Can anyone make sense of this post?

 

Got mine in CT 4 weeks ago (today) and got $500 off + bout 400 in stuff (mats, mirror flags, etc. on the MCS. When I started looking he said 500 off any in stock and then he also through in the other stuff.

 

LOL! I'm going to try to understand that after 8 beers.

 

I would be so scared to do this!

Because if i walked and they didnt say anything I would still walk back in -all sheepish, with my tail between my legs- and be like, "Oops, that didnt work. That was just a test! I still want it though..."

And there is only one MINI dealership in Denver so theres no goin to another one!

Bah hahaha!!!

 

Got my S last week and I too paid sticker price but got free mats, a free mini traveling/gym bag and key chain from their parts dept. as well as 1.9 apr with BMWFS.

 

I've always assumed that part of Mini's retaining value (high used car price) was connected to their sticking to MSRP. Once they start discounting, the used car price takes that into consideration. So the spread from MSRP to retail on a used car get wider. Is Mini's approach a good thing or a bad thing????

 

Get your deposit back. Tell them the truth - that the car is too high and you need more time to think about it. Wait and see what happens after a few days. If they don't call you, you can always go back. Never give a dealer anything to hold until you have a price in writing- deposit, check, DL, trade, etc. - it only strengthens their position.

 

I pitted two dealerships against each other when I ordered my R56 at the beginning of May and managed to get $750 off MSRP and free floor mats and wheel locks. When I first started looking into a MINI, I thought for sure I would be paying sticker price, and at the time I was fine with it. In the end, though, it's MINI that really needs the business since sales in recent months have all been down.

I have to admit that I'm lucky to have several MINI dealers to vie for my business. But if you are limited to one, you can still make it up to them to "win" your business.

Good Luck!

 

Are the floormats nice?

Not much sense to taking one off the lot then unless it is exactly the car you want. You might as well order one if there is no other incentive to buy an in stock car.

Anyway looks like the little woman might bend a little bit on my down payment allowance so if that happens I am probly gonna go for it

But I better get those floormats and I might hold out for a mat for the boot as well

Thanks for all the responses guys and hopefully if things work out I will be joining the mini community.

 

i had my choice of anything off of the lot for $500 over invoice--bought mini cooper s feb 09--including floor mats

 

What I found works well with negotiating is if you're considering several different cars. Because the rep wouldn't want to lose your business to a competitor, it eventually becomes a "what will it take for me to sell you a car today". And dealers are more willing to negotiate when you're buying a car that's in-stock.

If you walk in looking like you're absolutely in love with the mini and there's no alternative, a smart sales guy will know to sell at MSRP.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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True words above: No two experiences will be the same, but you must remember to play the game well.

Over a year ago (long before current market slump), end of month deal got me $700 off and floormat set was a surprise, normally don't care for rubber floormats, but the MINI Set is very worthwhile.

 

When I bought my Clubbie in February, I had two dealers battle it out for my sale. Ultimately, the dealer I purchased from took 1500 off MSRP and free rubber floor mats.

Since they have the car on the lot, the dealer should cut a little bit off sticker (they need to get rid of the car and pay the bank). If you were ordering a car, that would be a different story. Like someone said above, I would tell your dealer you are having cold feet, and get the deposit back. If you need an excuse, tell them you can't justify paying sticker for a compact car, and see what they say. If the salesman says, "maybe the MINI is not for you," then he is an a** hole, and you should go to a different dealer (has happened to me at a BMW dealer when I was looking at a 3 Series a couple of years back). Good luck!

 

A lot of good suggestions in this thread. My experience with my recent order involved 2 dealers. The first one I went to treated me like my sale didn't matter to them. They let me walk out the door. So I immediately went to the other dealer in my area and told them about my experience I just had. Before I even told them about that, I got the vibe that they really wanted my sale. They were immediately willing to help me and when I asked, they were willing to give me a deal on cars they had on the lot. I talked with one MA for a week and just as I was about to order, I asked for several hundred off. They met me halfway while throwing in the floor mats (seems to be a common thing). It basically paid for all the small options I wanted in my order. There are definitely deals to be had out there. I wouldn't take any dealer's initial statement about not being able to do anything on the price. Especially on a car that's sitting on the lot.

