Topic: I just turned down a MINI-E (Read 702 times)

MaxN · « **on:** Wed Mar 18 '09, 05:39:37 PM »

MINI called me and offered me a MINI-E.

The catch ?

$800 / month

Limited mileage

'substantial installation costs'

I apparently fit the criteria that MINI are looking for but frankly I have better things to spend $800 / month on.

macushla · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed Mar 18 '09, 07:53:58 PM »

Wow! For some reason I thought they were already all spoken for....hmmmm. Maybe spoken for 12 months ago when people thought they could afford $800/mo!?

MINIclo · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed Mar 18 '09, 08:29:09 PM »

I canceled my landline in October and changed my email long, long ago, so I guess they can't reach me!?

$800/month is ludicrous - and more than my mortgage.

AudioNToxication · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 12:43:15 AM »

Yeah the $800 is a bit crazy, but it's a 12 month lease, and you have to return it at the end so they can inspect the cars and see how they are holding up, they are basically longterm test vehicles.

MINIclo · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 01:53:32 AM »

How nice of them to

overcharge

their loyal enthusiasts for beta-testing the e-MINI.

AudioNToxication · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 03:26:22 AM »

i think $800 may be close to what it would be to lease a mini for a year though. but yeah they could have given the cars out for free for testing, but then you may have too many mini fans that may not drive them and want to keep them after it's done.

cutemiss60s · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 10:41:44 AM »

for $800 a month I could have just bought 2 of my coopers! maybe they are aiming high to test peoples reactions?

Kelly Girl · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 11:56:29 AM »

that's damn near close to a mortgage payment.

bad planning there MINI.

they should LET established owners drive one for a week. that would be the best marketing

Minidave · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 02:00:21 PM »

I think they should be paying people $800 a month to - as you put it - Beta test them!

I think that's the only way they'll get an accurate cross section of usage to really gauge the road worthiness of this concept.

If nothing but rich guys with 8 cars in the garage lease them, they won't get the daily commute and usage needed to really assess the viability of the design, IMHO.

I understand a lot of the folks who put down the $99 for a new Smart have backed out too, leaving quite a few cars on the ground, available for purchase.......I know our local dealer has 10 or 20 in their lot.

MINIclo · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 06:35:31 PM »

Quote from: Kelly Girl on Thu Mar 19 '09, 11:56:29 AM

that's damn near close to a mortgage payment.

bad planning there MINI.

they should LET established owners drive one for a week. that would be the best marketing

Like I said above, it's more than my mortgage payment! Goofy, huh!?

MaxN · « **Reply #10 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 06:51:43 PM »

Well I had a long conversation with them, given the economy they may be reducing the 'payment' and asked if I would be interested if the price was lower......

JCWJeff · « **Reply #11 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 06:55:53 PM »

Quote from: Minidave on Thu Mar 19 '09, 02:00:21 PM

I think they should be paying people $800 a month to - as you put it - Beta test them!

I think that's the only way they'll get an accurate cross section of usage to really gauge the road worthiness of this concept.

If nothing but rich guys with 8 cars in the garage lease them, they won't get the daily commute and usage needed to really assess the viability of the design, IMHO.

I understand a lot of the folks who put down the $99 for a new Smart have backed out too, leaving quite a few cars on the ground, available for purchase.......I know our local dealer has 10 or 20 in their lot.

I agree. Apparently MINI took a page out of Microsoft's play book -- vis a vis making us pay to beta test their product.

As far as the SMART car goes, I consider one if they weren't so expensive. But the reality is that I wouldn't be able to use it, since I need a back seat (or room for at least 3 people). Now, I COULD get by with a McLaren F-1 as a daily driver, since that has 3 seats.

JCWJeff · « **Reply #12 on:** Thu Mar 19 '09, 06:56:37 PM »

Quote from: MaxN on Thu Mar 19 '09, 06:51:43 PM

Well I had a long conversation with them, given the economy they may be reducing the 'payment' and asked if I would be interested if the price was lower......

To which you answered, "yeah, about $1600/mo lower..." Right?

CooperChick · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri Mar 20 '09, 08:30:21 AM »

Well gee, considering that you would pay for the gas and the Insurance... They should let you drive it for free.
I mean, come on now... For beta testing a car? If they want the info, why should you have to pay for it?

Aardvarkalope · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat Apr 04 '09, 11:05:26 PM »

$800 a month for a chance at being electrocuted when my car gets rained on? Sounds like a bargain.

bamatt · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon Apr 06 '09, 11:49:30 AM »

Just curious... how far does the MINI e go on one charge? For someone like me who lives 9 miles from the office it wouldn't matter as much but in Califlower I know many people tend to drive long treks to work & it seems like it would matter more there

mcrmini · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon Apr 06 '09, 11:51:41 AM »

They say about 150 miles on a full charge.

bamatt · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon Apr 06 '09, 12:57:08 PM »

ahhh thanks

gnatster · « **Reply #18 on:** Sun May 17 '09, 08:29:59 AM »

800 a mo isn't that much of premium over what many of us pay for a car payment, fuel, insurance and maintenance.

I may be wrong here as I didn't bother doing the research, being in TX I could not get one of the MINI E's, but doesn't MINI pick up the cost of installing the electrical upgrades, to a point, needed in the house? MINI covers insurance from what I've been able to ascertain and ther is no gas cost, just a modest increase in electric usage. Focusing on the total without taking the steps to get there is where many of us are going wring, IMHO, in looking at this.

MaxN · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun May 17 '09, 08:44:51 AM »

Nate

MINI Payment - $0
Fuel - $80 / month
Insurance - $60 / month
maintenance ? I fix it when it breaks.....

The $800/month does not include insurance and there is a$1900 'cost' to get SoCal Edison out to connect a power line which MINI do not cover.

gnatster · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun May 17 '09, 10:16:40 AM »

Well then for you in this case it does not make sense.

I also had no idea there was a $1900 cost to the electric company. With that in mind the cost structure certainly does change and is less attractive.

The next questions is....has MINI been able to find all the beta testers they need or have so many dropped out of the program due to the real costs that MINI did not reveal that this program of theirs is not going to fly?

MINIclo · « **Reply #21 on:** Fri Jul 17 '09, 10:05:30 PM »

Interesting article about the MINI-E by Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive journalist, Dan Neil, in today's LA TIMES.

News:

Author Topic: I just turned down a MINI-E (Read 702 times)