car. Now, we're approaching the stage when the "die-hards" and the "trend-setters" already have their MINI or have it ordered. The car is going to have to begin attracting people on its merits and the merits of BMW/MINIUSA and the Dealer network. It is a small car that, as much as we love it, does not appeal to everyone. The car has pretty much sold itself to all of us, and now the dealers are going to have to start selling the car much like any other. Admittedly, if they get people in for a test drive, the car does a lot to sell itself - but they need to work on keeping the draw of customers coming. (This is also why you will start seeing more TV ads and other advertising this year.)

I suggest that this is where local MINI clubs step in and approach their dealers to be club sponsors. We offered our dealer that we will maintain an active club that will advertise and "spread the word" about MINI (to help increase their customer draw) through our events in return for their sponsorship. We took this one step further, however, in asking that part of their sponsorship be to automatically enroll each new MINI owner in the club by paying their first year's membership fee! (I cannot claim this idea as my own, one of my fellow club organizers thought of this.) This is a total WIN-WIN, because we guarantee membership (hopefully active membership) and can also guarantee the existence of the club for purposes of FUN, but also to help promote the car for the dealer!

There will still be wait for anyone who wants to custom-order their car. This is also part of the reason for dealer inventory. They cannot predict what people want in these cars - we are an ecclectic bunch with extremely varied tastes!!! Even after looking through the on-site inventory, many people seem to be custom ordering still. I wonder if this will cause BMW/MINI to change their approach to customization in the future? OK, I've left the realm of speculation and jumped into pure conjecture. I'll quit now.

 

>>jsun is right that there are numerous dealers in the NorthEast (including PA) selling MINIs at MSRP that have inventory available for immediate purchase.
>>
>> The car has pretty much sold itself to all of us, and now the dealers are going to have to start selling the car much like any other. Admittedly, if they get people in for a test drive, the car does a lot to sell itself - but they need to work on keeping the draw of customers coming. (This is also why you will start seeing more TV ads and other advertising this year.)
>>

You are totally correct !!! The dealers so far have not been SELLING the cars. They have been ORDER TAKERS! They have not had to learn all about the cars so they can discuss their selling points. They have not had to "Deal" with customers. They may say it's MSRP and then rip you for $2000 on your trade in - so where's the deal there? ? They said their price and if you don't want it they didn't care. As the time goes by, we will see more and more dealers working with customers and paying for advertising.

 

I was at Motor City Mini in Detroit this week and was told they are extremely busy. They sell at MSRP.
Being named North american Car of the Year has boosted sales. Also, They are selling to buyers from all over the U.S. because of long wait times elsewhere and, I would assume, gouging dealers.

Could be the dealers that don't play nice are having a hard time now that their reputations have been gotten out.

Lobo

 

I passed by Swickley BMW (not a MINI dealer) here in Pittsburgh a few times in the last 3 weeks and spotted a EB MCS on their used car lot. (Blasphemous) I was a bit surprised to see the sticker said they wanted only $20,500 or so and it still hadn't sold. I confess I don't know what options or how many miles it had, since all I could do was steal a peak while my family was complaining they wanted to get home. Even if it was a different color (I already own an EB/MCS) I doubt that my wife would have let me buy another. I'm holding out my real hopes for the convertable or sportster!

 

As I understood it from a BMW salesman, they buy MINIs from dealers all over the US who are having trouble selling the cars on the lot. So in buying the car, it becomes a Used Car. So even though the car is brand new off a lot in Florida one day it's a Used Car in Texas the next.

 

In Phoenix, they are running ads in the paper, mini's in stock, no sticker shock, pick up your mini today and pay MSRP.....sales have definitely slowed in Phoenix....mini's will be discounted by summer here...what's amazing is how many used minis I see in the paper with low miles dramatically under new mini prices....I think many speculators thought the overlist price hype would last as long as the PT Cruiser which just has happened except for early deliveries in spring of 2002...summer 2003 in Phoenix will be a great time to buy either a MC or MCS !

 

Greetings,
Thank you for the kind welcome to MCO, and your insight into buying an MCS. I would like to reply to:
Piney - you certainly wouldn't have to wait at Braman if you are looking for an option loaded car and are willing to pay the $1,900.00 in dealer premiums. They had just about every color in stock.
Tony Maguire - Thanks for your confirmation of Lauderdale MINI and their pricing practices. I actually live in Stuart but would willingly drive past Braman on my way to Ft Lauderdale to save over $1,500.00. Maybe we'll bump into each other in the not to distant future? Looking forward to it.
Randy BMC - Thanks for your reply. Just for your info Braman is selling Coopers for $23K+ and the S model for $25K+. They calim to be the biggest BMW dealer in the country. The sales people are very gracious with a real good knowledge of the product. The test drive in a CooperS sold me without a doubt - and they would only allow me to wind it up to 5K rpms as it had less than 1K miles on it. What a hoot!
2minis- The economy certainly isn't in great shape - and I really feel for those who have been laid off. I have been there and done that (and it could happen again). Fortunately in South Florida the economy is being fueled by the real estate and construction industry. I work as the construction magager for a large custom home builer in the Palm Beach & Martin County markets and we are off to a good start in 03. I just hope it continues. But beleive me, over the years we have at times bearly escaped the devisatating effects of lay offs.
jsun - A little background, I have been a hard core sportscar fan since my younger youth (I'm now in my older youth). My first car was a Triumph TR4-A and that was followed by a couple of Lotuses and a Fiat 124 Spyder. In the years since, Cheryl & I have raised a family of 3 daughters. I had been looking recently for a 99+ Mazda Miata. However, my wife kindly informed me that we still have one daughter at home (age 8 - our little surprise) and that we should really trade our aging family car for another. Until we road in a Cooper - she really liked it. For $3K more an S model would be the ticket - Agreed! We are now looking for a basic CooperS in Pure Silver, 16" V spoke wheels, roof to match - NO sunroof.
Mini2Go- Braman is now doing local TV ads showing inventory but they are a "hard sell" on the extras - no discounting on the dealer add ons: Total Vehicle Protection (Wax & Armor All) Package $995, Pin Stripes $349, Floor Mats $195 and $468 Dealer Fee. I told them I didn't want pin stripes but was told that every Braman car goes out the door with pinstripes, like it or not.
Lobo - SE Michigan was my stomping ground until moving to FL in 1980 (recession). I grew up in Brighton and later worked in Ann Arbor (neat town!). I miss the area in the summer time, all the lakes and twisty roads, Waterford Hills and MIS!
Thats a little (TMI?) about me and my quest for a MCS. Thanks for sharing, this is a great community.
Kind Regards,
Ron