I have been given the impression that if you just happen to be at a dealership in the Los Angles area when a new shippment arrives, and you are willing to pay whatever they ask, you will be sold the car before they even bother contacting the next person on the list who has actually made a depost!

 

My dealer in the Bay Area stated they are selling some cars off the lot as they come in. That is how we got ours - no mark up. The S is a different story...

 

I am still waiting for the delivery of my 06.
If I see any fishy business from my Mini dealer, I will simply cancel my purchase. Well see what happens...

 

Most people who put a deposit down on a car have special ordered the car. Any that make it to the dealership before they have been spoken for by another customer are then sold to whomever would like that particular car.

It is highly unlikely that a dealer would sell a car out from under a special order customer, because people who order have their production number and often know the car is at the dealership before the dealership has even checked the car in.

Good luck

 

Don't think this will happen, unless someone on deposit bails sometime in transit, then it'll be sold as dealer stock. Dont lose sleep over this. JB

 

Exactly Many who special order track the production and delivery and have the VIN already, so any shady stuff like that would be next to impossible.

 

Wow, talking about digging up old bones... You ressurected a thread from April of 2002... I don't quite think that the dealers would do that now, just because the MINIs have been out for 5 years. Being that I work at a dealer, I know for a fact we would NEVER do that!!

 

Some people cancel their order when the MINI shows up, and then the dealer sells them. I've been offered a couple of those in the past. That might lead someone to think that cars with deposits are being sold to those that didn't ordered them... technically true but misleading without the additional information that sometimes buyers back out of the deal.

 

what is it lately. somebody has been diggin up all these old threads

 

True, being that our first MINI purchased was an ordered car that the buyer backed out on...

And in April of 2002 I can even see the dealers upping the price and offering the car to other people, I mean just cause some guys name is on the list, if you could sell that car to someone else for say $5k over what they were orginally going to sell it for... But not now. MINIs may still be in high demand, but all you have to do is look for one and you can find them. For instance, we have tons of cars on the lot right now... Well, maybe not tons, but our lot is completely full and there are a few cars in the warehouse. So that will not be the case, even if it was back in the 02 days!!

 

Hi Punkin!

My 02 came from Pittsburgh and was one of those deals that fell through.

Is it as hot in OK City as FW today?

 

Hi UJ!!

I dunno, its only supposed to get up to 98 today, but in the hundreds this weekend!!

 

Just when you think you'll never hear from it again....it rises from the dead. Kinda like Paris Hilton!

 

i've been told by a recent buyer that his dealer told him they leave a couple numbers open every month for "enthusiastic buyers". which would mean they push the other buyers back in line.

i'm sure it happens, not much you can do about it, except to try to be the most enthusiastic buyer you can be!

 

Hey, I am an eager buyer, but my money stays in my pocket!! I am bummed about paying MSRP anyway!

 

Do you work at a Mini dealership? I live in Mo. and my son is thinking of buying a new Mini and want options other than St. Louis.

 

I yawned a lot and mentioned in an "aside comment" to my hubby, "There's another Mini at so and so's lot. It did appear to help...no kidding!! Inwardly, acid was building up, I was so wanting this car!!

 

well, some times other customers come up to you while you're waiting
for your new car to be prepped and offer to give you a couple of grand
on the spot to let it go.