Ordered a new car!

[Xyclone]

I just ordered a 2008 MINI Cooper S yesterday at Century West MINI/BMW. It will have a manual transmission, convenience package (better bang for your buck than sport package), and rear fog lights ($100 option). It is dark grey with a black roof and mirrors.

Came out to $25,000 after a $1000 markup. All the MINI dealers here in So Cal are marking up $3000 and above, some are marking up $1500. The $1000 markup was the lowest, and it includes a $800 dealer-installed alarm and $200 for nitrogen in the tires (I can't believe people pay for this). They are mandatory options, though, that is the "markup." Torrance BMW was offering MSRP for orders but they are for 2009 only (14-16 week wait). A lot of dealerships have finished their 2008 order allocations, they are selling like hotcakes. There were only a couple of MINI's at each of the lots.

Anyways, this is going to be the longest 8-10 weeks ever, and I'll be enjoying the transition from a 7/8th full-size truck (2003 Tundra) to a go-kart with a turbo in manual. I will definitely update with pics when it arrives.

 

[iamwiz82]

For $1,000 you could have flown to another state and picked it up. Personally, I would rather do that just because deal markups annoy me.

Funny that you got the convienence package as I suggested, even though you scoffed .

 

[dud]

" ... to a go-kart ..."


Congrats on buying the most expensive go-cart I've ever seen. I saw a convert the other day and the thing is so small that the top cannot fold up and stow in the back. There is no back so it just lays there.

To each his own ...

 

[Kaido]

Despite the haters,

enjoy your new toy :thumbsup: I'm trying to convince my wife to go square - Mini Coop + Element

 

[Ns1]

I'm so envious.

 

[theeedude]

It's a nice, but if you want a fruity looking fun to drive car for $25K, MX-5 is it, IMO.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's a nice, but if you want a fruity looking fun to drive car for $25K, MX-5 is it, IMO.

Having owned both, I think I'd take the MINI.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's a nice, but if you want a fruity looking fun to drive car for $25K, MX-5 is it, IMO.

Having owned both, I think I'd take the MINI.

That's interesting. I guess I don't get the MINI appeal. If I wanted to put up with a tiny car, I'd want it to be a roadster. For a sports hatch, there are many better choices under 25K, MS3 and GTI for starters.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's a nice, but if you want a fruity looking fun to drive car for $25K, MX-5 is it, IMO.

Having owned both, I think I'd take the MINI.

That's interesting. I guess I don't get the MINI appeal. If I wanted to put up with a tiny car, I'd want it to be a roadster. For a sports hatch, there are many better choices under 25K, MS3 and GTI for starters.

Neither have 1/10th the personality or charm, IMHO. Stock for stock, I'd take the MINI. Throw $4k at them and I would be probably take the Miata, though.

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: senseamp
It's a nice, but if you want a fruity looking fun to drive car for $25K, MX-5 is it, IMO.

Having owned both, I think I'd take the MINI.

That's interesting. I guess I don't get the MINI appeal. If I wanted to put up with a tiny car, I'd want it to be a roadster. For a sports hatch, there are many better choices under 25K, MS3 and GTI for starters.

The GTI is not as fast, is heavier, does not handle as well, gets lower mpg, has horrid resale value, and extremely questionable reliability (according to Mk5 GTI owners and CR). The Mazdaspeed 3 is a bit heavy, but it has ridiculous power. As another member pointed out in a previous thread, the MS3 is probably too much car for me, coming from a 190 hp Tundra. Also, the MPG is only 18/26, which is really bad for a 4-banger, considering it takes premium. This in turn kills demand and resale value. The Mazda dealers have been calling us every day, they are offering a few hundred over invoice, etc.

The MINI, on the other hand, gets 26/34 mpg, and has plenty of power. The MINI is just a much more refined car. A twin-scroll turbo makes sure peak tq is available at only 1500 rpm, while the Mazda has a little bit of turbo lag (peak tq at 3000 rpm). Plus, resale values on MINI's are just going up. Overall, the MINI was a funner car to drive, considering the MS3's clutch/shifter kind of sucked and the engagement point was awkward. No one wants a gas guzzler now, especially one that guzzles premium and is only a 4-banger (V6 sedans get better MPG than the MS3).

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: dud
" ... to a go-kart ..."


Congrats on buying the most expensive go-cart I've ever seen. I saw a convert the other day and the thing is so small that the top cannot fold up and stow in the back. There is no back so it just lays there.

