It's a ripoff paying more than MSRP and I find the sales departments quite frankly STINK when it comes to follow-up once they got your money. Car sales is a flake's paradise. Maybe 5% are worthy, from my experience. I go into the deal all happy and excited only to grow tired of it all as they widdle & piddle around in the final moments when they feel they "GOTTCHA". Amen.

 

Yep, it is sad and they can get away with it because the MINI is such a great car. I hope when I return I am treated well because I gave a complimentary phone survey on their behalf but my first service visit is yet to come. I have about 1300 miles so far....absolutely no problems!!

Bottom line: at least I got the car I wanted.

 

I also think the leather seats are way too overpriced. I got the regular seats and preferred to put that money towards a better use, such as the JCW aero kit!

 

Interesting to see Bob Smith charging those prices. I personally knew Mr. Smith and he was quite an honorable guy. But that was long before they had any Minis & BMWs to sell. They sold Volkswagons in Hollywood.

 

I am sure he is an honorable man. I may get flamed for saying this, but business is to make money and if demand outweighs supply, then I can see why dealers go for the big bucks. Makes sense to me....but we consumers can fight back and go to where the best prices are.

 

Agreed on that---it's a free market. Mr. Smith died a few years ago but the name lives on. I've read here some dealers will charge more than MSRP and then they don't---I guess it's a supply & demand thing like HOT POTATOS! I bought in July and may buy again this December but just don't know which dealer in the greater Los Angeles area I can trust. It seems to be a crap shoot.

 

if you shop around you can do better....mine totalled about 33,500 with premium, sport, convenience and JCW tuning, suspension and aero....try ebay and morristown combination....east coast prices i guess

 

Thank you for expressing that sentiment so well. I know so many people that are afraid to drive their cars lest they depreciate! No one lives forever.

 

Early this year, I bought my Mini over the phone. I spoke with the sales manager at Nick Alexander and we agreed that I would come to the dealership and buiy any Mini they had on the lot for sticker and that there would be no talk of price. Either me asking for a discount, or them asking for over sticker.

Drove up to the dealership, walked the lot a few times. ( they had a huge selection early in the year when other dealers had next to nothing ) Picked out my car, drove it around the block to make sure it rode well, did the paperwork in a very short time and that was it. The easiest car purchase I had made in a long time. Only bummer - I am not used to paying sticker for a car, but the market dictates the prices...

Paul Jaruszewski

 

I've been looking for a Cooper for my step-daughter and have to admit I'm very disappointed in the quality of the dealers in LA/OC area. Everyone wants my business until I tell them I don't want the extended warranty, paint-protection, lojack etc etc. I came close to buying from South Bay but their insistence on a credit check when paying cash made me walk. I ended up using a broker (going to place the order tomorrow) as I don't have the patience to deal with all the idiots who infest the dealers out there.

 

a broker for a new MINI?