Is the Paceman Starting to Sell?
That’s what last month’s sales figures seem to indicate. Talk to MINI dealers and they’ll often tell you hushed tones how terribly the Paceman is selling. And in some markets that definitely seems to be the case. However someone is buying the two door crossover. Consider the fact that the Paceman outsold the BMW X6 and 1 Series last month. Granted the both are months away from being replaced with an all new models but that still should raise some eyebrows.
Things get more interesting if you if you look just at the Paceman in relation to the rest of the MINI line-up
For September the Paceman outsold the Clubman, Roadster and almost the Convertible models.
What of the rumors swirling that MINI will axe the Paceman next year? We’d be surprised if the Paceman doesn’t last until at least 2015 (when the Prince engine is effectively dead). What will follow? It’s anyone’s guess at this point but the next 12 months of sales will go a long way in helping MINI make that decision.
<p>Any chance you can post UK sales? I’d only seen 3 other Pacemen on the road in the 5 months that I’ve had mine, then saw 3 within 5 minutes driving home from Canary Wharf in London last Saturday.</p>
<p>The answer to the subject title is yes.</p>
<p>This is the R56 Hardtop Switch Car. R56’s are starting to become rare as production runs out and they continue selling well. Also They finally have the leases in line with the Countryman which should have been the case from Jump Street. Nobody has been able to justify why they would pay more $ for a less practical vehicle when confronted with the decision. MINI got a bit optimistic with the Paceman however things are starting to fall in line for this model. I am a fan!</p>
<p>Since my next MINI may be an S Paceman…for the 2015 model year, I will be following any hints of the direction that BMW/MINI may take regarding the future of the Paceman. I had an ’08 MCS & now a ’12 JCW Coupe…both great in their unique nitches among the various MINIs.
I look at the Paceman as a larger, somewhat more usable (re back seats) than the R56 (soon to be F56) hatch. For that reason combined with its styling toward the back, I prefer it over the Countryman, despite the Countryman’s more practical 4 door access. The new 9 speed auto to be introduced in the Paceman & Countryman in the 2015 model year (per previous reports) is adding to my interest. The intro of the new 2.0L engine in the Paceman/Countryman can’t come soon enough but hear that could still be a few years away….</p>
<p>Have a paceman … Love it . Had 2 R56..they were great but I needed mor e room.
People are stopping me a lot now about the Paceman and are showing great interest,</p>
<p>Good to hear that you went from your previous 2 R56’s to the Paceman…per needing more room. Likewise for me going from an R56S & my current R58JCW, I want more room, but still look for the sportiness of the S Paceman… perhaps the 2015 model year. Don’t care to go up to the JCW Paceman (cost too much if several options are added). Would prefer the S with a good bit of options…still keeping it under 40K…..</p>
<p>Totally agree!! I had an R-53 and 2 R-56’s myself and went to the paceman and am in love!!! It’s the PERFECT MINI For someone wanting a bit more space out of the hatch but not wanting to go the 4 door route with the countryman!</p>
<p>What’s the story with the countryman numbers?</p>
<p>It making Top Gear’s ugliest list can’t help. And proves beauty is in the eye of the beholder, cuz I love the looks. But obviously a lot do not.</p>
<p>But otherwise, I’ll say it again … It needs more … POWER!</p>
<p>Especially if you’re going to clad it in JCW garb. Give the JCW more power and you made a sale here. And do it fast. Don’t wait 2 – 5 years to do that!</p>
<p>Yea, Top Gear slammed the car and I don’t get it. I think the car is absolutely beautiful and I do hope sales pickup.</p>
<p>And even Top Gear will admit that their opinions don’t seem to actually move the needle on car sales one way or the other.</p>
<p>Where is this article? I’m having trouble finding it.</p>
<p>It looks like it was actually ‘Car and Driver’, not Top Gear.</p>
<p>The Clubman was also Top Gear’s 2008 ugliest car of the year, I thought it looked great and now own one.</p>
<p>Pardon; looks like a “my bad”. I could have swore I saw it in a FB post or during their news. But it must have been C&D.</p>
<p>…my statement about more power stands. :p (no doubt so many are sick of me saying that ; it’ll happen tho ; think of me when it does ; thanx )</p>
<p>Yeah was DEF car and Driver. Kinda contradicts another article they wrote actually liking the paceman when it first came out and raving about the JCW Paceman. Seems like they are alone on this one.</p>
<p>Not sure if this has much to do with it, but MINI has released a couple of very attractive employee deals for the Paceman. Initially on Paceman, S and S ALL 4, today they released new programs that even include JCW ALL4 models. Zero out of pocket and payments that rival a bare bones Hyundai Accent. We have sold 4 this morning alone!!</p>
<p>Not to mention dealers “buying” them into their loaner fleet and you get good “sales” numbers. I don’t know exactly how it works when a dealer puts a car into its loaner fleet, but my guess is it counts as “sold”. I’ve talked to people from several dealers and they all say their loaner fleet is almost entirely Pacemans now. :|</p>
<p>We will probably do that as well if we have any remaining Paceman models left after this deal. It would be great to have a few in our loaner fleet.</p>
<p>What does employee deals mean? That only employees get them? If not … what are said deals as far as numbers are concerned?</p>
<p>Yes, often BMW rolls out crazy absurd “employee only” programs on vehicles that are slow selling or where there is a surplus to move units. For example, I drive a 2012 Z4 M Sport that listed for $71K and my lease payment (for 2 years) is $359 and I paid nothing but the first payment to start the lease. As far as the Paceman goes, the deals are too good to pass up. To update my earlier post, we now have sold them to 9 emplyees since the program started on the 1st. Again, with nothing out of pocket, a 3-year lease is about $149/mo for a Cooper Paceman and $249/mo for a JCW Paceman. If you currently have a MINI, your payment would be even lower as there are additional rebates. A co-worker leased a Cooper Paceman 6-speed with Xenons for $119/mo. Insane.</p>
<p>I had an R53 and would have upgraded to the Paceman if I could have afforded it. Had to leave mini behind and went VW. But the Paceman looks like the first real evolution of the hard top. It actually seems like a decent alternative to the evoque.</p>
<p>In my opinion, Paceman would be more popular, if will have had more differences in exterior and in interior in comparison with Coutryman.</p>
<p>See the Paceman made #4 on CCN’s most disliked cars of 2014. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/gallery/autos/2013/10/30/most-disliked-cars.fortune/4.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://money.cnn.com/gallery/autos/2013/10/30/most-disliked-cars.fortune/4.html</a></p>
<p>“Mini has built its brand by contriving numerous variations of the same
thing, but the latest iteration — the seventh in its lineup — seemed
to slice the sausage too thinly. Reviewers had a hard time figuring out
for whom the tiny, high-style two-door was designed. Complaints focused
on function, performance, and a price point that was $1,500 higher than a
mechanically similar Countryman with four doors. “The Paceman is no
sports car, and the engine doesn’t provide many thrills either,” said Car and Driver,
which called it “a niche variation on a niche model within a niche
brand.” Edmunds.com advised that “it’s safe to say you’ll find cheaper
and more practical transportation” with more traditional crossovers.”</p>
<p>While no fan of C&D not exactly the best press to grow the sales imo</p>