MINI Durham

Jason Kwan, BMW & MINI Client Advisor.

UltimateBlogger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:46 +0000

We figured this week was as good a time as ever to profile Jason Kwan as he’s just become a Client Advisor for both the BMW and MINI new car divisions. Jason first started out with a career in MINI and before long was awarded the elite status of MINI Ace, as one of Canada’s top MINI Client Advisors in 2010. Soon after, he joined us at Endras BMW and was granted the opportunity to develop his repertoire further with BMW products in addition to MINI. Taking on both will make a very exciting 2012 for him as he enjoys facing challenges head on.

His current vehicle of choice is a Le Mans Blue with a hint of black. We’re talking about a stunning 2011 BMW 135i M Sport pictured off to the side. Instead of opting for an uninspiring set of steel wheels as winter tires, Jason has opted for a custom 18” matte black sport originally taken from a 335d. Take it from us that it looks absolutely beautiful in the flesh. As far as modifications go, Jason loves the bellow of an exhaust and thus has disabled the Active Exhaust leaving the 135i’s 300 horses bellowing at maximum capacity at all times. However, Jason will soon be going the full mile as a full BMW performance exhaust install lurks on the horizon.

When asked about his favourite memories in the little blue coupe he told us about roaring up and down some of Ontario’s country roads near his family home in London, Ontario. He doesn’t make it out to the track often, but visiting friends and family in the countryside are great when they have extra long driveways. Thanks to the Dual Clutch Transmission equipped in his 135i, he can fully enjoy launch control on private property. But here in the city, cruising from Yonge Street via Rosedale Valley all the way to the Don Valley Parkway is one of his favourite local spots. “It’s beautiful there at any time of the year. Especially in the fall when the leaves are changing colours and starting to pile up at the side of the road, gentle curves through a hilly neighbourhood that lead to a dip under an overpass, only to put the power down on Bayview Ave, and thrust yourself into very tight multiple turns and ramps that lead onto Don Valley Parkway North…”

When Jason finds a sliver of time between selling BMWs and MINI’s, he spends his time trying to come up with solutions to everyday’s most common problems. You see, Jason has had an inconsolable urge to invent a lasting product that can one day change the world. What drives Jason to success is the enjoyment he receives from “being a part of the most dynamic company in the automotive industry in addition to selling products designed to be the best machine it can be as opposed to merely functional.” Looking ahead, Jason says he’ll continue to enjoy “working with customers to successfully find their perfect vehicle not just for now, but in their future as well.” Don’t worry Jason, as a result of your hard work, you may just be living your dream: changing the world, one customer at a time. We wish Jason the best of luck and another successful year of sales!

Jason Kwan
New Car Client Advisor
Telephone: (905) 619-5522
Email jasonk@endrasbmw.com

Greater Toronto’s Best Driving Road.

UltimateBlogger — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:59:31 +0000

We want YOU to tell us about your favourite driving road in Ontario! Leave us comment, make your own video or tweet us a picture via http://www.twitter.com/MINIDurham!

The following video is our personal submission. We took a 2012 John Cooper Works MINI down to Twyn Rivers Road at the border of Scarborough and Pickering. What makes this road special is its two narrow bridges, its massive elevation changes and its impossibly tight hairpins. If you enjoyed the sound of the John Cooper Works MINI then by all means pop in to our dealership for a test drive!

Google Maps link: View Larger Map

If you’d like to find out more about any MINI model please call (905) 619-5522 or send an email to info@endrasbmw.com to be put in touch with a sales advisor.

2012 Toronto Auto Show Preview.

UltimateBlogger — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:17:57 +0000

It’s AutoShow time! From Friday, February 17th until Sunday, February 26th the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be bursting at the seams with the most expensive and exciting cars in the world! This year’s theme, ‘The Next Dimension,’ will have attendees experiencing the best of the past and the future of things to come. We’re both intrigued and excited as we can’t wait to see what the annual Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS) has in store for its attendees and vendors.

It’s safe to say that MINI will have all of their models present at the show. We’re hoping to also see many JCW iterations and possibly a few special editions such as the MINI Goodwood and Knightsbridge. Our fingers are crossed that the MINI Roadster and MINI Paceman also make an appearance, but of course that’s based off of mere speculation.

