When comparing sales numbers year to year, do remember that sales were down somewhat last year from the previous year. Taken in this context, sales numbers to me seem even worse.

 

Quote from autoblog:

Thats why they have Mini sales for April07 improving 10.6% over 06 rather than the 2% the numbers reflect.

But you take the numbers anyway you please. No doubt the R56 has killed the brand - its all downhill from here!

 

Doesn't seem like anyone is taking into consideration that the majority of people who buy and drive vehicles do not live and die by release dates of new models. Not only that, but MINI has been deliberately quiet ever since '02 when it comes to marketing their cars. They depend on word of mouth marketing, not TV ads, bulletin boards, and print advertising like others. I think this could also be playing a role in minimizing any sales surges with the redesign.

When I was at the dealer on Saturday finalizing my finances I heard a salesman explaining to a 40 year old woman that MINI just released a new car. He was standing there showing it to her in the show-room, but she said it looked exactly the same and that she would rather save some money and get one of the 06's they have on the lot. I don't have any friends or family that could pick out an R56 vs. an R53 on the road, and none of them would have any idea that my soon-coming R56 MCS is entirely different than the 2002 MC down the road. When I try to explain to them how hostile I've seen R53 owners get on NAMA they just shake their heads at the notion of such craziness over 2 cars that look exactly the same to them.

 

Bottom line is that MINIs are starting to accumulate in larger numbers on dealers lots for the 1st time... this is sure to lead to bargains in the near future, which is good for the consumer market...

 

Bingo

 

Watch gas push $4/gal and see how long they hang around. Also, just because there are cars on lots doesnt mean there will be "bargins" anytime soon which, contrary to your assertion, does not equate to "good" things for the consumer market, esp. in the long term. I was at Mini of Murray a couple weeks ago, and they had 20-30 new MINIs on thier satellite lot. I asked an MA what was up, and he said most were backordered customer orders waiting to be detailed and delivered, and the rest were dealer stock because BMW wants more of these cars on hand for those who wish NOT to wait, especially in BMW's dealer-starved western division (minus CA.) Also, the manufacturing process has sped up, due to the engines being made in Britain instead of Brazil.

 

I have been in new products for decades, and it is very rare to be able to tell whether a launch is successful at this early stage. As someone else stated in this thread, it is mostly early adapters who buy cars at this stage. If I were at Mini and daily sales are up 10%, with good positive work of mouth from the community (us), strong stealth marketing gaining attention (Hammer and Coop on youtube), and early product kinks being worked out, I would be guardedly optimistic.

 

Aye, there's the rub. Within the MINI community there still seems to be some hostility. MINIs are a word-of-mouth car at this point (no company advertising to speak of), and that will definitely hurt us, at least until the '06s are totally gone...

Anyone know how many '06s are still available? They're sold out at my dealer.

 

MINI has 3 production facilities running 24/7, with all dealers on allocation. Should tell you something.

 

YTD sales are down 10.5%, according to Motoring File. Not sure what to make of that, as perhaps supplies were low at the beginning of the year, and sales fizzled as a consequence.

 

NC has 2 MINI dealers:
Flow MINI has 3 2006 models available... and 76 2007 models available on the lot...
Hendrick MINI has 2 2006 models available... and 74 2007 models available on the lot...

Totals for NC: 5 2006 and 150 2007 models available...

Quite the contrast from 2002-2006 timeframe when they were always gone within days of delivery....

 

My dealer has no 07s on their site: http://www.checkeredflagmini.com

Other dealer http://crownmini.com/Default.aspx?page=new-inventory has 14 of 28 cars as R56s.


Slag, did you visit those dealers or just go by what is on their site?

 

They got them... if your in the market for a 07 MINI call Brad Ray at Flow... he is their interenet sales manager and a good guy to work with. I don't know if they are giving discounts, but I would sure ask with 07 sales down year to year...

 

Those showing 'concern', sometimes multiple times, for the 'lower' numbers all seem to have pictures of R53s in their galleries. I presume they're R56 owners (on this R56 forum) who have not yet updated their photos.

 

I'm in the market and have looked at Checkered Flags webpage several times over the last 4-6 weeks and it's always shown the same two 06s. My guess is they haven't updated their inventory but will know more when I visit this weekend.

 

Do us all a favor and keep this topic on topic... no reason to drag it off into the weeds... and into a R53 vs. R56 debate, which is not what this is about.

 

Still 72 days to go for me.... that's 10 weeks and two days!!!!!
I have been waiting since late March. You guys in the east coast are lucky.

 

Which brings up a point. Assuming that California is the biggest single market in the U.S., and assuming a sale is counted only upon delivery, it would seem to me that there would be a rise in sales about June or July, after all those orders are transported and fulfilled. Am I wrong in my assumptions? (Yeah, I know, assume, etc...)

 

For crying out loud You have clearly stated on NAM that you don't like the R56 and you go on a campaign to paint sales as lagging, cull out the R56 numbers to blame the R56, and even so far as to suggest that Mini take a closer look (at what? the R56 design?)

Here is your same stuff at Motoring file:

http://motoringfile.com/2007/05/03/b...comment-116705

Your sentiments don't match the facts. More minis sold in April 07 than in 06 despite there being less days available for sales.

 

Right on lava!

 

File that under most ironic post of the year.

 

That's not me in your ref link, but quite amusing that they reached the same conclusion! I bet they are using the public record sales numbers, how about that!

Now let us break down the MINI sales numbers for the month of April 2007:

• The R56 by itself sold 2673 units in April 2007
• Left over R53's account for another 40 units sold in April 2007
• R53 convertible sales add another 666 units sold in April 2007
• April 2006 sales number was 3313 units
• Total sales figures year to year are up 69 units for April 2007

That is right... 2 full months into the new 2007 launch and the numbers are up year to year a whopping 69 units! And that is only after you combine the left over R53s and R53 convertibles to the bottom line. Strip off the R53s and you have a April sales number of 2673 units! Draw any conclusion you want, but the numbers are the numbers, no "painting required".

 

Twist the sales any way you want to.

 

I think there are still some announced options/configurations that haven't actually been made available yet. Also, do we know for certain that the "pipeline" was totally full during the entire month of April (dealers getting all the cars they requested, no unusual production delays, etcetera)?

I would think that once they're available, comparing the second- or third-quarter sales from 2007 to those from 2006 would yield more informative results.

 

Hey Robin, surely you know that east bay mini in Pleasanton sells MSRP and has a great reputation? That's where I got my 07 MCS (see gallery). Love the car!! See Robert Mathews and tell him Tom with the Grinnall Scorpion sent you.