Well, if you have worked as a Prius Salesman, you should be well armed for a wise MINI purchase, BTW do you think you can get a Prius for anything near MSRP today? (A few months ago, you could get a factory rebate on a Prius and I'm sure you are aware that 'S' in MSRP stands for Suggested.)

For the benefit of others, I was gonig to say that there can be many factors that would encourage a 'discount' on a car purchase.

One that you have the most control over would be to arrive at the end-of-the-month, when a 'Quota' or Volume Award may be at stake.

Also (for inventory) Dealers must pay Floor Plan on cars held in stock past end of month.

I have no intent on "laying into anyone" (or to feed a troll), just to provide what I can to help anyone wanting to buy their MINI.

For me, the quality of the buying experience and service that follows will out-weigh a difference in cost that you might possibly gain from just going for the 'cheapest' deal.

From this thread; it looks like too many "barefoot pilgrams" (Ford Dealer Term) walking in to get a MINI. No doubt that the auto industry needs to have some of them to survive, but it need not be you.

I am glad we don't need to see much MINI Advertising as an "advertising surcharge" added to each auto sale is considered ligitimate today

 

I actually loved this post. Sorry to chop it up, but I just wanted to comment on what you said.

(1) Yes, I believe that you could get a Prius at MSRP (not saying it would be easy... also just for full disclosure I haven't sold cars in over a year). For many of the reasons that you stated above.
(2) Great! Great Point! Dealers do want to move cars at the end of months because they get bonuses on units moved per month. I'm not sure about at Mini, but where I worked those deals had to be 100% fully closed to count. If they do have to be closed, then this lends to my point that you can get a discount at the signing table.
(3) Yes. Dealers also have to pay each month for every car that stays in stock. (I'm not sure a Mini would last a month... but it's possible I guess). So the dealer does have an incentive to move the car within 30 days of them taking delivery of it. So for them to send you home, they need to be 100% sure that they can get someone else to buy it at a price higher than you are offering and the stock cost.
(4) I'm certainly not looking for the "cheapest deal" but I am looking to not pay over Mini's "suggestion".

 

They agreed to it in order to make sure the allocation was filled. I ordered a JCW the week of the launch and the dealer was unsure of how a $30-40k Mini would sell. I asked for $1000 off MSRP with mats thrown in and no financing markups at all on the lease (and let me tell you, they LOVE to mark up the lease financing). He gave it a day, said they could do $500 off plus mats and the sport stripes I wanted. I countered with $800 off + mats and stripes and he agreed to sell for that with no financing markups on any JCW configuration I wanted. Of course I had to sign something, why wouldn't I want to lock in $395/month with $0 down on a lease for a JCW? Am I retarded? Out of 15 dealers that I spoke with, every other dealer came back with a quote that ended up being at least $475/month for the same exact configuration. I don't know about you, but $80 x 36 months = $2,880 by my math. That's no small chunk of change to leave to the "trust me" approach at paperwork signing time.

 

Yes. I know why YOU signed it. It's a good deal. I am 100% not against people getting good deals early.

But none of that explanation shows that you couldn't have gotten the same deal two months later.

None of that shows why the dealer would want that deal now, but be 100% against it later.

BTW... I don't know of a Mini dealership that can't fill it's allocations, or sell a car that they take into stock right now. And tons of Mini's sell for over $30k, so I'm surprised the dealer would worry about that.

 

I was surprised too, that's why I jumped on it. It does show why they did it then and wouldn't do it now though - they were afraid the cars wouldn't sell, reviews would be bad, etc. I just don't understand how you can think waiting to get the deal done after ordering is the best way to approach it. Would you do that for a house? Just have it built and then worry about the price and financing later? Come on now, you have to have more sense than that....

 

I have read this thread with great interest. I am headed to the dealer (Ferman of Tampa Bay) on Monday for my second visit. On the first visit (July) I decided to wait for an '09.

