Absolutely lucky! Come on, my friend, I know you've been down there! They have quite a few used cars in their showroom, over on the side, near the door leading to the service bay, and I see prices ranging from $23,500 on up, for '04's on up.

It seems anymore, the only cheap Minis are the '02's, and '03's. So, it's basically proven that Minis don't exactly hold their value any better than any other Japanese or European import car. For instance, my close friend bought his '03 MCS from them, and it cost him $20,500. But in the glovebox, we discovered later, was the original sticker. That car had originally sold for something like $27,000. So, I'd daresay that "You can sell the car for almost what you paid for it" only really holds true for people who have bought their car in the last two years.

Just like any other import.

 

Maybe, or maybe I have been at this a bit longer than most, maybe I can make the deals I want AND make sure they also make their money, and can bargain or WALK, if it's NOT the right deal. I will miss my luck if it ever leaves, but I don't count on it being there in money situations.

 

Yeah, to my embarrassment, my Mini is my first(and will be my last) car that I didn't get a killer deal on. Hell, I somehow stole an '03 Cobra convertible from a Ford Dealership(!!) for $26,900 in February of this year. Even better was the fact that after the sale, I gave them the blue book quote I pulled on the car, its value was $32,500. True story!

When I got my Mini, I was able to sell the Cobra for a little more than I paid for it, and thus paid no tax on the Mini. My Camaro Z28, same story, I was able to work a great deal.

The Mini? I guess my logic wasn't working too well that day.

 

To get back to the original question, I think people have forgotten to ask an important question back... what is the most important thing to you in a new car? Answer that question honestly and you will have your own answer.

Most people on this board will answer that question differently. Their answer will explain their purchasing choice. From my experience, what the Mini has to offer over other cars in its price range (in no particular order) are styling, handling, build quality, steering feel, quickness, individuality, a good warranty, free maintenance, fuel efficiency, safety and some other things people will definitely point out. If those things are your priorities, then you will not be disappointed with your purchase.

If the ability to go to Cosco carrying an entire soccer team, or 1/4 mile bragging rights (I mean, practically speaking, how often do you REALLY go WOT for a 1/4 mile in the real world?), or max rated g's are what are important to you, the Mini is probably wrong for you.

 

That's great. Someone needs to by used MINI's to keep there value up. It might as well be you.

 

[edit] oops double pumped...

 

If I were trying to save a few bucks, I'm not really sure that other than LSD there's an option I would have to have. In fact, I'm sure I could have easily been happy with a dead base car. My one gripe is that I'm not wild about the white and I'd never own a red car again... been rear ended too many times. It would be nice if they had a third. non-metallic base color to choose from. In the end, if I were fiscally challenged I'd go PW/B LSD, Xenons. If you a bit less of a driver type substitute DSC for the LSD. $22K. Done. Everything else you put in falls under the heading of luxuries as far as I'm concerned, and if you trying to hold the cost down, thats what you skip.

Funny, the grass is always greener. Good friend of mine bought an '05 STi. His sister got an MCS a few months later. He picked up the car up for her. Every since, hes been wanting to unload the Subaru, but the resale is so bad he can't. Why sell it? Cause, yeah the Subie is faster, but compared to the MINI it feels like its constructed of tin and cardboard. The Evo also is a very interesting car, but we're talking machinery thats priced at or above the 325i level. With the very sexy Evo X on the near term horizon, buying an Evo IX seems like its begging to get slaughtered on the next trade-in. From a track day perspective, I'd might opt for the EVO, but from a day to day driving POV, its the MINI, hands down, err.. thumbs up .

 

I have not read all the posts but several so I beg everyone's pardon if this is from the department of redundancy department.

