Hi all.

Okay...Question #1. Has anyone dealt with Baron MINI in Kansas? How are they?
Question #2. Will I pay more if the dealer doesn't have what I want? To put it another way, if I have to order it...will it cost me more?

2008 MC
*Color at this point doesn't matter* I like Chili Red with the White Roof the best though. Being an Iowa Hawkeyes fan...the Mellow Yellow with a Black Roof caught my eye...
Premium Package
Cold Weather Package
All Season Tires
DSC
White Turn Signals
Front Fog Lamps
Rear Fog Lamps
MFSW
MSRP on the MINI Site is $21,900

Question #3. I'm correct in thinking that the MC does have a spare tire, correct?

Question #4. Any other options/packages I might consider?

THANKS!

 

Assuming your dealer charges list price it matters not if you order your car or buy off the lot. Q#3: the MC does have a spare tire as long as you don't get bigger wheels with runflat tires. Q#4: Hey, you're opening yourself up to buying a $28,000 car with a question like that in this forum (just you wait)!
Did you see Nightfire Red? That's a color you can only get in the MC (like Oxygen Blue which is also very cool).

 

oo you might want to try the S package... i hear it is slightly quicker.

 

now that is just downright trickery.

 

1.) No, sorry.

2.) You won't pay more, but there's a chance you might not pay less. Translation: There's a slightly greater likelihood of getting a deal for under MSRP if you're buying off the lot than if you order. But you don't pay a premium for a special order.

3.) Aye.

4.) I specced in the Sport Package when I was thinking an MC, mostly because I liked the sport seats, spoiler and Bridgespoke wheels. It's also got DSC, and the Sport Suspension (which is a greater upgrade to the MC suspension than the MCS).

If you're not planning on getting the S, then do not test drive one. It's all over then. I'd strongly consider it if you have any intention of ever wanting to mod your car. It's the most economical mod you could ever make to an MC. (60 more hp for ~$3k)

 

Well,
I considered a MCS, but I can't justify the price...with having to add LSD, ditching the run-flats...etc.

 

If they have a left over 07 you can get a discount and 4.9% financing.

 

well you dont HAVE to do anything to it. look at r56mini. im pretty sure its him. his only option was bonnet stripes and he loves his car. he added a sway bar though. the LSD is a good idea but it is by no means mandatory, nor is getting rid of the run flats. butt, you didnt create this thread to choose between the MC and MCS, so ill shut up now.

 

FIRST POST!!

(1) If you don't mind send me a message about your Baron Mini experience. I'm in Kansas City also and am looking to buy here by the end of the year. I'm waiting to see the JCW Factory car actually show up on Mini's site to decide on that or a MCS with the JCW dealer kit. So knowing how others were treated will certainly help.

(2) This is what I'm planning on doing. Create your Mini on the site and e-mail the specs to Baron Mini, Mini of St. Louis, and whatever the Mini dealer in Nebraska is. Simply tell them that you have a special order and will buy from whomever gives you the best price. I'm guessing you will at least save $500 with this method. (Make sure to ask what their doc fees are also... these are specific to the dealer).

(3) Yep.

(4) I won't suggest any other items to you. I change my list every day, so I'm not the best to ask. Just don't get the Hi-Fi from what I've heard. You can get better speakers for cheaper aftermarket.

Good Luck!

 

Maybe I'll dump the Premium Package....I'm already kind of wavering on the sunroof. 6 months of snow up here might not bode well for a sunroof...

 

 

Okay, hear me out...
I've only test drove used MINIs. I've never test drove a MCS...
So...maybe that gives you some insight into my previous comment.

Things I won't compromise on:
DSC
MFSW
Fog Lamps
White Turn Signals
All Seasons

I REALLY want the Cold Weather Package. Given my list, I'm looking at what...$2,900 difference?

Gas Mileage is important to me....
I've heard that the run-flats drive like....well, like poodoo.

 

I'm buying my car through Baron MINI. Thus far, I can report nothing but good things. I've yet to actually pick up my car, it's in transit. My MA is Liz and I've been communicating with them mostly over e-mail and the phone.

 

Please don't not get an S because it comes with runflats. I was just yank'in your chain.

 

Not trying to Hi-Jack the thread at all. This may actually help the op.

TJTULL.... Did you negotiate at all with them? Or was the line drawn in the sand and they wouldn't hear any negotiating.

I've been up there a few times to look at different things in person, and they have been nothing but friendly.

 

Honestly, I didn't even try to negotiate below MSRP. They were willing to give me a really good trade-in, so I considered it a wash. I've actually sold the car I was going to trade in and got even more than they were planning to give me. Also, I'm coming in from out of town to buy the MINI and they've offered to pick me up at the airport (however, I'm driving). As you said, nothing but friendly and really eager to have my business. The dealership in my home city wasn't eager at all. It makes a difference to me.

 

True. A good trade is just as good as getting money off. Good Luck with delivery and let us know how that goes.

 

You should consider the sport package and if on the budget
drop the premium package.

The sport seats are much nicer.
You also get the fog lights, better wheels (i think),
and DSC.

I have actually felt the DSC kick in twice now, when
making a rapid movement to avoid M F cell phone talking
no looking monster truck drivers.

