I PAID $650 DESTINATION CHARGE PLUS $100 TO MACO--I WAS TOLD MACO IS SOMETHING ALL USA MINI DEALERSHIPS PAY INTO FOR ADVERTISING--HAD TO PAID TAX AND CALIFORNIA REGISTRATION TOO

 

in california what he said is true

oops boo boo quote

 

northern california you can get that price and i do not have to prove anything to you--was offered the same deal from porsche, lexus (below invoice), and bmw and that was back in 07--i bought the porsche back then at $10k off msrp--09 cooper s last month--on top of the steep discount bmw offered to match lexus's offer of free hand car washes for life

 

Sure, what would you like to know?

I was in the car bidness for about 30 years, but have been out of it for over 10 now, still most info is still the same.

The best way to get these answers is to go to your dealer and ask them, different parts of the country and different states have differnt rules, market conditions etc.

As to how I got a discount, I simply went in and asked. We agreed on the car's specs, got an MSRP, I started lower, they started higher, and eventually we met in the middle, and I wrote them a check. Nothing complicated about it......

The specific car you're trying to buy has a lot to do with how much if any they will discount it. A car with a lot of packages on it will have more profit built in, for example a fully loaded JCW will have a lot more "Give" in it than a base justaCooper. They'll be more willing to discount a 2008 that's been sitting on the lot than a car that's still in allocation, so your best deal will always be on a car that's on the lot.

The $650 destination charge is a national thing that's charged on every car, it's right on the MSRP and covers the costs of transportation and clean up at the port.

I doubt you'll see any additional dealer markup anymore in this business climate, and my understanding of the dealer charge for admin or documentation is that it's not negotiable, in that if a dealer charges one person that amount they have to charge them all. If you find thier fee to be too much (like the $925 someone mentioned) then go to another dealer, but remember you have to look at the bottom line, if dealer A gives you a $2k discount but charges $925 admin fee, and dealer B only gives $1500 discount, but only charges a $200 admin fee, which deal is the better one?

Lastly, what dealers do in one region might not apply in another where there's more or less competition. dealers that move a lot of cars each month are generally a little more flexible on price than thos that only sell a handful, however, the high volume dealers sometimes make up the differnce in fewer services like free loaners, or by adding fees back in. The bottom line is the bottom line tho, no matter where you buy........

I prefer to buy from my local dealer, the one who's going to be servicing the car, and I always try to have a cordial, friendly relationship with them, including sales, parts and service. It can work wonders sometimes when you need help.......

 

bantsai, so you bought a Mini last month for less than invoice. Which dealer? Niello?

 

i never said that--i paid $2150 off of msrp--the lexus was offered to me below invoice back in 07--my pm to you--you were suppose to call me for the info--you never did--the dealer doesn't want to be known--i paid the same $x over invoice on my last 3 cars purchased new--with porsche it was $ 10k off msrp back in 07 with mini $2150 off msrp last month--niello in sacramento was not the dealership

 

Why wouldn't the dealer want to be known? He may sell another Mini if you refer someone. This doesn't make sense...

 

the salesman/dealership told me that they did not want to give that deal out again and didn't want people coming in expecting the same--this doesn't mean that they wouldn't do it again--they just ask me not to connect the final price with the dealership--i have only told people on this forum the discount off of msrp which is the price i paid for the car optioned as it was--i never gave out the options if any--sorry--i liked my salesman--he spent very little time with me for the sale--45 minutes--maybe one reason they took the offer--i told the salesperson that origonaly i was going to offer $300 less than what i ended up offering--but what the hell--your approach and research will get you the car you want for the price you want--you may have to try more than one dealership though just so you guys know back in 2007 when i bought my porsche at $10k off msrp--other people went in to try for the same deal at the same dealership and did not get it--it was a custom ordered car too

 

I understand what you are saying, but a sale is a sale and with sales figures down the last two months selling a car(ordered or not) is a win win for the dealer. Even if the dealer does not give the exact deal you got, he will get the attention of potential buyers. I have friends in the car game and selling cars is what the goal is. Sometimes they just need the numbers for allocation of stock to continue. How come no one will produce the docs regarding these big discounts? Still not making sense to me but maybe I am thick in the head.

 

Also, I didn't pay a "MACO" fee when I bought my MINI from Bob Smith in Calabasas CA. Nov. 2008. On my Vehicle Inquiry Report dated Oct.16 2008 it says MACO.....N/C
So I guess "all the dealers" don't pay this.

 

oops, I meant MSRP. Still ok to call you?

 

i had never heard of maco before either--i saw this on the dealership invoice for the car--salesperson said that the public normally doesn't see this piece of paper

 

Zactly, that's probably an advertising co-op they all pay into........part of their cost.

 

for me no way of electronic transfer--i also do not feel the need to--i am only trying to help people out there to get a better deal by telling them what i paid--plus the fact that i have gotten these type of discounts on the last 3 autos purchased--this goes back to 1998--since 2007 i have priced about 10 cars--all either below or slightly above invoice--today most american and japanese cars can sell well below invoice--do your homework and have the right buyer's approach to get your deal

 

Smoke and Mirrors?

 

Nothing personal, and no hard feelings, but I have read a few threads on this subject and this is the first I heard of the MACO charge. I am glad you did well with your purchase, and understand there is nothing to prove here,but in every instance so far, as "Sequence" said, you could remove the pertinent info and take a photo with your phone to post here. I received my sheet with info when I ordered my car...Have a good day!

 

What, you think we're all lying to you? Why?

Why would I describe in great detail exactly what I went thru and then you think I made it all up?

Since you already have a car, what is it you hope to learn from my documentation? Exactly what I already wrote - then what?

Time for this thread to die...........

Folks, if you want a discount on a new car, go to your dealer, pick one out or order it, ask for a price reduction appropriate to your market and the current economic climate, then buy it or don't!

Cheeze, how hard is that?

 

i tell you what--for $100 cash i will snail mail you a copy of my paperwork--at that price it will be worth my time

just so you folks know at the time of purchase i asked my salesman if i was getting a good deal--i didn't know--i never looked at a mini forum untill after purchase--i was curious to see what others have paid

 

A good deal is when you get the car you want to buy for a price you can afford to pay - period.

It doesn't matter if someone else got a bigger discount or not - their deal is their deal - it doesn't apply to what you get in your market area at the time you bought for the options you got.

Relax all, and go enjoy your fantastic MINIs!

 

good words---dave i have a feeling you and i are about the same age--the mini was a gift to my wife--she was the one that wanted it

 

I'm no youngster tho, I graduated high school in the mid 60's..........congrats to your wife on her new MINI!

 

early 70's high school grad--thanks--the mini was a gift to my wife--the S was a gift to me

 

MiniDave, I am sure you did well on your deal in Kansas, but California is different.
Bantsai, you would sell out "your Dealer" for a hundred bucks...
I am looking @ Cabrio for this summer...
Thanks for your advice.
Oh yeah, the check is in the mail..

I believe you the same way..

 

i would white out my personal info and the dealers info--i would leave the price for you--especialy since you are so NICE-- i am sure someone like you will pay well over msrp

 

Thanks for your offer, but it is obvious you aren't really here to help anyone, merely troll..

Best of Luck for you.