Hi everyone. First off, let me just say how wonderful it was reading all the threads. I'm all the more confident in my decision knowing that such agreeable people own this fine car. *butt kissing emoticon goes here*

I just came back from test driving the MC Convertible and I could not wipe the stupid smile off my face. It was great.

So here's my question:
I'm going to order my car. How must more did your respective dealerships tack onto the web price?
The one I just came from added $500 (brought down from $1k). Another dealership wanted $4k. (I understand it varies based on location)

This is the first car I'll be buying with my own money and I don't know much about the process.

Any other buying tips? Is it possible to go lower than the website price?

Thank you.
-andrew


just in case you're curious:

Mini Convertible
finish yet to be decided
black leather with red stitching.
sport package
multi-control steering wheel
HK audio
rear fog lamp
auto-dimming rear view mirror
xenon headlamps
heated seats

post purchase extras:
ipod connectivity. (it's better to DIY this, yes?)
garmin nuvi 350 (brimming with excitment over this one)

 

I am curious to know this too. Mainly since I just left Mortiz MINI in Arlington TX, after peaking at some prices when they were closed from the cars on the lot. (I plan on ordering mine!) I noticed that they had the Sports Package for $1,900.00. Was a bit worried about this and hopefully negotiating will not be a big burden!

 

I went to Long Beach Mini in CA and paid MSRP, so nothing over the web price. If you get some accesories like the IPOD or the Alarm, you will get charged for an installation fee.

 

Well, Moritz may not be gouging you on the Sport Package. $1900 for the Sport package is the right price, *if* it includes the 17" web-spoke wheels.

I suspect that's probably the case, because a $500 surcharge on a $1400 package seems a little extreme.

Scott

 

riquiscott:

You are right, I believe that Mini had some 17's on it. Whew!

Is it normal for most dealerships just to offer MSRP from the website and not upcharge you?

On these extra accessories like Exhaust tips and Illuminated Door Sills.. I wonder how much they will charge for those for installs. Hopefully not a ton!

Last thing I need to do is make my MINI more expensive.. I somehow can picture 2007's being 1.5k-3k more expensive then current models.

 

Couple comments...

SoCal is MINI west coast central, it's a sellers market. If your LUCKY you'll get the MSRP, and don't even think about haggling under the web price. ("Market adjustment" is such a P.I.T.A.!) There are a few SoCal dealers w/ zero to low mark up. Search the boards... SoCal dealer install/service run about $120/hr. (Can't verify that, but my AUX Input was $199 after dealer install!)

FWIW...

FIRST MINI (2003 Cooper, non-S, zero add-ons): Walked onto the lot, saw it, drove it home that day. Don't rem. the "Web price" for an 03 MC but i do rem. that after all the extended warr & junk, it was approx $2000 over web price.

2ND MINI (MC S 2006, Ordered off the web): "Web price": 22385; "Real Price": 24800. add tax, "destination", ext warr., LoJack, etc...

Despite the markup I don't feel *too* robbed. Most MINI staff are good peeps and my dealer location is fairly convenient.

HTH and good luck.

 

I live in Vegas, but felt like I wasn't taken seriously here so I called around. I eventually found that Sandia Mini in Albuquerque wanted my business. I paid MSRP, got floor mats, and the kicker for me....NO RIDICULOUS DOC FEES!!!!!! I could have driven the car back, but I got a great transport company and it was shipped to me for $350 with two cars on the truck.

I was happy with how everything turned out. But now I won't get "preferred service" when I take my Mini to Desert Mini in Vegas. whatever, I'm over it!

 

If you're in the Los Angeles area, the only two dealerships that do not charge markup are Long Beach and South Bay. Don't even bother asking to go under MSRP... it's just not done around here.

As for IPOD connectivity, I don't know how much research you've done on the IPOD connector for the MINI, but I'm not a fan of it. Instead, I opted for the AUX input, installed it myself and paid about $40 for it.

Congrats on the decision!!!

 

I got my MINI from Long Beach MINI, they were more than helpful with everything and treated me like i was more than just dollar signs...

When i went to Bob Smith MINI in Calabasas they were verry rude and were throwing all their best sales pitches at us... i almost felt like i was at a used junk lot talking to a used car salesman...

I mean the guy was trying to stick me with an automatic base cooper with the cold weather package (I'm in SoCal where the sun doesn't know night from day) for over 4k over MSRP while i was looking for Manual S with just the sports package...


needless to say Long Beach got my business and i didn't pay a penny over MSRP.

