Mini-G, that's outrageous. If I were you, I'd call up the local tv station and tell them about your experience. It might be an interesting story, anyway, about the popularity of the Mini phenomenon. You might get some action, as well. And your car would be on camera.

 

>>What is the website for the sacramento dealer? And how bad is the markup? I was looking at a dealer in Monrovia, CA (ASSAEL) and their markup for the S was about $6,000 above sticker price. A little disappointing, but I guess everybody is enthusiastic about the S.


hey man, I feel ya...

We bought our MINI there... I guess we were MINI #18... we had NO problems and they even CHOPPED the dealer Mark-up.... Way Down JUST to get us in the MINI we loved!
And I still haven't heard a valid argument for the S Cooper over the Standard Cooper... as far as I'm Concerned it's just got a minor boost and an overdrive... not what I would call worth the investment.
But nonetheless ALL CA dealers will be marking up their MINI's... It's supply vs demand... It's how good business is run.

Also,
I'd liek to Invite all you SoCal MINI owners to Our First Annual MINI RUN Details are being ironed out but it should be great fun for all owners of Mini's Classic and BMW.

For more info go to !null[URL=http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/mightyminiz]Yahoo MIGHTYMINIZ[/URL
or email me at
six13doug@yahoo.com

It should be a great event and loads of fun. We're hoping for day 2 to be a MINI show-off, where the aftermarket MINI makers can show their stuff against willing victoms! Lets Motor and Smirk at everyone thumbing us

 

>>>>What is the website for the sacramento dealer? And how bad is the markup? I was looking at a dealer in Monrovia, CA (ASSAEL) and their markup for the S was about $6,000 above sticker price. A little disappointing, but I guess everybody is enthusiastic about the S.
>>
>>
>>hey man, I feel ya...
>>
>>We bought our MINI there... I guess we were MINI #18... we had NO problems and they even CHOPPED the dealer Mark-up.... Way Down JUST to get us in the MINI we loved!
>>And I still haven't heard a valid argument for the S Cooper over the Standard Cooper... as far as I'm Concerned it's just got a minor boost and an overdrive... not what I would call worth the investment.
>>But nonetheless ALL CA dealers will be marking up their MINI's... It's supply vs demand... It's how good business is run.
>>
>>Also,
>>I'd liek to Invite all you SoCal MINI owners to Our First Annual MINI RUN Details are being ironed out but it should be great fun for all owners of Mini's Classic and BMW.
>>
>>For more info go to
or email me at
>>six13doug@yahoo.com
>>
>>It should be a great event and loads of fun. We're hoping for day 2 to be a MINI show-off, where the aftermarket MINI makers can show their stuff against willing victoms! Lets Motor and Smirk at everyone thumbing us

Yahoo MightyMiniz

 

 

cargo nets are not standard...

 

 

That's so sad, because we got our MINI from Assael. I only spoke with Leon on the phone, but he was pretty nice to us. Ray Venegas kicked *** to get us financing, since my husband is self-employed. He contacted 13 banks. Nick only contacted 2.
We had spent all day Saturday (4/13) at Nick Alexander and they were completely useless. Kept telling us the computer was shutting down and stupid things.
When I got home, I called Assael. They had the same MINI as Nick, British Racing Green w/Premium pkg, but w/6 CD changer. Unfortunately, it also had the chrome (which I'm not fond of) for $120 extra.
Long story short, showed up at Assael at 9:30pm drove off the lot at 11:45pm with the MINI.
Markup sucked of course, but my only other option was buying in Mexico. Word to the wise...avoid Universal MINI. Everyone over there was rude and condescending.

 

I put a deposit on my Indi Blue about a month ago. Salesman D.A. told me it should be in within a few days. Well, after a few WEEKS, it showed up. I did get the line, "If you don't want the car, we can sell it to someone else."

I was pretty displeased with the overall sales experience, but like so many others, I HAD to have a MINI.

I, too, had talked to Assael and they told me there was a $2,500 "dealer markup", along with a $1,495 CD changer and custome $3,500 wheel/tire package. No way!

