Yes, discounts are out there. I just negotiated $1,000 off MSRP of a custom MCS. This is not a brag, just helpful information for anyone else looking to purchase. Until I read what other MINI users have shared from their experiences on this forum (thank you all), I was ready to pay MSRP. Although I would still love the vehicle, it was nice to save a significant amount of money. I felt obligated to join this forum and share my experience to pass on this information and "pay forward" the courtesy shown to me by honest consumers. The demand for new Coopers and the state of the economy are constantly changing, so the old adage that you must pay MSRP is outdated. I did contact 3 dealers in CA and 2 remained firm that they only sell at MSRP, so it does take some legwork, however.

 

Wow, I think you definitely take the prize, congrats! Would love to hear how you managed that...

 

Those of you who got something off MSRP--are you sure you're really getting that great deal? Lots of dealers pad their prices with ridiculous "dealer added options," like glorified wax jobs that are invoiced at $500 or more. Other charge high processing fees when they calculate the TTL bit. Mine charge $50 for this, but I've heard of $600! Sure takes away a lot of those "savings."

I was an early bird--ordered 12/13/06, and got one of the first R56s. I was happy to get MSRP for my order, and got free mats, to boot.

 

Deb- we are not morons! Below MSRP on a factory ordered MCS via configurator- with no dealer $500 added wax b.s. or anything like that. Have a little faith...

The only fee I had was a state inspection/temp reg fee of $45, and the same for a tire fee of $12. No interest rate padding- paid cash.

 

You're absolutely right... There are dealers out there with a "delivery fee" or "inspection fee" or "preparation fee" which are as high as $1000.

 

I worked with my dealer over email and had them fax the sales document prior to finalizing the deal. The only fees were a document fee of $55 dollars, DMV Fee of $225, and CA Tire Fee of $7. There were no Delivery Fees, Inspection Fees, Preperation Fees, or any other expensive dealership mark-ups. Hope this helps those considering a purchase.

 

I was at $1000 below MSRP as I configured it online. The dealer did add a $500 "dealer fee" which included floormats ($105), boot mat ($59.50), baby racer ($85), Glove Box Organizer ($52.50), sun shade ($49.25), clear light bulbs ($65), two key chains, a full tank of gas and the "glorified wax job". If you figure $10 each for the key chains and $40 for the tank of gas, it looks like they might have made a $23 profit on the dealer fee. I think that's fair.

Oh, they gratiously replaced and re-painted my rear tow hook cover when it came off on the way home and helped me out with the screw that was stuck in my tire two days later, both at no charge.

 

I think it's also important to look at who (MA and dealer) you are going to be contacting over the next weeks about your car. I paid below MSRP by bringing another dealer's quote in with me (I had emailed them previously and they were way above this other quote). I'm really happy with my MA and the dealership in general and glad I ended up there in the end, because I've had a big delay with my car due to the stupid VDC. And, in the end, my dealer has stepped up, even though it wasn't their fault, and gave me some discounts/freebies and a loaner 08 MCS until I finally pick mine up tomorrow. And if you are shopping around in the SE, I'd be glad to refer you to my MA.

Just something else to consider along with your shopping around....

 

the article is long gone so I'm working from memory....put one should realize that once MINI sells the car to a dealer, MINI is out of the equation. Dealers buy cars from the supplier - to sell to you.

So what? An article I read recently compared various auto suppliers and noted that the 'on lot inventory' for MINI was consistently, since their original release in 2002, near the bottom of the 'available' list. In other words....MINI/BMW is controlling the flow to maintain a "demand" market. As compared to US cars where the supply can exceed the demand....how many cars are on your local Chevy dealer lot?

This is closely coupled to dealer allocations and explains why one dealer may have an unallocated car on the lot, while another can only provide a 6 month out build date.....the 'best' MINI allocations are behind demand in most areas.

Or in other words...the company is working the factors to maintain a car that sells at sticker. You ain't gonna get $5000 off sticker like you might on a Ford. If you got free floor mats you did OK. $500 off sticker, real good. $1500 off sticker? You STOLE it

Cross check against what's going on in SMART CAR territory if you doubt.....