While we’re not one hundred per cent certain on which cars MINI has in store for us, we do know that the BMW/MINI booth will be located on the 800 level of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South building. Last year over 300,000 enthusiasts attended the show and we’re anticipating even bigger crowds for 2012!

If you’re planning on heading to the autoshow, drop by our Facebook page where we’ll be handing out lots of free tickets in the coming few weeks. http://www.facebook.com/MINIDurham

[Pictures taken at various MINI auto shows displays from around the world.]

Winter Fun at Craigleith Ski Club.

UltimateBlogger — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:51:01 +0000

This past Sunday, the MINI Durham team was out in full force at the Craigleith Ski Club as part of the Burton/MINI Free Ride Demo Tour. A massive thanks goes out to all of the enthusiastic skiers and boarders who dropped by and signed up for MINI Countryman test drives with our MINI Durham team. Maybe it was the striking cars or the free MINI and Burton swag that brought everyone to our tents, but we’d like to think it was our friendly smiles that had people sliding right into our MINI tent. We were absolutely overwhelmed by the amount of stories we heard from fellow MINI enthusiasts, both old and young, who all shared a deep appreciation for the iconic MINI. When we then showed everyone the much larger MINI with twice the doors and an ALL4 drivetrain they were as surprised as they were amazed at how far the MINI has come since the little Mark I Mini’s heyday in the early 1960′s. The entire MINI Durham team, as well as the MINI Canada-Burton and BMW Canada teams had a blast at Craigleith Ski Club which was largely due to the club’s wonderful members and the gorgeous weather.

Pictured: Kris Mehew (MINI Sales Advisor), Michelle Healy (MINI Durham Sales Advisor), and Holly (Team MINI-Burton).

MINI Durham At Craigleith Ski Club!

UltimateBlogger — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:13:21 +0000

On Sunday the entire MINI Durham team will be at Craigleith Ski Club where we’ll hand out tons of giveaways and showcase the Countryman ALL4! We’ll be set up at the bottom of the mountain from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM where you can enter our draw to win a BURTON Winter Jacket. The winner of the draw will be announced at 2:30 PM, which should give you plenty of time to hit the slopes and check out the MINI on display.

Anyone at Craigleith that then decides to come in and test drive a MINI Countryman at our dealership will receive a FREE pair of MINI ANON FIGMENT goggles! And then when you think it couldn’t possibly get any better, we’ll present you with he choice of a BURTON Board & Bindings or a MINI Roof-rack & Snow/Ski System free of charge when you purchase a MINI Countryman!

So on Sunday while you’re enjoying the powdery Craigleith slopes don’t forget to stop by the MINI Durham & Burton booth at the bottom of the hill!

Craigleith Ski Club is located 11 km west of Collingwood, ON. For more information please visit their website: http://www.craigleith.com/

A Look Back on 2011.

UltimateBlogger — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:53:35 +0000

The most notable highlights of 2011 were the arrival of the MINI Countryman, the launch of the MINI Coupé, and MINI’s re-entry into the World Rally Championship. The all-wheel drive four-door MINI Countryman proved to be a massive success for the now well diversified MINI brand. Later in the year, a MINI Coupé added a serious batch of sportiness and will serve as the base for the 2012 MINI Roadster. Scheduled for 2013 but a possibility for 2012 is the MINI Paceman which will be a sporty two-door iteration of the MINI Countryman. Next to MINI’s many viral campaigns and new model launches, there was also a private MINI Motorsport team racing the dirt tracks of the world in a Countryman JCW WRC – a highly impressive car that took the WRC by storm and even landed a top podium spot. 2012 will see the official Prodrive-MINI Team entrance into WRC, which based on MINI’s past rallying success, should be a highly successful year. But enough reminiscing on an eventful 2011, let’s face the music and enjoy a promising and exciting 2012.

If you would like to place an order or inquire about any MINI models, please do not hesitate to contact us at 905.619.5522 or at info@endrasbmw.com.

For Sale: 2012 MINI John Cooper Works Coupé.

