[Spridgets] New Mini Pricing

[rrengineer @dslextreme.com]

My Honda Accord has 2 payments left.  At 65,000 miles it started burning
oil.  It now consumes a quart every 1000 miles!  Believe it or not, the
Honda dealer said this rate of consumption was acceptable.  He even showed
it to me on his computer screen that had a list of oil consumption issues.
I have been a Honda car owner since my first new car, a  Z600 in 1972.  This
is the first Honda I have had any problem like this with.  My loyalty is
wavering and I have been considering a Mini too.  Maybe just a regular Mini
for the 37 MPG rating.  I'll be looking for a deal soon, but I just want to
drive a car for a few months with no payments just to see what it feels
like.
Mike MacLean
60 Sprite
56 BN2
04 Honda Accord Coupe 5 speed
04 Honda Civic EX Coupe 5 speed
02 Harley Davidson Heritage Springer
00 Ford F 150

On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 3:30 PM, chris_west <chris_west at juno.com> wrote:

> Dean Swanson asked:
> Have any of you who have recently purchase a new MINI know if the MINI
> dealers sell at list, above list or below list?
>
> Dean - here is my experience.  I ordered new Cooper S mid July of last
> year.  Took the expected 6 weeks to arrive.  I paid full list (as per
> "Build your own Mini" on website) , but when I arrived to take delivery
> they had forgotten to install the 2 "dealer installed" options (mud flaps
> and wide double hood / deck stripes.)  So they threw in a set of $60.00
> floor mats (very nice ones BTW) picked up the car at my workplace 2 days
> later, leaving me a loaner, and returned my car the same day with the
> forgotten items installed.  You may think "no big deal" but I live in
> Lansing, MI and the dealer is in Grand Rapids, 60+ miles away from my
> workplace.
>
> But the real deal was the financing.  They offer what they call "Mini
> Select" which is a term of low payments of up to 3 years followed by a
> balloon for the balance.  This may seem like "no big deal" BUT if you
> finance through BMWNA you are "locked in" to whatever finance rate you
> can negotiate, even for the balloon.  In my case they were offering a
> promo rate of 1.9% APR for 3 years, so I will be able to refinance the
> balloon in 3 years at 1.9% for another 36 months.  So at worst (if I
> don't pay off some of the balloon when it comes due) I got a 72 month
> loan at 1.9%!  That's 3 points lower than my best quote from my credit
> union.
>
> The car is an absolute blast to drive, with handling far exceeding my
> abilities as a driver.  Acceleration is more than "adequate", and it puts
> an instant smile on my face every time I drive it.
>
> Chris - AN5L35xxx