When I was signing paperwork on my new Countryman yesterday we were discussing the Paceman. He noted that thier dealership has not sold one to date.

Didn't know how others are doing, not that Alambama and Mississippi are the proverbial land of Mini's. We are lucky to have the one dealership between the two.

 

Cannot speak to sales, but I can say I've never seen one in the wild. Either a countryman or the various models based on the same platform as the hardtop. Has only been out a few months at best though.

 

Yes, I think sales just started. When I ordered mine on 5/2, my MA said they had just got the first one in to sell the previous week. Before that they only had the one for the showroom so people could see what they were like. They had 5 new ones coming in May, but none of them were Manuals with Mini Connected, so I had to order.

He said I was the first one to order a Paceman from Baron and would probably be his first Paceman sale.

 

I got the first one my local dealer had to sell the day it came in, about 6 weeks ago. As of last week it was still the only Paceman they've sold.

 

Spotted one in the wild. Looks better in person than I thought. I'd hit it!

But I think they are just too new. Most folks going for that size are going Countryman. I don't see a lot of Coupes or Roadsters either. Mostly R50-56's.

 

I think initial sales are slowly picking up. I know of only 1 or 2 sold from our dealer in the South.

I had a Paceman loaner for 2 days while the Countryman had a couple of adjustments made and waited on a part.

Once folks get to drive the Paceman ALL4 S and toss it around, I believe folks will start buying them like hot-cakes.

Think of your hardtop with 4wd and still very toss-able. I managed to enjoy it and over-drive the skinny 205 17s All Season which were on the loaner.

Go give it a drive, it will surprise you, the ALL4 S had about the same punch as my 07 Hardtop and much more than my 2011 ALL4 S Countryman.

Don

 

they have 10-15 Paceman's at Crevier MINI in Orange County, CA...i myself is about to place an order for a JCW Paceman

 

A lot of coupes out this way havent seen a pacemen yet

 

I've seen one running around in the wild so far, with paper plates so it was new. My local dealer has only had I think 3 so far. Mine will be the first JCW ordered AFIK apart from their demo one.

 

Just got confirmation today that our JCW Paceman will be arriving Friday (bought it directly from the port). It looks exactly like one from the official launch, we're SO psyched!!!

 

Woodster congratulations. Have an awesome time with it. I am loving my new countryman.

 

That is where I ordered my Countryman from. They have a huge inventory, but it is about 80% automatic, so not much for those of us the like to row.

 

"Row"????

 

Nice, still waiting for confirmation on a build date for mine.

 

They have been showing one at the costco by me in lynnwood wa. It looks pretty awesome!

 

The problem with the Paceman, to me, is the cost. I don't really understand why the Paceman costs MORE than the Countryman. There is no incentive to buy a Paceman over a Countryman when it comes down to money for most people. I like the way the Paceman looks much more.. but I just can't justify getting one when I can get a better deal on the Countryman

 

Well, there's the reason. Some of us prefer the looks enough to warrant the extra $$$. Just like some people will pay up to $10k more for a JCW when they can get almost the same performance gains from a tune for well under $1k -- they want it bad enough that it's worth the $$$ to them. I also think MINI is charging a bit more for the Paceman because they simply don't expect it to sell in anywhere near the same numbers as the Countryman... or maybe don't want it to sell in the same numbers.

Edit: to wit -- it's been almost two months since my dealer got Pacemans (Pacemen?) to sell, and I've still got the only one they've sold so far.

 

I'm pretty sure you can't match a JCW by investing about $1K in an "S". Talking solely HP, probably close. But beefier power train components and better exhaust system... not to mention the exterior and interior aesthetics.

I think you're selling the JCW a bit short with that statement.

 

I think the Paceman is meant for a narrower market. In the US at least, 9 times out of 10, the 4 door variant of a model will outsell the 2 door variant, even among sporty cars. Look at the BMW 3 series. I see a heck of a lot more of the 4 doors than the 2 doors.

I looked at the Paceman, but personally, just couldn't accept the way the roofline slopes near the back, and even though I am alone in the car 95% of the time, I like the back doors to easily toss my computer bag in.

 

I think the looks are definitely enough to warrant costing more.. I WISH that the $1k more didn't put it out of my price range. I look at it more like the GTI though.. The two door GTI costs less than the four door. You add two more door components and body length.. so that ends up costing more to produce. Although, if it cost any less than the Countryman the Paceman would most likely eat into the sales of the R56 or any of the others.

 

I am surprised to have not yet seen one on the road given that we have several Mini dealers here in northern and central New Jersey. I have not priced one out on the website, and was not aware that they cost more than the Countryman. So they cost more even for a comparably equipped one? If so, I agree that is surprising. I would assume that the developmental costs were relatively low given the amount of parts that appear to be shared with the Countryman, and I assume it was easy to modify the factory so they could be assembled on the same line? Perhaps BMW is hoping the market will bear a premium for a model that has a more narrow appeal? The fact that they simply just did not call it a two door countryman may be a hint?

 

It's basically $1000 more on every model at its base compared to the Countryman. There are a few on a lot around me but I doubt they will sell fast at over 30k a pop.

 

I agree, I did kinda oversimplify a bit there. But I think the comparison is similar -- for example, I love performance, but I can't see spending that difference in cost for a JCW ... for myself. Others obviously do, and I completely get that.

As for the Paceman, I sure wouldn't have minded taking that difference in price and using it on a few more options. But, I really wanted that Paceman, so for me the trade-off was worth it.

 

That's my guess.

 

I saw my first one in the wild here just today!