To each his own ...

The hatchback MINI has plenty of space for me. If I wanted to go for Home Depot runs, I would just take my (then brother's) Tundra.

 

[theeedude]

Well, as long as you are happy, that's all that matters
I love hatches, but since I got my Mazda3s hatch for 16500 touring with sunroof and cd changer for <17K, I don't think I could convince myself to pay 50% more for a Mini.
Also, I think now we are in a bit of a temporary situation where supply of small cars is outstripped by demand, and some of the pricing is a bit exploitative due to that.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Sounds great. Ignore all the people trying to piss on your biscuits.

 

[ayabe]

Congrats man, you made the right choice. :thumbsup:

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Well, as long as you are happy, that's all that matters
I love hatches, but since I got my Mazda3s hatch for 16500 touring with sunroof and cd changer for <17K, I don't think I could convince myself to pay 50% more for a Mini.
Also, I think now we are in a bit of a temporary situation where supply of small cars is outstripped by demand, and some of the pricing is a bit exploitative due to that.

sorry dude, mazda isn't even in the same league.



want. mini. so. bad.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: senseamp
Well, as long as you are happy, that's all that matters
I love hatches, but since I got my Mazda3s hatch for 16500 touring with sunroof and cd changer for <17K, I don't think I could convince myself to pay 50% more for a Mini.
Also, I think now we are in a bit of a temporary situation where supply of small cars is outstripped by demand, and some of the pricing is a bit exploitative due to that.

sorry dude, mazda isn't even in the same league.

want. mini. so. bad.

What league would that be? Clown car league?

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: senseamp
Well, as long as you are happy, that's all that matters
I love hatches, but since I got my Mazda3s hatch for 16500 touring with sunroof and cd changer for <17K, I don't think I could convince myself to pay 50% more for a Mini.
Also, I think now we are in a bit of a temporary situation where supply of small cars is outstripped by demand, and some of the pricing is a bit exploitative due to that.

sorry dude, mazda isn't even in the same league.

want. mini. so. bad.

What league would that be? Clown car league?

GoKart with bigass engine league (and yes, I've driven both cars. spiritedly.)

 

[thomsbrain]

Should be a very fun car.

The only thing that made me : You realize that "rear fog lights" are nothing more than turning on the left brake light and leaving it on, right? And that there isn't any fog in Southern California? $100 for that?

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: senseamp
Well, as long as you are happy, that's all that matters
I love hatches, but since I got my Mazda3s hatch for 16500 touring with sunroof and cd changer for <17K, I don't think I could convince myself to pay 50% more for a Mini.
Also, I think now we are in a bit of a temporary situation where supply of small cars is outstripped by demand, and some of the pricing is a bit exploitative due to that.

sorry dude, mazda isn't even in the same league.

want. mini. so. bad.

What league would that be? Clown car league?

GoKart with bigass engine league (and yes, I've driven both cars. spiritedly.)

That I agree, I don't think Mazda was going for the go cart with the 3. I wouldn't call Cooper S a bigass engine league.

 

[Ns1]

snip-
That I agree, I don't think Mazda was going for the go cart with the 3. I wouldn't call Cooper S a bigass engine league.

it is when you factor in power/weight 2nd most fun I've ever had in a car

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Should be a very fun car.

The only thing that made me : You realize that "rear fog lights" are nothing more than turning on the left brake light and leaving it on, right? And that there isn't any fog in Southern California? $100 for that?

Not true, MINIs have seperate lights for the rear fogs. They go in the rear bumper.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Dumb question, the purpose of rear fog lights is for people to see you?

 

[theeedude]

It's to annoy people behind you with unnecessarily bright lights that make them think you are riding your brake.

 

[stash]

The main reason for getting the rear fogs on the MINI is so you don't have an empty toggle switch on the dash.

I'm very jealous, OP I'm getting a S, but it will probably be an 09, since my current lease isn't up until December.

 

[stash]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: senseamp
Well, as long as you are happy, that's all that matters
I love hatches, but since I got my Mazda3s hatch for 16500 touring with sunroof and cd changer for <17K, I don't think I could convince myself to pay 50% more for a Mini.
Also, I think now we are in a bit of a temporary situation where supply of small cars is outstripped by demand, and some of the pricing is a bit exploitative due to that.

sorry dude, mazda isn't even in the same league.

want. mini. so. bad.

What league would that be? Clown car league?

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/89311/mini_cooper/