With the current gas crunch, MINIs have been flying off the lots... there's been rumors going around that Midwestern Auto Group will no longer be selling at MSRP, and start charging a premium. Has anybody else noticed this at their "local" MINI dealer?

 

Yes....that is why I gave my business to a dealership out of state and I couldnt be happier! Look around in neighboring states to find better deals.....

 

Back in May/June, in S. California dealers wanted $2-$3K over MSRP. However, I got a call from one of the dealers in July that said they'd order the 2009s for $500 over MSRP. To me that means that I can find it back a MSRP

I think with recent gas prices dropping MSRP should be very doable these days...

My 2 cents...

 

It really seams like gouging when dealers are charging over MSRP when you configure your car on MiniUSA.com , forword the config to the dealer who places the order and then you wait for weeks while the vechicle is being built.

 

When we first started looking (Memorial Day), my dealer was charging MSRP for the MC and MCS, but a premium ($2500, I think) for the Clubman because it was so hard to get. By mid-June, when we ordered, they tried to get us for $1500 for our MC, but we balked at that, since our MA hadn't mentioned that and did get MSRP.

Of course, for that bit of cheek, we killed our MINI karma, and our MC is still sitting at the VDC even though it seems that everybody else off my boat has already gotten theirs.

 

No. Checkered Flag in Virginia Beach is MSRP...

 

downtown mini in orlando, fl msrp still

 

I saw the dates in your signature line. Have you gotten a satisfactory explanation from your dealer for the delay at the VDC? You might want to look at the recent posts in the Week 23 thread in the 1st Gear Section starting at post 3969 (not a misprint, its a big thread). DanceforMINI's MINI supposedly was accidentally delivered to the wrong port a few months ago and "got lost" for several weeks. They assured her that was the problem at the time (the story is laid out in the earlier posts)

MINI is now, out of the blue, offering her a brand new MINI to replace the one that "got lost" but then "got found". IMO, they haven't provided a story to her which justifies the replacement of a 2 month old car, but since you are having an unexplained delay at the VDC, you might want to be extra careful and ask a lot of questions before you accept delivery. I could be (and probably am) overreacting, but after her story.......

These VDCs are like a part of the factory, and they can do some amazing repairs to damaged cars there. Check out the sticky thread at the top of the 1st Gear section about the California VDC tour.

BTW, my car hit the NYC VDC on a Saturday and was at my dealer in Maryland the following Wednesday

(and sorry to hijack the thread.....)

Rich

 

We ordered our MCSa beginning of July, picked it up First week of August, and paid $750 under MSRP

 

I am sure there are still some dealerships around selling at or even a little bit below MSRP even though their inventory supply has dwindled due to the mad rush to buy and the fairly recent gas price hike.

Also keep in mind that there are a lot of very greedy dealerships that just don't care and charge well over MSRP too.

Best is to seek advice here on NAM which dealership around your area charges at or even below MSRP.

 

Just found out from my brother that a co worker of his speced out a mini on the web site and sent it to mini of Albuquerque who called him back saying it would be an extra 3 grand from them. I guess he talked to my brother and told him the news that he was quite angry with mini in general for being misled about the price. So I guess my brother told him to call mini of Peabody and he has since ordered his mini for msrp. He plans to fly out and drive it back. Even with the cost of the flight and has he will still be paying less.

 

dajiggalo,
saw your in OH. up in buffalo "towne mini" is still msrp. they cant keep anything on the lot tho and everything i did see was already sold or waiting pick-up. nice people there.

 

Just ordered my MC today at Princeton for $400 under MSRP + free floor mats + wheel locks.

Nothing is non-negotiable.

 

Exactly.

I paid $1200 under MSRP for mine in May. Even then, inventory was flying off the "shelves".

If they won't negotiate, move on.

 

What dealership gave you $1200 off?

 

Niello. Sacramento, CA.

That's the ONLY thing nice thing I've gotten from them, though. They claim they couldn't even install SIRIUS, and let that $1k extra roll off the table.

 

The San Francisco Bay Area MINI dealerships are now all over MSRP as far as I know. i bought my Scooper off the lot on July 3rd and paid MSRP (even tried to bargain but my MA said i was lucky because as of next week MINI of Concord was going to charge 2000 over MSRP).

TOday I went to East Bay MINI (In pleasonton) and there cars are 2000 over MSRP plus they make you pay an extra 300 because they add on a dealers package (mats, storage thing for your boot, glove compartment organizer). I got my mats thrown in for free.

Honestly if it were 2000 over MSRP it wouldve been harder for me to purchase it because it would be that much more expensive. I think I bought at the right time.

I hope for everyone else out there they start getting rid of the stupid markups!!

Towards teh end of 2008, will the few 08s that are on the model start getting cheaper?

 

Here in Orange County CA, the two Mini dealers in town (Crevier and Irvine Mini) charge over about $1000 over MSRP. Crevier will claim they don't charge over MSRP, but then they require you to buy their dealer add-on package which consists of options I didn't want or thought were overpriced (like their maintenance packages).

I wasn't as smart as some on this thread and didn't shop around with out-of-town or out-of-state dealers.

 

In Sacramento it's $2000 over. Should have looked around. My stupid fault.

 

In 68 years of business, Ralph Schomp Automotive Group in Denver has never marked a car up one penny over msrp, and has never charged any sort of prep/doc fee. I actually got half a nickle ($250) off msrp on my to-be-built R56.

Schomp rocks!

 

Princeton will definitely work good deals, but it depends on what motoring adviser you get. Sounds like you did well by them. I wouldn't expect to get less than MSRP at this point in time, but if the dealer doesn't offer you at least that, walk away. Unless you know someone, it's nearly impossible to get more than $500 off. It doesn't make sense for them, since they can sell the car at sticker to the next guy who walks in the door 15 minutes later.

 

Just went to Irvine Mini in CA and was quoted $1K over MSRP + a ridiculous money factor over the buy rate on a lease...and no room for negotiation

They won't be getting my business...

 

I just tried to sell my Cooper S to a family in sac. They lowballed me! Looking at autotrader and hearing about sac and SF's pricing, I'm not sure how they expect to find a Cooper for much under MSRP.

 

Must dependent on your MA be because they wouldn't budge for me... They did however cut me a deal on installing my driving lights and the clear bra so in the end I got my discount on other items. Six , a half dozen or the other...

 

It's funny that only 3 months ago, a friend of mine was able to order a 08' MCS for $500 under MSRP over here in NorCal...fast forward, another friend is now looking at ordering a 09' MCS...all dealers in NorCal are firm on $2500 markup on S, $1k on non-S...think it's $3k for clubman S. I hope that markup can push people away, dealers need a lesson.