I needed to buy a car to keep for about 3 years.

I didn't need another practical family car, so thought I'd look at something more interesting.

I like the Mini a lot. Saw one for the first time at the 2002 Auto Show in Geneva. Did some research on them. I had some reliability concerns. I really wasn't comfortable with this windshield issue, but what the heck.... it's a fun little car, right?

Then I went down to the my local dealer to have a look for myself.

The dealer says that I can order one and wait 2 months to get exactly what I want. Or I could take a look at one that he had coming in next week, which looks to be pretty close to the right options list.

Long story, short.... next week turned into the following week, which turned into the following week, should be here on Tuesday... oh wait, not *this* Tuesday... basically got a big run around.

The car finally arrived a month later. Dealer calls me. I go over as soon as I get the message.... guess what?? I can look at the car, but the keys are locked up and I'll have to come back another day.

I transferred cash into my bank account to pay for the car and made an appointment to go see it. I take off work to go to the appointment. When I arrive dealer says that he can go with me on a 20 minute test drive, but then he has to be back to see another customer.

What the heck, I've come this far. I do the test drive on the actual car. Then I did take him up on his offer to take a loaner out for a spin by myself while he met his other appointment.

When I come back, he's with someone else. Asks me to wait in the showroom. He's the only salesman that seems to work at this Mini dealer.

I stood around and waited. Then I waited some more.

All the while, I started thinking about what a major pain in the butt this ordeal has been. I was standing there ready to pay cash for a car and this guy couldn't be bothered to take my money.

I stood around and wasted time for 45 minutes. Then I walked.

Mini lost the sale.

In fact, I gave up on buying anything new.

I just bought an older BMW sedan from a friend.

Sorry, Mini... you blew it!

 

dude, that sucks. I woulda walked out too. When I'm about to write a fat check for a new car, I don't wanna be made to wait, and I wanna be taken care of!

 

Ick....I am sorry that all that happened to you. You sound like you were WAY more patient then I would have been. They should have been catering to your every whim....a new car is a VERY big investment.....you shouldn't be inconvenienced when you are about to hand over so much money. I am sorry things didn't work out.

 

>>
>>Sorry, Mini... you blew it!
>>
>>

... MINI didn't blow it - that cretin dealer did ... and that's too bad;
But the fact remains that because you got pissed at that one individual, and a few hours of inconvience, you denied yourself a few great years in a really cool car ...
... maybe the BMW is just right for you ...

 

Sounds like you had a bad dealer... sorry to hear that. Fortunately for me, my MINI dealer was very helpful and nice. (Of course I jumped on the 1 year waiting list but actual waiting time at the dealership was minimal and when I picked it up there was almost no wait and the dealer walked everything through with me.

Hopefully maybe one day if you are in the market for a new car you can find a new dealer.
-Chris

 

sorry to hear that, i had the same experience when I bought my mini. I arrived at Irvine mini @4:30pm and tried to get service. not even to test drive mind you, but just to get some one to talk with me about pricing as I needed a car that day. 7:30pm rolled around and I still needed help. as no one thought I was serious ( guess they thought I was just a kid who wanted to try out the S) so I left. But I didn't buy an older Bimmer, I went to another MINI dealership, and in 5mins agreed on the price, signed the paperwork, and while I was waiting for the paperwork to be done, drove the car around Monrovia.

 

Sorry, you missed out on a great driving experience. I recommend looking at the dealer rating system before going to a dealer. I'm stuck in the boonies of the Sierra and Niello in Sacramento was my only close option and they turned out to be great. You had more patience than I have. I probably would have checked another dealer if I really liked the car. Good luck.

 

Very sorry to hear it.

Do us, Mini, and the dealership a favor and send that letter to them. Also, do a dealer review in the Dealer Rating System here at MCO.

I had a bad experience at my first Mini dealer; same thing. A combination of it being a seller's market combined with incompetant sales people.

Much happier when I took my business elsewhere.

