I've had my current car on CL for several weeks with next to nothing for activity. I've dropped the price and it is priced quite low now. Might be time to list it somewhere else, too.
I keep building and changing my "new" Clubman but am getting eager to really order one.
I guess there's some good in waiting as I keep wavering between two or three different colors.

Hey, Tim, how do you pronounce "Hrach"? If I go back to Peabody, I'm going to request him and not the other smaht-*** dude that I talked to there.
I might drive to HC in Boston one of these weekends just for a trade comparison, too.
I keep waiting for them to start offering some sort of "deal" given the economy.

 

If you go to HC in Boston then ask to speak with Richard Tran. He is a great person to deal with. And if you do tell him Swiss Miss told you to speak to him, if he does not understand the mention my name Eric Schatzlein (shotsline)

 

Thanks Eric. I will do that.

 

Hrach: Hur-ah-ch, but all one syllable.

Maybe you should try to Portland Press Herald or Uncle Henry's.

 

I don't think that'll happen given the history of how the dealers operate, but they do have 15 Clubman on their lot right now according to their website... so you never know. With falling gas prices, maybe they're not in as much demand as they were a few months ago.

 

Just beware that the websites are very inaccurate as they show all cars. This includes special orders, promised cars to people and many time even includes cars that have been delivered over a week ago. as well as cars that have not actually be received at the dealer yet (sent from VDC but not at dealer yet)

 

When I went to Peabody a few weeks ago they did not have any in inventory for sale.
I'm wondering if, because Herb Chambers is bigger with several other locations, if they'll give me a better trade-in. Perhaps they'd sell it on one of their lots instead of sending it to auction.
Hopeful, I guess, but not optimistic.

Yeah, it might be worth a submission to Portland Press Herald Sunday edition.

ETA: Hey Schatzy, I lived in E. Templeton and then in Winchendon for almost 20 years before I got out, bounced around a bit and ended up here in Maine.
Oh, and I think it's funny that under my post title it shows this:

Getting impatient
wannab drivin (Yesterday) "wannab drivin (yesterday)" is right!

 

Perhaps. Herb Chambers sells about 5 times as many brands as Lyon Auto group (MOP's parent company) sells. So it would stand to reason that they have better outlets to sell your Subaru. Lyon only sells luxury brands and MINI.

 

Yikes! They have some that I've never even heard of (Maybach), but looks like they don't sell new Subarus.

 

Yeh, Maybach is now part of Mercedes. And talk about a luxury car, these are over the top by far.

 

You ain't kiddin'. According to this site: http://www.maybachusa.com/maybach-inventory.php, there are only 72 new and used ones for sale by dealers in the whole country. The cheapest is a 2004 with 25k miles for $177k, and the most expensive are $509k. I think they've used this car in the past couple of episodes of Desperate Housewives. (The weird old lady from the country club is chauffeured in one).

 

I'm going to Herb Chambers tomorrow.
I just spoke to their internet sales guy and mentioned I wanted Richard Tran as he was recommended to me.
Richard's on vacation, but he said "he would take care of me tomorrow" and turn it over to Richard.
He sent me an auto response e-mail that said "huge sale" but when I asked about it he said it's only on used cars.
I already gave him the heads up that it will be dependent upon the trade value and that it's a long drive. His words: "I promise I will make the trip worth your while." We'll see...

 

LOL... that's what various dealers told me when I was looking for the first MINI.

 

What a day.
Schatzy, Rich is a nice guy. He beats the guy I dealt with at Peabody hands down. Overall, I got a better feeling with everyone I encountered there than I did at Peabody .
Their initial trade offer s*cked worse than Peabody.
By the time I left and was on my way home they'd come up with around another $2K. Their GM actually followed me out to my car to ask if they'd been able to make the deal. I told her no.
Less than 10 minutes into my drive Rich called me to say they were "there".
So now I need to think on it and see if I can come up with a bit more cash to reduce the pmt just a little more for my own comfort level. I am optimistic.

So, I'm stuck between MY/S and PW/B.
PW feels "safer" (resale, timeless, etc). But, oh that yellow!

 

That's great to hear that you're having a good experience at HC. I say go for the Mellow Yellow/S. I have yet to see one in person; they're very rare, and that will make it more valuable than a PW/B. My initial order was for a CR/B because I didn't like the pale yellow that they used to use and I didn't want another PW/B. But my wife had me change it to HC/S because she didn't like the red. However, if I had to do it again, I'd get MW/S because it's $500 cheaper and because it looks good.

