Discount on new Mini?

A

ang1170

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Can anyone tell me if I can expect to get a discount in buying a new Mini (straight sale for cash, no finance, no trade in)?

The last new car I got (an 04 Renault Scenic), the dealers were falling over themselves to discount, but absolutely nothing doing when I asked on a new Mini.

Is it worth going to another dealer?

Can business be really so good for Mini/BMW dealers they can stick rigidly to list prices?

I apreciate there's a big difference between makes when it comes to discounts, but I would have expected something....
 
If you use the search function, you may find some discussion that suggests why dealers may have been falling over themselves to offer discounts on Renaults.

I would have thought that the new Mini is popular enough for dealers to sell it as they wish.
 
We just bought one and they do not offer discounts in any of the garages. On the plus side they hold their value to an almost outrageous degree. Lovely car to drive...not that I ever get to see it!
 
The "discounts" offered by Renault, Citroen etc are well paid for it comes to trading-in down the line, with horrendous depreciation.....
 
Thanks for the quick replies, particularly the comment that none of the dealers will give a discount: this saves time at least.

Don't get me wrong: I fully understand the difference between different brands. There's no way I'd have paid anything near list on the Scenic (can't remember the discount, but it was certainly more than 10%). Even with depreciation, I think the Scenic's is good value: there's plenty of demand for them and the trade-in I was recently offered on it was OK. Anyone buying something like a Laguna though would need to think very carefully beforehand.....

I was just a bit surprised that there wasn't anything forthcoming on the Mini - not a cent. Hats off to Mini/BMW for being able to achieve this (I'm clearly in the wrong business!).

Does the same apply to BMWs by the way?
 
ang1170 said:
Thanks for the quick replies, particularly the comment that none of the dealers will give a discount: this saves time at least.

Don't get me wrong: I fully understand the difference between different brands. There's no way I'd have paid anything near list on the Scenic (can't remember the discount, but it was certainly more than 10%). Even with depreciation, I think the Scenic's is good value: there's plenty of demand for them and the trade-in I was recently offered on it was OK. Anyone buying something like a Laguna though would need to think very carefully beforehand.....

I was just a bit surprised that there wasn't anything forthcoming on the Mini - not a cent. Hats off to Mini/BMW for being able to achieve this (I'm clearly in the wrong business!).

Does the same apply to BMWs by the way?
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No, you'll get a discount on a BMW...the sales guy who we bought the Mini from even told us that.
 
Ah, but was he talking about a 1 series? I've heard they have problems maintaining their usual prices with those (unlike the 3 series for example).
 
KalEl said:
No, you'll get a discount on a BMW...the sales guy who we bought the Mini from even told us that.
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Try asking for a discount on the new X5 coming out soon and they will just say 'Next' . Always the case when there is a waiting list for a car.
 
go North young ang1170. You don't pay the VAT in the north, but you do in the south + VRT but it may work out cheaper and you'll get a nicer specced car for less moolah probably.
 
Pique318 said:
go North young ang1170. You don't pay the VAT in the north, but you do in the south + VRT but it may work out cheaper and you'll get a nicer specced car for less moolah probably.
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Admittedly we didn't look at this in huge detail but the saving were at best minimal and at worst non-existent. There was good value to be had in 2 year old models. You'd get one back to Ireland with all expenses paid and save about €2000.
 
Pique318 said:
go North young ang1170. You don't pay the VAT in the north, but you do in the south + VRT but it may work out cheaper and you'll get a nicer specced car for less moolah probably.
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On a new car you'll loose money by doing just this.

On a used one you will most likely gain.
 
Luternau said:
Try asking for a discount on the new X5 coming out soon and they will just say 'Next' . Always the case when there is a waiting list for a car.
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That's certainly what I'd expect on a car with a waiting list, but I was told they had plenty of Minis ex.-stock that would match pretty much any spec I'd want. Worst case if I wanted something particularly esoteric would be a six week wait.

So, to repeat my original question: is there really no discount on a new Mini, given there's no wait for one? Or is it a case that I'm just not pressing had enough?
 
ang1170 said:
That's certainly what I'd expect on a car with a waiting list, but I was told they had plenty of Minis ex.-stock that would match pretty much any spec I'd want. Worst case if I wanted something particularly esoteric would be a six week wait.

So, to repeat my original question: is there really no discount on a new Mini, given there's no wait for one? Or is it a case that I'm just not pressing had enough?
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Honestly, there's none. We've been through the procedure and I'm no shrinking violet. It's worth it though for the way they hold their value. Nice car too.
 
Pique318 said:
go North young ang1170. You don't pay the VAT in the north, but you do in the south + VRT but it may work out cheaper and you'll get a nicer specced car for less moolah probably.
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My experience is that you only save cash by importing on 2nd hand cars. I've done it three times now, and it's been very cost effective, provided (a) it's 2nd hand (b) you've no trade in and (c) you're willing to put a bit of effort in.

From what I've seen, the Revenue have what's effectively an agreement with the motor trade to ensure there's no saving on new cars. Am I wrong in this? Do you have an example of how a saving could be made?
 
KalEl said:
Honestly, there's none. We've been through the procedure and I'm no shrinking violet. It's worth it though for the way they hold their value. Nice car too.
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OK - I believe you! Thanks again for the input: you've saved me a lot of effort in fruitlessly chasing round trying for one.

Thanks also for the reference to the other thread. I think the conclusion is essentially it depends on the manufacturer and particular model on whether you can get a discount. As an aside, I've just seen someone driving a Citroen C6, the first I've seen. It looked very stylish, particularly on the inside. However, I'd say if you paid full list for it, you'll be weeping bitter tears when it comes to selling it on....
 
C6 will be extremely fast - in depreciation terms.

Big French cars usually are.
 
There are a number of cars in the market in which there is no chance of a discount no matter how hard you haggle. The mini is one of them.
 
Sunster said:
There are a number of cars in the market in which there is no chance of a discount no matter how hard you haggle. The mini is one of them.
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Looks like that's the case. The big problem is of course is knowing which ones this applies to. One of the best features of forums like this is that power balance is shifted towards consumers, simply by increasing the information available to them.

Wouldn't it be neat if there was some place you could go to find out expected discount levels? I know that some mags like Whatcar give a suggested price to expect, but the UK is a different market.
 
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