Is There A Catch To A Non-Hybrid Car Getting 40+ MPG? How About A $5k OVER Sticker Penalty?

Market Value is Market Value, I don't hear people complain when they pay for less than MSRP for cars. I paid over MSRP for my GT3 and recently was offered more than what I paid for it a year ago and I still wouldn't sell it...

Hold on a second, fellas.

The MINI is marketed as a relatively inexpensive car. It's not only bait and switch to add $5K to a car with a base price of $31K, it's a betrayal of the entire brand.

No one expects to be treated like a human being when they buy a GT3.

Methinks two auto dealers are on here trying to convince us it's more than OK to pay the stupid tax, it's practicaly intelligent!

The MINI is marketed as a relatively inexpensive car.

consumers could've cared less about market values... mainly aim for the car... if everyone was that nit picky about price... when lexus came out... y didnt MB go bankrupt?... really it doesnt matter... u may choose the 335 or G35... but there will always be some that are conned into this mini

Way too much money for what you get.

I just picked up a Mini Cooper S for a commuter car. Im getting 36.5 MPG in mixed driving. It doesnt have the power of my M Roadster, but it still puts a smile on my face with its superior handling and GoKart ride. FYI, I DIDNT pay any additional dealer markups and bought mine while on vacation visting my parents in the midwest. The Pacific Northwest dealerships have their dealer markups and people are stupid enough to pay it. Not me.... Motor on.

How's the torque steer?

That and interior noise are my only gripes with them...

001

001, Surprisingly, very little torque steer...but I dont have the JCW model, just the S model. I do find the sunroof without a proper sliding cover to be a little noisy, but am enjoying this car so much, I over look the little stuff! Every day since purchase, some one has stopped me to talk about the car. People mostly interested in the gas mileage and then they see the interior and are really impressed with the craftsmanship. I have to be REALLY honest here... the interior quality of the plastics and brushed alloy dash is better than that of my '06 M Roadster which was approx 28K more! People have commented that it looks like a luxury Mini. I spared no expense with the interior. Future plans are to upgrade with the JCW Engine Tuning Kit and KW Coilovers. Have fun with yours, 001! Motor on...

notice when people talk about german brands, the "torque steer" problem magically vanishes.

LOL $45K gets me a LOADED 135i, or an Audi 2.0 Avant Quattro, or the new Q5.

BUT, in terms of savings, the extra fuel economy saves you about $1100 per year over any other car averaging 30 mpg on the freeway. But then if you are going after "savings" it defeats the purpose of paying $45K doesn't it? Might as well by a Prius for $28,000 and save even more gas.

My old 98 Honda Civic averaged 40 mpg. I kick myself everyday now for giving it away to my sister.

I wouldn`t waste any money on a Prius, does anyone actually know someoine who has even got close to Toyota`s claims, the Mini is a great car to drive and the Diesel is even more economical

The prius is cheaper

I've driven the Prius as a long term rental car and have gotten a range in mpg. On the low end (when I push the car a bit more, or go over 75 constantly on the highway, i get about 45. On the high end (slower, more casual driving), I've been getting about 61 mpg. On average, I get around 50-52.

It's probably still not where they advertise (i forget what the figures in brochures are), but that still seems pretty impressive to me.

This is nothing new. Dealers have been adding a market adjustment price for decades to fast selling vehicles. And some people are stupid enough to pay these prices.

I agree, if the market warrants it, then why not. It would be diffrent if dealerships are asking over list and there is a full lot of them. But when they are all sold out, then it's ok..

Mini’s handle as advertised, it really is a go-kart on wheels and it gets great gas mileage. HOWEVER, and that’s a huge however. My Mini was one of the worst cars I’ve ever driven. Let me explain. As a BMW loyalist I thought I would give the Mini a try. While owned by BMW, Mini is apparently not a BMW. I took that little crapper of a car to the dealer more times than any car I’ve ever owned. It squeaks and rattles than a baby’s toy. It was not limited to just cosmetic issues, there were issues with the engine and transmission. All this in a brand new car.

My Mini did an amazing job perpetuating the stereotype of poorly built British cars. Why they make these things in Britain is a mystery to me. For starters, the Pound to Dollar exchange rate is horrible, it really doesn't make financial sense to make a car of this class in England. To meet their price point objectives, I wouldn’t doubt that Mini hires a bunch of meat headed idiots to put their cars together. I’m telling you, I would be ashamed to be British knowing what I know about Mini build quality.

But it doesn’t stop there, the Mini has ridiculous torque steer. Any serious car aficionado would consider this car a joke. It’s a fun urban toy that you can drive around get groceries and such but that’s about it.

Thankfully the new Mini SAV will be built by Magna in Austria, not in Oxford England!

for 45 I'd buy a 2003 911 and say screw gas, i just wont eat out as much.

"001 had the distinct pleasure of driving the new MINI Clubman S with the 'John Cooper Works' package during my weekend stay in the Bay Area."

2 sentences in and you didn't even proof-read it?

If you owned a business and consumers were willing to pay more for a good than what the advertised price is, wouldnt adjust to the market accordingly?
Every item has a cost and a personal cost. I am not willing to buy a Lexus ES350 for $45k when I could go the exact same car at toyota for $30k.
i wouldnt pay $5 for a cheeseburger at mcdonalds, but maybe if I am starving I am willing to pay a little more for satisfaction.
I am sure people think you paid too much for your house or too much for some furniture.

Paying $5K over sticker for a car is just like paying $8 for a Budweiser at a ballpark. It's greed, but it's the price you pay for living in the U.S. so get over it.

If you don't like it, wait till the market changes, or just don't buy it.