Discount or decent finance on new convertible?

[dick_dastardly71]

first time to the Mini forum but here's the score. We're long time customers of the local BMW dealer and, for example, have had 5 cars from them in the last 3 years (including 2 M3s). The wife has decided she wants a new Cooper S Convertible (with chili pack and one or two other options) so have spoken to said dealer.

Anyway, they are unwilling to offer a discount on the car and the finance quotes (mini select) don't seem particularly competitive compared to what I've had on the various beemers.

So, question to mini dealers in particular. Am I wrong to expect to do a deal on a new MCS-C given it's fresh out of the box? Don't really want to take my business elsewhere as very happy with the dealer, but equally don't want to be ripped off.

Any help/advice appreciated.

[GPM3D]

Had exactly the same issue with our local Mini dealer buying our new R57 MCS Convertible - our friends bought, two weeks ago, a 'showroom' MCS hatchback with a nice array of extras and got the equivalent of 8% discount (dealer support/incentives whatever), but because we actually spec'd a factory build car - and we wanted to buy the car rather than them trying to sell us the car (if you know what I mean), discount became a dirty word.
I even considered pulling the plug, but we wanted the car so 'supply & demand' takes over!
Anyway we got our new Mini last saturday, and it's a hoot!
Go for it now whilst the sun shines! Deliberate too long and you'll miss the summer
Graham

[ohdear]

Tricky one I guess. If it is a brand new product and they feel they have enough demand I suppose they won't feel the need for discount. However if you are prepard to wait then if they don't sell as well as they think then maybe you could get a deal then??

[okgo]

You should be able to get £500 off it without too many issues. What car is it she wants (colour spec)?

[GPM3D]

£500 off a new R57? Maybe we should have bought down Southff! Northern dealers are just a bit more hard-nosed than that!
G

[okgo]

Yeh, well I don't get paid on retained profit(oddly) so if someone bargains hard enough they get the discount.

[dick_dastardly71]

GPM3D said:

£500 off a new R57? Maybe we should have bought down Southff! Northern dealers are just a bit more hard-nosed than that!
G

Looking at Cooper S Convertible, Pepper White, Black roof + mirrors, bonnet stripes, chili pack, hi-fi speakers, TLC, black interior. Looking at mini finance and will probably want RTI insurance as well, so I would have thought there were decent margins here to offer some incentive.

Edited by dick_dastardly71 on Monday 6th April 08:16

[ilikecars]

I would be interested to see if people are managing to get much off brand new mini's.

We are planning on buying a second hand BMW 5 series and a new Mini Cooper S Convertible for the wife at the same time in the next month or so.

And am hoping that this would get us a bit more of a deal, but after reading around, it seems that BMW are still being stingy with their offerings.

[okgo]

ilikecars said:

I would be interested to see if people are managing to get much off brand new mini's.

We are planning on buying a second hand BMW 5 series and a new Mini Cooper S Convertible for the wife at the same time in the next month or so.

And am hoping that this would get us a bit more of a deal, but after reading around, it seems that BMW are still being stingy with their offerings.

Also not many BMW and MINI dealerships are from the same site, so if they are not they won't care that you bought a BMW from them too.

[GPM3D]

Again depends where you live - all my local dealers are combined Mini/BMW sites. Having said that it seems to make rock all difference as the Sales guys seem to change like the weather!
G

[dick_dastardly71]

GPM3D said:

Again depends where you live - all my local dealers are combined Mini/BMW sites. Having said that it seems to make rock all difference as the Sales guys seem to change like the weather!
G

My local Mini / BMW dealers are linked on the same site, both part of Inchcape. Mini salesmen had all my details on their system including the various beemers bought from them. But still not willing to talk discount. Not pushed too hard yet though as we've got the demonstrator for a day next week and will haggle harder after that when I'll (hopefully) be prepared to place an order.

[fivesixseven8]

From what I found they are selling them rather easily as Mini's have almost bucked the trend for sales and depreciation. Used cars are turned round very quickly and people are still buying new ones.

FWIW, BMW/Mini RTI cover can be had for under £150 (for 3 years IIRC) so you can try to get them down on that at least. I think I paid around £148 when the starting price was almost £500!

[okgo]

fivesixseven8 said:

From what I found they are selling them rather easily as Mini's have almost bucked the trend for sales and depreciation. Used cars are turned round very quickly and people are still buying new ones.

FWIW, BMW/Mini RTI cover can be had for under £150 (for 3 years IIRC) so you can try to get them down on that at least. I think I paid around £148 when the starting price was almost £500!

Yes, they are selling quite well, and as you say what lacks in the new dept we are more than making up for in used. Had the best used month in march since this dealership opened in 2000.

[fivesixseven8]

okgo said:

fivesixseven8 said:

From what I found they are selling them rather easily as Mini's have almost bucked the trend for sales and depreciation. Used cars are turned round very quickly and people are still buying new ones.

FWIW, BMW/Mini RTI cover can be had for under £150 (for 3 years IIRC) so you can try to get them down on that at least. I think I paid around £148 when the starting price was almost £500!

Yes, they are selling quite well, and as you say what lacks in the new dept we are more than making up for in used. Had the best used month in march since this dealership opened in 2000.

It's pretty much the main reason I've bought the wife one. The depreciation over the 3-4 years we keep it will be far less than pretty much any other new-ish car IMO.

[okgo]

Unless you have specced it to the hilt

Good little cars, sold my mum one yesterday, happy days

[fivesixseven8]

okgo said:

Unless you have specced it to the hilt

Good little cars, sold my mum one yesterday, happy days

It's a 2007 56 plate so not from new! The first owner went crazy ticking the option list though... Total price when new was over £23,000!

Edited by fivesixseven8 on Tuesday 7th April 10:22

[okgo]

Thats probably about half the list. They come out around 28k with a full list.

We sold one to a famous musician, that came out at 32k after the bodykits and wheels were fitted/painted.

[ilikecars]

Who was that ?

[okgo]

A gentleman never tells

Done a few famous types being in Surrey.

[dick_dastardly71]

Any of you dealers seen a new convertible with the black star alloys on? What do they look like in 'real life'. The ones on the yellow car in all the official pics look great, but I've never been a fan of dark coloured alloys.

Views on the following please: Pepper White, black roof, mirror caps and bonnet stripes, black interior but with cream white bits (the dash and door trim - can't remember what it's called), black star alloys. Is this a bit OTT with the black and white colour scheme? Should we go for red instead? Too many colour / trim / wheel options. Aaaarrgghh.

Wife likes dark silver but (i) it's too similar to my M3's space grey, and (ii) looks a bit too "serious" on a Mini if you know what I mean.