You really need to drive the Mini for a while to appreciate it's true qualities. I bought mine as a lark after a short test drive. ..... found the car on Ebay and flew to Miami picked it up and drove it home to Atlanta. The whole while on the drive I still wasn't sure if I would keep it..... I got such a good deal that I knew I would not lose money. The more I drove the car the more I liked it. The driving experience is really unique. You can have a lot of fun driving this car at the speed limit which can not be said for many..if any, other car. I don't understand the guys that drag race these cars as to me it is kind of like trying to make a down line man out of a wide receiver but I'm sure it's a lot of fun so who am I to judge. We all know there are many faster cars out there but none for the $ that give me the same sense of quality, handling, etc, etc....... and pure fun while still being able to pull up to a customers office and not feel like a "show off...... but that is just me. If you can get in right ($) and the car is not for you ..... you can get out without getting creamed.

as someone says.... just my $.02

 

>It would be nice if they had a third. non-metallic base color to choose from.

I hear that. The MINI has clean lines and I think it looks better without the tawdriness of metalic paint. I also think it would look better with less chrome . . . . We really wanted a BRG MINI, but the MINI BRG is metalic rather than being true BRG. We ended up wtih Pepper White with a black roof. I'd have gone with the Pepper White roof, but since the sunroof looks black having the black roof gives a more uniform appearance. If MINI still had the non-metallic blue from early production cars, we'd have gotten that.

 

Amen. I had driven a friend of mines '03 a bit and as I'm an AX instructor, I had run a number of students cars under more stressful conditions as well. So when I finally convinced my better half to take a test drive, I knew pretty much what I was going to get. All I can say is the MINI is one of those rare cars that can be driven in a relaxed and leasurely manner, but if you feel like putting the spurs to her a bit, it responds. For years I tried to buy an E36 M3 and more recently an E46 M3. Everytime I took a test drive, I realized that while the car was terrific, if I bought one I'd lose my license. Trouble with those cars is they are really not very happy unless you push a bit. The cars are so capable that pushing a bit means inviting every peace officer in the vicinity to nail yer butt but good. IMO, a MINI seems nearly as capable as the E36 (a couple of cheap mods and your there), it simply doesn't have to be flogged to be enjoyable.

 

Having spent a few years in an E36 M3 and several weekends instructing in E46 M3's, I could not agree more. For the first six months in the M3 I was Public Enemy #1. I did eventually calm down. There are probably more than a few cars out there that have so much performance potential and such sound engineering that the driver will consistently violate the law if they elect to enjoy the car's capabilities.

Right out of the box, my MCS was a joy to drive. As I explained many times when I first got it, I wanted a car that would be fun to drive without requiring such high speeds to truly enjoy it. I admit that I wanted just a bit more power to make sure I wouldn't miss the M3. So I made a few light mods. After 10K miles in my MCS with only a reduction SC pulley and an upgraded rear swaybar, I find that I have no need to change my day-to-day driving style and that the MINI is up for whatever situation arises.

In point of fact, no matter how fast your car is, someone else will have something faster. (I learned that after only a few weeks in the M3, courtesy of a late model 911.) The bottom line is that everyone has a different appetite for power & acceleration. For me, the MCS provides enough with modest mods to satisfy my street requirements.

 

Here is my take on the resale value issue, just my opinion. Everyone here seems to assume that the add-ons increase the value of a car whether from the factory or the aftermarket. I strongly disagree. The MCS and MC are worth in a resale close to what the base MSRP is and hover around that point for several years, that's the advantage. Cars are not good investments, unless maybe you held on to a car that is sought after for now from the 1960's or earlier. All the packages and add-ons depreciate fast after purchase. So Cooper Sigma is right when he tells us his friend's car resold for 6.5K under it's list price, BUT the problem was the list price truly exceeded the value of the car when it rolled off the showroom that first day. Extras are only of value if you have the exact right buyer who is looking precisely for those extras, you can wait for that guy or gal, but that is a luck thing. Apparently in other "jurisdictions" it's different, the "Chili Pack" is a requirement across the ponds, or the car is devalued. Maybe the JCW package pushes the value, BUT again when you configure a MINI with it, your car easily pushes 31 to 32K, watch the board and the actual resales, I don't think anyone will pay those $$ for a used MINI. Same thing happened with VW Passat OW8, it cost 37K plus, it exceeded it's price point and they didn't sell here and got dropped from the line in the USA. i think the same is going to happen to the 65K+ Phaeton.

