Was anyone able to knock a couple hundred off the price, or get them to toss in some stripes or chrome caps or any other minor accessories? Or were majority of you stiffed and the dealers were firm with you?

 

In CA you're lucky to find a place willing to sell the car for sticker. They wouldn't even throw in tint on my car. I had to make a scene and almost walked out of the dealership cause they wanted to make me pay for mats .

IIRC Bob Smith MINI/BMW in Calabasas is STILL charging a $3k markup on the 06 MINI's. I have no idea what they're doing on the 07's. At one point they were charging $5k, and PEOPLE BOUGHT THEM!

When I bought my 06 in October I got it for MSRP + Mats, and it was considered a kick *** deal .

 

Oh brother are you serious??

Wow im not gonna be looking forward to this if i have to haggle for what, 200$ floor mats? I think ill bring the old man along with me, he seems to enjoy causing a scene to get his way

Any fellow canadians in here (specifically ontario) who just purchased an 07? How was it?

 

In St Louis there's only one dealer. They charge a $500 mark up ('dealer prep'), wich "includes floor mats" - Just the four in the passenger compartment (It costs extra if you want to boot mat).

The jury's still out on the dealer's customer service but so far it's been rather rocky - We practically had it out last night when my car came in with the wrong wheels - They tried to blame it on me for mis-specing the vehicle until I pulled up the string of e-mails proving to the salesman exactly what I had orders (luckily I had just come from work and had my laptop witht me). They have the correct wheels on another vehicle at an offsite location (15-minutes away) but say that they can't switch out the wheels before Friday.

So far, it seems to me like they know that they have a monopoly on the market and take full advantage of it.

When the smoke clears (and I finnaly get to take home the MC that I ordered in the middle of February), I'll post a full review of my new Mini and experience dealing with Mini of St Louis.

 

You could buy it somewhere else and get it shipped for cheaper than that I think, or better yet, buy a plane ticket and pick it up.

I got free mats. Didn't have much trouble. I asked if the car came with mats, and they said they would comp them. It may just be their policy to give away the mats. I also got two MINI hats when I picked up the car. I did get $300 off later because of the wood wheel fiasco.

 

MINI of Mountain View, California charges a $1,500 dealer markup. I was told by my MA that I could buy from Long Beach or Concord at MSRP, but they were firm. IIRC, others have said they were able to negotiate the markup away at MMV. They also charge $150 per hour labor for installation of dealer-installed accessories. What does a mechanic actually get paid, $35?

 

Oh yes, the wood wheel fiasco. I also had the wood wheel spec'd. I asked the dealer if they could issue a 'we owe' to have them install it when it gets re-released in May. The answer was no - They would be happy to install it for me once it becomes available but I would have to pay for it, which seems outragous especially since it's Mini's fault they had to pull it off my build sheet in the first place.

 

I got my car at MINI of Universal City. Aside from the floor mats incident it was generally pleasant. I got my car (With floormats!) for MSRP :-).

 

When I bought my car Long Beach MINI had a 2 month wait for a production slot. I didn't feel like waiting until November to have my car built . I was August Production, Got the car on September 30th

 

no dealer prep fee??

 

I'm starting to realize just how fortunate I got in my buying experience. I purchased my '06 MCSC on Sept 10th. I'd gone into the dealer with my custom build specs in my hand. I knew exactly what I wanted.

Then....I saw her from across the show room. She spoke to me. She was meant to be mine. Excluding color, she WAS my custom build. I spent a week negotiating back and forth with my dealer knowing full well that I was gambling that someone else might snag her; but she was meant to be mine.

Finally, a final phone call - "It's been a week, the car hasn't sold. I will buy it today IF there's no mark-up, and I get floormats and a windscreen tossed in". 2 hours later I was driving her around the dealership neighborhood while they pulled all the paperwork together.

3 weeks later, the Salesguy gave me a Zoomers exhaust with free installation at a customer Rally event.

After reading some of the posts on NAM, I'm beginning to realize I may have gotten the deal of the century.

 

 

Ooo a couple of hats that just makes everything fine and dandy! J/k

Wow...i visited a dealership here in the toronto suburbs (theres about 4 in my metropolitan) and they didnt seem to be marking them up, so thats a good thing compared to some of you!

They also had a nice stockpile too, kinda surprised

 

Nick, We tried buying at Universal Mini and they wanted $5K over sticker for the 07. No mention of floor mats. We're going to buy/order from LB. Its a jaunt but at least they only want MSRP. I wonder if they would throw in mats? Hmmm.

 

I got my stripes and roof graphic. It was part of a free $500.00 in accessories deal.

I am happy

 

I ordered my Mini at Niello Mini in Sacramento. If you order a Mini, you can pay MSRP. If you want to buy a Mini on their lot, you'll pay $2500 over MSRP.

 

Dont push your luck. MSRP dealers rarely throw in freebies, beyond the full tank o gas.

 

Niello also takes their dealer stock, throws on some accessories and protection paks, then marks the accessories up 300-500% or more.

 

Here's how it went down at Downtown MINI, Orlando...

With the test drive complete they roll the 07 MCS PS with Lounge Leather off of the truck. I walk over to my Sales guy...

ME: (Drooling over my future MINI) "Hey, you guys offering any rebates, throwing in any freebies, or doing any dealing at all?"

Sales Guy: Nope

ME: (Still drooling profusely) I'LL TAKE IT!

 

For So. Cal. , monrovia dealer sells for msrp also Southbay .Talked to ma in monrovia, had a car I would be happy with,He would'nt be in for a few day's ,got off phone Santa Ana Crevier ma called where I test drove,told him I was going to Monrovia ,he said he had the same thing on the lot and would sell for msrp that they had marked up when I was there. They did charge me $80 for mats,I didn't argue better than $2000 for nothing.

 

negotiating? What is that?

 

We have purchased 2 minis (2005 MCS and 2005 MCSCa) at Downtown MINI in Orlando. I have a 2007 MCS on order now. I keep hearing all the nightmare stories from others around the country but we have always had a good experience at Downtown MINI. They charge MSRP and will tell you that up-front. Why would they discount a car that sells as well as MINIs do? I kinda like the no-haggle experience. I don't feel ripped-off or confused like you do after negotiating at other dealerships.

Mike did give us a couple of shirts awhile back and Downtown MINI sponsors a lot of the enthusiast events (and participates) in Central Florida. They give back to the MINI community but when buying a MINI, I just know the price is MSRP.

 

Here's my experiance:
Me: Hi I'd like to order a MINI
Advisor: Come over to the computer, we'll build your car?
Me: Perfect, that's the car I want
Advisor: here's the price
Me: Does that include any extras
Advisor: floor mats
Me: Sold!!!!

that is all of the MINI negotiating you will be able to do, you could do it with a computer, your credit card at home.

 

I wish I had a $30,000 credit limit on my Visa! Well, no I don't...

 

My experience.

Me: This is what I want.
Sales Person/Order Taker: This is what it will cost.
Me: Ok, let's do this.
Sales Person/Order Taker: I need a check.
Me: Here you go.
sales Person/Order Taker: It will be 6 to 8 weeks.
Me: Thanks.
Sales Person/Order Taker: Bye.....NEXT!

Hehe. She was a nice lady though. And she thought my Wife and I were simply nuts.