I know this has been asked before, but I have tried to pin down the dealer, and read many posts from various sites... However, it seems this is always a big mystery. My question is:, When is the next year model offered for ordering? If you were to use past history, say 07, 08... when were they first offered to build? I know you can order an 09 JCW... but my interests is in a MCS.

 

It's usually September/October time that the model year ticks over. Hope this helps.

 

I don't know when you can order it, but my dealer is the largest Mini dealer in the US (Prestige Mini) and they told me the new models don't arrive until February each year. I would guess they start taking orders in November or around then.

 

See... no disrespect... but two different answer right off the bat.

 

With the release of the R56 the 07 first month for ordering was September 06 in the UK but it wasn't till December/January 07 in the US. I'm not sure whether when the 08's came in the US continued to lag behind the UK or whether they coordinated both. Ask somebody who has an early model 08 when they ordered.

 

I was wondering this also, b/c sept-oct is when i will be able to order my MINI. Does anybody know if 09's price is gonna go up either??

 

When I went to the dealer last week, they said they would take an order against the 2008 specs now then realign the order against 2009 specs when they got them. The salesman said that would happen in July or August. He then said the 2009 would be delivered in October. That definitely hasn't been the info I've seen in the forum, though.

I am going back on Wednesday to set up the order, and I'm going to clarify this with him as the difference between October and January is psychologically significant!

-sarah

 

Amen.

 

MINI MAs are not reliable sources of info on this topic. They have not been fed any official info, so they often do a seat-of-the-pants guess based on bad info. Some of them extrapolate past release dates of NEW model years, and assume that the date will be the same the following year. Unlikely.

What I have learned is that 2008 order slots for MC/MCS can be booked thru the 2nd week of September. So 2009s (MC/MCS) most likely won't be available before then. But I would expec them to be a go soon after that, with delivery in late Oct. in the US.

Lots of threads here on this topic, worth searching.

 

In my personal experience with the 1st gen model, I ordered a 2006 model at the end of August 2005, and received the car at the end of October. I'm hoping it's the same this year as I'm planning on ordering one around that time.

I too have recently asked dealerships and MINIUSA and I've received many different answers. I would definitely want the 2009 model over the 2008 model even if nothing changes. Considering dealers don't discount to get rid of old inventory (at least in LA), what's the incentive, right?

 

I got a 2005 MC in August of 2004. The R56 2007 models came in late 2006 as well. It is all over the board and different every year. Call 800-ask-mini and they will know.

 

I believe this is an example of what I mentioned - an MA's lack of specific knowledge. He took a time data point from a previous model that was a new design year (which 2009 MC/MCS are not) and extrapolated forward. This is a mistake. If this were accurate, how would he explain the mid summer builds of 2009 JCWs? How would he explain all the fall releases in the past for MINIs without a complete design overhaul? I believe the 2007 MC/MCS & 2008 Clubman release dates are confusing him, and his boss hasn't corrected that impression.

Truth is, these guys have not been given any specifics by MINI yet. There is no upside for MINI to do this now, as it would only have the effect of having folks delay orders a few months, then crowd them all into September builds. From the manufacturer's standpoint, they'd rather have a more even production schedule.

So...as far as the MC & MCS are concerned, one should expect that they won't be buildable (is that a word?) before the 3rd week of September (as confirmed 2008 build slots exist in week 2 of Sept.) but should be available shortly afterward at MINI's discretion. One should expect package tweaks and perhaps some price increases to at least mitigate the crappy dollar's effect on MINI's margins.

I predict that anyone who asks their MA for info on this topic will more likely get the reply that the calendar year is when the 2009 switch will occur. That will be wrong as far as MC/MCSs are concerned. Clubman and verts will definitely come later. 09 JCWs are already in the system.

 

This is the key. MINI will NOT release this simply because there is no upside. The best guess any of us have is that it will begin in fall 08 for 09 models for the coupes and clubman, and build dec. 08 for feb 09 delivery.

 

My MINI dealer (MoP) has run out of 2008 build slots for an MCS (which went thru 2nd week of Sept. 2008) so they are now taking 2009 waiting list orders. I filled out my order sheet and expect them to charge me a $1000 deposit on Monday.

So the 2009 wait begins.

No details on 2009 pricing changes or options packages yet.