I don't know why everybody hates the runflats?

Call me clueless but I have absolutely zero problems
with the way they drive.

 

MC is actually a great fuel efficient ride. You'll love it. I also opted out of the premium package and chose options ala carte. DSC and MFSW are mandatory, must haves. I also had fogs and all seasons. Cold weather package a must particularly in Iowa I would think. Nothing like having those seat heaters. Dumping the premium package (good move) you are probably only in the low 20K range. Consider sport seats, really comfortable, and Hi-Fi upgrade. Some don't like the hi-fi, but I think it is fine. That would still leave you a little less than your original 21,900.

 

1) Yes, the Baron sales staff are great. Work with Liz Higham, she was my MA and was a pleasure to work with.

2) No, you can custom order or they can look at the inventory at other dealers and import it. You custom order it'll probably be sticker, if you bring it in from another dealer they'll ask you to pick up the transport fee. I think they charge a $299 doc fee as well.

3) MC does have a donut, yes.


There is an astro black w/ matted orange stripes and redwood leather on the sales floor right now that is going to bankrupt me if the wife see's it again..

 

I agree, Liz is great!!

Yes, the doc fee is around $299.

 

According to my MA when I purchased my MCS about three weeks ago, the run flats come with the sports package, not the S. As it was explained to me:

MC - standard is 15" wheels; upgrade to sport package adds 16" run flats
MCS - standard is 16" wheels; upgrade to sport package adds 17" run flats

Hopefully I got the sizes correct. The main point though, is you can get an MCS without the run flats - like mine.

 

Do you have a spare in your MCS? Where is it?

What tire make, model, and size did your MCS come with?

 

Robin,

My MCS does not have a spare. I went and looked and the tires on it are Goodyear Excellence 195/55R16's. Now the interesting part. The tires indicate that they are "RunOnFlat". A little Google search yielded this page (http://eu.goodyear.com/home_en/tires/runonflat/ - yes, I realize that is the European page). It would appear that I do in fact have run flat tires.

So, I have to conclude that my MA was mistaken regarding the different tire choices available as well as what was actually on the vehicles that we were looking at. The MA and others at the dealership were fairly aggressive in pushing add-ons, including stuff like Roadside Assistance (beyond what Mini normally provides). Part of their pitch was that without the run-flats or a spare tire, I could be in big trouble on the road. Glad I didn't go for it at the time. I suppose the question becomes one of whether that was an intentional "mistake" on the MA/dealer's part or an honest mistake. I'll chalk this one up to honest mistake as I've been pleased with the whole Mini experience otherwise (and even though my MA certainly seemed to know the Mini quite well but somehow missed this).

To go back to the issues raised in the thread, I would have to agree with a previous poster that the ride is just fine. Granted, I have a few weeks of riding in my MCS versus the short amount of time testing the other Mini's I looked at. But as I recall from those test drives, the big difference in ride that I could really detect was between the Sport package and non-Sport package. Certainly the 17" wheels with the very low profile I tried had the "harshest" ride (not just b/c of the wheels - the whole Sport package suspension contributed to that).

So, at this point I would have to consider discovery of the run flat option a bonus. I'm sure I won't feel that way when the time comes to replace them (after looking at the prices).

 

Yea, I don't think any MCS comes with non-runflats. The problem is that the exhaust on the MCS doesn't allow room for a spare. So, they all need runflats.

Wow, that doesn't reflect well on that dealer either way. It seems to imply that they are quite ignorant about the cars they sell, or they lie to sell options. Not good.

MINI of Mountain View does not put any pressure on buying options -- until you get to the final dealer options when signing the papers. Then they promote the typical dealer add-ons such as extended warranty, windshield PermaPlate coating/insurance, etc. They don't push them hard, just make a good sales pitch. This is done over at the BMW dealer where the final papers are signed at delivery. The MINI MAs are quite laid back about what you order.

As far as being in trouble on the road, I'm not convinced that runflats are that big a savior. If you have a slow leak, you could repair it with a slime-loaded 12v compressor (available for $25 to $90). If you have a catastrophic failure -- tire coming apart -- the runflat probably wont run flat. So you would SOL wichever tire you had. Most flats are slow leaks where just pumping the tire up will get you to a tire shop. Typically, the runflat would just be a mild convenience over a non-runflat by allowing you to continue on without hooking up the compressor. To some, that might be enough of a selling point to put up with the harsher ride and high cost. Runflats seem to be about twice the cost of non-runflats of equal quality.

You will get a harsher ride with 17" wheels than 16" wheels. You will also get a harsher ride with runflats, than with non-runflats. I replace the OEM Dunlap SP Sport 01 DSST 205/45ZR17 with Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 20545ZR17 non-runflats and the ride was less harsh with the PE2. However, the PE2 are on lighter weight wheels, so that might have an effect as well. The Dunlaps were quite noisy on rough surfaces. The PE2 are not quiet, but better than the Dunlaps.

I have a set of Pirelli P-Zero Nero M&S 205/55ZR16 on different wheels. They have a softer and quieter ride than the 17" PE2, but don't have quite the same grip and don't turn-in as quickly.