MINI USA reported April sales of 3,313 automobiles, down 23 percent from the 4,310 cars sold in April 2005. Year-to-date, the division reported sales of 12,798 automobiles, a drop of 12 percent, compared to the 14,494 cars reported in the first four months of 2005.
The BMW Brand as as whole (BMW and MINI sales combined) have jumped 16 Percent Year-To-Date
Source: MINI USA
I’m surprised that ANYONE is buying a MINI right now, instead of waiting for the new models… unless the dealers are doing some discounting to clear out the old inventory.
I’d assume that the majority of buyers don’t know about next year’s redesign. Then there’s the people who want to get in on a last-year supercharged model… This drop is more a result of MINI intentionally reducing it’s sales, rather than any drop in demand, I would reckon.
It could be people waiting for the 2007s. When you combine that with the cars still being sold for MSRP (or well over MSRP as reported from buyers on the west coast), I suppose it’s not surprising that sales are down a bit.
As someone whose new MCS is currently being built in Oxford, I can say there are a few reasons why I decided to buy now rather than wait for the 2007s:
1) From all the spy shots, I didn’t really like the changes made. I know I like how the MINI Cooper looks now. I don’t know if I’ll like what it will look like next year. So I decided to get what I like now, while I can.
2) The new engine and body changes mean we will face new reliability issues. By now, the 2006 car should have all the tweaks and recalls for the current models worked out, thus it’s likely that it will be more reliable than the 2007 model, which will inevitably experience some growing pains.
3) I need a car now-ish and the 2007s won’t be arriving here til January/February.
4) I’m a new MINI buyer. If I already had a MINI, maybe I’d wait for the new models to check them out. But I figure that if I enjoy my MINI (which I know I will), then my next car may also be a MINI, and I’ll have plenty of time to check out the new redesign and engines at a later date (coincidentally, when most of their kinks are worked out).
I can’t understand why their sales are behind. I’m having to wait 6 months in the San Francisco Bay area to get the Cooper S I ordered in March. None of the dealers around here have any inventory and most are still charging huge markups. If MINI sales are down this year it isn’t from my lack of trying. Thank goodness I already have my 04 Cooper.
drop is probably due to reduced output at oxford due to the new addition at the factory.
i echo aaron’s comments, buy the last year for the best! the last 5 series was a perfect example of humungous sales due to people wanting to get one of the best overall bmws ever, especially after seeing the but ugly new 5.
anyway, mini will be fine.
i may be trading the X3 towards a traveller….
I was waiting for a 2007 JCW until I saw the projected dates were late next year(maybe 2008)and that is too long of a wait for a person that currently does not own a Mini. We have a 2006 JCW on order with a late October delivery date.
It appears after the turbo comes out there will be a lag in being able to tweak the engine because of the R&D time needed for a completely new engine. So I would think there should be a bit of a sales surge in MCS’s at the end of the production year.
I’m really not surprised. I really think it’s only due to the new ’07 models coming out. People will hold out for ‘something new’. Not everyone thinks the same as me (“wait a year to see how the car shakes out”). People like change, and will wait for the latest and greatest of something new. I personally like the idea of the turbo myself – for gas reasons alone….but i’m not ready to trade my ’06 in on one….yet.
>I’m really not surprised. I really think it’s only due to the new ‘07 models coming out. People will hold out for ’something new’. Not everyone thinks the same as me (â€ÂÂwait a year to see how the car shakes outâ€ÂÂ). People like change, and will wait for the latest and greatest of something new. I personally like the idea of the turbo myself – for gas reasons alone….but i’m not ready to trade my ‘06 in on one….yet.
Feelin’ that. But it probably people waiting.
Personally, I already have a first year build car. The last thing I want to do is put myself through that again. Ugh.
<blockquote>I can’t understand why their sales are behind. I’m having to wait 6 months in the San Francisco Bay area to get the Cooper S I ordered in March. None of the dealers around here have any inventory and most are still charging huge markups. If MINI sales are down this year it isn’t from my lack of trying.</blockquote>
6 months?!?! I ordered my MCS at the beginning of April, and it’s currently in the paint shop in Oxford, with estimated completion this Friday. Maybe your dealer has a small allocation for orders, or something else is up. You might want to call around to other dealers and see how long the process takes with them. Shipping a car, by train across the country might cost less than the markups west coast dealers are charging on top of MSRP. And then you might also get the car sooner.
Forgot to add…
I think the wait is actually a potential reason why sales would be lower. People are used to waiting for new models and maybe hybrids. But MINIs have been on the roads here in the US for 4 years. Most folks I know think I’m crazy to have to wait just two months for a car. I’d wager that a good portion of potential buyers walk out when they’re told they have to wait 2-6 months for their car to arrive.
6 month wait period in the San Francisco bay area is that only one dealer is selling at MSRP, East Bay MINI, the rest are marking up thousands. I’d rather wait the time and save the bucks. It also helps that I am waiting for my MINI while I am driving another one.
I’m with Aaron on all of his points above. Except for my car currently being built – I haven’t gotten my order in yet.
<blockquote>Personally, I already have a first year build car. The last thing I want to do is put myself through that again. Ugh.</blockquote>
As a fellow ’02 owner, I totally concur.
After much thought and discussion with my MA, I decided on a 2006 MCS with the JCW Air Intake. I ordered mine on Dec.8th and took it home on Feb 7th.
Even after the shutdown at the QXFORD plant for “the holidays”, it was well well worth the nine week wait. I too wanted to wait for the 2007 French version, but also decided that the last year of a 7 year build, this TRIBEC engine had most if not all the bugs worked out. I have just recently passed the magic break in number and the songs it sings are spring time beautiful. BTW this is my 2nd MINI as a 2003 MC was the first. The 2006 MCS is well and above the ’03 and I look forward to many happy twisting turns. And for the slowdown…well they just don’t understand what they are missing!!!!!!
…and for the record the R56 (2007) MINI will have a BMW designed engine that is assembled in the UK.
I purchased my MCS 06 because I loved the current body. Plus I did not want deal with first year problems. I got my MINI 4/27/06 and I love it.
I agree with Aaron’s assessment, especially #2.
<blockquote>Personally, I already have a first year build car. The last thing I want to do is put myself through that again. Ugh.
As a fellow ‘02 owner, I totally concur.</blockquote>
As a fellow ’02 owner, I mostly disagree. YMMV
Is this drop in sales being reflected in dealership’s willingness to negotiate on price? I’d like to swap my ’04 MCS for an ’06 for all the reasons mentioned above.
Although Gabe is correct with the BMW build of the new power plant. I still have visions of the “French” lady hiding in the shadows…As in “Only the shadow knows”!!!!
The proof is in the reliablity and I’m sure that by 2008 or 2009 the new build will be well on the way to MINI greatest. As for me I go happily Motoring on those well hidden WV backroads in my 2006 MCS!!!!!
One other aspect was cost for me. I wanted a MCSc, and the new convertible appears not to be coming until 2008. I was pressed to spend the amount I did on the 2006 MCSc – and figured that by 2008 the car I would want would be even more, possibly a lot more, than today. Anyway, got my new car a week ago, and I’m extremely happy I did not wait – this years Mini’s are awesome!