Hello all. I hav a pricing question with respect to the MCSc. Are the convertibles holding their value better than the coupes? I havr seen nice 05 coupes for sale in the low 20's with less than 10K miles and not much interest. I wanted to know where a similar 05 MCSc would lie pricewise. I am trying to see what my car would be worth in a year.
Thanks in advance for the help.

 

It really all depends on your local market. The days of used MINI's selling for the same or more than MSRP are mostly over, but MINI's are still holding good value, much better than almost anything else out there.

The coupes you describe are not selling so quickly because people can buy a new MINI for roughly the same price.

Also, remember that a new body style is coming out next year, so demand for the new look is likely to also decrease resale value for used MINI's.

I would expect that the best price would be had for a convertible when spring comes and more people are thinking about motoring with the top down in the warm weather.

If you keep the mileage down, I don't expect that your MCSc will sell for about the samen a year than it would right now.

 

MSRP less $4K to an individual. To a dealer less $10K unless you trade it in for another MINI. Your MINI will always be more valuable when you own it because of your emotional connection; however, when you want to sell it the real value will drop. Your geographically location will be a big factor...west coast more...east coast less. If you need to sell it fast it might cost you $2K-3K; if you are not in a hurry you usually can get more. Out of 10 people looking for a MINI that is one year old, 8 will choose to purchase a new model. So, you are usually left to sell your MINI to someone who can't wait for an ordered MINI, your MINI is viewed as unique to the potential buyer not otherwise available, or geographically it's a great deal. Stay in the loop with your MINI friends. They seem to always have a friend looking to buying which will increase the potential pool of buyers. A lot of times it is just hit and miss.

Having said all that, the joy you will receive from owning that cabrio is priceless. Go for it. Mine changed my life...but not forever

 

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. Here in S FL demand is high for the cab year round, since even in January, top down motoring is possible without a ski mask or earmuffs. I will keep the car, enjoy the ride, and whatever happens when I decide to sell it... so be it.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that a new Cabrio will not be immediately debuting when the revised 2007 model comes out. It will be in the 2008 model year at the earliest. So while the new model is likely to soften demand for the original hatchback design pretty soon, the convertible should remain in demand until the new convertible comes out.

Demand for used convertibles may even increase, depending on how they handle the manufacturing transition. It's quite likely there will be a gap in which no convertibles are being made, neither old nor new, during which time the value of used Cabrios would be likely to increase.

 

you can always post on craigslist.org in the california market, demand is always high there and many dealers charge a premium.

 

The New in 07 design could cut either way. I've heard it suggested that BMW is interested in lowering the per unit production cost of the MINI. It's my understanding that it is higher than the 3 series. So it could turn out that the 07 will have a "fresh" look, but is dismal in finish and detail. A well maintained Cabrio will hold it's resale better than a equivalent coupe simply because there are fewer available. Plus, folks who want a cabrio, even used, really want a one. To make room for my MINI, I sold a 1960 VW KG convertible. It sold for much higher than similar coupes....

 

Sorry for the long post but
I really need some help.

Here's why:


6 Months ago,
I got a 2005 MCS Cabrio with pretty much all the options
(Premium, Sport, Convenience, LSD, Driving Lamps, Leather, Chrome, Chrono etc....)

Now
I'm thinking about selling it and
buying a JCW Cabrio with all the options.

Am I nuts?,
this is where I'm coming from....


I've seen pictures of the new MINI
sorry to say but I'm not thrilled at all.
Don't like the interior one bit.
It looks too futuristic for my taste
kind of cold and impersonal (if you will).
IMHO,
It looses most of the "Analog" charm
the current model has and I come to love very much.

I just love the current model so much that sometimes,
I find myself just sitting and admiring it from every angle.
This is the first time that I'm so passionate about a car.

Have I lost my mind?
Am I the only one who thinks this way?

I honestly think my girlfriend is jealous of my MINI


well back to my point....

I think the current Cabrio will increase in value
since it was in production for only 2 years
from the middle of 2004 till the middle of 2006.
please correct me if I'm wrong
but
The last comment I've heard was
that if you are planning to order a current model
the actual deadline was May and not June.


