I am VERY close to pulling the trigger on a 2009 mini... Have been reading and gathering info here.. (Thanks all ) and learned a lot.. I do have a few more questions...Forgive me if they've been covered here in the past... Humor me as a newbie who'd like to join youz guyz/galz and I promise I'll contribute something somewhere down the line.

1. Went to the Mini dealer/order site.. selected the color car and all the accoutrements and farkels and the total came up to around $27,050.... My question is.. in the real world under the Obama economy... what kind of dealer discount off this price should/can I expect if I actually walk in to a dealer to place an order? How negotiable is this price?

2. I have NOT bought any car magazines predicting the future of the Mini, but.. is there any reason I should wait for a 2010 model? Any "must-have" improvements that will be on the 2010? Opinions?

3. Is there a noticeable difference between the 6 speaker standard stereo option and the 10 speaker Hi-Fi ?? Worth the $500 extra?

4. Under the suspension category I need advice.. As MY mini will be just a for tooling around in the local mountains at generally old man speeds (as I am kinda retired from my speed demon days except when I'm on one of my bikes).. I don't think I need the $500 Sport Suspension package but I do think the $500 Traction control would have some real-world benefits in the rain/snow. I'm leaning towards just the traction control option and blowing off the Sport Suspension and the Dynamic Stability Control. Am I on point here? As I said.. I'll not be running the Dragon at Deals Gap...

4. In the financing section where you figure up your payments... there are 2 options.. The Traditional finance option and the Mini Select. With the same amount down and the same 60 months option the Mini Select option is almost 50% cheaper over the same amount of time... What is this Mini Select? and what's the catch?? Penalties for paying off early?

Any and all sage advice would be appreciated... I'll probably have a few more questions...

 

1. If you order one, you will probably be paying MSRP and you might get something like floormats for free.
2-3. The 2010 is supposed to have a better hi-fi speaker system since there have been a lot of complaints about the quality of the current hi-fi option.
4. With Mini select, you have a baloon payment due at the end of your original loan period. It's like when a lease is up and you choose to keep the car. You must either pay the remaining balance in cash or you will need to finance this remaining amount. I would highly advise getting a traditional loan unless you expect to be able to just write a check for like $15k once the 60 months is up. If you were to finance the remaining amount, you would esentially be paying for the car for probably 8-10 years.

 

Correct me if im Wrong, but the Mini already have a traction control, DTC is a "Sport" upgrade, keeps you safe while having fun and its clever too, its the same system as on my dad's BMW 328

 

bballplaya210.. as for the Mini Select Financing option... I understand the balloon payment clause.. what I don't know is... with that option.. what if you choose to pay off the loan in 24 or 36 months? Any penalties?

Duly noted about the current stereo options... Thx..

Free floormats? Woopdeedoo...

 

I'm not sure if there are any penalties or not. I never really looked too deeply into it since I won't be getting a new car for about another year.

I'm also interested in the responses about the dynamic traction control though. Ohio winters can get pretty bad and it would definitely be worth $500 if it really makes a difference. I plan on getting the MCS to replace my current daily driver and it will need to be driven in the snow since my s2000 sits in the garage during the winter.

 

Skip the Sport Suspension. If you listen to music a lot get the hifi for $500. The DSC is a safety option that will apply a brake to a wheel that needs slowing down in a spinout. All cars have ASC which is a power limiting option that doesn't involve the brakes. Most people pay sticker price for new Minis.

 

Just went over the finance options with my dealer. With Mini Select you get 1.9% and there is no penalty for early payoff.

The hi fi option is better than standard stereo but it's not that great.

 

What do you doing with the car. Is it a short commuter, long commuter, weekend, autoX, track car? or a combination of the above.

Do you like to improve the looks to make it unique to you or you want the zoom or more zoom?

 

Hi,
I just ordered my mini on Wednesday and was able to get $800.00 off the MSRP with no add on price. Mine is price plus sales tax. I live in Nevada and had to go to California to buy it. I have no trade in and it is a cash deal to them. I had the car made the way I wanted it on the Mini web sight took it to the dealer they ask me what would I pay for it and that was it. Gave them a deposit and track it online. Its fun to watch it being made and where it is.

