Dealer markups for Mini SE

I thought about waiting till I had a chance to drive the car, but figured I’ve owned both a MINI John coopers works and an i3 within the last decade so I could come to a reasonable guess how it will drive. Worst case the deposit is refundable.

We put a deposit on a Rivian early last fall. That’s a car I’m much more interested in driving before actually taking delivery. Pretty sure I have year(s) before I need to worry about it.
 
TsylviaNH said:
I had to go and check, it’s actually been two weeks exactly. Order was placed on March 16th.
Click to expand...

Thanks - appreciate it. Mine was exactly 4 days after you, hope I’m not the victim of bad timing. Hopefully find out something tomorrow from my sales rep there.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
Similar experience with Concord MINI...just happened to get shoe-horned into a build that someone backed out of, changed build to mine and had it in <3 months. No mark-ups, no pressure, all good. I test drove one Sig SE and was sold IMMEDIATELY, if you've driven any MINI before and want electric, test drive is not necessary. Awesome car, and no looks back. With federal/state incentives in the balance I can't think of a reason to hesitate. I haven't actually looked at my GOM, or really calculated efficiency after >400 miles. I drive 30 miles each day and now charge Uncle Larry every 3 days on Level 2 in 3 hours and am thrilled. :)
 
Darst said:
Hello there and congratulations!

I received my build sheet from Mini of Marin 1 1/2 weeks ago but was told that ordering wouldn’t open up again May. Am very surprised to hear that you have a production number already. Is it please possible to check when your order was placed? Iconic trim for me also!

Thanks! And hello everybody! Happy to be a part of the owners circle in the future. :)




Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
Click to expand...

I was told by Stevens Creek that the build sheet will be available when VIN is ready[emoji28] I don’t even have a build sheet yet. I ordered on March 6 at the dealership


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
Sunraycer said:
One more vote for Mini Concord. I put in a $250 deposit online in November and take delivery tomorrow. No pressure no mark-up.
Even happy with the trade in offer on my 2017 BMW.
Click to expand...
Outstanding! I still have yet to see an SE between San Ramon and Dublin on my work routes. More Teslas than any other car on 680... What 2017 did you trade in?
 
Yoyo_boba said:
You made me feel a little better. I think I am too excited for my first mini [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
Click to expand...

My salesperson at Mini of Marin confirmed today there aren’t any production slots open for electrics, only a few for JCWs, etc according to her manager. I’m confirmed in the order bank and waiting for a slot since March 20th - that’s the same day I received my build sheet btw and the day after I placed my $250 deposit online. Guess I will just roll with it and hope for the best.

I live in Cupertino 10-15 mins away from Mini of Stevens Creek. Honestly who knows, but based on what I read on yelp plus my interactions in-person + phone with them, I just didn’t feel comfortable placing my order there.

Sure that everything will work out for all of us, just wish the process was less of a black box prior to getting a production number.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
Darst said:
My salesperson at Mini of Marin confirmed today there aren’t any production slots open for electrics, only a few for JCWs, etc according to her manager. I’m confirmed in the order bank and waiting for a slot since March 20th - that’s the same day I received my build sheet btw and the day after I placed my $250 deposit online. Guess I will just roll with it and hope for the best.

I live in Cupertino 10-15 mins away from Mini of Stevens Creek. Honestly who knows, but based on what I read on yelp plus my interactions in-person + phone with them, I just didn’t feel comfortable placing my order there.

Sure that everything will work out for all of us, just wish the process was less of a black box prior to getting a production number.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
Click to expand...

Your dealer should get new allocation in a few weeks. All depends on how many cars they already have on order. I placed my deposit 2/17 and just received my prod number this past Monday. Scheduled for production next week. Hang in there.
 
Just want to chime in with another vote for Mini Concord.

Stevens Creek is super convenient for me location wise, and I connected with at least 3 sales folks via phone/email. I’m being polite when I say this.. they leave money on the table by focusing on customers that walk in, and make zero efforts on online/email/phone sales. I had them refund my preorder deposit, I wasted 2 weeks because the staff (including “managers”) have no clue; they didn’t actually enter the order the whole time.

East Bay Mini is the next closest, but they recently stopped selling new cars. Called up Mini Concord, and started all over with a new preorder deposit, and got it into the “order bank” same day, almost immediately.

To get back on topic - neither dealer mentioned above included a markup. I did reach out to multiple dealers in CA - as I would pay a reasonable fee to have an “available car” delivered to me. The 2 dealers I recall having a markup include: Nick Alexander Mini and Santa Monica Mini. NA pitched 4k-5k for inbound SE’s due to customer cancellations, or none if I place a preorder. (Passed). The sales guy at SM was “proud” to state they recently sold an SE at 10k over. (I think he thought the grandstanding would generate some FOMO and that I would be happy to pay *just* half that. Hard pass.)

