I met a mini dealer (Jim from Crevier) at the OC Swap Meet - and he really wanted to push to me the Mini Clubmans they had in stock ,as opposed to me ordering one

A few questions for you fine NAM folks:

1. If I CUSTOM order a Mini Cooper Clubman S, can I pay for it with Mini Select?

2. If 1 is true, do I make my down payment when I order, or when I take delivery?

3. Do they require a certain ammt for mini select as a down payment? I was thinking of paying 3-5k, but on the website I think they had 2.5 k

I think I had one more question, but i've had a few beers and a glass of Glennfiddich so it may have slipped my mind. :-)

Thanks all, looking forward to changing my name to "tattedclubman"

Jeff

 

Don't know about #1 or #3, but when you order you have to place a $1,000 non-refundable deposit. Then when it gets there you can put down more of a down payment if you want/have to.

 

sweet, I can do $1k easily, then save up 3-4k more in a month or two for a larger downpay

anybody else know?
Thanks

jeff

 

You should be able to order with a refundable deposit and pass on the car when it comes in. They can't really ever force you to take the car until you sign and drive it off the lot. In fact, if they charge your credit card or cash your check, you should even be able to get interest back on it. At least, this is they way it works in CA...

 

Well, I'm in OC, CA - so I should be good.

Basically, I can put 1k down and get interest if they cash it? Sweet! Anybody know if you can do the mini select on custom orders? The guy I met seemed to insist I buy one from the lot, and while He didnt say it - it SEEMED like I could not get mini select if I special ordered. Then again, could just be trying to offload what's on the lot...

No Freakin Hot Chocolates in So Cal (I checked all inventory for them online), lol - custom order, here I come :P

 

I would love to give you a definitve answer, but it would be best to call another dealer (recall my advice about South Bay MINI?) and do a cold inquiry, perhaps even by-passing sales, going straight to the finance department (in the contact, specify it is a 'MINI Select' contractual question). While an MA may know the answer, it's more reliable to go with finance department, since they do the paper day-in/day-out. It's also a test to see how the dealer treats prospects, in terms of expediently answering questions, as opposed to steering you into the showroom/towards a clubbie on the lot (that makes me wary!). While Crevier may be a fine dealer, don't limit yourself when it comes to getting exactly what you want..indeed that is the primary objective of a dealer that works in your best interest, as opposed to their own. If you want Hot Chocolate, that is what you should get...and I see no reason why ordering would make ANY difference in how the vehicle gets financed...they make money on both ends either way. :D Also, glad to know I didn't turn you off of Clubbies! LOL

 

haha nah, i'm a sarcastic person by nature - I was just messing with you before. Thanks for the tip, i'm sending them an email now!

Jeff

 

No, you do not have to put a certain amount down to use MINI Select. The MINIUSA website only uses 2.5K as an example but it doesn't mean that you have to put that much down.

You can put as much down as you want if you have good credit/history. If not, the dealer finance person will probably tell you that you need to put down a certain amount.

 

1. Yes
2. When you take delivery. Most dealers will require you to put down a $500-$1000 refundable deposit, but that can be put towards your down payment.

Also, Irvine has at least one Hot Chocolate model in stock. I had no issues with ordering my car from them. South Bay is also an awesome dealer to work with in my experience.

 

Nice, so they do - guess i skipped that one, LOL - I keep hearing great things about south bay, I think I'll have to hit them up instead of Crevier. Thanks

 

Wow, all of your deposits out west are refundable? Out on the east coast when you put down your deposit, it goes towards your down payment. If you don't take the car when it arrives, you forfit it.

 

South Bay was selling at MSRP when most left coast dealers were jacking on another 1000-2000 on top. My broker called over a dozen dealers, and came up with two potentials: Irvine and South Bay. Both were MSRP, but differed on their delivery/build dates, with Irvine coming in 3 weeks earlier than South Bay. I agreed with broker to go Irvine, and sent Irvine $1K down. A week later, my order showed a build date a full month later than 'advertised' to my broker. He went ahead and replaced the order over at South Bay, who didn't require a downpayment. He requested Irvine refund my deposit, but Irvine had copped a 'tude about the canceled order, and didn't refund my deposit. About a month later, I inquired about it with my broker, and he was amazed Irvine still hadn't refunded my $1K, and promptly called and got it credited to my cc that same day...he said it was a bunch of irrelevant excuses over the phone, and that he's removing them from his options list from now on. He spoke with South Bay MINI several times more as my order went through the stages (I assume these contacts would normally go to you, the buyer), and he said he was pleased with South Bay throughout the process, always had educated answers ("they really had their schit together"), were MSRP, a 'for-real' earliest build date (indicates they move more MINI's and had priority), no deposit, and did indeed give me extras like rubber mats, and the cordura collapsible cargo bin, and delivered here in NorCal a few days after arriving in Long Beach, as they had indicated. Despite my entire MINI buying experience and opinion being second-hand, I know what happened throughout, as I was 'cc'd' via emails, and updated on calls, so I know I can endorse South Bay as the MINI dealer I would want to deal with if I were to repeat my purchase. As a NorCal'er, I now get my service at East Bay MINI in Pleasanton, and they have been equally professional and courteous in the service department, but I cannot comment on South Bay's service department.

/waves to Otra...'What's shak'in!?'

 

helpful post, thanks - you've redeemed yourself! Kidding of course

I'll see if crevier is charging msrp - if they're going above it, i'll just hit up south bay. If i DO buy my clubman at crevier, i'll for sure get it SERVICED at Long Beach or South Bay (read about long beach too, they seem to have a good rep from what I rear).

Thanks again all, my questions have been answered - and for NOW at least i'm in contact via email with the internet manager from Crevier.

Jeff

 

Deleted.

 

tattedXB,

From the number of responses you have so far, you probably have your answers, but for what it's worth, here are my responses based on my experience with MINI Select:


1. If I CUSTOM order a Mini Cooper Clubman S, can I pay for it with Mini Select?

Yes. Take a look at the MINI USA site as there are some restrictions depending on what state your in:

http://www.miniusa.com/#/financialServices/purchasePrograms-s



2. If 1 is true, do I make my down payment when I order, or when I take delivery?

It really depends on the deal your dealer can make for you. As for my own experience, I was able to get the payments I wanted and no money down. It was easy for me because my previous car was a lease with a much higher monthly payment. I built exactly what I wanted with a lower monthly payment. I may be off here, but know that sales are down [everywhere] it would see like a good time to get close to the deal you want. I purchased my Clubman in December 08.


3. Do they require a certain ammt for mini select as a down payment? I was thinking of paying 3-5k, but on the website I think they had 2.5 k

I was not required to put down a minimum, again I put nothing down.

I think I had one more question, but I've had a few beers and a glass of Glennfiddich so it may have slipped my mind. :-)

Thanks all, looking forward to changing my name to "tattedclubman"

Jeff[/quote]

 

awesome, thanks all - I spoke with a dealer too and got the same info more or less :D