 

Tim, would you mind weighing in on this for me please?
As I think I mentioned somewhere, I like the look of the coupe better than the Clubman, but liked the extra space.
Anyway, now that I am on the verge, I'm questioning my choice.
I really only need the backseat once or twice per year. Baxter is not a huge Golden (65#)and will fit in the back of the coupe. My SO has a CRV that we use for all our weekend errands and utility stuff. It is rare that we will take my car.
Given all this, I am now thinking that I should buy the car for me and not for the few times per year I might wish I had the extra space.
So I'm pretty much there with the coupe and love the Oxygen Blue that's available at no extra $.
My only points of hesitation are ground clearance and winter driving. I can't see that there'd be much difference between the two models with snows on. I can't remember; did you put snows or all seasons on your coupe? I know you said it was awful in snow.
How significant is the difference in ground clearance (most concerned about the front end snow-plowing) between the two?
Many thanks!

Although if I buy the Coupe, I'll have to drop out of this forum!

 

Again, good color choice. Sydney is okay in the back seat of our coupe, but we're pretty sure she's a lot happier in the Clubman. She's a little over six months old and she's up to 50 lbs.

As for ground clearance, I'm pretty sure there's not real difference. Just make sure that you get DSC with the coupe (don't know if it's standard now like it is on the Clubman). The 04 is lower than the 07/08/09, and we don't have any special tires or traction control on it. So I really don't have any way of comparing Clubman Maine Winter performance to the coupe, but I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that there's no difference (provided both vehicles have identical transmissions, tires, and DSC).

As for the tires you get, I just have the all-season 15" on my Clubman. If it was my only vehicle, I would probably get a good set of winter tires for it, but I have a truck, so I'm not going to bother changing them. A lot of people will opt for 16" wheels instead, but keep in mind that the larger the tire, the more expensive. Though if you want to keep two sets of tires, you might be able to pick up a used set of stock 15" or 16" wheels that you can put your winter tires on.

 

Yup, the Coupe comes with DSC as standard and I will be getting the 15" all seasons in hopes that I don't have to shell out more $ right away on snows.
Some day maybe I'll get a new set of wheels and have both summer and winter sets.
I'm waiting to hear back from Rich at HC. I could place the order today if all works out right.
I was assured that it'd be produced before Christmas but with their extended shut down, not sure how that's going to happen. Oh well, I can wait. (Oh, sure; that's what I say NOW! )

 

Once that order is placed, you will be more obsessed with tracking its progress than a new mom is with baby crap. You'll be like a seven year old waiting for Christmas. Once it's actually ready to be picked up, you won't even be able to sleep the night before.

 

I guess I should save a vacation day or two for the blessed event!

 

If you do not mind, i will chime in on the space issue.

I have never owned a coop but just from riding is one with a neighbors sister. I do not think i could ever go that small. There is barely enough room for 4 large bags of groceries.

I personally would have to make at least two trips to BJ Wholesale Club each time i went if i had a coop, but the clubman is large enough that i can get every thing i need there each time in one trip. I even was able to get a 37" LCD TV in the Clubman. There is no way it would have fit in the coop.

But it is all up to your personal taste. This is Just my .02 cents.

 

Thanks for the input, Schatzy. If it was the only vehicle I would be sticking with the Clubman, but we typically take the other car (Honda CRV) for the weekend errands.
And it's only the two of us. There's actually plenty of space for the groceries.
I was more concerned with my Mom and Dad (in their 80s) during their annual visit, but have decided we'll use the CRV for that.
It's really so few times per year that I'd need the space I'm confident now that the Coupe will make me happier the other 362 days.
It's cuter!

 

But consider this as well. When you get the Mini "IT WILL BECOME YOUR PRIMARY CAR". The CRV can not stack up to the Mini and you will just want to drive the Mini all the time.

That said, i guess when the parents come to visit you will just have to make two trips to the restaurant to get them there. Or ditch the CRV and get a clubman as well.

 

You're funny.
Or I'll let my Dad drive and I'll squeeze into the back seat. He's 83. He'd love driving my little Mini!

I'll be driving it 99.5% of the time. My SO never wants to ride with me driving <shrug>; no idea why. And he likes to take his car when we go out together.

I have to address a little thing called "Documentary Preparation" in the amount of $289 that showed up on my contract with NO PRIOR MENTION of it. This stuff really p*sses me right off. I'll go as far as cancelling the order if they don't find a way to remove it. (But I don;t want to do that ) Pretty deceptive IMO.

 

I mentioned that in an earlier thread. Inskip has the cheapest doc. prep. fee in the area.