Cargo nets are standard (including the two triangle net bags) and almost everyone gets
floormats (not boot mat) thrown in (I never mentioned it and they were added).

No idea of the wheel locks value, hope I didn't get them, cause I have no key for them.

As for the $500 off MSRP, that was pretty good last year, but don't know about present economy.

What you have to watch out for, is that a lot of dealers add a 'prep' 'doc fee' (or another term),
which is just 'extra' profit, but they expect everyone to pay (pre-printed on contract).

As a gereral rule, a dealer never 'offers' his best deal, that can only be obtained by you,
with a serious offer.

 

I am not trying to sway you in any direction, I just want to ask you to think about something. If you buy out of your state or city for that matter you have to think about how it will get to your driveway. You will need to take time off work, pay your way to the dealership, pay for food & lodging. If that is not your plan you will have to look into what it will cost a trucking company to do this for you. Will the discount they are offering you be more or less then what it will cost for you to get it home. I have found that in most cases the discount is not as great as what one might think.

 

Hmm I'll have to ask them. What is a boot mat? The poorly worded Long Beach Mini email said "plus free floormats, front rear and boot mat,..." i just assumed they were part of the floormats.

I already have it planned out. I'll stop by the dealership I choose in LA on one of my trips through that area, order it. Just means I'll roll into Fresno a little later than normal. And when I pick it up, $50 train ticket from Tuscon to LA, then I'm sure the dealer can give me a ride to the lot. Assuming everything is OK I drive away happy back to Tucson same day. I'll miss one day of work, but the only thing that'll cost me is a vacation day :P

 

Then it works great for you! I am glad that you were able to make it work for you. More then that I am glad that you took the time to weigh out all your options, and that everything will soon be working in your favor. You will do fine at the dealership, I doubt they will do anything less then what they said. MINI Dealerships are not in the game of being snakes in the grass.

 

Good to know.

I figure I'll tell each dealer the other offers the same offer and see were it takes me.

 

Boot floor is carpeted, lift and your jack/tool kit is beneath, to catch any spills.

A fitted heavy duty rubber mat (with a 'rim' ) will keep it nice, I got one at WalMart that fits for <$5, but MINI Mat +++ $$$$.

 

MINI is not a DOMESTIC DEALER, but you are welcome to give it a try.

 

I just got this letter from MINI of Charleston ..
I am laughing all the way to the next nearest dealer

And CHing Gow I wanted to lease.


Hey Robert,



I just talked with Carolee. We currently are not allotted any new JCW builds until we sell our last two JCW's that we have. One is a Chili Red (premium package, xenons, rear fog light, red roof, $31,050) and the other is Lightening Blue (leather lounge black, convenience and cold weather package, sports suspension, multifunction steering wheel, blue roof, xenons, auto headlights, $35,200).



With the situation on John Cooper Works cars right now, that being that there are so many of them still left around the country, MINI of Charleston is requiring a $5000 non refundable deposit on all ordered JCW cars. Should you still be interested, that is not a problem, we can take all of your information over email. We will not be able to guarantee when your car will be here until they pull it into production.



If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.



Thanks and talk to you soon!



Edu manzano
MINI of Charleston
P. 843-402-6361
F. 843-402-6329



Actually there may be a small chance to deal.. but i dont even like the way either cars are optioned.

 

Both sound like they may have been custom-ordered and then the customer backed out.

I can see why you wouldn't want people ordering $35,000 MINI's with unique option combinations... then you end up with cars like the two above sitting on the lot for long periods of time.

That being said, I would go elsewhere, too. Just because what they're doing *kinda* makes sense, doesn't mean there isn't someone else who would give you a much better deal.

 

Yea. I feel fortunate to live so close to LA/Southern Cali were this is a Mini dealer around every corner. Means I can get the best deal possible out of competition. So far Long Beach Mini has the best offer for me. It and Monrovia have the same offer ($500 deposit, $500 off MSRP plus some goodies), but Monrovia charges a $55 document fee. I know that sounds trival, but $55 is $55.

Brecht Mini offers $600 off MSRP, but has $1000 deposit. No free wheel locks like at Long Beach or Monrovia, but 2 free keychains. Plus they are 1000 miles out of my way. Not thinking that $100 difference is worth it. Nice offer tho.

 

I had been shopping around for the best place to buy a MINI, and one place (that I won't name) added $6000 to the MSRP by throwing in a $900 lojack, $800 "perma plate" (whatever that is), $250 license fee (though I would not be licensing it in that state), and listing sales tax for their locale.

Seeing a $33k build balloon to $39k+ just by asking, "what's my out-the-door price" is not a good way to sell me a car!

Another place I was looking at now calls me about 3 times a week, leaving voicemails saying, "I've got great news to share with you! Please give me a call back on my direct line..." (her emphasis, not mine). Feels like I'm buying a Chevy.

For each of those, however, there have been just as many very pleasant dealerships to deal with.

 

Yes Except the rear cargo net is standard on every car.

 

Good grief In this economy??

 

My friend told me it is smarter to make an offer to a dealership first instead of asking them what the prices are. Is this a wise practice? Just realized there was a Mini dealer in LA I never talked to and had this idea of trying out this new idea on them. Personally, I think it is rude to do things like this. but if it gets me a good deal hell I'll take it.

 

If you don't ask them what the prices are, then maybe you'll make an offer higher than what they were looking for.

And, I'm confused, I thought you were building a custom config MINI... if you are, then you're not going to find much of a deal anywhere. If you're buying off the lot, you can generally work a better price because they want to move inventory. But that's not saying much, because MINI sales have been doing quite well (certainly relative to the competition) lately, so there's likely going to be another guy in line behind you willing to buy.

I'd say the most important thing to do is make sure you don't get ripped off with extra charges and fees. $50 here or there is small potatoes (doc fee, for example), but if your out-the-door cost jumps by a few hundred or more from what you had thought it would be or were led to believe it would be, then find another dealer.

 

Well I am being careful. I inquired about having my custom car in stock at Alexander, but still no response. Hope they respond quick. Also, Mini of Monorvia said they had a production spot open for the last week of this month. Not sure if this is good or bad.