Anywhoo..my take on this is the price point for a late model used MCS is 18-22K, a MC about 15 to 19K, that's if you want to sell or trade them, not just list them and not get any calls. Used sales are tough, we always have more in a car it seems than we can get out of it, the loss is our road use taxes. Just my .02 worth, add 90 more and you MAY be able to buy a cup of 'jo'...

 

I think this and rjmann's post are dead on........ Bob's first law #1 "whatever yo can do you can do perversely" knowing when enough is enough and just enjoying is a fine art for some of us....I'm still a work in progress....... there is always someone with more money, better looking, faster, etc...... not a good place to draw you self image/esteem from...... as you all know.....I am the pot calling the kettle black....but I am aware and working on it

 

I've said that for years about the M3. The car's capabilities are simply so high that by the time you are "pushing it" the consequences of failure are catastrophic.

 

I dont think so. I think most people understand they will never get back the money for aftermarket parts for modded cars

As to factory options, thats different. Take a look at the "real KBB", not the online one and look at the accessories that DO add value beyond the stock car. I havent looked up a MINI but most add value for "premium wheels" and things like that.

The other side to this is not everyone wants a Stripped car. As you get older (hehe), some luxaries are nice to have

 

Good points, but you also have to consider the buying populace who might be shopping for a used MCS. For everyone who sees a modified MCS and thinks "AWESOME, all the mods are already done for me! That's the car I want!" there are twenty more seeing your ad and thinking "Modified, eh? Kid probably dragged it out and did 5,000 rpm clutch drops every day. 'Not raced', my ***!" and pass on the ad.

I think we're ALL wierd in what choices or decisions motivate us in our purchases, since no two people are ever alike.

 

Agreed, thats why I think you see so many parts for sale. PPl strip of the aftermarket parts to sell.

Also, for many, the "process" of modding is most of the fun ... the means to the end. If all the work is done, where is the fun

 

Absolutely!!!

 

But also look at the value added, it is always substantially less than what was paid for them. My point is that people say I paid 27 K for it, how come it's worth only 20K? It was worth 20K the extras only pushed it up a few hundred more here or there. Buy what you like and want, I just don't personally think these are 25 to 30 thousand dollar cars or more, no matter what they have on them. Like the OW8 Passat, it tried and failed to be worth more than the 25 to 30K Passat. IMO.

 

Agreed, of course they are not going to be for list price.

To your point, those ppl are being naive. They dont understand how the market works. There was a FS thread here a few month back where the owner just couldnt understand why he couldnt get close to what he paid (I forget the thread).

In fact, MINI give you everything you really need "stripped". All the basics are there ... everything else is a luxary.

 

You just described my car, I am actually wondering why I added the HK and the MF steering wheel...

 

LOL, i have neither. Radio works fine for me. The wife "wanted" cruise but we've had cars with no cruise before, no biggie.

However, I would buy the Xenons. Worth every penny.

 

I didn't like the complexity of the Xenons, including the washer, but all in all it seems like worth the money. But I might have spent it if they had been Bi-Xenons where the high beam was also more than my Halogen Hi-beam.

 

I agree with others. Just get a basic one.
Mine is fully loaded, and was $38500 cdn all in. ($33200US)
If I could do it again I would settle for a bare bones MCS.

 

I agree. I'll go ahead and give my honest opinion that new Minis aren't worth what people are paying for them. Oh, I'm sure to the buyers rushing in to buy new they are, but in all reality, they aren't.

Minis depreciate just like other import cars, and there are plenty of better* cars in the same price range.

*My opinion only