MINI USA Sales Down 40% for March While Waiting for F56
It was a dry month and MINI dealers with the F56 still a few weeks from its official on sale date. As expected sales were down big time with a decrease of 39.8 percent from the 6,071 automobiles sold in the same month a year ago. Year to date, MINI USA reported a total of 8,657 automobiles, a decrease of 38.4 percent from the 14,055 automobiles sold in the first three months of 2013. Full details after the break.
The bright side? MINI Pre-Owned Vehicles had their best month ever. In March, MINI used automobiles (including MINI NEXT certified pre-owned and pre-owned) reported sales of 2,220 automobiles, an increase of 29 percent from the 1,721 automobiles sold in March, 2013. Year to date, MINI used automobiles (including MINI NEXT certified pre-owned and pre-owned) reported sales of 5,976 automobiles, an increase of 23.3 percent from the 4,846 automobiles sold in the same three months of 2013.
<p>I was thinking about getting a 2013 Baker Street Edition late last year but decided against it. Even test drove one. I may have made a mistake. With MINI UK already recalling the MINI D and MINI One, not a good sign.</p>
<p>I may not be able to wait 2 years for all the issues and bugs to be ironed out of the F56.</p>
<p>I was thinking of a 128i but that car is no longer available either (don’t like the look of the 2 series).</p>
<p>As DB wrote on his blog recently: “Played the early adopter once before. It’s a game for the young and
prosperous. I don’t have the time to potentially make frequent trips to
the dealer for whatever the issue du jour is. Not saying it will happen,
but MINIs first generation history isn’t the greatest.”</p>
<p>DB, here’s your ahem to that.</p>
<p>Have you considered the X1?</p>
<p>Is it the wait for the new and improved or the realization that the marque isn’t exactly what we once thought, or expected? Has the marketplace become more saturated with alternatives, are potential Mini buyers turning to the Kia Soul? Are the limitations of the Mini becoming less tolerable to the masses?</p>
<p>Tune in next month for the latest episode of “Mini Sales Have dropped XX% while potential shoppers wait for the latest model of the Cooper S with its 12 speed transmission and warm beer coolers in the back seat.</p>
<p>I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed that the CooperS is not powered by a hotter version of the 3cyl. It just seems more efficient, and more mini to me. Not to mention lighter.</p>
<p>I wonder if a case could be made for a JCW Cooper with the 3cyl tuned to about 190hp, JCW fittings for brakes and suspension, and priced out somewhere in the neighborhood of a well spec’d CooperS. Something that would be a better driver’s car, better dynamics, a bit quicker, etc. I think there is room for a JCW experience without getting into the HP of the JCW CooperS.</p>
<p>Does that make sense to anybody else?</p>
<p>A JCW Cooper couldn’t be as quick as a Cooper S…
FYI the 2.0L 192hp (F56S) is lighter than the 1.6L 184hp (R56S)</p>
<p>FYI I know that, and So what. The Cooper F56 is lighter than the CooperD F56. And the 1.5l 3cyl can certainly be tuned to place it faster, or even with the 2.0l 4cyl CooperS.</p>
<p>This is what the aftermarket is for.</p>
<p>Sure, aftermarket have at it. But its also what JCW is for.</p>