MINI USA Configurator Updated for 2008

bee1000 Sep 13th, 2007 Link

Any idea when the Clubman will be added to the configurator?

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Bor Sep 13th, 2007 Link

Gabe,

Does that mean that all the cars ordered starting today will be 2008 models ?

Thanks

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Max Sep 13th, 2007 Link

Hey, I noticed that the power fold mirrors are part of the cold weather package.

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Jon E Sep 13th, 2007 Link

This is disappointing, especially since I am intending to order a 2008 MCS soon (however not able to until December according to the local dealer). Also this is disappointing since it appears that the 2008 cars for other markets that are being provided with the fuel saving technology changes not coming to the US market received no price increase from 2007 to 2008. Possibly this is due to the decline in the value of the dollar and the unfavorable exchange rate against the British pound?

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Ian C. Sep 13th, 2007 Link

I’m sure the dollar exchange rate is behind this price increase … when MINI launched in USA it was around 1.4, now it’s around 2.0! There’s a 40% “loss” due to currency, with pricing up maybe 15%?

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Richard Sep 13th, 2007 Link

No complaining about price hikes please. Go check out the prices at mini.ca prior to complaining. Remember the Canadian dollar is almost at par with the American dollar now.

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Victor Sep 13th, 2007 Link

Candian MINI’s face 6% government import tax and 5% echange, also we have most standard options. Like Xenon lights, DSC, Autodimming Mirors, ect. It really only about 1k CND cheaper in the states now.

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eto Sep 13th, 2007 Link

Did delivery go up $50? My build went from 25,400 to 25,950.

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Dan Sep 14th, 2007 Link

No, delivery didn’t change. Other options did though (Chrome Line Interior went up $50, for instance).

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dickdavid Sep 14th, 2007 Link

Remember the Canadian dollar is almost at par with the American dollar now.

Wow! When did that happen? When I worked up there I was taking a huge hit on the conversion because I was still living in the States.

You’re right. Americans do get a great price on our cars.

Also, even though inflation does suck, the MINI has come a long way since the $16,999 base price. It’s still well worth the price, IMO.

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Chris Hauck Sep 14th, 2007 Link

I think the Mini prices are pegged against the Euro and not Pound Sterling, but in either event the exchange rates for the Euro are getting higher as well.

We can’t win no matter how you look at it.

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Matt Sep 14th, 2007 Link

Maybe people are not going to like what I have to say, but I find these price increases (especially the $200 random price increases on the options) to be hurtful to the brand and the potential future owner. My 2006 Cooper S (with tons of options) is the same price as a moderately equipped Cooper. Since when did a Mini cost on average $25,000? What happened to it being affordable, but premium and cool.

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Mark (Texas) Sep 14th, 2007 Link

Hey Matt, I think, as others have posted, that the major reason is the weakness of the dollar against other currencies. BMW needs to start building them at their plant in Spartenburg, NC, to try and counter-act this. But I agree with you, I know the rising MINI prices, coupled with the extremely dismal trade-in values offered potential repeat buyers on their used MINIs at MINI dealerships, is going to have a negative impact on any new MINI in my future.

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Gabe Sep 14th, 2007 Link

Hey guys – major post update above. Probably a good idea to read it before commenting further.

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mike Sep 14th, 2007 Link

maybe there’s been a mistake on the colors too. a guy can dream, right?

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Dan Sep 14th, 2007 Link

The configurator is still up and as far as I know, it never went down. It still shows the updated prices, too. A correction to statement above, the BMW USA plant resides in Spartanburg (county), SC. :) I would love them to build it here though, since it’s only about 20 minutes down the road! I won’t hold my breath though!

As far as the pricing, I really don’t know what the big deal is. It sucks, of course, since I haven’t purchased mine yet, but pricing almost always changes from one year to the next, right? And due to the BMW engineering, I’m ok with paying a premium price for a premium vehicle.