I fully expect to pay MSRP. I don't expect any extras or freebies. My misgivings about this dealership are:

1. The $1000 deposit on ordered vehicles is non-refundable.
2. The $599 dealer prep fee. (clearly tagged as "represents additional profit to dealer" on the add-on window sticker)

Issue one, for me, is a non-issue. If we get to the point of me placing a deposit, I will buy the car when it is delivered. That said, all the details of the deal will be hammered out before I hand them a check. Just bothers me because other dealers do not have this clause.

Issue two is a deal breaker for me. I simply will not pay it. There are plenty of other dealers that do not charge this fee. I would rather pay MSRP to another dealer and travel to the vehicle. Sure, it may cost me some $$ to do so but I have friends and family all over the country and would rather spend the money for a little vacation and road trip home.

That all said, the complication will be my trade. For simplicity's sake, I really just want to trade it in. I know others have (correctly) stated that you can do better selling it on your own. I just don't want the hassle. We are talking about a 9 year old SUV with a realistic value somewhere around $3K. If they offered around $2K and no $599 fee I would say....where do I sign. Do I expect that? Nope. But I feel that the wiggle room on the $599 fee plus the clear-bra + installation, viper stripes + installation and floor mats just might give us enough room to make a deal.

Wish me luck!

 

You have to read what I actually said.

(1) I 100% believe you should have financing figured out before you even walk into any dealership at all. You will always do better by yourself.

(2) I never said waiting was the BEST option. I'm just saying that you are not screwed if you have not yet bargained a good deal. You do still have a chance to bargain. Dealers do not want to watch you walk out.

 

Why would the deposit be non-refundable? I have an order from Downtown Mini in Orlando and they said that my deposit was refundable. Also, their "doc" fee is 389, so if Tampa doesn't budge I'd mention a trip to Orlando to order yours.

 

I really felt like, coming out of the dealership, my MA and I had mutually agreed on $1000 refundable deposit, MSRP and their standard $399 doc fee. If I get anything more than that, I'm happy. If he asks for anything more than that, I walk. He's been really great to work with and I don't feel like he's in any way going to screw me in the end. He even encouraged me to find financing elsewhere suggesting that they can usually beat it, but if not, then he'll admit defeat...no questions asked.

 

I'll agree with the comment about taxes or 'on the lot fees' at the end of the month. A MINI doesn't have to sit around for a month, but if it is on the lot, undelivered, at the end of the month, they have some sort of associated expense (exactly what it is or how much, I don't know)... it might even be some sort of statistic that is used to calculate the dealership's allocation for the next year where having a high on-lot percentage means they don't get as many cars the next year...

When my '06 MCS arrived on the lot, they called me right away and asked me to come in and pick it up quickly as the end of the month was coming and they needed to do the delivery so they didn't run into this issue (something more than a montly sales quota, but I can't remember exactly what the logistics were).

 

expect $500-$800 for trade then

 

I have to say I am not in the least bit sad about the demise of SUVs. They are a curse to public road safety like nothing else I observe.

 

ah, the dealer "prep" fee... I used to sell new cars so I know, that of the $599 U quoted about roughly 10% of that is legit (depending on local labor costs).

Why, you say Father Sequence??

because the "destinination charge" everyone pays does not quite cover total vehicle delivery and preparation costs from mfrg to *consumer*, even tho that is the intent; dealers will first make you think it only covers mfgr to them, then tack on a "fee" to make U think they're responsible for the final detail paperwork and delivery. Then give U a free hat and send U motoring away....

EEEEEEHHHH. Wrong

The rest beyond this roughly 10% is pure unadulterated profit on the one item any d'ship makes the least profit on: new car sales. Try this: tell them y'll give only 15% of the quoted "prep" fee, and see how they react. If they balk, walk. It's about time consumers stood up to these greedy bastard car barons.

When I was selling it was out of my control, and a lot of my customers tried to haggle out w/a manager but no go. After all, the owner had to keep his lofty gold-plated castle on the hill in order to look down on his GM-driving peons.