 

The sport package comes standard with 17"S-lites. Sooo every sport package will have 17" rims at 1400. Only if they have the 17" web spoke rims should your sport package cost 1900. Stick with SB or LB in socal for msrp. I chose to order my car. That way I can get what I want. You can have your dealership check their incoming cars (cars that are waiting to be shipped to the states) and maybe find one that suits your taste. Just be forewarned about dealer installed options. What I have discovered is that they charge a "set" installation price for hot items (ipod, sirius, aux input, fogs). It doesn't matter if they can install your ipod adapter in an hr. They are charging you 3 hrs for labor ($149-part, $351-labor=500). Highway robbery if I do say!!

 

If you have any bargaining skills at all, the web price is THE PRICE!

tell them this. I have X amount of thousands of dollars on me. You can sell it now for the web price or I can go somewhere else. Do it fast, dirty, mean, no wimpstyle.

My dealer took off 400 dollars without me even asking OFF of webprice. I deal with buying and selling all the time though.

however, I bought an MCS. I think they get more incentive to sell a MCS. I am not sure though. (they had a glut of MC's actually but you never know the deals that manufacturers have)

Still, the destination charge and the amount on there that is shown except for the accessories page, that should be the amount you pay.

MSRP is the lowest a retailer can advertise the item to be.

 

+297 administrative fee otherwise web price, --Baron Mini in Kansas City

 

To everyone: Thank you for accomodating a mini cooper newbie. You guys rock!

I'll definitely be giving the Long Beach dealership a call tomorrow.

Take care all.
-andrew

 

When I ordered my 03 MC in Sept. 03 I got a $350 discount, in theory. There was a $249 "documentation fee" and a $57 Memphis tax........so in reality I got my MINI for $44 less than MSRP. You should be able to get one for no more than MSRP after everything, (BS fees, etc.), has been added in.

 

You can also now order at Universal Mini at the web price. I picked up ours for exactly the price on the on-line configurator. If you want to go there ask for Tim and tell him Greg Stoddard sent you.

 

Greg, thank you sir.

 

Moritz sells their cars at list. I bought mine there.

 

FYI- Of some of the options I ordered, anything I could do myself, I asked them to not install but to "throw them in the boot":

Chrome Exhuast Tips
Rear "Scuff Pad"
AUX Input (since I specifically said "no chrome side-views" but got em anyway, they put in the AUX Input for free).

Loosely estimated, I probably saved at least $240 ($120/hr x 2). In short, anything that won't effect a warranty, either you or someone you know could do it for you and save a couple bucks. FWIW...

 

I didn't know Moritz was a MINI dealer. I lived in Arlington from 1984-1994, and at the time, Moritz was primarily a Cadillac/BMW dealership. Talk about a small world, though - I went to high school with the owner's daughter (Julia Moritz - Lamar class of '88).

I don't know know too much about the dealership, though, since my family's last purchase from them was a Cadillac in 1984. I'm just taking a trip down memory lane.

Scott

 

I feel sorry for you westcoasters with all the crazy high prices.

I payed MSRP, exactly the same as the website, and my only dealer installed option was the Ipod interface adaptor, which i was charged $275 for the install + the cost of parts which is listed on website.

$500 for an Ipod install IS infact highway robbery!!!

 

I ordered Basil from Irvine Mini - they had the additional sticker, trying to sell the chrome valve stem caps and floor mat package for $2k above MSRP, but when questioned changed to MSRP fairly quickly. Still kills me, since we just bought a new honda for the Mrs at well below invoice.... Then again, this is not quite the same thing....

Does anyone know how hard it is to install the Ipod adapter (not the aux. input)?

 

do a thread search here... .there is a diy thread for ipod installation. It seems like it took them 1-1.5 hrs. I am going to have the SO do it.

 

I paid MSRP for mine and they threw in the iPod adapter for free, thankfully. I was satisfied with that.

Knauz MINI in Chicago. My experience was pleasant.

 

I paid MSRP / Web Price and not a penny over (tax and DMV not included) from Long Beach Mini. When I talked with Irvine Mini, they wanted $1795 over and Crevier wants like $4-$5k over...no way!

 

I'm paying at MSRP, but I'm paying extra for installation of the iPod adaptor...too lazy to figure out installation on my own