 

You mean the Bush economy that Obama is trying to salvage?
We better not take this any further, as there is a ban on politics on this forum.

I think the possibility of a discount depends on how desperate you local dealer is. In most areas you have very little hope of a discount on a MINI that will be built to your specs. In some areas, you can deal a little on MINIs on the dealer's lot. It depends on their inventory and local demand. Buying a MINI is a lot different than buying an SUV or Mercedes at this time. People are downsizing into MINIs, not abandoning them.

Rumors about the 2010 audio option might make it worth the wait. Too early to know how good it will be. I'm not up on what the other changes will be.

The standard audio is pretty poor. The HIFI is a little better, but the speakers that come with it are poor. I have the HIFI. I have replaced all speakers and added a sub. Cost about $550 with me doing all the labor. Sounds decent to me. Didn't before the DIY upgrade.

DTC is a good idea. It is the most sophisticated electronic traction control on the MINI, and gives you the option of disabling it. IMO, FWD cars need some form of traction control, especially in rain and snow.

DSC is standard now, and you want it. It is a safety feature that will become mandatory on all new cars in the USA in a few years. The Top Gear guys did a nice video of an experienced driver testing a similar system on an ice lake. At 70 mph through an emergency avoidance maneuver, he had much more control with the DSC like option.

You don't need the sports suspension. The MINI is a lot of fun without it.

Unless you want to impress teenagers, go for 16" wheels, not 17". The smaller wheels are lighter weight, and provide a more comfortable ride. There may be a slight difference in turn-in, but many of the racers seem to believe that the unsprung weight savings more than offsets that.

Save money. Pay cash.

Read the threads about which options people regret not getting, and which ones they regret getting. There are lots of threads with advice about configuring your MINI. There are some items that show up on these threads over and over.

 

Great tips all.Thx Robin... and I was wondering about this very same "speaker" issue. About nixxing the Hi-Fi and paying the local sound shop a similar amount to put superior speakers and a small sub in for me...

BTW.. still filtering through all past threads to gather info...Wonderful website.

 

The MINI select program, if handled correctly, will save you cash, providing you either pay it off at the end of pay extra throughtout the course of the loan term.

Look at it this way, if your residual/balloon is 17,000 and you simply pay it off with cash at the end, you have not paid any interest on that 17,000. I used the philosophy of paying the convential loan amount on the MINI select program payment. The residual I have will all but be retired by the time my term is up and I have not paid any interest on the 17,000 due at the end. It is almost like borrowing the money free. but I am sure there will be someone out there who finds problems wiht my logic...

 

My question regarding the Mini Select program is this... Suppose I put X amount of dollars down and streatch it to 60 months of low payments, but I pay off the loan in 24-36 months.. Is there a penalty? Could I do that?

 

Motoringfile.com promised to have details about 2010 model-year changes this week, so I'd hold off on ordering a 2009 in case something wonderful is coming. The new audio system will be more expensive than the current Hi-Fi option, which still will be offered.

Traction-control: All Minis now come standard with DSC, stability control that applies one or more brakes when the direction your car is traveling does not match your steering inputs. (ASC, or ASTC, was standard on previous Minis and simply stopped wheelspin at launch. It is integrated into the DSC programming now.)

Here's what Mini's site says about DTC: If DSC is turned off, DTC takes over. Not only does this feature improve front-axle traction when accelerating on slick or sandy surfaces, but it also helps deliver a more spirited ride by allowing the vehicle to slide a bit before correcting your actions. It also reinstates power to the engine sooner than DSC, making your backroad sorties all the more engaging.

Both DSC and DTC can be switched off completely, putting the driver in almost complete control. In this mode the MINI will deliver full engine power at all times. And only the new Electronic Differential Local Control (ELDC - only included with the DTC option) system will kick in if needed to help maintain tractions and prevent the inside wheel from spinning during very aggressive cornering and acceleration.