Irvine did not deal on the LoJack ($795) and Perma-Gard paint protection ($795). Frankly, I am glad to have the LoJack. The paint protection... well... It's a very expensie wax job.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give Irvine MINI about 8 (10 being best). BUT, I am still waiting for my seat covers to come in from back order.

I wish I had known about Long Beach earlier. I'm VERY VERY VERY pleased with the motoring experience.

I have moved back to the Fresno area and I think I have the only MINI south of Modesto. Any others? I love the attention the car gets.

Larry :smile:

 

I'm surprised someone mentioned Universal Mini as a problem (rude people). My experience has been this:

I went to Mini at Universal City (closest one to me) just to look (yeah right!). John was super nice- didn't come across as a salesman at all! We took one out for a test drive (oh, and we stopped at a light where there was a hot-rod gathering in the parking lot of a cafe and they all came over and stared at us in the Mini! How cool is that?), we talked, I asked questions, blah blah blah. When you get down to it, at Universal they tack on $2,990 for a CD-changer, floor mats, and lo-jac. I thought, "no way, I'll just go elsewhere and save that $". That's what I thought.

THEN I made the terrible trip through the worst part of LA to the Nick Alexander Mini dealership on Alameda. I swear this dealership is in the middle of hell. I asked a salesman up front if they tack anything on or pad the price. He said NO! Then as we were talking about what I wanted (he cliams he's the only dealer in the LA area that can order exactly what you want and have it within 8 weeks) and I showed him the MSRP printout of what I wanted and THEN he said "we'd add about $4,000 to that". Unbelievable- and you get nothing for it.

It really sucks because there is NO negotioating in CA for this car because if you don't want to pay the extra $3-4k, the next person will. I am not going to wait a year, so I decided Universal was best, adding their $2,990 but at least "giving" me something for it. I put my deposit down last weekend and my baby arrives in 3-4 weeks. I must have the shortest wait time compared to the months of waiting I've heard about from others (although I'm not getting the S). Basically at Universal they tell you what will be coming in and when and you decide what you're willing to go without (or in my case, what you get that you didn't really want to begin with). But at least I will be driving one soon and knowing that, I don't mind the price I have to pay to get one so soon. So if anyone is gonna check out MINI of Universal City, I say go for it. Just don't go in on a weekend expecting a test drive- they're too busy. :smile:

 

>>mountain view has dealer markups of 1000 or more plus rip-off add-ons like 'paint protection' and 'lo-jack' for outrageous amounts of money. Frankly i wouldn't take either of those options if they were free.
I'm happy to announce that I got an "S" from MINI of Mt. View. After talking to Jeff and Ben I was able to get an idea of just how things really work. The cars that come in at MINI of Mt. View, are mostly pre-sold. They keep about 2 out of 10 cars for display, and put all of that stuff on it.
They sold me an incoming "S" and I didn't have to buy Perma Plate, CD or any of the other things that they sell. I did however pay the $2500 mark up that they have on the car, but I figure that is the price for wanting a car that is in such high demand. I've got an M-3 also, and paid a premium for it, but only because I wanted one "yesterday" and didn't want to wait.
I also heard a rumor that they may have one or two more incoming "S" models that can be bought up front and that you don't have to buy all the "frilly" stuff.
By the way, I did check out Irvine MINI and they seemed a little disorganized, but nice people.
Anyway, good luck to ya"ll

 

The WRX is a pretty cool car, I've owned one, but the handleing and the rattles that developed disappointed me. Not to mention that the resale absolutely sucked. I hope I have better luck with my "S"

 

Hey there "CMINIGO" I have some legal advise for you! I read the DMV codes, and if a dealer sells you and "incoming" car or takes an order on a car, they can only make you buy the "factory options" and they are allowed to mark the car up however much they want. They CANNOT make you buy any accessory that can be installed at the dealership unless you want to buy it. They also cannot modify the car from original factory specs. Now , what they can do, is not pre-sell the car to anyone, and wait for it to hit the dealership as an unsold car. At that point, they can do what-ever they want to the car. Then if you choose to buy it, then that's up to you.
Check around other dealers

 

Hey all!!
Please read my follow up notice in one of the forums listed under
'Irvine BMW/Mini -The End Story'.
thanks!!