+1 for South Bay, +1 for Philippe Kahn. Got my MINI last weekend, special ordered and waited 7 weeks and got a great deal. No hassle and pressure... Philippe is a really cool guy. Did all ordering through phone and met him when was ready to take delivery. It didn't feel like I was buying a car (other than the financing guy trying to sell extended warranty. LoJack and other stuff)

 

Given that MINI sales are way up year over year and the gas crunch I think dealers are just getting greedy.

I bought an MCS at Irvine in May with no mark up. Try emailing alex in their internet sales dept. alex@inrvinemini.com.

Also, Philippe at South Bay has a good reputation:
http://www.philippek.com/Contact.html

 

I wonder how many people will be turned off
(after thinking about it) to BMW/MINI for life?

That's a rhetorical question I realize has no answer.

But for what I went through in the above story about honda,
they lost me for life. I would never ever buy another new honda.
Ever.

 

I was musing yesterday about how much better a customer experience would be if the business model for auto companies didn't include franchise dealerships because they could then control the consistency of their customer service and pricing.

I admit, I know nothing about this business so I could be way off base, but man, people hate dealerships more than the dentist! Totally unfair statement to good dealers and dentists out there but the bad overshadows the good here.

 

Wow, I ordered back in April and had to call around to find a dealer that would order an R56 for MSRP. I then called Brecht and said I'd order from the other dealer unless they would do MSRP and take off the lojack/clearbra fee. They agreed.
Course now, I can't get my MA to call me back for warranty issues...

I wonder if the car dealerships know they are screwed with our economy so they are trying to wring every last dollar they can out of customers while they still can?

 

I stopped by Brecht tonight on my way home and the few cars they had on the lot all had a dealer option price sheet with $2500 of options (lojack, paint sealer, tint, mats) AND an additional 10% of sticker markup.

But, they're selling per the MA I had talked to before ordering elsewhere last week for an under MSRP price and no dealer add-ons.

 

Maybe I am getting a little older and I have read through this thread and wonder why nobody just goes right to the source and talks directly to the sales manager and stop wasting time with the salesman who has to go to his boss anyway.If you really want the car and want MSRP then go to guy who really wants to move his stock.The more they sell ,the bigger the allocations.Mini's are at a premium right now but they still want to move the units.Money still talks and there in business to sell cars...I made a great deal when I bought my JCW,but you have to know what you want and go for it...

 

Brecht wanted MSRP+$1800(LoJack, mats, paint protectant) and then a 10% mark-up on top of that. I got them to waive the mark-up, but they would not budge on the $1800 of add-ons I did not want! They told me all their cars came configured with those options, thats just how it is. I told them no thanks.

I'm currently working with Irvine Mini to get my MCSa ordered!!! Hopefully today or tomorrow if all goes smoothly.

 

I went back an looked at the lease payment Crevier offered me after I negotiated down the "Add ons" to $700 (I'm only paying for lo-jack). I think that was high as well. On a $31,000 car, they quoted the lease payment at $454 + TTL.

I googled around, and when I found the current June money factor and calculated my own lease payment I came up with $416 + TTL. So I think they are trying to screw me on the lease as well. We'll be having some words when my ordered Mini arrives at the end of July....

 

Anyone happen to know what the July money factor is. All the dealerships I've called in socal are saying .003, but isnt the base rate .00219? Are they just using the .003 as a generic rate, pending your full credit application?

 

I just placed an order for my MCS from Southbay Mini. MSRP + no markup + no add-ons. Straight up no bs cost.

I highly recommend Philippe Kahn. He's the best.

 

I second that! Just finished ordering today with him. He answered all my questions and he was straight up front with me. No BS salesman talk.

 

Who did you talk to? I managed to order my Clubman from Irvine for MSRP plus free floor mats. Last time I was down there, I noticed that they had taken off the market adjustment stickers, even though they only had four or so cars available for sale.

 

Also +1 for Southbay Mini, from MA "Tyrus Griffin" about a month ago.

Got it below MSRP (Basically, it started off with MSRP but negotiable depending on the amounts of accessories that I chose) and free mats.

 

south florida.. not a penny over msrp

 

+1

Plus a discount off MSRP but it also depends on which dealership you go to as several do sell over MSRP either with ADM,add-ons or both.That is when you run not walk away from those dealerships.

 

It is always the case. If you buy a really high demand car, you are not going to get much lower than MSRP. I paid a little under MSRP for my MCS. Also found it really tough to get a good deal on my wife's Prius. All the San Francisco dealers were asking over MSRP. I had to drive down to San Jose to get a good price.

 

Long Beach sells them out of stock or on order for MSRP.

Count your blessings in SoCal where you have the luxury of so many dealers.

In FL I had only one dealer within 250 miles and he is a goon who charges $500 over. I should not have paid it because two months later I find that it has placed a malodorous stigma on the car that will remain until the day I sell it.

 

Ian,
That's what I thought also. At least that's what I paid May 31st. Now Long Beach has joined other dealers and adds $1000 to MSRP but they don't load the cars with lo-jack and other add on's.

JR

 

Canceled my order from Mini of Concord after they told me that they are going to add a markup $1400, this is after a month on the waiting list. So, I e-mailed Bernie Clare (sales manager from Mini of South Bay) and they are willing to sell it for MSRP.

 

Add Mini of Monrovia to the list of dealers that add a mark-up to MSRP. For the longest time they were doing straight MSRP, but now they are adding anywhere from 1500-2500 above sticker. Southbay are a group of good people, MSRP all day long.

 

I agree. Southbay are a group of good people. I don't know how other dealers sleep at night.. Haha. Making money is one thing but cheating people of their money sucks. Greed. Supply and demand?? I don't know about that. People are willing to wait for their orders. Its not like factoey is 6 months backed up.

 

Ya, I hear ya. I went to a dealership and was all ready to order, but I get to the finance guy and they were going to give me a money factor of .0030 on my lease. The base rate right now is .00215 i believe and I have high 700s ficos as well. I tried to negotiate it down but he said they wont charge a high mark up on the car, but they will make it up on the rate, regardless of your fico.

 

Money factor rate sucks. Wow I thought of lasing to.. Here do you look up monthly current money factor? I say just buy the car aninance witha different bank. I know some of you guys have to leae due to tax reasons.. but maybe you guys can just wite off all that too..

 

Well I lease for tax reasons and also because of the fact that I don't keep cars much longer than 3 years. Leasing isn't a bad option if you do multiple security deposits. Even dealing with the base money factor of .00215, you can put additional security deposits down, to reduce the money factor down to the point where the effective interest rate is almost 0%. I prefer going this route as opposed to cap cost reduction, because you get your deposits back as long as you aren't over miles or don't have any excessive wear and tear. You can get the money factor by just calling the dealer and asking what the current base money factor for the month is. If they tell ya its, .0030, well... you know they are not telling the truth.