Comments on: MINI E Application Process is Now Open

By: Hal Purdy

Hal Purdy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:32:51 +0000

Has anyone who applied heard back from MiniUSA, even that their application was received?

By: JonPD

JonPD — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:46:10 +0000

I think its very likely once the leases are done they will retrieve the 500 as this is a test about the viability. If the test is successful Mini-E could be on the fast track, however I expect a lot of teething problems with the 500 and am assuming Mini is using this as a learning opportunity. I would not be surprised if the 500 are taken back at the end of the year and looked at under a microscope to figure out what their cumulative status is, and likely a few to go to museums. Just hoping that they find this is a viable option.

By: veggivet

veggivet — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:47:47 +0000

Will these cars be offered for sale after the leasing period is over and BMW/MINI has gleaned all the data from the car’s computer? Or will they be destroyed like the EV-1′s?

By: jsc

jsc — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:05:57 +0000

This is the second time Mini has priced me out. The first was when I realized I was leaving off options I wanted on my JCW Factory dream car so that I could pay a dealer to install other options that should have been installed at the factory and still meet my price point. I really wanted to help with the Mini E. I would have thought I was the kind of test pilot they wanted. I meet the criteria and was willing to put up with the “hiccups”. I am motivated and was even willing to pay some token charge for the privilege of doing Mini’s R&D for them. Now, I am not even motivated enough to go see the Mini E at the LA Auto Show. When I see a Mini E on the street I won’t be thinking “Now there’s a lucky person!”

By: JonPD

JonPD — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:44:35 +0000

I wouldn't hesitate for this if it were offered here. The cost is high but then again I would love to be part in getting this car to the market.

I am sure they looked at this long and hard to determine were the greatest chance at finding enough population to get 500 leases while making sure it has a small physical footprint to keep the number of engineers dispatched to a minimum.

I think blasting Mini for this development is a tad misguided, a much better move than the R60 in my book.

By: alpinamike

alpinamike — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:01:30 +0000

It will be certain kind of client. Case in point.

By: Dr Obnxs

Dr Obnxs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:55:35 +0000

The EV1 lease was about $500 and that was quite a while ago. Everyone needs to chill out... So what that it's not an "everyperson" price yet. Expecting tech like this to come out lower than established alternatives is just smoking crack. Just be happy that there are people who are willing to do the early adoption at a premium to pave the way for the rest of us folks later....

When the car first came out it was a status symbol/plaything for the rich. All those that had horses said pretty much what all the naysayers are saying now about this launch. How many of you ride horses to work now? Think about it.

Matt

By: rkw

rkw — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:07:30 +0000

The lease may get a fair amount of interest from businesses; not necessarily for practicality but the vehicle is good for image and marketing.

By: Aurel

Aurel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:21:12 +0000

yes, the building dweller question is the biggest one for me. this car would work best in obviously a dense urban environment where short drives and pollution are currently the norm. but ANY electric car that needs to be plugged in for charging is really not ideal for this kind of environment. the irony of it puzzles me.

By: hank chinaski

hank chinaski — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:20:22 +0000

sounds great, but too much.

& where are nyc folks pluging into?

arranging to pay their garage co. extra fees?

By: Ted

Ted — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:07:03 +0000

Oh, and why not give one of these to each dealer to use for test drives for a year? Talk about getting people in the door!

By: Ted

Ted — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:05:34 +0000

I guess that this would make sense for people who put some 6500 miles / month on the car.

This is crazy! I bet that more people will lease this for the status symbol and less to people who truly want an electric street legal go-cart.

Not surprising, at this point only the well to do can afford to think about the being "green," and until more of the average folks have a chance we will never make any headway as a nation.

By: C4

C4 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:33:29 +0000

By the way, @ $2.79 per gallon of Shell V-Power gasoline, it is much cheaper to drive my fully paid off 2005 R53 S than to pay $10,200 per year to drive an electric MINI. I am only spending $1,680 per year in gas in my R53 S alone.

$10,200 anually would buy me gas for the next 8-10 years.

By: C4

C4 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:28:13 +0000

Clearly MINI wants this car to be driven by the "privieleged" few. $850 per month buys a lot of gas for a regular MINI to begin with. Plunking $10,200 a year for the honor of driving an all electric MINI (That you will never be able to own out right ala GM EV-1) is indeed a high price to pay to be a "guinea pig" for MINI.

I commend MINI for taking the initiative of offering a non-fossil fuel alternative in the market. But I do find their market focus and "test bed" requirements a bit on the elitist side of the equation. So you have to have a healthy income, a house, a garage and a place where to plug the car for overnight recharges.

I see the MINI E marketed towards "Green" Hollywood types and hand picked individuals which the New Jersey marketeers will consider to be sufficiently dignified to drive the latest marvel from Oxford and Munich.

Too bad that this test will not really let us know how this car will serve the needs to the average Joe by easing some of the silly requirements, lowering the monthly admission price and expanding the testing to other hot MINI markets like Florida.

I could probably afford the lease payment of the car, but living in Florida and in a condo automatically disqualifies me from ever getting my hands on one of these babies.

Another botched production brought to you by the bean counter and marketing departments at MINIUSA.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:46:16 +0000

The %850 isn’t actually that horrible, spendy I concur. With this being a test I am sure Mini came up with this number to make this test viable. For a very short run of vehicles and development costs not to mention the costs of learning over the next year how they run I think this is generally ok. I would actually go for one the leases if I were in one of the test areas.

By: Aurel

Aurel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:59:31 +0000

I think the main problem with that price point is that the people really looking to test the car and would be into “process” will be left out in the cold. With the car going, as someone else said, to ones that see it as a novelty factor. Although 500 cars between NY/NJ/LA is not a big deal to find well-off clients for.

By: eto

eto — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:44:08 +0000

It is odd that the pricing is so high, especially since this is a “test bed” for future development and information gathering based upon use. It would make sense to make these more accessible to an average consumer instead of someone who will lease one for the novelty. MINI should want people to lease the MINI-e who will actually drive the car!

By: Ketan

Ketan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:24:20 +0000

Can you live in NJ and be part of the program? I don’t know anyone in NYC who would plunk down $850 for a car. Have they seen the job loses on Wall St?

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:01:05 +0000

At $850 a month!? No thanks! I can lease a Porsche 911 for that kind of money!

By: Timothy

Timothy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:18:56 +0000

$850 per month is…a lot. This lease makes no economic sense of course, but I’m sure there will be those who want to lease a fashion accessory.