Lightbringer,

Thanks for the info. Are they willing to throw in floor mats or anything? Or is it MSRP or the door. (They did tell me the JCW is $995 over MSRP).

I currently have a company car, but they have ended the program so I need to get a car by Oct 1. I'm thinking I'll purchase because I drive 20k to 24K miles per year and that I'll do ok with resale.

Sounds like if I order now I'm looking at an '09 and hopefully in time for my Oct 1 dead line. (Oct 1 is not a hard date, I have another vehicle I can drive if the Mini doesn't show up in time) Listen to me it sounds like I have made up my mind!!!

I'm going to Towne today. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

I'll second this. I took the bait when I looked at one. All the test drive did was set the hook. Indeed, silly fun.

 

I'll third that. If you have a spouse that is unsure of your decision, let them drive the S first. Next thing you know, they are trying to talk you into buying the car.

 

A lot of times insurance companies will charge you more because its a new car model, its not much, but it costs less to insure, say, a 2003 accord than it would to insure a 2004, or 2005. The car decreases in value over time too, so as it depreciates, its less money that the insurance company will have to pay out if you were to get into an accident, so they charge you more to compensate that risk vs depreciation.

Also, as a side note, I got quotes for the Cooper, and the Cooper Clubman (both S and non-S) and the Clubman was substantially cheaper because its classified as a wagon with most insurance companies, where the Cooper is classified as a small sports car.

 

Unfortunately pricing was MSRP or the door. BUT, they were very upfront about that, and while it does suck, its better than some other MINI dealers (next nearest is 200+ miles away if I recall), as the cars are hard to find, they are charging over MSRP in a lot of places for them (California comes to mind, I think its on the order of 2000+ markup there). No hidden fees or anything like that, which is good. And they said that they'd throw in a set of floor mats of your choice. Having had a $100 set of embroidered FORD floor mats in my current car and seeing them wear nearly entirely through cloth near the accelerator over the course of a year and a half (maybe two years) I'm certainly opting for the rubber mats (good for snow and mud too). Aside from that, I've read (and been told my Greg) that MINI seems to throw little things your way every now and then after the purchase of a car, but I've yet to see anything so far. One person I know got a big cookie basket or something like that delivered, which was real nice (though for 25k you could buy a lot of cookies). Other than that, I'm not sure, but I'll keep you posted if something comes my way.

What are you looking to buy? Options? Color?

 

This is true. I am with State Farm here in MS and I went in Monday to check on insurance for my new Clubby that I will pick up next Wed. The clerk ran the numbers and they came out to only be about $20 more per year for the same amount of coverage that I have on my 1995 Infiniti! I asked her to double check to make sure she has the "S" option checked and she did. She let me look at the screen and there it was, "2008 MINI Cooper Clubman S S/W". I asked if S/W meant Station Wagon and she said yes.

SWEEEEEET!

See you kids on the motorway!

 

Indeed, I'm driving a 95 TBird now, no collision, no glass, 100/300k liabilities, and paying 750/yr, where as for the Clubbie S I'm going to be paying ~850/yr with 100k/300k liabilities, WITH collision, and WITH full glass....can't argue with that....do they know it has a turbo? lol

 

Thanks for the info....

I'm thinking.....
Clubman S Chili Red/Blk roof/Cold and convienience packages/ sport sup/LSD/Xenon/rear fog and white/Chrome ext and int/Int trim TBD
16' wheels will be my winter wheels. I will buy JCW or aftermarket wheels for the summer

 

Flytime - sounds like a similar spec to mine - The Pace wheels will be my winter rims, with the JCW Challenge wheels for summer...

good luck with your decision!

 

I now have a Clubman S on order. As many here have said "don't drive it unless you plan on buying one" is so true. I went to Towne Mini with my Father-in-law today for a test drive. The salesman (I think on this forum it’s my MA), Ray handed me a map for the test drive loop (with some good winding roads) ... and said go have fun ... WOW. After Ray gave me the run down on controls and features (which this car was very close to what I wanted) I was off. At first I was impressed with how tight and solid the car was over these rough Buffalo roads; then I was rewarded with the S’s acceleration and with only very slight hint of torque steer. Now into the twisties and I was being gentle (1. because it was not my car and 2. My Father In-law is not a calm passenger) upon exiting one curve on the gas my Father In-law exclaimed….. “I thought I was going to pass out” !! The G forces, (and remember I was being gentle), we pulled while corning and accelerating was exhilarating. I was sold!

Also I must say I Love cars but I hate dealerships, sales people and the process of purchasing. But this experience was wonderful, zero pressure, the freedom to test drive and without the sales person along for the ride; the whole time it was a pleasant experience.

I’ve got my order number so I’ll be tracking its progress, patiently waiting, well waiting as best that I can.

j

 

Scott, Glad you could get a good military deal and thanks for serving our country. My daughter enlisted USAF and leaves at the end of the month