OK so I might be taking the plung into the mini world.

The other day I test drove 4 minis. The Mini (Manual), The Mini S (Manual), The Mini Convertable (Automatic) and The Mini S John Cooper (Manual).

The Mini - was too slow for me.
The Mini S - This car performed great and seemed to have lots of power.
The Mini Convertable - Hated the Automatic. I like the Convertable, but would never buy an automatic. It seemed way too jerky.
The Mini S John Cooper - Very cool although I didn't get to drive it enough to say if I would want that over the Mini S.

Normally when I buy a car I have been able to get the car below MSRP. In fact certain car companies offer employee discounts for non employee purchases. Is buying a Mini at MSRP the norm? Are there any tricks at getting add-ons for free?

Are there any dealers in Virginia that are better than others?

I think I am going to get the Mini S (Pepper White).

What are the best options to include.
Right now I am thinking of getting
The Sports Package
The Winter Package
The Primeum Package
Harman Kardon Sound System

The ones I am wondering about are
The Limited Slip Differencial
Aero Kit
Driving Lamps

 

Can't tell you about your location, I'm in California, purchased in NY because of waiting time, Yes MSRP is about standard, to many being sold. The LSD is included in teh JCW package. the rest is just what ever your prefence is, I also have PW/B and I love it. Good luck and you will love this car

 

After 4 years since the MINI was first introduced, these cars are selling briskly at MSRP. Actually in most markets (Like the west coast) you should consider yourself lucky to find a MINI dealer that is not selling at above window sticker.

Here in Miami, we have 5 MINI dealerships in a 70 mile radius. The most discount you'll ever get is probably $400-$500 off MSRP. That is if you pick an exisiting car from the dealer's inventory. When you custom order the car from the factory, most of the time you don't get any discounts because dealers don't like to reduce the price of a car that doesn't exist (yet).

Some dealers like to give frebbies at time of delivery (Floor mats, key chains, t-shirts, etc, etc) and other dealers don't give you squat. Then again it all depends on the customer service and management philosophy of the dealer you happen to be doing business with.

Forget about employee discounts. These cars are not GM's or Ford's. MINIs enjoy astronomical resale values, because BMW does not discount the cars and does not offer rebates or other fire sale incentives. Besides, with only 30K-40K units imported into the US each and every year, MINI sells everyone they make thus there is no need to heavely discount the cars because of high demand and seemingly low supply.

Also, the profit margin on every new MINI is very low. Like $1500-$1800 on average per car. This is why you'll never be able to buy a new MINI at factory cost because you'll be eating right into the dealer's and sales person slim profit on each car sold. There is no "Back Money" either on MINIs either, unlike more mainstream cars sold in the market today.

Hope this helps. This is just a quick overview of the pricing policy of these cars.

 

MSRP is the norm but not the rule. Some pay over MSRP, most pay MSRP, and fewer pay under MSRP. I paid well under MSRP, my deal was more like how much over Invoice. All the dealer can do is say no way. I think if the sun, moon and stars are aligned right there are deals out there.

 

Yes MSRP is the norm, but they also hold their value better than almost anything else. Unlike a GM car purchased at a discount, your MINI won't lose half of its value when the sticker comes off the window.

 

as a very recent mini purchaser with a small lists of "if i did this agains" I better chime in here.

As for price from my experience it seems alot of people custom order their mini's. So what I think happens is that dealerships have gotten acustom to the msrp being the going rate for the mini models. I think that you can probably bargin a bit with the pre-configured ones they have sitting on their lot, but for the most parts it's a fairly stable price point.

As far as options go. I think I would look for those packages. Definatly go with the HK's. I ended up purchasing the lsd and the aero kit as my only other options. I did this knowing I would be getting my hands dirty under the hood doing a bit of modding. That being said I think your two best options are the MCS with the aero kit and lsd. Or the jcw which will have both of those things. I think the lsd is kinda a must have if you are going to be driving your mini hard, in addition the one mini uses as a mini oem part is quite quite nice. As far as the aero kit, it really helps set your mini apart from the majority of the others on the road, gives the car a really sporty, playfull look. However this doesn't mean you can't go ahead and put the Hamaan front air damn and the black aero grills on your car and accomplish the same (or even classier) look. Scope out misfitoy's car for an example.

In summary if you plan on modding your car a bit. aka putting cai, catback, ecu, and pully you are probobly better off getting the mcs. This way you get to have fun with the car as a toy and you get a bit of a discount in initial investment. However if you want a great car with just the right amount of mods and horsepower right off the getgo and have a little more initial cash to burn... go with the jcw.

Either way you wont regret your purchase. I dont regret not getting the jcw at all. I wouldn't mind owning one but still I'm happy.

