We're happy with our 2004 MC, but I'm curious to know how much (if any) folks are able to negotiate the price of a custom-ordered MINI.

I can see haggling over the sticker of a car on a dealer's lot, but I'm wondering how much room we'd have to bargain on the price of a custom-ordered car.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

 

PS: Our '04 we bought used.

 

Haggling? With Mini?

I managed to get the privilege of paying MSRP... weaseled a set of floor mats and a stuffed bulldog out of Brian @ Tate

 

This has been discussed in other threads extensively. Bottom line is that because MINIs are limited production and in high demand, sticker is the rule. You can get the usual extras included (i.e. floor mats and window tint), but that's it. The good news is that the resale value, assuming you don't keep your car forever, is pretty high. Now, no car is an actual investment since it depreciates regardless, but it is a comfort to know that it will bring you a hell of a lot of enjoyment while you have it. Of course, you know that since it's not your first MINI.

Enjoy the ride. And the second generation is a blast!

 

the stuffed bulldog is a great idea!
I like the fact that mini is doing well enough with sales that it dosent need to cut costs to move the vehicle. this way they can keep improving the design. which hopefully means going back to a supercharger and adding AWD!

 

OMG. PLEASE read this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=128111

$1200 below MSRP all the TIME! Enough with the "MSRP only" BS already! Do your legwork, don't be hungry, and use some NEGOTIATING skills. :P

 

The measly amount that they are willing to come down? It's not even worth the effort. I didn't even bother, other than asking for floor mats.

 

it really depends on your local MINI demand. Im pretty sure in california it will be next to impossible to get an ordered MINI with money off MSRP, even with shopping around. You can most definitely get things thrown in but dont expect too much.

 

My 04 was a deal at MSRP, especially because of the long waiting list at the time, but that is not the case anymore. MSRP is no longer king. My 2007 was $1k below MSRP with $500 in free accessories. That was their first offer, no negotiating required, on my ordered MINI.

 

I think it's so funny how people get so excited about a "deal" because they got $X off MSRP....

Say, for example, the car is $25,000 and you got $500 off. What if that exact same car had an MSRP of $24,500 and you paid MSRP, with dealer invoice being exactly the same (so they also have $500 less profit)? Would you still feel like you got the same "deal"? You paid the same amount... the dealer made the same amount.... Or is it just the fact that you saw some subtraction calculated on a sheet of paper?

On the flip side, what if that same $25,000 car had an MSRP of $30,000, but they gave you a $3000 discount.... Did you get a better "deal" just because you got $3000 off?

My point is that the price you pay is directly tied to the value you find in the car (or any other product you buy, for that matter). It isn't the amount the dealer subtracted from the MSRP, and it's not the amount the dealer made on the sale.... It's simply how much you are willing to pay for a particular item based on the perceived value.

Does that make sense to anyone?

 

I emailed the 4 dealers near me and negotiated the best lease payment i could price matching it at my closest dealer. My dealer originally wanted about 430/month and i got it for 350 a month afterwards.

 

Got $300 under MSRP and a couple goodies thrown in for my custom-ordered MINI. Not great, but as others have stated, at times it can be hard to get a MINI at MSRP (many dealers include a markup and/or ridiculous doc fee). Also it's a limited production car with very high demand so that's just how it is. I was more than willing to pay for it.

 

I may think that my car is worth every penny they asked for it, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to negotiate a better price. That is money that I can spend on other priorities in my life.

 

Depending on the model there is an average of $3000 in markup from invoice to MSRP. Not much for profit on a $38,000 car. I never buy new Mini's I only purchase used. In the fall of 07 I got my 05 mini S with 33,000 miles loaded for $18,000. Let someone else take the hit.

 

The answer is no... because that 'deal' is one that is offered to almost everyone through a newspaper ad, or television commercial, etc. The MSRP on most new cars is higher than the actual sale price in order to raise the initial "value" of the car so that the bank will lend a higher dollar amount. It makes it easier to roll balances from upside down cars (or dealer add-ons) into new loans. What you end up with is a car with an MSRP of $30000 that you got a $3000 discount on, but rolled the $2000 balance of your old car into. So when you drive your car off the lot you end up with a good feeling and a smile on your face because you got a $3000 discount, but you also end up with a $25000 car that you owe $29000 on. Not a deal in my opinion. But hey, who am I to argue with a system that keeps me employed.

I remember a post on here quite a while back were a guy was considering getting either a MINI or a Lexus. He ended up going with the Lexus because they gave him $4000 off MSRP and MINI wouldn't budge. If you look at the resale value of the cars, it is very different as far as percentages go.

 

Bust your butt to get as much info on the car as possible, including Edmunds.com and then negotiate, use time to your advantage (go late on a Wednesday 30 minutes before close when they're trying to leave and haven't gotten a sale that day): you'll be amazed how many die hard MSRP only dealerships will learn to deal, including MINI.

 

I saved a ton on my 2007. I think they really wanted to use up their allocation. They wouldn't give me the same price on a 2008. I took delivery on 12/19/2008.

 

They didn't budge a dollar. I tried over and over and over again, but kept getting the "we're a no haggle dealership" line. Of course it doesn't help that it was the only MINI dealership within 350 miles, so I paid MSRP. It's only money, right?

 

$500 off msrp

 

I was happy to pay (or order at) MSRP. I went to a dealership and they wanted 1500 over MSRP. They were not very responsive in that dealership. So I went to another and they said from the beginning that they dealt at MSRP. Their responsiveness in all communications leading up to the sale is what made me decide to give my business to them. Even when I was only window shopping they treated me with respect, and answered all emails thoroughly and quickly.

In my last new car purchase, a 2005 Toyota Corolla, I paid a bit under MSRP but nonetheless I felt the salesman was looking for every possible way to increase their profit, thru either their own financing or dealership add ons.

 

It's a Mini they do NOT budge anywhere!! I was lucky to get a floor mats and an extra Keychain

 

Simply not correct. That may have been >your< experience, but there are tons of stories- in this thread alone, where others have gotten discounts.

 

My custom ordered 07 MCS was MSRP. I tried negotiating, but the dealer was not interested. The store had a list of people who had put down deposits before the 07 had been announced. I was, however, able to get floor mats thrown in (2 sets) and got an excellent financing rate.

 

I got about 5k off my jcw minicooper s. Sticker was around 38, I got it down to about 33,200 i believe(also had them throw in the ipod adapter for 200 oppose to 700 they were asking and free floor matts)

 

No dealing at my dealership for used vehicles. The price stated is the price they sell at for used, period.

Which didn't really bother me as I felt what I paid for my used vehicle was a reasonable price for what the car was/had.


I personally hate negotiating at a dealership. I would have gone through a broker to get my vehicle but they couldn't even come close to the price of the dealership.