From BMW

"MINI USA reports May sales of 4,130 automobiles, up 12.5 percent from
the 3,672 cars sold in May 2006. Year-to-date, the division reports sales
of 15,585 automobiles, down 5.4 percent, compared to the 16,470 cars
reported in the first five months of 2006."

 

whoops - I started a thread also...

mods? combine?

 

If you'll allow a little prognosticating... I bet year end numbers will be at or above 06 and 08 will see a rise. Someone in here raised the issue of hestitation by buyers with re-designs.

 

Those that predicted that the sky would fall missed the boat by a wide margin.

 

BMW has been saying all along Mini was going to have a record breaking year based on early demand and if that demand continued.

Even though there are those running about wildly proclaiming the R56 will kill the Mini using transition sales numbers to fortify thier position.

 

I would say so. Considering May 2006 was the second highest number of MINIs sold in one month, EVER (4130 vs 4310 in April '05)!!!

My prediction: Those who were hoping the bottom would drop out and sales would slump will now start posting how the record high sales numbers are representative of how MINI has sold-out to the mass market.

 

Yes - when numbers are low its because the redesign is ugly and nobody would buy the car. When numbers are high its because BMW sold out to the accountants and went mainstream. Of course none of that logic applies to the last model.

The other argument is that when you strip off the waning R50/53 sales and R52 convert sales that the R56 is not selling well. The May numbers show that the R56 is in fact selling well - the MC and MCS totals for the month are up there with some of the highest months ever for the R50/53.

So, does that mean we should claim that there was probably something wrong with the older cars! No - all the negative claims that have been tossed out are so lame. The marketing and cache of the brand accumulates and its so hard to make any meaningful comparison.

I'll tell you this though. I doubt that Mini is going to be second guessing the direction they have taken with the redesign.

 

You guys seem awfully defensive. You're obviously not going to convert the people you're talking about, so why get all prickly about the sales numbers? There's so much more that factors into them than whether or not people think the R56 is ugly.

 

I think their limited dealer network is really hurting sales growth.

I would really like to trade my R53 for a Clubman when they come out but with the closest dealerships an hour away in good traffic I can't see bying new. While under warrentee I paid for and replaced the O-Rings on the oil cooler myself instead of driving an hour to leave the car for two days and go back to get it.

Plus the decision for BMW dealers to not even be able to get parts makes even living with a used one a PITA some times. Post warrentee I have had to replace a window motor and waterpump both took over a week to get the parts shipped to me.

BMW if your listening: extend service offerings to any BMW dealership and grow your sales network.

 

It seems to me that there was a gap in production to gear up for the R56 which then caused a lack of inventory especially in January and February. With none of the R56 in the showroom, it would naturally be more difficult to make sales. That would account for the first quarter sales being down.

 

Well this whole thread is defensive...and prickly...as sales figures were recently used to forecast an R56 inspired slump and wholesale rejection of the new model, right? Frankly, I see no reason to convince anybody about R56's performance or looks. Some love it outright, some it grows on, some need a test drive, and a few will remain unconvinced...it's up to the individual owner. Yup, we're back in that "whatever-floats-your-boat" mode. R56 may be the new model, but lots of experienced R50/53 MINI motorers are now driving them, so the car has proved itself (as did its predecessors). Arguments are largely unnecessary, imo....at least not at the same level as when all this was speculative.

 

You mean that people who actually owned an R-53 (or two) or R-50 actually bought an R-56? Wow amazing . . .

Wait . . .

That's me.

Nevermind.

 

Over 20% of the May sales are R53s...

 

What? You tease us. But what the heck - lets look at the real numbers:

May 07, R53 sales are 14 for the US market. 14/4130= .33% A third of 1%, as in tiny.

 

I would say 20% are also MINIs at $1 - $1.5K discounts. Based on what I've seen that, too, made a big difference.

 

You are not factoring in the convertibles... which are all R53s...

Best look at the sales numbers again... as I said, over 20% of the total sales in May are R53s...

 

Last time I looked the convertibles were R52s, but whatever.

If you want to analyze the impact of the convertibles ok.

In May 06 the verts sold 1206, represented 32% of the month's sales.
In May 07 the verts and 50/53s sold 898, represented 22% of the month's sales.

So the increase in sales of the R56 led to the second highest month ever despite the falling sales of "R53s".

Lets take the verts out of the analysis and see how the R56 is doing on its own:

May 07: 1542MC, 1690MCS
May 06: 1073MC, 1393MCS
Apr 05: 1302MC, 1480MCS (month of highest total sales 4310)

What's your point Slag. How would you like to slice the data?

 

Point is over 20% of the total sales in May are R52/53s... that is all

 

How can sales of the R53 be both "14" and "20%"?

 

Did I ever mention I don't do numbers?? 'Tis true I'm afraid so I'll leave this to y'all to sort out. Just to mention, I recall reports of occasional low sales figures in years past simply and solely because dealers could not get enough MINIs for everybody who wanted one. Now that MINIs are showing up in abundance we finally have some out on the lot. That said, at this point using sales figure to theorize that R56 is not doing well is pointless. The car is great, it's selling great, and it's proving itself great out on the roads. That we know...the precise data means little (to me anyway) given all the varied factors one year to the next.

 

Can't argue with you there!

 

Right. So your point is you have no point.

 

Not at all... maybe this is easier to understand: over 20% of the May sales figures are not R56s.... simple enough, eh?

Or maybe a percentage is difficult to understand? Fine... how about a fraction? Over 1/5 of the May sales figures are not R56s ...

Marty salutes you brave defender!

 

So? What meaning do you apply to this? Lava gave you the non vert figures. With those the sales of verts is irrelevant.

I think you lost that argument, Slag.

 

brave defender? was somebody making an attack then?