As a side note, I’m speculating here.. East Bay Mini isn’t selling new cars any more because Concord Mini will be moving - westward, closer to the bay.
 
Last edited:
Demand for SEs is sky high so it is unsurprising that dealers will charge markups on anything available on the lot - and that includes Concord. That’s why I’ll need to patiently wait for my order.
 
ristretto said:
Demand for SEs is sky high so it is unsurprising that dealers will charge markups on anything available on the lot - and that includes Concord. That’s why I’ll need to patiently wait for my order.
Click to expand...

2 cents: it’s supply more so than demand.

No offense, but I think this forum acts as a bit of an echo chamber. The ones that want an SE have congregated here to chat but also commiserate during the wait period (ie spend too much time here and you think *everyone* wants an SE.)

For the record Concord Mini does have a “new” SE for sale, and is being offered at MSRP. I made a post a week or so ago re: the yellow checkered seats. The caveat is it is/was their demo, but it is unregistered (eligible for tax credit), and about 100 miles.
 
I’ll add Mini of Marin reached out last Friday about a canceled iconic SE order expected to arrive at the dealer at the end of April. They were offering it w/o any mark up. Sounded like all the sales reps were trying to pre-sell it, not just mine. I’m sure it’s long since spoken for. It was almost identical to our build minus the wheels and mirror color…unfortunately those were non negotiable items with my wife. Hopefully I’m not kicking myself for taking a pass, luckily we’re not in a hurry. I’ll second Concord offering their demo at MSRP, actually the sales rep I spoke to on the phone said they’d probably knock off a couple hundred bucks…

Of all the EVs currently on the market in the US I’d have to imagine the Mini SE has one of the lowest demands. It’s kinda niche. Mind this is part of the appeal, at least to me.
 
I think it's all relative to other EVs on the market. Most vehicles saw far greater production numbers in 2021 than 2020, the first year of Covid. While the SE sales may have doubled in 2021 they still only produced 34,851 worldwide. Compare that to the Porsche Taycan, a car most would assume to be far less common than the Mini, at 41,296. The Kona EV which is sold in limited US markets: 43,457. Hyundai Ioniq 5 which basically wasn't available in the US market last year: 65,906 (153 of which were US deliveries). Extreme other end of the market; Tesla Model 3/Y: 930,422.

All new cars are more or less popular right now, there's such limited supply. Heck people will happily pay over sticker on base model Civic at the moment (which is a good car, but you get my point).
 
Most reasonable people don't buy a car that is impractical for more than 2.5 people, and has a miniscule "fuel tank." That means most reasonable people are not buying Mini SEs. But most reasonable people don't put fun to drive on the top of their list like I do. I never considered myself reasonable when it came to car choices, and rarely found demand for the impractical cars (many fit 2 to 2.5 people with a much more useable hatch) I wanted to be sky high.
 
I probably should have clarified that I believe demand is sky high in relation to the supply of Mini SEs and not compared to other makes.

If you search online there are virtually no 2022s available; and from my experience, those that are still being advertised are customer orders. I don’t know why they still advertise them. Any that do become available are customer cancellations, and the dealers often add markups knowing that there is plenty of demand for them.

I admit demand may vary by market region and probably trim level. My LA area dealer called me to ask if I was interested in a customer cancelled 2022 SE Sig with thousands in markup. If he calls me back to offer it at around MSRP due to lack of demand, I would grab it and eat my words.
 
Tommm said:
Most reasonable people don't buy a car that is impractical for more than 2.5 people, and has a miniscule "fuel tank." That means most reasonable people are not buying Mini SEs. But most reasonable people don't put fun to drive on the top of their list like I do. I never considered myself reasonable when it came to car choices, and rarely found demand for the impractical cars (many fit 2 to 2.5 people with a much more useable hatch) I wanted to be sky high.
Click to expand...
I understand what you're saying, but I would argue that its small tank, size and boot don't make it impractical, and that depending on your needs, it's perfect for perfectly reasonable people. A LAMBO is impractical, and NO reasonable person would get one! The SE fits my practical needs perfectly. If an ICE car had to have it's tank filled every 2-3 days THAT would be impractical. But with the SE we have a gas station in our garage! ;)
 
sousvide said:
Agreed. If I didn't get such a good offer on my Model Y Performance that was expiring then I would have walked away and purchased something else.
Click to expand...

Sousvide, do you mind telling me which dealer you used? Ironically, I am also trading my Model Y for a Mini SE in Houston. I've been speaking with Woodlands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top