Car Talk 5: The Juice is Loose!

[D Griff]

It is quite an interesting move, but it also feels like them committing to the epic depreciation. Unless no one buys these, they will drive not only their own, but all used MINI prices even further. Like, an equivalent used unit with say 30K+ miles now is this price, to it will immediately drop by 20ish%. That will also make the Oxfords go back to the more traditional 'lose 15% in value as you drive off the lot' situation and kind of creates a race to the bottom in the used market.

I would certainly be pissed if I'd just bought a new MINI for more money

Very compelling package , if they can get people to realize it exists, they should sell. Especially in this market where most everything else is way overpriced.

The only way to stop the depreciation death spiral is to stop over pricing vehicles and increase the value prop. Yea, sucks for current owners, but like you said, future MINIs should act more like normal cars.

Wife wants something bigger and AWD, I'm pushing for the Clubman still. She still wants a Subaru.

Yeah, I welcome higher depreciation... but it's just a bit odd when it is one particular brand. They are already one of the highest depreciating vehicles, this will worsen it.

[D Griff]

It is quite an interesting move, but it also feels like them committing to the epic depreciation. Unless no one buys these, they will drive not only their own, but all used MINI prices even further. Like, an equivalent used unit with say 30K+ miles now is this price, to it will immediately drop by 20ish%. That will also make the Oxfords go back to the more traditional 'lose 15% in value as you drive off the lot' situation and kind of creates a race to the bottom in the used market.

I would certainly be pissed if I'd just bought a new MINI for more money

Very compelling package , if they can get people to realize it exists, they should sell. Especially in this market where most everything else is way overpriced.

The only way to stop the depreciation death spiral is to stop over pricing vehicles and increase the value prop. Yea, sucks for current owners, but like you said, future MINIs should act more like normal cars.

Wife wants something bigger and AWD, I'm pushing for the Clubman still. She still wants a Subaru.

Yeah, I welcome higher depreciation... but it's just a bit odd when it is one particular brand. They are already one of the highest depreciating vehicles, this will worsen it.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

The only way to stop the depreciation death spiral is to stop over pricing vehicles and increase the value prop. Yea, sucks for current owners, but like you said, future MINIs should act more like normal cars.

Wife wants something bigger and AWD, I'm pushing for the Clubman still. She still wants a Subaru.

Yeah, I welcome higher depreciation... but it's just a bit odd when it is one particular brand. They are already one of the highest depreciating vehicles, this will worsen it.

It may worsen it for existing models, but it'll help new models. ALSO, this is just the basic bitch MINI, and as the desert man pointed out, many won't even consider it due to the engine.

[max225]

Mini sells under 30k vehicles annually in the us …
Let that sink in… the entire brand sells as much as a vw gti…. Or 10x less than a civic …

So about one value model

[max225]

Honda seems to have 0 inventory issues … around me. 2 hype Rs in stock … another one has 340 Honda’s in stock …

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Honda seems to have 0 inventory issues … around me. 2 hype Rs in stock … another one has 340 Honda’s in stock …

What's weird is the Honda here is quite full as well, drove by it for the first time in a while the other day. All in my area seem to be increasing stock.

The madness might be easing.

[D Griff]

Yeah I'm surprised I didn't hear about it sooner, not that I'm shopping but it seems newsworthy. $20600 con or $22100 w/ DCT and a stupid sunroof?

That's worth special ordering at full MSRP instead of hunting for one on a lot.

Apparently allocations are super limited - and I'd bet dollars to donuts that 99.99999% of them will be ordered with a sunroof and non- because

and a bit of extra margin. I can't imagine you can just order the color you want with manuel and pay MSRP, that's not the world we live in.

[D Griff]

Honda seems to have 0 inventory issues … around me. 2 hype Rs in stock … another one has 340 Honda’s in stock …

What's weird is the Honda here is quite full as well, drove by it for the first time in a while the other day. All in my area seem to be increasing stock.

The madness might be easing.

I would assume it's similar to the auto industry as it's the same chips... but in electronics manufacturing, many companies aren't created equal. Honda may have had a lot of existing chip inventory, more capital to buy when supply got thin, different processes that require fewer chips, etc.

We are kind of dusting our competition right now because our company had cash to stock up on inventory in anticipation that shit would consider hitting the fan. We have maybe 3% of our products unavailable (out of like 5K+ SKUs) and many others have sub 50% available.

Honda may just be better at this, which wouldn't surprise me after some of your stories and whatnot about the US auto industry.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yeah I'm surprised I didn't hear about it sooner, not that I'm shopping but it seems newsworthy. $20600 con or $22100 w/ DCT and a stupid sunroof?

That's worth special ordering at full MSRP instead of hunting for one on a lot.

Apparently allocations are super limited - and I'd bet dollars to donuts that 99.99999% of them will be ordered with a sunroof and non- because

Are sold orders possible or are they all just stock orders? I wouldn't be surprised if you can't find these in

[ChrisoftheNorth]

What's weird is the Honda here is quite full as well, drove by it for the first time in a while the other day. All in my area seem to be increasing stock.

The madness might be easing.

