Hi, new to both this forum and to the Mini Copper world in general.

I don't own a MC... at least not yet. I am currently in the process of trying to decide on whether or not to buy one, and if so, when. Traditionally I go for V8s in such things as full size trucks and muscle cars, etc. But obviously with today's gasoline market free-wheeling around getting 10-12mpg is becoming decidedly less and less attractive. So I decided to switch gears (pardon the pun) and try to find another venue for my automotive lusts that was more fuel friendly, but still fun and exciting... really something that I can still be enthusiastic about owning and driving. I am a car guy through and through, to me a great day is a day spent on a road trip... watching the scenery go buy, snaking through back roads or around freeway clover leafs... or just motoring flat out on a long stretch of open road. I just love driving, and I love cars that drive and handle well! As such, if I can't consider myself an "enthusiast" for a particular car and/or truck, I don't really care to own it. From that perspective the MC really stands out in the world of small, fuel efficient cars... and that's why I'm here.

I'll be reading as many of the past threads/posts here as possible to try to glean as much info as I can from you, the current MC owners/enthusiasts. Already I've discoverd quite a bit about them and have already determined that if I did get one I'd get and MCS 6spd. Where I live there's only one dealer in the whole state (Arizona) and that's in Scottsdale, AZ. As yet I haven't even been down to the dealership to test drive one (actually, I'd prefer not to at this point, because from what I've read so far the car sells itself, and I'd probably fall in love with it and want it immediately... and right now I want to spend some time in the research phase!)

That said, though, what is the best way to go about getting one? From what I've read here the dealerships aren't particulary known for wheeling and dealing and you're pretty much stuck paying sticker (or maybe even paying a bit of a premium). I personally lose a lot of interest in buying something from dealer stock if I'm not going to get some kind of financial benefit from it. In the past I have ordered new vehicles and it is a very fun and rewarding process... picking exactly what color and options you want, placing the order, waiting anxiously for it to arrive. And that's what I tend to think I'd do with a MC purchase. Is this fairly common, or do most just buy from dealer stock? And is ordering one more hassle than it's worth?

At any rate, I probably won't be buying one until the 2009s come out... so does anybody know of any new "goodies" that will be coming out on the 09s that are especially worth waiting for?

Anyway... great to be here... thanks in advance for any and all advice I get from you all!

 

When you are ready to buy, I would suggest that you consider giving several dealers on the west coast a call to see what they have and what they will do. You will find that they will strike up some deals that are quite contrasting from each other. One to keep in mind is the dealer In Salt Lake (Murray Mini, I believe). They are very goodand don't mark their cars up beyond MSRP. Nothin is nicer than flying somewhere, picking up your new Mini, and then having a nice long drive home in your fantastic new little car. Makes for a great weekend.
A friend of mine did that from the Salt Lake dealer. I did the same, but from a dealer in Portand. He was lucky, his drive home was longer than mine.