UltimateBlogger — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:52:19 +0000

A few weeks ago we received an early Christmas present. Namely, a MINI John Cooper Works. The second we laid eyes on its Championship Red Lounge leather, its manual gearbox and Midnight Black exterior we fell in love. Luckily for its future owner, it’s only been let out of its cage a few times, once to be detailed and once for a photo shoot, which means it’s brand new and aching to be driven. This Coupé comes fully loaded with a Premium Package, Wired Package, red roof and sport stripes. If you’d like to meet this JCW Coupé then by all means come on down and pay us a visit in Ajax located just off the 401 and the Salem Road exit.

If you’d like to find out more about the 2012 MINI Coupé please call (905) 619-5522 or send an email to info@endrasbmw.com to be put in touch with a sales advisor.

PROFILED: Michelle Healy, Client Advisor.

UltimateBlogger — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:11:14 +0000

If you live in the Durham region, especially in Whitby, odds are that you’ve ran into or heard of Michelle Healy. Having held some exciting jobs in the past, Michelle now works with us as our ‘cool mom’ MINI ambassador. She’s spent nearly five years at MINI Durham and stands as one of our most experienced Client Advisors.

Mother to a three year old daughter named Ava, Michelle, against the likes of her daughter, drives a 2011 Royal Grey MINI Cooper Countryman. Not even the vast amount of trunk space or phenomenal sound system could win over Ava as she was set on a MINI Cooper S Convertible. Ava is a through and through MINI enthusiast who can’t wait to start selling MINIs alongside her mom. Unfortunately, her twisty summer drives to the cottage in the passenger seat may not be a compelling enough sales pitch when marketing the MINI’s superior handling characteristics.

“Selling MINIs is completely different than selling BMWs,” says Michelle. “Especially when comparing the average MINI customer with the average BMW customer, the whole selling experience is different. While both sets of people look for quality, comfort, and performance, the MINI customers more often look to incorporate the brand into their lifestyle with all types of accessories, uniquely configured cars, and frequent owner meet ups. It’s exactly this brand-engulfed lifestyle that creates such a warm and tight-knit community feel amongst MINI customers.”

When asked about what excited her the most about her job, Michelle’s eyes lit up as she explained that “helping the variety of customers, old and young, put together the perfect MINI is a rewarding experience that you don’t come across in any line of work.” Michelle also added that “it doesn’t matter which brand you’ve got in mind, there’s no consumer car that can be as infinitely customized and tailored to the tastes of such a wide array of customers as a MINI.”

Michelle Healy
MINI Client Advisor
Telephone: (905) 619-5529
Email michelleh@endrasbmw.com

Three Times MINI Coupé.

UltimateBlogger — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:27:37 +0000

The all new MINI Coupé has arrived! The three Coupés you see pictured above are exactly the ones waiting at our dealership to be taken for a spin. So by all means, if you’re in the market for a bit of motoring fun, come by and find out for yourself how much fun these funky Coupés are to drive. We like to call MINIs the pinnacle of driving enjoyment and the arrival of the MINI Coupé has managed to further characterize MINI as THE car for the motoring enthusiast. So feel free to come in and meet the Coupé as well as our Sales Team which from left to right is David Ferguson (MINI Sales Manager), Kris Mehew (Sales Advisor), and Michelle Healy (Sales Advisor).

If you would like to place an order or inquire about the MINI Coupé, please do not hesitate to contact us at 905.619.5522 or at info@endrasbmw.com.

Look Out for the MINI Durham Street Team!

UltimateBlogger — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:28:10 +0000

It doesn’t matter where in the Durham region you live, you’re bound to run into the MINI Durham Street Team at some point. Whether it’s at your local gym, your favourite restaurant, or a local event, we’ll eventually see you there and offer you an on-the-spot test drive. You can expect to be tossed the keys by our MINI obsessed Street Team in addition to receiving a few exciting giveaways and a monthly promotion flyer. That means you’ll get first dibs on driving the hot new MINI Cooper S Coupe or the all-wheel drive MINI Countryman. This month’s promotion features the new MINI Knightsbridge which comes loaded with heated seats, a sunroof, and Bluetooth & USB audio interface. You can lease one today for only $248/month with a $1,650 down payment.

The Street Team’s next stop will be at the Extreme Fitness Customer Appreciation Event at the Whitby location in the AMC Plaza on Monday, November 14th between 5:30-7:30PM. We will be conducting more on the spot test drives to anyone who fancies a spin so please stop by!