My local dealer (Pensacola) has offered me a $500 discount off a special order low end (less than $22000) Cooper hardtop. There will be no additional dealer fees at closing. Seems like a good deal to me or has the Mini Cooper market gone soft?

 

Yes, the market is soft and dealers are discounting from MSRP. By just asking if they could do better, the dealer that I visited last week took $900 off a moderately equipped 2010 MC and I believe if I was ready to buy and really negotiate, I could have done better.

 

Don't order the stripped model. You'll regret it. Get the goodies.

 

May want to check out Roadshow Mini in Memphis TN. Website is advertising $2500 off remaining 2009 Hardtop and Clubman and $2000 off Convertibles in stock. Worth the trip for that kind of savings. I bought my 09 Clubbie S from Roadshow several months ago. Drove from St.Louis to Memphis to save $1500 off MSRP. Unfortunately our local Mini dealer basically was a non-dealer. Good luck. Carl Smith was my salesman at Roadshow overall a great buying experience.

 

Easy to do that when there's competition-a-plenty, unlike buying out in the mountain time zone, where any discount on a ordered car is a cause for celebration.

It's also rare to see the base MINIs get discounted; usually it's the tricked-out ones with a lot of bling, +$30k market.

and about the MINI market going soft-- It sure is softer than in 2004 and 2005, back when ordered cars were the norm, discounts were unheard of, dealer stock was rare, and waits were long.

 

I agree, I would rather order a Smart car loaded than a striped MINI. The same rules apply to any car I buy.

You could also probably get a larger discount by adding packages since there is more dealer markup in options.

 

Florida yes? Shop around! There are five dealerships IIRC in your state. Check em out!

 

Maurice at Braman Mini of Miami gave me $1000 off and no dealer fees on a in stock S manual.

 

Purchased mine in June 09' new from South Bay BMW.

MSRP $28,850. After negotiations, price was $27,000.00 and when I flew down and found that the car wasn't even there as was previously promised, I was comped a BMW for the day, reimbursed for my gas, food, and total expenses, plus given the front and back mats + key chain. GM initially offered to reimburse me for the flights down as well but I had already added these costs into the total cost of the car (it was Norcal to Socal so it was like $50), and asked that those savings be pushed into the savings he would offer off of sticker.

There were two identical builds that were being shipped to them, not sure if that played a role in their willingness to take it off of their hands.

Keep going until the deal is right.

 

Sounds like they did right by you.

On first read I thought what the heck does General Motors have to do with this then realized it was the General Manager..

 

If you wait until Jan. most dealers will discount further and give you low low financing for remaining 2009 models.

 

I just brought one last thursday, it was a 2009 Yellow Hardtop S.
It had 2000 miles on it, it was a demo. I got $3000 off with 4.75%.
But I took the last 2009 Yellow in Florida.

They have like over 20, 2009 left. In differant colors and packages.
If you push them hard you should get those prices too.
Some places are giving $2000 off the 2010 with 2.9% but I really wanted the yellow one. The 2010 doesnt come in that color anymore.

 

Yappy, I just bought my MINI from Roadshow yesterday. It's the 3rd MINI I've bought there. I special ordered it, and they knocked $1k off the MSRP. They also kept the trade in quote I was given 6 weeks ago, though I had put another 1500 or so mi on my trade. Brett was my MA but Carl has been before and they're both great guys to work with. Overall it was a great experience, as always! One of these days, when I can finally afford a Bimmer, I'll be using Roadshow though I have two BMW dealerships closer than Memphis.

 

problem with that is that Cash For Clunkers depleted much of the 2009 inventory. I know my MINI dealer really made out well in that program.

 

here is a good example of a 'peat customer getting a discount on an ordered car. When I ordered mine I only got $500 off msrp, but I didnt complain.

 

At the end of October, I bought an 09, pretty well equipped Justa, and got $3K off to start. Then we "negotiated" about another $1500. We paid less than $22K for one that was stickered $26K. It was an automatic -- perhaps that had a bearing on things, but we found that Mini of Orlando treated us well and gave us a good deal on a very nice green one. They even discounted the roof rack and floor mats that we added after the deal was closed.

I'd recommend them without reservation (see Jeremy).

Funny thing, though, when the were downtown as Downtown Mini, I walked out on them in 06 because they treated me so poorly (wouldn't let me test drive a car unless I put up a deposit and signed an order - unbelievable). I went a few miles up the street and bought a Miata.

I guess the market for Minis is like anything else -- its soft because fewer people have the money to put into anything today. If unemployment continues to run 11% down here, there may be even more discounts in store.

 

If the local dealers are to offer Low rates, It would not be with MINI FS. They have given dealers $1250 dealer cash, The 2009's are not on MINI's books anymore so dont wait for MINI rates to drop on 2009's

 

I got a *very* modest discount when I ordered mine in early October. I probably could have gotten more off, but at the point the conventional wisdom was, "mini dealers don't negotiate" so I ended up just making a token attempt at talking the price down.

Oh well, at least overpaying got me on the dealer's VIP list, so I can go get free car wash and all the doughnuts and coffee I want while I wait.

 

One thing that really confuses me, doe'snt everyone realize by beating up the MINI dealer means you get a fair price up front, but if you stay loyal to the brand. It is really going to hurt the resale value of MINI if this keeps up. Is it not evident that MINI's incredible resale is due to the fact that they have been selling for MSRP?

 

Take the donuts and coffee but pass on the "free" car wash....unless you don't mind swirls in your paint.

Even though I tell the service advisor that I don't want the car washed, I always tape a note inside that says "PLEASE DON"T WASH CAR".

 

I don't plan to indulge too often. But this week, when the options are between letting salt and snow grime stay on the car for weeks, or risking some swirls, I'll risk the swirls. Besides, I've seen their car wash and it doesn't look too bad for an automatic washer.

 

It hurts the ones who paid MSRP and there's always a price to pay for being an early adopter. And if you're loyal to the brand, resale value is only one consideration when making your buying decision and should not be the primary one.

Refreshing to read someone's concern for the poor dealer....