Hello NAM! I'm ready to pull the trigger and order my MCSC-PW (see, I've been studying the lingo so I'll fit right in by the time the car gets here).

I'm told by the dealerships that the list price is the price I will pay. I'm looking first for confirmation that there is no way to get a discount. Secondly, if I can't bargain on price, is there anything I can bargain for? Are there any variables at all?

In other words, how or where do I get the best deal possible on my first MINI?

 

welcome ot forum..

first..where u located so thta other peeps can tell ya which dealership to go to from their shopping expereience..

second, u might get a few freebies if u bargain and that alos depend on which dealership..

 

Deals on new cabrios will probably be hard to come by right now... Production on the R52 ends later this month, and I hear most dealer allocations are filled - so you have one of the rare remaining production slots. Will be a little while (not sure how long) before the 2nd gen cabrios are coming off the line. And most dealers are confident they can sell whatever they have left between now and then... so no reason for them to make a deal. Now, if they still have any R52's on the lot when the R57's arrive...

There are a few dealers in the country who discount regularly, but not many. Most will give you maybe a couple hundred dollars in accessories credit for floor mats, etc... if you ask for it. A good tactic is to tell them you'll give them highest ratings on the customer sat survey if they treat you right... many of the dealers take these ratings pretty seriously because it impacts their allocations, etc.

 

P&W foreign cars in pittsburgh (AKA MINIOFPITTSBURGH.COM) will give you free floor mats, free stripes of your choice and $500.00 off the car even if you order it.

 

 

Well, telling you where I am would certainly help, wouldn't it. I live in Tyler and frequent Houston and Dallas. I'm not far from Shreveport, LA, either.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, I lived there from 2000-'03. I just saw some info on the Vintage Grand Prix's MINI get together. That sounds like a really good time. For those anywhere near driving distance to Pittsburgh, the grand prix should be on your To-Do list.

OK, so I'm hijacking my own thread here, sorry. Back to dealers... Thanks!

 

welcome Great info here!!

 

I would guess the few that have discounted in the past are either not discounting anymore or not as much.

Here's why.

 

Ask for the wind deflector.

 

I got both rubber floor mats and carpet, the Mini plate holder, a mug, and the opportunity to buy the car and not have them sell it to the other 3 or 4 others who wanted to pay over sticker to steal it from me. Of course, mine was a rare white-silver Sidewalk edition with automatic, and one of the last with malt brown leather, so that may have had something to do with it.

 

I was fortunate enough to get one of the two remaining slots for the R52 from my dealer. No price negotiation, but did get mats and boot organizer. Now it is time to shop around for good interest rates.

 

Don't expect much discount ... maybe a few freebies - The last Cabrio (MCSC '08) I bought in Dec. came with hat, keyring , floor mats and a car cover ( i had requested it) and $500.00 discount.. but it was the 4th MINI purchased from the same dealership.

Before picking a dealership, I suggest you check the loaner policy with the dealer who will be serving your MINI. Some dealerships won't give you a loaner -while your car is in for service- unless you purchased the car from them.. and you never know when and for along you might need one..
My first cabrio ( '05 ) was at the shop for over three weeks while the top was getting replaced.. meanwhile I was driving another MINI..


Happy Motoring

 

I just bought from BH in Baton Rouge. No discounts for me but you might drive a harder bargain.

 

I think dealing with other car vendors for too long has warped us. Unless it's a used Mini, you won't be able to deal with them (just ask some of the dealers NOT in your state lurking on NAM!) As a matter of fact, when the new '09 models of ANY of the MINIs come out, there will NOT be an "end of year" discount or anything...these buggers hold their value VERY well -- they only depreciate about $200 a year. !!!

So, not to depress you, but the only thing you'll be able to "deal" on are the accessories and options, plusses, etc. So go for it! Find out what's out there (like two sets of floor mats - rubber & carpet; like stripes; like whatever else you think you might want from the parts department) and try dealing THAT way, like everybody before me said.

Good luck, and wise choice of vehicles!

 

Also got mine at BH - I got floor mats & paid list.
rwwilsonjr - come see us at http://www.gulfsouthmotoring.org/SMF/

 

Oh, yeah... my stripes were free, too.

 

based on a package you buy stripes are free, regadless the dealership. I could get mine on 3 or 4 of the MINIs purchased I just don't fancy them

 

The sport package -- or the sidewalk (which includes the sport package)

 

Get the sport package. If you are willing to get a used MINI do it. Buying used is the way to go.

 

I don't agree.

2006 used models with low miles were within $1000-2000 of the new price on a 2008 model when I priced them. Sure, maybe the "asking price" would have been easier to negotiate, but I didn't see them staying on the lot long, either. Several new listings were gone before I called on them.

One local dealer here had a 2005 hardtop-S with 36K miles, and not a lot of frills... he was asking $22,500. He laughed out loud when I said I was looking for a 2005 or 2006 cabrio with low miles for under $20K.

Look at Autotrader.com if you want a shock at what these things are going for used.

 

I doubly agree with Cubfan. I see what my MCSC is worth in the used market and it's nuts. I wonder who would pay that much for a used MINI when a new MINI isn't that much more expensive?

Maybe it makes sense if you are buying the car with cash - no financing, no lease. But if you finance, used car rates are higher than new car rates so I think you'd kill whatever savings you'd find in the actual selling price.

But buying used you are buying a car that's only a little cheaper than a new car but with little to no warranty, and no free maintenance, and lots of wear-and-tear items that'll quickly need to be replaced. And the CPO warranties are not as comprehensive as the original warranty.

Buying a used MINI is in most cases penny wise, pound foolish.

But it's certainly great for people like me who are thinking of selling their MINI!

 

There is an article on Used Mini Buying Guide in the current issue of Road & Track. It's fairly detailed and has a lot of good information.

ken

 

Here's an example at a dealer near me:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mini-...spagenameZWDVW

For slightly more than $3000 more, I got a brand new sidewalk edition with automatic, a couple of other options, and full warranty. This used one is over 2 years old and with over 25K miles. I can't imagine it cost much more than the asking price new.

 

+1 with Cubfan, used cabrios at decent prices are rarer than hen's teeth. I kinda lucked out on mine and got a decent price and a decent trade in as well. The good news about used though is that if you do plan to trade in the not too distant future (I'm now dreaming of the 2nd gen cabrio S), the car won't have depreciated much, if any.

My personal choice would be to wait for the new model, as you can tell.

When we ordered the wife's car last year, they wouldn't budge off msrp, but we did get free floor mats. With the gas craze going on I doubt any MINI dealers would sell for less than msrp.

 

Well as of this week, my dealer (at least) did not go above MSRP. They have two new Cabrios in stock and only one more order slot left for the year.