Finest car I've ever owned!

-Jim

 

>>But the fact remains that because you got pissed at that one individual, and a few hours of inconvience, you denied yourself a few great years in a really cool car ...
>> ... maybe the BMW is just right for you ...
>>

I was willing to take the financial hit on depreciation of an expensive little car and overlook whatever risk exists on reliability issues.

I've bought new cars before and I had realistic expectations about the dealer. I didn't expect to be catered to just treated with some measure of respect since it was *my* money that was going in their pocket. For heaven's sake... I made an appointment with the guy during a weekday afternoon. I didn't just walk in. Given my age (mid-30s), I'm fairly certain that nobody took me for being a "tire-kicking kid" to quote the post above.

I certainly denied myself the opportunity to own a really cool car (a bad thing). But I also denied myself the opportunity to have any future transactions with that dealership (a very good thing).

In exchange for the pile of money I was spending, I expected to get a really fun little car, a warranty that covered any reliability issues, and a dealer that would take care of any problems. (BTW, the warranty coverage is only 2 years here in Switzerland.)

My gut feeling was that if they couldn't take care of a customer standing in the showroom ready to buy, I didn't want to think what would happen later. That seemed like an instinct to trust.

I don't think than my car is cooler or more fun than a Mini. It's not. I spent a lot less money and got basic transportation instead of a car that I'm in love with.

But at least the value equation balances for me.

Maybe in a few years I'll consider buying one again. With a growing family, it seems unlikely, but who knows.

 

Sorry to hear about your experience. I am on the 12 month waiting list at my dealer. I just walked in on a busy Saturday, only one sales person in the dealership, he moved like lightning getting around to everyone and making sure that their questions were answered. I asked about a test drive and was told that an appointment was required, however, if I had some time to hangout, perhaps they could work me in. Within 30 minutes, I was test driving the "S" and I had a blast. I live about 60 miles from the dealer, so stopping by on a whim is not very easy. I write emails to the dealer with questions and so on and they always return the answers in short order. I have a good feeling about NWMINI and I look forward to picking up my new car. They have since hired on more help and the last time I was in, I was very impressed with their sevice.

Cline

 

Interesting comment. 12 month waiting list? Yikes.

Maybe Mini dealers are only looking for people who are willing to wait 12 months for a car. I guess their business model is basically build to order, so perhaps they don't know what to do with a live customer who is there to drive away in a car today.

But this dealer did have a few floor models that he could have sold, so I don't let that excuse the issue.

 

Got it! I would like to add that if I were willing to take a car on the lot that had the options I was interested in, they would have taken my cash in a second!! I am on the waiting list in order to get the car with the options I want. Sorry if I missed that.

Cline

 

I can respect your need to rant...lord knows I have done the same from time to time...but all things considered, why did you not go to another dealer? Can there be only one MINI dealer in the vicinity of Geneva? It seems that you're doing yourself a disservice by limiting your experience to a single dealer. Furthermore, you're doing all of us a disservice by dissing the brand based on a single bad experience. Just my opinon...

 

Enjoy your used car, now go away and leave us alone before this turns into a WRX style thread.

 

No question, the salesmen lost your business. Hope you can find another opportunity up the road for another shot at this car. I had a great dealership and motoring advisor experience, but I still had to wait the 4 months it to take delivery of my Cooper. I'm sure of one thing: I was in the market to buy a MINI. If the dealership had blown the sale, I probably would have gone out of state. There is NO CAR I was interested besides this one. After that, it was just a question of time and financing options. Once the bank got in line w/ my plan, everything else I went through was just fine, since in the end, I end up smiling every time I think about what waits outside in the carport. My signature says it all.

 

MINI didn't loose a dollar. MINI gets paid when the dealer buys the car. The dealer gets paid by marking up the price from what he paid to what he charges you. The dealer sucks. He didn't get your money. Justice is done.