Hope some of this helps,
erik

 

Thanks for all the input.

I figure with I will be able to sell my current car for around $20K (Loan amount is down to $3K). So I should be able to get the mini S for under 10K out of pocket. I am going to Carmax to see what they will give me for it. If I don't like the amount, I might just sell it myself. I asked the mini dealer about trade-ins, but they wouldn't give me enough for it.

 

My beauty, im selling after MITM. I have everything you want including wheels! All but the HK speakers (which can be put in) and the limited slip dif.
let me know... i live in MO!

 

Nice color choice by the way!

LSD - is a must have, especially if you are looking at increasing the HP

Aero Kit - if you want it do it now...you won't want to give up your Mini to have it installed later!

Driving Lamps - If you don't mind the install you can get a set of factory lamps on Ebay for under $300. There are also other kits you can get that will perform better at less $$$ than the factory kit if you don't mind the difference in looks.

There are lots of ways to take your Mini.
Painted Fender Trim...Black to match the roof or body color
$80 Aero Kit Grill Mod VS the full Aero Kit...looks similar and you could use the $$$ to go buy some nice rims and non-runflat tires
Tinted Windows look great on PW Minis

Check the Mini of Nashville web page. They've got an 06 PW/PW JCW with an Aero Kit and PW painted fenders and driving lights. It is a very clean looking Mini. Also check my gallery for before and after shots of my 05 PW/B MCS to see the Aero Kit Grill Mod and Driving Lights on a stock bumper.

Lets Motor!
Jeff

 

That looks sweet. How much mileage is on it? What is MITM? I am a newbie. What were you looking to sell it for? and of course why are you selling it? MO is a little far from VA. I will probably check around here for a while. I am not in a big rush to get one yet.

 

erik, just a quick clarification - the factory JCW does not include the aero kit, but yes, it DOES include the LSD. The aero kit is only available as a dealer-installed option.

 

The Limited Slip Diff, of course, has nothing whatsoever to do with increasing horsepower.

It DOES, however, help put what horsepower your engine produces, on the road.

 

I got my MINI in Ontario, Canada with $1800 off... Well it was $1000 off the car and $800 off various accessories that I bought at the time....

 

Get the LSD. $500 is a good price for it. It is extreamly expensive to retrofit it later. The LSD imporves the go-kart like handling. It helps in wet and snowy conditions. And on the track it pulls you through the corners much better.

 

oh, thanks for the clarification. I guess since it was pictured on the cover of the jcw cataloge I just assumed the newer models came with it as standard... good catch

 

There are several options that are dealer installed. Build your Mini online, then take the printed specs to your dealer. They'll help you separate which are factory or dealer installations. Remember that dealer installations add to the cost because of the dealer labor.

Examples of dealer installations are the Aero Kit, iPod adapter, armrest.

 

Not so much more to add than to validate what's been said.

Bought my MCS new about 3 months ago, now. Bought it off the lot. I was not overly particular about color, and the only real criteria I had was I wanted an S with a sunroof.

Wound up w/Hyper blue S with blue roof, sunroof, Harmon Kardon stereo and the interior painted body color.

The dealer discounted the cost of the stereo (about $550), threw in the 'S' mats which I'm told sell for about $80, and also got the Union Jack mirror covers.

I believe 'on the lot' cars are often ordered cars which the buyer backs out of for one reason or another. Because people can truly create a unique mini when ordering, a dealer may be more willing to deal on a car a buyer has backed out of because of the diminished likelihood of finding someone who wants the same options combination.

 

Yeah but also dealers order cars with mixed specs (Sometimes you find strange mixes in lots) to keep an on hand inventory of cars for customers that do not wish to custom order and want a MINI NOW.

Not all cars you see on a MINI dealer lot are from "Back out" customers or fallen deals.

 

Without a doubt, you want to buy your Mini from Checkered Flag in Virginia Beach. MSRP is the norm... and frankly, every Mini is worth that price. I like it that way because it keeps resale high. The day they start selling for less is the day we all lose value on the used market.

You'll be very happy talking to Jason or Heather, my favorite Mini Advisors there. I also encourage you to visit us at www.hrmini.com , the local band of Mini Hooligans in Hampton Roads.

oh, and FYI, Checkered Flag Service missed top service dept. in the NATION by less than a point. They also recently aquired a Master Mini Tech from Conneticut, who is apparently kicking much **** down there.

Every option you have picked are good ones... you'll have no regrets with any of them... although I'd go aftermarket for driving lights personally.


GOOD LUCK!! and welcome to the best club on earth.

 

Get the LSD.

The aero kit can be had much cheaper, and there are many other options for driving lamps at different price ranges.

 

Hey Tri3, MITM is MINIS In The Mountains.