The Last Day to Order an ‘06?

Sections: Sales Jun 13th, 2006 8 Comments

We’ve had countless versions of that question come across the MotoringFile inbox over the past few months. Sure the 2007 MINI will be fantastic, but it seems people like a sure thing. And the current car is definitely that. So we put that question to one of our sources and got a bit more details about the end of the 2006 production run.

The very last minute to order an ‘06 MINI is going to vary by dealer and region. Okay that’s not really a great answer, but there are a few reasons for that. First off there’s the plant closing. Then there’s different R56 ramp-ups for different markets. And within that there are allocation changes to give production to the markets most likely to need (and sell) the new cars.

All this means that the US market will be the last to see the R56 model switch over and thus will have the most oppotunity to buy the older models. As we’ve reported in the past, production of the 2006 MINI (R50/R53) should continue until early November. However most (if not all) of that last month’s production will be pre-specced cars. So that means that production of customer ordered 2006 MINIs may well end in late August or early September. That said we strongly encourage asking your individual dealer about their allocation and ordering timelines to be on the safe side.

Written By: Gabe

8 Comments

Nathaniel Salzman Jun 13th, 2006 Link

When I was ordering my MCS a week and a half ago, the sales rep was telling Todd and I that to compensate for the ramping down of production on the current cars over the next few months, MINI is actually holding back pre-spec’d cars to keep dealer allocations consistent all the way through the transition to the R56. Otherwise dealers could run out of cars in the interim between November, when R50/R53 production stops, and January when the first of the’07s arrive in the USA. So it looks like during the last few months of the model run cars will still be available all the way up to when the new car comes out – but with pre-spec’d configurations. That’s been eluded to here on MotoringFile, but that’s a little more direct confirmation. Though she didn’t go into any specifics as to when the cut-off date would be for custom orders, based on that information it looks as though we can fully expect not only will the first of the ‘07 MINIs be pre-spec’d, but most likely some of the last of the ‘06 MINIs.

Makes me very glad to have my order in!

NS in NE

Gabe Jun 13th, 2006 Link

NS – I’ve updated the story with the pre-specced info. I actually forgot about that facet of the story. I’d hate to have someone not get the car they want based on the wrong info here!

Nathaniel Salzman Jun 13th, 2006 Link

Yeah, it’s definitely worth noting – and from the sound of what Todd and I were told, MINI is actually already now holding pre-spec’c cars back in inventory to cover that gap between the end of ‘06 production and ‘07 USA delivery. Makes me wonder if there will be a certain number of custom order cars available to the bitter end. I wouldn’t bank on it though. It’ll probably be as you say – with the last couple months of production churning out the same dozen configurations until they shut it down. But hey, worst-case scenario they’re still MINIs and will probably have all the normal goodies. It just might be tough to get the color you want or get specific options left off, but there will still be some MINIs to be had.

Something I didn’t know until I tried to log into the Owner’s Lounge for the first time was that the dealer’s allocation is pre-spec’d from the get go. They’re getting a set number of cars each month and the configuration of those cars is set ahead of time. Whenever someone custom orders a MINI, the dealer goes in and changes the configuration of an already pre-spec’d car in their allocation to match what the customer wants. For example, for the first couple of days I tried to log in to the Owner’s Lounge, my production number came back as an Astro Black MCS – not the Dark Silver MCS I had ordered. The system hadn’t registered the changes to that pre-spec’d, allocated MINI. So if I hadn’t ordered my MINI when I did and no one else had for a set period of time, I can only assume that Baron would have received the original spec Astro Black MCS in their allocation by default.

So in looking at how these last few months of production will go down, it could be that nothing will really change in how MINI pre-spec’s the cars, simply fewer and fewer cars available for custom order. Who knows? The moral of the story is order soon if you want your MINI Burger King-style: your way.

Bilbo Baggins Jun 13th, 2006 Link

This is really good news. It sounds as though the ’06s are going to be a little scarce and in addition to being the last of a model line making them all the more vaulable to the collectors.

I can wish can’t I?

Bartmack Jun 14th, 2006 Link

order soon if you want your MINI Burger King-style

lol… you mean with some huge wooden-headed freak in the rearview mirror grinning back at you unexpectedly?

MotoringFile » Archive » Next Generation MINI Production Timeline Jul 4th, 2006 Link

[...] So what does that mean for the folks in the US who want in on the last model year of the current hardtop? Read this article for all the details. [...]

MDOREGON Sep 17th, 2006 Link

I was able to place an order for a fully customized 2006 Cooper S on 9/16/06 so apparently there is still time… but not much…. I was told the cutoff date for placing an order for a 2006 would be within the next week or so?…. +/- 9/22??? The sales rep did not know if all dealers had the same cutoff date or not… bottom line is, if you want an ‘06 … hurry!

mike Sep 17th, 2006 Link

from what i understand, dealers can order 06s as long as their allocation lasts. i assume though at some point, the dealer will have to order their remaining allocation regardless of if they are sold or not.

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