Here is the build i want to replace my current lease. I like the car enough that i am going to buy this one. Here is my customized mini

Cooper S Hardtop $21,950
Horizon Blue $500
Black Roof/Caps
Cold Weather - Heated Seats, Powerfold heated Mirrors, heated jets $500
Premium Package - Sunroof, Auto AC, Leather Multi Function steering wheel $1250
Sports Package - White Turn signals, Xenon, DTC, 17 BLACK Crown spoke wheels, Bonnet Stripes $1500
Rear Fog Lights $100
Anthracite Headliner $250
Interior Surface Piano Black $250
Destination/Handling - $650
TOTAL: $26950

According to the cars.com afforadbility calc w/ a $4000 down payment, 7% tax, 3.9% interest and a 60 month term i can buy a car that costs $26630. If i do 3500 down i can afford $26162. One other factor is my lease isn't over until march 2010 (10 more payments w/ payoff amount right now just under 20k). Think i can get an ordered car for $800 below MSRP?

 

Leather seats?

7% tax? What state do you live in? Ouch. Sounds like a nice build overall. Good luck with it.

 

What about leather seats?

New Jersey. At least I will get something back on our 09 tax return.

 

I just recently replaced my Mini that was totaled with an ordered Mini so I was kinda in the same boat this past month. My old Mini, 06 MCS/Auto/Sport/Premium, was $500 away from not being upside down 26 months into a 48 month lease. Having said that I would advise checking your vehicles worth as you get closer to the lease's end of term to see if "terminating" the lease early is worthwhile due to the Mini residual value phenomenon. You may get money back from your car to put toward the new one. I know that I would have, had I made 2 more payments. With that said here is what I able to get on my new ordered Mini.

-Cooper S Hardtop
-Dark Silver Metallic
-Black Roof/Caps
-Premium Package - Sunroof, Auto AC, Leather Multi Function steering wheel
-Sports Package - White Turn signals, Xenon, DTC, 17 BLACK Crown spoke wheels, Bonnet Stripes
-Auto Transmission
-Destination/Handling
-Center Arm Rest
-Redwood Lounge Leather(Dark Grey Panels)
-Bluetooth Ipod
-All BS Dealer Fees waived
Price Configured Online 29,850
Purchase Price 28,350
Difference of 1,500 under MSRP.

I had customer loyalty working for me but so should you. Also try to get the same sales rep that helped you last time to purchase the new one. I know that all of the "deals" offered to me from other dealerships and even reps from the same dealer I bought my first one were the same generic crap they offer anybody walking through the front door. But Brad(my sales guy) went beyond that on his first try. So some things to consider or do before you make the decision:

-Send emails out to all Dealerships in your area within 250 miles. Simply state the car specs that you want, and what you will bring to the table. Most importantly put something to the effect of "this email is being sent to all dealers within 200 miles and that the best deal gets the sale" This will immediately weed out all those dealerships that could care less about your business but also will allow you to see which towns are hurting the most.

-Annoy the hell out of the dealer and constantly tease one sales rep. Use the most personable one or the one you used last time to purchase you car. Show up and window shop one day. Then another day go and test drive. Call and ask any questions that you might have about the car. Asking questions about the finance terms or to recalculate estimated payments for such and such purchase price/configuration. Ask about options. Ask to come in and see the different options. Example: I wanted to see what redwood leather looked like in person. Etc. All in all I visited two dealerships a total of 5 times before one got my order. I even had one rep drive me to their garage 3 miles away to see some of the options and to play with some of the cars. I made the poor guy run to the key room 3 times to open up 4 different cars. Lol. It was an awesome day to be surrounded by so many Minis.

-Consider purchasing a car with more options than you would like. The higher the car price the more wiggle room they have on the bottom line. This helped me out a lot. I asked for quotes on two or three configs before I settled on one. At first I didn't want red wood leather but then I did. I asked Brad what would my monthly be with Premium, Sport, and Punch Leather. Then I had an epiphany and wanted Redwood Leather but was willing to scrap the Sport package and keep the 17inch wheels and Xenons to make up some of the cost. Brad ultimately just said how about we keep both Sport and Redwood leather and he ate the difference so that he could get the ball rolling. This is where I think calling him nearly everyday and assuring him that I was loyal paid off.

Try that out hopefully it helps, I know in my case it did, Lol.