So, DTC offers some help in slippery conditions, but it's main purpose seems to be for sporty driving. It is part of the Sport Package, after all.

 

The max you can go on MINI select is 48 months. I used the 36 month term on the MINI Select program. It left me with a balloon of just under 17,000 at the end. I put three thousand down. My payment is about 170 less a month than on a conventional loan but i pay as though it were a conventioal loan [min payment + difference + additional $100] so everyhting over my minimum payment due goes to principal. You do not pay any interest on the balloon amount so everything paid towards principal is interest free. I'll have a balance at the end of the 36 months but most will be paid. At the time my finances were not in the best shape so this was good program for me but it may not be for everyone. It will take a cetain amount of self control.

Let us know what you decide

 

Get DTC (If you're not getting an LSD in an S) so you can turn DSC off. DSC can be really annoying on a FWD car since it often cuts engine power when you need it, at least that was my experience with it in my Mazda (Turned on anytime a wheel left the ground or any hint of wheelspin). I know it's pretty helpful on RWD cars and for everyday driving, but when you're feeling agressive, it can often hurt more than help.

 

I would say get the regular loan. I got the 60 months @ 3.9% and i over pay it each month by about $10 and whenever i get some extra cash i pay early to save on interest. I hope to have it pair off early. How early not sure, but early.

 

DSC can't be turned off without DTC? I have an 04 with DSC and it can be switched off with the toggle.

 

Get the Hi-fi or aftermarket upgrade. 6 speakers is pretty bad.

 

There is some debate as to whether it is easier/better to upgrade the HIFI or standard system.

The HIFI puts a more powerful amp in the rear of the car. This gives you more choices in speakers when not replacing the amp. However, MINI, for some reason, filters out the bass going to the rear 6x9 speakers. So, the largest speakers get little bass. Speculation is that they had problems with the rear plastic panels vibrating. However, because the amp is in the rear, the X9331 connector under the dash (see threads on X9331 in the Navigation & Audio forum) has an unfiltered signal. This makes it easier to connect a sub to the rear channels for easier balance of front and rear.

If you want to use an aftermarket amp, tapping into the X9331 is an easy place to connect it. However, you need to leave the HIFI amp in place and connected because it is connected to the onboard computer. There have been reports here of dealers refusing to perform software updates or repair electronic systems if the amp has been removed.

With the standard system, the amp is in the head unit, so the signal is already filtered at the X9331. If you want to add an amp, you probably should add a unit that pulls bass from the front channels and adds it to the rears.

Yea, definitely keep an eye on this.

I opted for DSC on my 2007 (before it became standard). ASC is part of DSC on mine. As I understand it, ASC stops wheel spin by simply cutting engine power when one or more drive wheels start to spin. So, if you stomp on it too hard the engine simply bogs down. This can be very disconcerting.

I don't know what ASTC is.

I was under the impression that DTC contained a traction control system that applied the brake to a drive wheel that was starting to spin. So, it only applied the brake to the spinning drive wheel. The JCW uses this system because no LSD is available for it. Compared to ASC, this seems to be a much more efficient form of tranction control for foul weather or spirited driving. However, my understanding may be incorrect. The official write-ups on the electronic systems have been confusing. I tend to wonder if the marketing folk who wrote them really know how they work.

 

I think on the '09's you have to have DTC to be able to turn off DSC, at least that what people on the boards have led me to believe.

 

From what I can tell it's the same as ASC, but Mini is calling it All-Season Traction Control.

The standard DSC will brake one wheel. The DTC adds the electronic "limited slip" differential. DTC is standard on JCWs, so no mechanical LSD is available. (I think that's correct anyway.)

 

If you can, I would definitely wait until the 2010 changes are known. Then you can decide to order 2009 or 2010. If the time-line is similar to last year, that would mean waiting until Oct for delivery of a 2010 model.

To echo other opinions on the audio system, both current options are pretty poor. I went to the dealership and listened to both and determined that, while better than the standard, the Hi-Fi was not worth the $500. I felt the $$$ would be better spent on upgrading the speakers. That process is a bit involved but well documented in the audio forum.