 

This is what my MA said when I asked that question last November. Even when I told him it would be a cash deal.. . I just read that MINI sales are up 44.2% (08) over the same time period in 07. Forget it , car sales are down with the exception of a few & one is the MINI.

 

My experiences (4 MINIs: a 2003 MC, 2004 MC, 2005 MCS and a 2005 MCSC) show that at least here in Hampton Roads, your bargaining edge is more about trade-in value than money off of MSRP: IMO that's actually a good thing in the medium run/resale arena since it tends to keep residual values high.

MINIs aren't necessarily expensive when you can custom order the crap out of them, so their "the price is the price" methodology works to keep value in the cars, as opposed to mfrs who strap cash on the hood in order to sell (like GM, Chrysler & Ford, for example)- that practice causes the residuals to tank quickly.

While this means little to the person who drives the wheels off for 15 years, it makes a huge difference when you trade in as often as I do. I don't mean to imply that it doesn't cost something to trade this often (it does) but the values don't tank like other cars do.

Always expect to lose $5k when you leave the lot with your new car tho--lol.

And don't forget: you aren't paying for maintenance for 4 years, so that helps resale appeal big time when the car is 2-3 years old. (not that I've ever kept one that long, mind you )

 

paid msrp for mine, but got locking wheel bolts and 4 floor mats for free. Extra (non-negotiable) charges added on by dealer: $600 freight charge + $250 admin fee. I looked up the dealer fees and that's pretty average for Canada; it can be over $1200 at some places (not MINI).

 

any of you guys pay the "doctors fee"
i just ordered my mini today and they didnt charge me yet... all they charged me for is the 1000 deposit fee

i have a feeling they are going to the day i go to pick it up or something...

 

Maybe they already did, my deposit was $400!

 

My deposit was $500, but they applied it toward the car.

 

haha... it don matter....

they subtract the total msrp by your deposit fee in the end right?

 

I'm very new to car buying but would a "doctors fee" be something like dealer prep?

The MA where I ordered my MINI gave me a printout of all fees and taxes on my vehicle and the total amount to be financed minus my $1k deposit, not including my trade-in or any additional down payment. Unless something was left off, which I doubt, the fees I'm paying are: documentary, CVR, and license & title. That's it.

Edit: And the deposit counts towards the down payment, which isn't quite the same as shaving $1k off the selling price.

 

You get a BIG DUH for that one.

 

I don't have my mini yet, but I ALMOST got a brand new '07 at minus 9% sticker. It was a demo car at around 1200 miles, almost fully equipped, fully maintained at the mini dealership. So you can negotiate on brand-new demos.

As for why I didn't purchase, another salesman/woman sold it the DAY I was to come-in and sign on the vehicle. That really drained my enthusiasm for a Mini. I even had financing ready through the miniusa.com site. On the bright side, the cost even at 91% was still over the actual rated cost for the new '07 demo and I didn't have to over-pay on an over-rated car.

If I regain enthusiasm for a new one I'll fly out of state to Portland or California and drive-back. And... IF I do purchase, I'm going to keep it maintained at a certified mini garage. That's the only way I can think of maintaining my enthusiasm for a Mini if ever.

 

1000$ off MRSP.

 

$5000.00 under sticker.

I wrote a $5k check, tore it out of the checkbook, but accidentally dropped it and it fell on the ground UNDER the window sticker. I picked it up, handed it to them, then financed the rest of MSRP.

 

I don't think that's true, at least not with MINIs. My first MINI cost me $23k new. After 36k miles and 4 years of ownership, I was given $20k for it.

 

Seems to be room to move on them in these parts at least. Just had to ask and the dealer offered me almost $900 off MSRP. A bit more work on my part and I ended up at $1100 below MSRP and $300 in no-charge accessories. All this on an 08 Cooper.

 

Folks outside of CA it all depends on the density of dealerships in any given region, those who live in the d'ship-heavy NE and SE are more likely to be given better discounts than those who live in the d'ship starved NW or intermountain West, where MSRP seems to be the norm, still. When i bought my 2005 S in 2004 the demand was so high, I was offered $2K over what I paid (MSRP) from a guy in Seattle that did not want to wait 2 years for his S.

 

For those who ordered your car, when did you get into the negotiating bit.....such as it is....right when you ordered and put down the deposit, or on the day of delivery and/or pickup?