I would assume it's similar to the auto industry as it's the same chips... but in electronics manufacturing, many companies aren't created equal. Honda may have had a lot of existing chip inventory, more capital to buy when supply got thin, different processes that require fewer chips, etc.

We are kind of dusting our competition right now because our company had cash to stock up on inventory in anticipation that shit would consider hitting the fan. We have maybe 3% of our products unavailable (out of like 5K+ SKUs) and many others have sub 50% available.

Honda may just be better at this, which wouldn't surprise me after some of your stories and whatnot about the US auto industry.

They must be. I doubt they spent anything in anticipation, but it's very possible that the vehicles are engineered to use as few chips as possible to maximize efficiency.

Most of the industry is shutting off slow selling models and now starting to shut off features. I just had to remove a number of features from my vehicle programs as a result of the shortage. Still producing vehicles, just with less features. Honda might be doing the same.

[troyguitar]

I read a post recently where dealers are only allocated a certain number of these cars, and they're pre-configured to be spec, but able to be modified.

I've messaged a buddy of mine who's a motoring advisor at Ottos (Michael Dixon) - he's THE guy to buy a MINI from if you're gonna get one.

Can't be ordered, generally tough to modify the configuration - he's got an island blue one incoming with a black roof and black wheels. Small chance he can modify the config, but unknown until tomorrow when he gets in to work.

Gotta buy a clubman first and send the some Cubans?

[max225]

Gotta buy a clubman first and send the some Cubans?

CPO Chubman JCW in a cool spec, too: https://www.ottosmini.com/inventory/cer ... 4k2d66660/

If only it had a chili red roof/mirrors. It would be I don’t like minis without contrasting roofs. They tend to look plebe spec

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Gotta buy a clubman first and send the some Cubans?

CPO Chubman JCW in a cool spec, too: https://www.ottosmini.com/inventory/cer ... 4k2d66660/

I know it's but I still want in one of these.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I know it's but I still want in one of these.

I've found a slightly heavier knob makes the feel better. The stock knob is too light.

It's not a bad-shifting tranny by any means, but the 8AT keeps the boost on tap better and it is quicker.

I know is slower, and I just don't care. I miss having one in the fleet.

[D Griff]

I've found a slightly heavier knob makes the feel better. The stock knob is too light.

It's not a bad-shifting tranny by any means, but the 8AT keeps the boost on tap better and it is quicker.

I know is slower, and I just don't care. I miss having one in the fleet.

[coogles]

I've found a slightly heavier knob makes the feel better. The stock knob is too light.

It's not a bad-shifting tranny by any means, but the 8AT keeps the boost on tap better and it is quicker.

I know is slower, and I just don't care. I miss having one in the fleet.

Amen to that. DSG is way faster than , but

[Apex]

I know it's but I still want in one of these.

I've found a slightly heavier knob makes the feel better. The stock knob is too light.

It's not a bad-shifting tranny by any means, but the 8AT keeps the boost on tap better and it is quicker.

Stock it’s like sliding a noodle thru marinara
Zero feedback/emotion.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I've found a slightly heavier knob makes the feel better. The stock knob is too light.

It's not a bad-shifting tranny by any means, but the 8AT keeps the boost on tap better and it is quicker.

Stock it’s like sliding a noodle thru marinara
Zero feedback/emotion.

That's I need to find out for myself...

[max225]

Wow

Bye bye ice

[Johnny_P]

Stock it’s like sliding a noodle thru marinara
Zero feedback/emotion.

That's I need to find out for myself...

I would really recommend driving the MT and auto back to back. The car is a lot snappier and more responsive with the auto.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

That's I need to find out for myself...

I would really recommend driving the MT and auto back to back. The car is a lot snappier and more responsive with the auto.

Yea, this doesn't surprise me, but driving them back to back in Meatchicken will probably be impossible.

I'll likely just Cuck on a Crosstrek or something because that's what the wife wants.

[troyguitar]

Yea, this doesn't surprise me, but driving them back to back in Meatchicken will probably be impossible.

I'll likely just Cuck on a Crosstrek or something because that's what the wife wants.

Well, if you do that... at least get the 2.4.

It's basically a BRZ at that point.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yea, this doesn't surprise me, but driving them back to back in Meatchicken will probably be impossible.

I'll likely just Cuck on a Crosstrek or something because that's what the wife wants.

Well, if you do that... at least get the 2.4.

Absolutely. I'm hoping to avoid that entirely, but we'll see. Still have a long while before that's really a consideration. Single vehicle life is working just fine for us.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Well, if you do that... at least get the 2.4.

It's basically a BRZ at that point.

I want a new BRZ...it's on the short list of new vehicles that I find desirable.

Problem is, I don't think it's something the wife is into unless I can replace the CT with an SUV of some sort that she likes. Which....isn't a bad idea....

[troyguitar]

It's basically a BRZ at that point.

I want a new BRZ...it's on the short list of new vehicles that I find desirable.

Problem is, I don't think it's something the wife is into unless I can replace the CT with an SUV of some sort that she likes. Which....isn't a bad idea....

is dead. Long live