(I think Jackie Cooper MINI in OKC had pretty low prep/doc frees, less than $100. They may have bumped it up tho with the demand.)

 

Pay attention to the taxes you pay. No MINI dealer in my state so I had to go to a neighboring state to purchase. Found out when I registered the car in my home state that the dealership had charged me more than was necessary. When I informed the dealership I have gotten an obvious no response about a refund.

 

The dealer pays the mfgr to keep stock, that's why EOM sales are pushed so much and are so huge. Plus, new cars can suffer potential internal mechanical problems if they sit too long on da lot (oil seals drying out, for example.)

But MINI is a different animal. My dealer literally has no used/new stock on hand, other than untitled demos. I dont think their salespeople are under the same EOM pressure as those trying to unload Chevys and Fords that have been sitting on lots months, er years.

As much as I hated car sales, it was the best real-life learning experience ever.

 

I would go straight over the dealer's head to MINI USA. You should get a refund of the difference, for the dealership can get into huge trouble for that. If U have no luck, go to the (dealer's) state attorney general's office. good luck.

 

Exactly my point. But on my previous trip to this dealer the MA mentioned that the deposit was non refundable.....3 times.

Downtown MINI is certainly an option. I just don't feel the need to drive all over the state to make a deal. I'll use email/fax. I do want to give my nearest dealership (Ferman, 60 miles) a fair shot. If we can not reach an agreement then I will order via the net and deal with my current vehicle on my own.

 

You very well may be right about that. It's a smaller SUV with a fairly efficient V6, low miles, one owner, etc. The $3k is avg trade and my willingness to take less seems realistic but I haven't purchased a high demand, great gas mileage vehicle in a time of rising oil costs and economic uncertainty. I'll do my best to deal but, worst case scenario, I don't trade and give it to my nephew who could use a car.

 

I was very pleased with my treatment at Ferman and was able to negotiate the price to more than offset that $599.95 'Prep Fee'
but that was in April (before the $4 gas), but the fee was still (pre-printed) on Bill-of-sale.

Now that we seem to be blessed with lower gas cost (for next two months) the demand may have subsided some
and your SUV may move better as well (my previous auto also went to nephew ).

There was one recent thread from a Tampa member who went to Orlando for a $200 or so net saving,
but was told by Ferman that he would lose 'loaner' on service calls.

There was also another NAM member in our area who canceled (and reordered w/different equipment) three times with Ferman.

Wish you the best of luck with your purchase and must say that Ferman was a good choice for me.

 

Well if ultimately the deposit is not a big deal then Ferman would be good due to the distance. I would try to bring that prep fee down though

 

I ordered my mini from Classic Mini too. My purchase agreement lists a $250.00 documentation fee plus $25.50 for plates and registration fee.

 

I can't imagine buying a car without knowing what it's going to cost, i.e. putting down a deposit and waiting until the car is ready for delivery to discuss the final price. Regarding price, I seriously doubt that any MINI dealer, anywhere, is selling below MSRP.....and a few are apparently adding extra fees just because they can get away with it. As far as "freebies".... it seems that varies so much from dealer to dealer. In my case, I paid MSRP, but my dealer installed the driving lights without additional charge. I didn't ask for anything except the light installation, but the dealer threw in a set of the really nice rubber mats. Based on what others have paid, I guess I got a very good deal. I sold my previous car prior to ordering the MINI and had no trade-in.

 

It depends on the state, but I know of no place where a deposit on a car deal is legally non-refundable. They can try to keep it, but legally , I don't think they can.......

 

I think this may be something different, but my dealer says on the deposit/order paperwork that the deposit is NOT refundable. Sounds like a business contract to me, and thus is unavoidable.

 

Most dealers would be glad to put the deposit on your credit card and this gives you the best protection.

It would make sense for the reneger to be held responsible for any loss or expense on the dealers part,
but with the 'hot' MINI Market, it should not be a problem.