Comments on: The Rumored Lightweight MCS: Part 6

By: Gabe

Gabe — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 14:12:55 +0000

Someone over on NAM reported their dealership was taking deposits for the lightweight cars.

Some dealerships have been taking deposits for months while others have policies against doing so until the car is officially announced.

By: petecrosby

petecrosby — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 13:45:05 +0000

Someone over on NAM reported their dealership was taking deposits for the lightweight cars.

By: tanya

tanya — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 08:56:37 +0000

If they “delete” the rear seat, I’m on the next flight to Munchen with a suitcase full of whoop ass.

By: O(=^=)O Capn

O(=^=)O Capn — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 07:47:49 +0000

lol

By: GMINI

GMINI — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 07:36:28 +0000

zI was wondering how the Lotus Elise related, johnsocal. Thanks. Thanks especially for the extra helping of hope, there. (kinda hope the model WON’T be available so I WON’T have to sell my soul.)

By: johnsocal

johnsocal — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 05:16:54 +0000

Car manufacturers can sometimes get a 'pass' on certain costly certifications if the sales volume is low within a limited amount of time. So its possible that MINI could get a special edition lightweight model in the US without too many hurdles.

Lotus was able to get a 'pass' on the Elise/Exige in the US since it will only be available here for only a few years and its annual sales volume is very low.

By: DHB

DHB — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:23:53 +0000

Besides the economics cited earlier by pkc, before it can be sold (to us as a street car by a manufacturer) in the US it must be certified.

While not impossible I doubt that a special light weight edition will sufficiently crash worthy to be certified here. If the engine is modified (to a higher output) it too will require certification testing.

Both testing programs would be expensive - adding more development overhead to the pricing equation.

By: CraigE

CraigE — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 21:56:39 +0000

US prices are usualy less than European prices. This is usualy attributed to large differences in taxes. The VAT among others. This can have a huge effect on prices.

I'm not going to hold my breath for a lightweight MINI here in the US. Crash saftey regulations being what they are here. The costs of the crash tests here would be prohibitive for such a relatively low priced, low volume version.

By: Greg W

Greg W — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 21:33:44 +0000

I heard a comment from someone saying that the lightweight bonnet has been available from Japan for some months, and that this and other components were being used in Japan already. Anyone else read or heard this?

By: tanya

tanya — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 20:46:54 +0000

We can only hope!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 20:46:06 +0000

Sorry - I just did a straight Euro conversion from the article quoted in Update #4. I think you're assuming US prices will be a lot lower, which they might.

US pricing of European cars is usually quite a bit lower than a straight conversion. Take a look at the base price of the Cooper S in the UK for an example.

By: tanya

tanya — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 20:43:40 +0000

Gabe: Not sure what rumors you've heard but I was speculating that it would be starting around or just above 30k.

Sorry - I just did a straight Euro conversion from the article quoted in Update #4. I think you're assuming US prices will be a lot lower, which they might. Given that you can't get a factory JCW car for less than $28k, $30k would be relatively reasonable for this one, assuming it has comparable performance bits. It will be interesting to see what kind of wheels they spec.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:54:59 +0000

If this sells in the US, I predict it’ll be like the M3 Lightweight – meaning it won’t depreciate at all. Making it well worth the money.

By: minicoopermike

minicoopermike — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:53:17 +0000

I’ve been in touch with the MAs and regional MINIUSA managers from Classic MINI as well as from my dealer here in Virginia. Nothing has been confirmed yet :(.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:50:35 +0000

So the rumors have it starting at $36k. A base S is $20k. Ay carramba!

Not sure what rumors you've heard but I was speculating that it would be starting around or just above 30k.

By: tanya

tanya — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:48:39 +0000

So the rumors have it starting at $36k. A base S is $20k. Ay carramba!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:14:39 +0000

If it does make it here, this thing will be unbelievably expensive.

Check out Part 4 for thoughts on US availability and pricing.

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:06:26 +0000

As I said a month ago, my Motoring Advisor at Classic Mini stated it was in fact planned, and they had recieved confirmation that they were receiving 4 (I was #3 on the waiting list).

By: tanya

tanya — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:44:25 +0000

If it does make it here, this thing will be unbelievably expensive. Given the extortion we are seeing on the 06 factory JCW kit, I cringe to think what they would charge for this.

By: pkc

pkc — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 17:48:29 +0000

Sorry to say that I don't think that the LMC is going to make it here. This thing doesn't pencil for Miniusa.

2000 cars x 20.08% market share = 402 cars for the US market.

The guys in NJ are not going to certify this thing for 402 cars ~ CSL.

I'm really hoping that I'm wrong but I hate to see you guys getting yourselves so worked up and ending up with a real bad case of blue balls.