 

I put $7,000 down ... 1.9% financing with MINI Select... I got two keychains, a little sign with a "Beware of Dog" logo on it... some moist towelettes in a little cup, a little 1:18 scale toy MINI Cooper S... ahhh... think that's about it. Paid sticker price, quite sadly. Should've put up more of a fight but I was more nervous about getting a new car than anything. Oh well! I'm very happy with what I have.

 

I just bought mine on 06.09.09. I visited the dealership at least 5 times before I got the price I wanted. MSRP sticker on the vehicle was $29,100, got the car for $26500. They also threw in floor mats and cargo net. I say keep working them till they cave in!

Car is a Black on Black on Black Lounge leather Mini Cooper S.

 

I can't speak for elsewhere in the country but at last I checked, my dealer here in Chicago still had '08s and was discounting both '08s and '09s

 

I got the 3.9 for 60 months. $1000 off MSRP and free rubber mats. O yeah, i turned in my lease 10 months early (07 MCS from same dealer)

 

I was just checking the Minis listed at Car Max. Some look to be a better deal than new. I know this isn't usually the case, but see what you think.

 

In the early days, 2002 to 2006 models, we wanted the cars so we were willing to be on waiting lists for a year or longer. We paid dealer markups of $1500-$3000 or more over sticker. Buying a MINI at sticker without the markup by going out of state was one of the solutions. Getting freebies such as MINI badged mugs and welcome kits was all a part of the MINI experience.

Interesting how things have changed.

 

You mean not take one penny off msrp, right? (as opposed to invoice.)

 

I took delivery of a (ordered) Clubman S in late March of this year. I paid cash and received wheel locks and brass value stem caps. However, knowing how fluid the automobile market is & the fact that Mini sales "ain't what they used to be", I think I might be able to make a better deal today and going forward for some time in the foreseeable future. Believe me, I tried very hard to pay less but there was not any give in Feb/Mar 09. Times, they are a changing...

 

I picked up my Clubman S at Sterling, and paid MSRP for it. They threw in rubber mats and wheel locks, and some (embarrassingly cheap) keychains. But they also gave me what amounted to 'good' KBB prices on my trade.

Last experience I had with trading in a car they went by the Mannheim Auction (aka 'black book') prices, and didn't want to negotiate too much from that. So while I paid MSRP, I got a little something back in the trade-in. YMMV, but ultimately the 'off-the-lot' price was where I wanted it to be.

BTW to the OP - my salesman was Steve, he's the Internet Sales guy.

 

There is only one Mini dealer in Washington State. The only discount that they will give me is no dealer fees, and I have to pay MSRP. Look like Mini is not willing to lower the price than MSRP at all.

That's holding back me from ordering a Mini. I look for VW Rabbit now.

Thanks,
Tina

 

Reading all these posts is killing me. I proudly took possession of my PW MCSm on April 16, and after breaking her in for the requisite 1200 miles, she ran like a berserko top! So left for vacation where I proceeded to get a stress fracture in my sacrum. Came back and swapped the runflats for a nice quartet of top rated Bridgestone Potenza 760 Sports (205/50 x 16) anticipating that these would be the final piece of the puzzle, taming the ride to BMW levels. Much to my dismay, though improved, the short wheelbase and sport suspension still make their presence known far too often for my taste. Maybe the literal pain in my *** is making me more sensitive, but I am not a happy camper right now. In fact, I emailed my SA about how much it would cost to trade in the MINI for a 335i. I am coming to realize that Austin Powers and I are too old for this game. If anyone is interested, drop me a line at blee9251@yahoo.com for more details about the MINI. If I remember correctly the MSRP was close to 29K, and I'd like to get close to 27K. Damn, that plus the unrecoverable tax and license fees is almost $6K---a hefty price for an honest mistake.