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Mark (Texas) Sep 14th, 2007 Link

Doh! Spartanburg, SC. Thanks Dan. I think that what Matt is getting at is the original Mini was designed and built to be a fun car that was a very economical purchase for the average Joe. The MINI reincarnation’s buy-in for a lot of us was on those same coat-tails. If, for whatever reason, the price climbs into the true “premium” range, it loses that, and for me, anyway it no longer competes for my $$$. Mine is a daily-driver not a second “toy” car that sits next to a Mercedes or BMW in the garage, and that I just tool round on weekends in – and I think you will find this is true of the majority of current MINI owners. If what I once based out around $16-17K and nicely loaded cost me $23K, now starts approaching $25 – $30K to replace, I’ll be replacing it with something else that is a little less “premium”.

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Bob Sep 18th, 2007 Link

Hey guys, You’re right about those pricing issues. The mini has always been that niche car. Not right for everyone, but perfect for the few. I got my first Mini S after two years of researching and test driving the car in 2007. I was shocked at some of the prices, but was able to do it because of the good trade-in deal they gave me. I also bought “off the lot” because of a special they were running at a new dealership. I found out while buying mine that the Clubman will be out in USA in FEB 2008. I immediately asked the dealer if I could get most of the value of my S against the trade on a new clubman in 2008 as they were selling 3-4 yr old minis on the lot for only 2-3 thousand less than my new one. This lead me to believe that I could get a good trade for a clubman in Feb. One customer who was trading in his 2006 w/20 thousand miles on it, at the same time I was buying my 2007 told me they actually gave him a little more than he paid for it in trade. The salesman confirmed it. All of these things led me to get excited about the possibility of buying a Clubman in Feb. 2008. That being said if BMW thinks that because of an American dollar that slipped momentarily and because of good sales in 2006 they can just throw any sticker price on it and get it, they might be surprised. From what I’ve learned, most Mini buyers are a discerning group and BMW should remember they can put any price on the window to counteract dollar weakness, but mini buyers can’t just go into work and tell their bosses they need bumps in wages to make up for that same weak dollar. Americans are getting hit more and more with gas and heating oil prices soaring and every other bill in our lives tacking on surcharges to counteract that. Probably the biggest factor making Mini a success in USA is or at least was it’s price. As you approach 26-33 Thousand you reach , what I call, the markets cross roads point. Americans who can afford 26-30 thousand for new cars, will start exploring what “slighlty more money” will get them. We’re big value shoppers. Also lots of people tell me they like my car and they ask me about the price and I tell them it listed for $26,650, which it did. I tell them they can get a base model for around 21,000 but most still think it’s too expensive. People look at this car to save money. If they’re pouring that savings into the purchase price it does not work out. I only have mine becasue of the high trade-in I received.
I’m kind of sad about it because I allowed myself to believe there was a small car that was economical and safe that was fun to drive and there would be one for the next five years (the mini) as there was in the last ten years. I still hope that Mini and BMW keep that market alive.

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James Sep 18th, 2007 Link

It would be fantastic if they (BMW) could build the mini in the US, but that would be at least a few years off if they went at it full tilt immediately. From what I understand BMW is converting capacity in Spartanburg for the new V5? and X6? (Car UK mag).

As for pricing? If the price did indeed go up $500 that’s about 2% on a $25,000 build, right? Last time I checked inflation over the last ten years in the US was about 25%. Considering corn, wheat, oil and other (pillar) commodities going through the roof, I would think a paltry 2% price increase should be viewed more as a 1% to 2% price decrease in real dollars….

And lastly, the resale value is pretty spiffy on minis. I (mistakenly) bought a manual 2007 Scion tc on sticker price alone. The single year resale value drop for both the scion and Cooper S sealed off any price difference between the Scion and the incomparably superior Mini.

And don’t forget the free three years maintenance. All things said, I think the Mini is still the best made cheap car and wish I had paid the extra $50 in monthly payments for one.

Now if mini would just offer the Electric Blue again I’d be a happy camper. Sigh.

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