I'm looking to keep this car forever
but if I decide(God forbid) to sell it at any time
I have the confidence that I'm not going to loose much, if any
especially with the care I give to it.

There are few MCS Cabrios
and even fewer JCW Cabrios around.
This is why I'm thinking of getting the JCW Cabrio instead.

Think of it as a faster/better investment.


So what you guys think?
should I go for it?
is any of what I said makes any sense?

please let me know
regards,
Charles

 

Charles -

Great minds think alike it has been said. Everything you mention went through my mind and literally forced me to finally order my MINI around Thanksgiving. It took heroic efforts to convince my wife that I had to have the JCW package and literally every other option available. My MINI did not break $50k but not by much (couldn't do JCW suspension or it would have). I agree with you that the new design leaves me cold - and I want something that I just love looking at and being in and hanging around. I have all that with my 2 week old car and I agree that I will probably own this car forever.

Many people say that a cabrio is not a true performance platform since serious track people want the hardtop - but I have to tell you that the JCW is my favorite option. I SERIOUSLY enjoy drowning in the torque that this car has - and that feeling of being pressed deep in your seat when you need to reach escape velocity. I chose my colors and design to create a feeling of the classic Mini (small caps) in a Cabrio - CR with white stripes and CR dash. I am really liking the white stripes with the black roof and chrome mirrors - not too "busy" but balanced in a nice way.

Anyway, my other concern was that the 2007 car will have a new engine and so many changes that it will be a "first year build" with all the potential problems that creates. Also, the new design Cabrio will not be available right away - so you take the risk of maybe not having a Cabrio choice for a while or having Cabrios built on a line designed for a whole different body type. I want the proven product produced at the apex of the line's success.

Go for the JCW Cabrio if you can afford it - the ONLY mod that I am now planning is a rear sway bar - everything else is as optimized as I want it to be !!

Bill

 

Hey Jersey Bill

I would love to see some actual pictures of your baby.
could you please send me some detailed pictures of it?
(exterior, interior, Engines etc...?).


I'm going to post my car for sale pretty soon,


now,
does anyone have any pictures with the JCW wheels?
I'm between these ones and the R90's


regards,
Charles

 

Well you will know how I feel. Just look at what I got. FUN FUN FUN

 

Well guys, do remember the Cabrio will not change until probably late 2008. It may very well be a 2009 model. I have an 05 Cabrio that I decided I would keep forever but really would have liked the JCW package, too. But, I decided on modding it to the level of the JCW or even better. What I have done so far cost thousands of dollars less than the JCW but I feel I am at or near the same power.
Alta 15% pulley, CAI, iridium plugs, Alta 2% crank pulley, Milltek exhaust, Koni Sport shocks, HSport lowering springs, HSport rear lower camber links. New bling bling wheels and non-runflat tires. I may do the headers and upgrade the throttle body but I really like the proformance just the way she is.

I also did the aero kit and color coded the arches.

With the money I saved from getting the JCW kit, she will soon enter the shop for a complete sound system upgrade starting with the Pioneer AVIC-N2. I'll keep the board updated as to what all we do but it looks like about 3 weeks work...complete new wiring, speakers, amps, multi-lcd screens, light effects, ect. Will have her ready by Dragon time.

When I get through

 

are you 100% shure about this?


please let me know
regards,
Charles

 

Could you post some pictures of your baby?
Interior, exterior, engine etc...

or send them to mastersonics@mac.com

regards,
Charles

 

Another unknown about the new models is how long it will take for a JCW kit to debut. Chances are it won't be out right away, as they'll take their time to tune up the new engine well. So if you want a JCW MINI, now is a good time to buy, methinks.

However, since your current cabrio is already tricked out with all the options you want, and it has the LSD (which AFAIK is the only JCW kit component for the cabrio that can't be retrofitted if you buy the kit qas an upgrade). So you can upgrade it to the same level as a factory JCW Cabrio, and you'll probably save money by just having the kit installed on your current MINI.

By the time you factor in the depreciation on your vehicle and the increased MSRP of newer models, plus taxes and the long wait, upgrading the existing MINI looks to me like the winning choice.