 

Thanks that really helps. My current payoff is just below 20k and the value as far as i can tell from different online sources is just above 20k for a trade in.

Specs:
March 07
32500 miles
Lightning Blue
Sports Package (at the time this did include the sports suspension)
Cold Weather
Rear Fogs

So i am basically at the break even point of my lease

 

Going in tomorrow. Wish me luck! I want to get 600-1000 off MSRP and no "Deal Fees".

 

Let us know what happens. If you plan on ditching runflats and getting lighter rims, you may want to drop the sport package and just get DTC & stripes separate.
In NJ it is illegal to use the phone while driving, you might want bluetooth +$500.

 

thanks, that is one of my back up configs to save some money. The Xenon (500)+DTC/LSD ($500)+Stripes $100 would save me $400 As for handsfree, u just use a bluetooth headset/speaker phone in the car.

 

that may be too much to ask for, but always good to start high. if they counteroffer max $500 off an ordered car, jump on it and be very happy. remember: they dont need to do this, and if U refuse, someone else will happily come along and accept $500 off msrp. good luck

 

Yeah but the bluetooth integration is actually really cool, and no fumbling for headsets. Just me. I had it on a loaner and was impressed.
Jersey needs more Minis. I just drove from Bloomfield to Baltimore without seeing another one!

 

you should drive to hoboken, it is Mini central. They making you parking ninja's.

 

Alright here is my pending deal. I say pending because the manager wasn't there so he couldn't appraise my trade in (lease). I got the $700 off MSRP without any arguments (Should of asked for some more!!!) but he wouldn't budge on the dealer fees $239 and $350 for Registration/Plates w/o the managers approval. So i have to go back next week or whenever to deal with those other variables. Left a $500 refundable deposit to get the car rolling at the factory.

 

the 239 fee sure sounds like BS. in pa the tag fee is less then 100.00. not sure in NJ but 350 seems high. you could call a fast tag place near you and check their price. just to check the dealers price. if its a big difference,I'd ask why.

 

what dealer is this from?

 

Well according to the NJ MVC it should be $211. He said the fee will change once they have a VIN number. It is on my list of things to straiten out when i talk to the manager.
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/regfee/index.html

Prestige Mini, Mahwah NJ

 

The dealer fee included a $46 computer use fee. I should ask them how long i can use their computer for if i pay the $46! ;-)

 

Here is the Registration info:
Typically, if you purchase a vehicle from a New Jersey dealer, it will be titled as part of the sales process. If you did not get a title from a dealer, you must title your vehicle within 10 days of purchase or face a penalty fee.

• Titles may be acquired at 45 MVC Agency locations. The vehicle owner must appear in person
• You must show Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) displaying the sales tax-satisfied stamp. You need to pay sales tax on the actual vehicle price. Certain vehicles are exempt from sales tax
• If the vehicle is financed, you must provide the address and corpcode of the lien holder. The original title will be sent to the lien holder
• 2009 model year and later passenger vehicles or light duty trucks weighing less than 8,500 lbs. are required to meet California Low Emission Vehicle Program standards

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/VehiclesTitles.htm
and fee caluclator
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/regfee/index.html

 

Alright good and wierd news. Went in to talk to the manager about the fees and trade in. His story is since the car had body work done (it was keyed and the dealers shop repaired it), car fax MAY show it was in an accident. I don't think it will cause no police report and it was a comprehensive claim. But anyway, he says we should move fast so he can still sell the car at auction and not take a $1000 hit on the car. Whatever. He found a car that is already build on a ship. Here is the build
Mini Cooper S
Horizon Blue
Black Roof/Bonnet
Leatherette
Cold Weather
Premium Package
Sport Package (Black Crown Spoke Wheels)
BlueTooth/USB-IPod
Piano Black interior
All Season
MSRP 27,100 (negotiated price 26,200)

The main difference is the lack of anthracite and rear fogs. The anthracite i do not have now so thats not a big deal, but the rear fogs is. I have seen the directions on the forum for the DIY, not to scary. Plus at the same time i would install the Kuda mount next to the speedo. Should i take the deal?

here are the details
MSRP 27,100
Negotiated Price: 26,150
tax: 1830.50
Regestration/Dealer Fees/Tire Tax: $499 (from $600)
Total: 28480
3750 down payment
3.9% @ 60 months is about 455/month which is extactly $100 more than my current lease. Perfect!