From MINIUSA:
Demand for MINI brand automobiles in April was robust . MINI USA reported that April 2005 sales jumped 31 percent, with 4,310 cars compared to 3,290 sold a year ago. Sales of MINI automobiles in the first four months of 2005 are up 25 percent with sales of 14,494 cars over the 11,561 cars reported in 2004.
For those curious, here are the full numbers for the BMW Group in North America:
BMW of North America, LLC reported a 10 percent decrease in April sales of automobiles and Sports Activity Vehicles, to 21,072 vehicles compared to the 23,419 reported last April. This decrease was due primarily to the successful build-out of the 2005 3 Series sedans, in preparation for the launch of its successor, resulting in lower inventory of these high volume models. The all-new 2006 3 Series sedans will go on sale this Friday, May 6th. ??>Year-to-date, sales of BMW brand vehicles were slightly higher than last year, for sales of 76,424 vehicles compared to 76,389 vehicles sold in first four months of 2004.
<p>As always, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gbmini.net/sales.shtml">sales figures</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gbmini.net/images/MINIsalesGraph.jpg">a graph</a> are maintained over at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/">GBMINI.net</a></p>
<p>And speaking of BMWs (and at the risk of getting this completely off-topic)… here’s my quick one paragraph take after spending some quality time with a new <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/2006330iSedan">BMW 330i</a> (6-speed. prem/pkg, spot/pkg):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The 2006 3 series is simply phenomenal. The car looks incredible in the flesh – I was totally surprised at how broad shouldered and buff it seeems. The chassis is so balanced and neutral, very few other cars on the road can match it… let alone something so mass market. With the DSC off, the car becomes incredibly tossable and eager to wag it’s tail. Just a delightful thing to wring out. While it may lack a bit of the feel of the previous 3 series, it is faster, flatter and bolder. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>In a word, incredible.</p>
<p>Hey Gabe, I know this isn’t an E90 forum….but the car may be faster, flatter and bolder, but that interior and dashboard/fascia….Blander !!!! Then MINI offers a whole lotta style and character for the buck…seems that BMW is trying to pare some costs out of the interior design to keep pricing reasonable. Now that new engine design in the E90 – that seems pretty incredible.</p>
<p>Uh-oh… now you’ve done it :)</p>
<p>Actually now that I’ve spent some time with the design I’d say the exact opposite. The E46’s design (in and out) is much more bland than the E90. I’ve had one (or two) of every 3 series since the E30 and I firmly believe this is a best looking one since the E30. I can’t believe how amazing it was in person. I really wasn’t sold on it until then.</p>
<p>I’m curious to see the new M3…the new E90 looks better in person than any photos have made it look so far.
Back on topic – how many MINI’s have been sold to date in North America? And I have just realized I have been without a MINI for over a year now….yet I still lurk here all the time! Kudos Gabe!</p>
<p><em>how many MINI’s have been sold to date in North America?</em> … go see <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gbmini.net/sales.shtml">my sales details</a> and you will learn the answer is <strong>111,126</strong> ;)</p>
<p>Hey Gabe,
Great timing! I would have to echo your comments on the E90, I drove an identically equipped car the other day and wrote about it on my site.</p>
<p>Awesome car!</p>
<p>Sean, i have to agree with your comments re: the suspension. it’s been a couple days since i’ve driven the car and in hindsight i like 90% of the car. my only complaints are that they were too timid with the exterior design and the suspension. i’d have liked to see something more aggressive along the lines of the 5. the sport suspension really could have been more buttoned down, the body control wasn’t as good as it should be. while it handled and rode well enough (remarkably well for 18’s with 40 aspect run-flat tires actually), one couldn’t help but feel a little disconnected. this is comparing to a 03 MCS, which isn’t really fair.</p>
<p>Demand for MINI brand automobiles in April was robust . MINI USA reported that April 2005 sales jumped 31 percent</p>
<p>Seems to me that there is a correlation between this increase in MINI sales and people trying to get their orders in for the current gen MINI before it’s too late. Does BMW know how many people are put off by the new design, or do they arrogantly think people will just come around once they see it in person? My guess is the latter.</p>
<p>I think the increase is due to several reasons. First off with the introduction of the MCSa, MINI has brought a whole new group of buyers into the fray. Secondly, this is the first US spring that the MINI Convertible has been available. Further, sales of the MCc/MCSc are surely going to help drive sales of the entire line.</p>
<p>My guess is the majority of MINI buyers are not like us – they don’t visit MotoringFile daily and they have no idea about a redesign coming in 1.5 years time!</p>
<p>This months increase over last month is due to the convertible. No doubt these sales figures reflect the improving weather, with some stocking of the convertible at dealerships during the winter months, for “instant” sales.</p>
<p>[Gabe & Ian … posts that cross in the night 😉 ]</p>
<p>And lazy sods like me stopped wishing and actually pulled the trigger! :)</p>
<p>Ian & Gabe – Oh yeah, springtime. Here in Los Angeles we pretty much just have two seasons – Mild and Warm. ;)</p>
<p>Don’t forget the gas price issue. Of course, adjusted for inflation, it’s right in line with times that we thought that gas was ‘cheap’, but why let facts get in the way of impressions :)</p>
<p>i wish there were less mini sales.
the more sales there are the less cool and exclusive the car becomes</p>
<p>“the more sales there are the less cool”</p>
<p>What are you smoking????
If it’s cool, it’s cool. If it’s a Beetle, It’s a fad!!!!</p>
<p>as the pt cruiser sold more and more,, the coolness waned. when you see a pt cruiser, or a vw bug, or a miata, or any other car all over the place, it is like ho hum.. another pt cruiser</p>
<p>i am not sure what is so hard to understand about this</p>
<p>as any car sells more and more, the coolness wanes</p>
<p>this is simply a fact</p>
<p>I tested an ’03 CVT, and liked it, but really wished for an MCS automatic. Voila … it came out in January and I ordered my MINI in March. No regrets. And I might add that I didn’t read much about MINIs on a daily basis, that is, until I got serious about purchasing one. Before I ordered, I read everything I could get online, including one and two year old posts. I knew about both big and small issues. I followed the armrest controversy, wondered whether I would be able to order the anthracite headliner, and knew that 05 MCS automatics had a check engine light issue. I got this info in a matter of days. Will buyers be aware of upcoming changes in the MINI? I think they will … just like they knew about BMWs I-drive flap.</p>
<p>Read the Car and Driver, June 2005 article on the MCSc and you will know why the MINI will always be COOL, no matter how many are sold</p>
<p>“How’s that for sporty? And these numbers flat-out shame such competitors as the New Beetle and PT Cruiser.”</p>