I'm amazed how MINI 'wanters' have returned to special ordering cars. I remember my father doing that 40 years ago. In the last 20 he always bought off the lot. Me too for my MCS. If you feel the need to special order, you place yourself at the mercy of the involved dealer. Some dealers have cars on the lot. My local dealer has a couple of dozen. Of course that doesn't compare to the selection that maybe possible with other makes. I took my MCS into the service dept at my local dealer - shared with BMW. The BMW lot must have 300 cars on the lot! MINI has a couple of dozen.

If you are looking for BMW selectivity in a less that $20K car I think you need to face reality..........

 

That sucks! You should have Gone to another dealer. What dealer did that to you anyway! :evil:

 

CraigRasmussen wrote:

>>go away and leave us alone

That was uncalled for! Be nice.

 

I know of your experience all to well. Last year I bought a new car, starts with a V and ends with an O. After my bad experience with the dealership and even the car company itself, I thought to call around here in CA to get a feel for the Mini dealerships. Closest dealership is 120 miles away. I did not get that warm cozy feeling from the 5 dealerships I called. So I searched for a "Previously Loved" MCS. Turn out to be the best car buying experience I have ever had. The Bonus was I just put myself in the Funnnneessst car I have ever driven, the Mini Cooper S!!!

 

Sorry to hear of the experience. If anyone else happening to read this wants instant gratification they should do what I did. Call all of the dealerships within a 3-hour drive and see what's available. I bought my CR/W MCS off-the-lot! I'm still in love with her.

Jeff

 

>>Enjoy your used car, now go away and leave us alone before this turns into a WRX style thread.

---> Craig: This comment is completely uncalled for!

Photoguy stated his case very nicely, with no harshness or disrespect. I think it's tragic that the dealership he visited was so rude and uncatering to him!

Good luck Photoguy!
Cheers,
Ryan

 

Photoguy - I know exactly where you're coming from - I had a bad experience with stupid salesmen and high markups at Crevier MINI here in southern California - it turned me off on the car for quite a while and I went shopping for used Audi S4's. The car is easily tuned to 300 hp, and that's quite a pretty number. Plus it's a sedan, which my parents liked. If a friend had a used one to sell I probably would have gotten it on the spot and my sister would be driving my car. However, while we were looking I decided I didn't want to deal with turbo lag anymore and I came back to the MINI. Now I'm remembering how much fun the car was and I can't wait to get my car. I know I would be filled with regret if I got the S4, and I hope that doesn't happen with you.

 

Too bad you didn't give another dealer a chance to earn your business. My first trip to my local dealership was less then satisfactory. They had a take it or leave it attitide; the long and short of it is they sucked! I called another dealer another 60 miles away and had a much different experience. That was less then two and a half months ago; I now have a MCS at the VPC and I am waiting for a call from the second dealer who earned my business to take delivery when it arrives there hopefully sometime this week.

 

There are two Mini dealerships here in Geneva.

I visited the other one, but they basically had one demo car and were able to take orders. The one loaner/demo/for sale car had didn't come close to what I was looking for.

Here in Switzerland, one giant conglomerate company owns most of the Mini dealerships. I searched web classifieds all over for a car that was close enough to what I wanted and the local dealer, owned by the conglomerate, came the closest.

There are some other incidents that I left out of my first post for the sake of brevity.

For example, the dealer called me one Friday and said that the car had been mistakenly delivered to the wrong dealership. I said "No problem, that's only an hour's drive from here. Please make arrangements for me to come in on Saturday to see the car." I packed up my wife and child and drove over there on Saturday. Guess what??? They never heard of this car. We looked all over their incoming storage area and it wasn't there.

You are all right when you say that I could have kept going on the search and found another dealer to buy from. But I never wanted to have to deal with this dealer again on any warranty or service issues.

I was just fed up.

Being left standing in the showroom was just the final straw.

 

C'mon now Craig... I haven't insulted the car or anybody that owns one.

One bad dealer blew a sale for the brand. It's just that simple.