I was quoted February delivery from South Bay Mini. This is the only dealership I've been able to find that does MSRP in California. Others have had somewhat faster delivery schedules but want $2k-$3k above MSRP, which I am not interested in. Haven't ordered yet, but if I can't find a faster delivery for MSRP I may just deal.

 

Hendrick Mini here. 8 weeks!!

(greasing Mini execs palms in the background)

 

Here in Seattle, I was told there was a four-month wait. That was two months ago. Now I understand it's even longer. I was told last week it was 4-5 months just for an MC or MCS. Glad I went to Portland!

 

I had very good luck with Mini of Murray in Salt Lake City. MoMV was quoting 18+months lead time, even with thier mark up... I waited less than three from Murray....

This time, we went with Mini of the Hamptons, but we're going to a wedding in VT and driving home from there.

Matt

 

Dear Dr,

Thank you for this advice. My father lives near Las Vegas so I called that dealer. Build date: next Monday! *faints*

*wakes up - hopes they are all sober at the factory on a Monday*

 

WOO HOO!! How fabulous is that??

 

Wow, wished I had known this a few months ago. Still waiting for the production day. According to one post in this thread, it may take 5 weeks from getting the production number until you get a date. Anyways, good for you!

 

I admit I'm stunned. I am completely baffled by how the whole system works.

 

For most states, the deposit is refundable by law. If so, you can always call around to other dealers and move your order.

Matt

 

This past weekend I checked with Northwest Mini here in Seattle. They said 7-8 MONTHS. I am now having Mini of the Hamptons deliver a 2009 Clubman S to my house in about 7 weeks or so. I'm getting the car for MSRP and they're splitting the costs to have the car delivered. It's not ideal. I would prefer to be able to drive down to my local dealer and drive away with the car I wanted. Oh well, such is life with wanting a MINI.

 

I went by our Scottsdale dealership to see their brand new beautiful building and asked about people from out of state ordering. I was told that now they will only sell to in state customers. Guess I understand that as the demand is so great.
They had a few Clubmans on display, but I'm not sure if they were spoken for yet.
I'm so happy I got mine in February. Now if only the rain would stop so I could drive him again.

 

IF they've offered the car for sale to the public, I don't think they get to choose what public they sell to!

but I'm not sure..

Matt

 

.

 

"restrain of trade" and there is tons of law about that. It's not a discrimination case.

Matt

 

I made up my mind to just order the darn thing - I was driving my wife nuts asking her opinion on every possible option. Email Mini of Pittsburgh Sunday night, talked to an MA today over lunch and got Week 33. My Lightning Blue Clubman starts production Monday!

WOW!

I am still stunned. And I feel like I am 5 years old again and I can't wait for Christmas...


Scott

 

arrived Mini of the Hamptons 8/7/08...

Now the only drag is that we've got a 5 week wait till we go east for our trip to pick it up!

Matt

 

* called around SF Bay area ~1 month. On 2 'wait lists' for $___ markup and told it would be a 2009 model for sure, prob Oct prod for Dec delivery at earliest (all 2008 sold out)
* Ordered August 2 upon visiting 3rd dealership same day
* in production August 4, est completion August 10 - 2008 model
* est delivery ~Sept 10-17 (I'm on the west coast)

 

ZERO, wait time, I bought mine off the floor at Downtown MINI in Orlando, FL. They have a JCW Clubman sitting there right now, but they also added about $2000 of dealer add-on plastic bits, no thanks.

 

I don't know how they determine which dealers get what per month but it sure sounds like they are not well balanced. 8 weeks on a wait list for some dealers, 2 weeks for others, and some just have to wait for the next allocation and they are in! MINI should look at this. They're gonna leave some markets seriously under represented while they saturate other markets. Poor thinking.

 

but if they really did "demand only" balancing, then some dealerships wouldn't have enough cars to really make a go of it. Here in the SF bay area, we have three dealerships, waits or mark ups or both. If they supply us more cars, yes they'd sell, but then total sales for some of the smaller markets would go down, and the dealerships might switch to selling things like Hyundais! So they've got to keep the smaller market dealers making enough money to stay selling Minis. If not, then a lot of locations would have to drive 6 hours instead of just 3 for the free service and dealer repairs!

Matt

ps, internet searches and low car shipping costs or a southwest air ticket really means that those that want the cars can get them anyway....

 

Good points. I live in a smaller market (Denver). We have one dealership that does 40-50 cars per month. They have a 22 person wait list for the Clubman alone (that's before you even get on the allocation list). That means a delivery time in 09 for the last on the list. How many were put off a MINI because of the wait and now drive a Mazda 3 ?

Supply and demand stinks when you are on the short end.

 

Just got my production week yesterday. Week 37 (Sept 7 -13). I guess I was right with having to wait almost 6 weeks from production number to the actual build date (here in Wa state anyways). Hopefully we'll have our Clubman by the end of October now.

 

I know waiting a long time sucks, but isn't it always like this on the west coast? Markups on BMWs and Mercs, etc. Long waits for hot cars like an M3 even 2 years after intro? Doesn't california even have things like car brokers who find you the car you want instead of just walking into a dealer?

All of this is foreign to us east coasters, but I thought it was the norm for you guys.

BTW, Hendrick sold 65 cars in July. I would be interested to know whats considered "a lot" of sales by MINI.

 

there are about 50k Mini sold in the US a year, with a bit less than 100 dealers, so that's 500 per dealer per year. So about 40 cars a month per dealer is "average" Of course, these are round numbers.

And CA has the largest car consumption per state. But it's not the "norm" to get screwed like that. It is the norm if you just want to go to the local dealer if you live in an area with lots of money floating around.

Matt

 

Placed buyers order today. Have no firm dates yet, but my salesperson told us around 12 weeks.