I've been going back and forth as to whether or not I should trade/sell my Cooper S in for a JCW.

I've got the JCW Stage I kit, JCW coilsprings, JCW aerokit and JCW big brakes (front only) Other than a few mods like rear swaybar, clearbra, DDM intake, it's basically stock...

I'm trying to work a deal where I'll kick in 3K and I'll be 3K upside down. I'll get to keep my JCW aerokit and springs.

6K upside down you say?? Well, hear me out. 3K is just normal usage on my car. My S is one year older with 29K miles. Surely it's worth 3K less to me if I were to sell it. (I know, I know, it's worth less than that...) So I'll pull that 3K out of my pocket and put it towards the new JCW.

The other 3K that I'm going to be upside down in will be buried in the refinancing. I know it's still 3K I'll have to pay but with the interest rate down to 2.9% from mini (down from the 8-9% I'm paying now) will offset that cost.

So basically I'll have the same car with a factory JCW and non leather seats. It will obviously be a year newer and 20K less miles.

Good idea, bad?

Oh yeah, the next important question...

Mellow Yellow with black roof.

Mark

 

if you have to ask, you've already made up your mind that you going to do it.... you just want someone to talk you out of it.... none of us miniacs are going to talk you out of a JCW haha

enjoy it

 

I'm not sure how long you've been toying with the idea of trading up to a JCW, but I'd say sleep on it for at least a week (or a month, or a few months if you can stand it). Personally, the idea of being upside down on a car is quite unsettling to me.

Sometimes I find myself lusting after whatever mod for my MINI, or some other car that to replace my MINI. Then I take it out for a nice ride and realize how much fun my car is as it is. That usually gets me out of that funk.

My $.02!

 

Dchap,

Do we know each other? You seem to know me pretty well...

Tu13es,

I agree, I hate the thought of being upside down BUT....

With the 2.9% financing, I can technically add 6K to the JCW and STILL come out 60-70 per month less than I'm paying now.

The way I look at it (which probably is wrong...lol) is.....

I'm going to end up with a year newer car with a factory JCW for 60-70 per month less.

I get to keep my aerokit (and hitch)

The only thing I'm out is a clearbra and $1735 (includes installation) for a JCW Stage I kit.


I'll let them run the numbers and see what happens.

Mark

 

Another way to look at it - wait for the next model year and you'll have a car that is two years newer.

 

Mellow Yellow is good. Go for it, if you will not have remorse over being upside down! Keep this one for three years or more to break even.

 

I can't tell you whether it's worth it or not. My wife hasn't put enough miles on her JCW yet for me to be able to wind it out yet.


As far as being "upside-down", that just means you haven't yet paid for what you have already used. That's a sunk cost and shouldn't be used to determine whether or not you want to buy another car (unless paying off your past sins won't let you pay for your new vices). Unfortunately, the car depreciates fastest during the first year or two of life. That's why it's always the most cost effective to buy a 1 or 2 year old car. Buy it new only if you plan on keeping it for a decade or two.

 

Well put!

(unless it cuts in to the mods budget! )

 

Unless you have a Ferrari GT250, you gotta be "upside down" on a car. Consequently, if you can afford the payments for as long as you have to make them, then it's a no-brainer. Do eet...
You don't need no steenkin leather seats.

 

 

i say do it . because its what i just did to get my new jcw and i love the jcw power . the deal sounds pretty good to me. you get to keep all the good stuff. go for it.

 

go for it!!!!

 

So how was the JCW, as compared to your S with the Stage 1?

 

I did it!!!!

I traded my car in. I got 23,300 for a trade in. That left me 6K upside down.

Under normal circumstances, there is NO WAY I would buy a car and take a 6K hit. (not including the JCW stage I kit and springs)

BUT, I get to keep my JCW aero kit and even with the 6K hit, I'm paying 60 bucks a month less and for 6 months less in time.

That MORE than makes up for the 6K loss plus I'm in a new JCW with zero miles.

The mods begin..... (hurry up Adam)



Mark

 

well done.... now take some photos for us to enjoy

 

I just did the same thing. I traded my '07 MCS for an '09 JCW and do not regret it for a sec. I was about $2k upside down, but with the 2.9% and almost a $3k discount on the car, it was a no brainer.

I thought that I loved MINI's before, but with the JCW, this thing is incredible.

You made the right decision.

 

Thanks guys, much appreciated.


PFD,

I'm glad to hear that. I was hoping I wasn't being foolish trading in a beautiful car modded to the way I liked it just to get a true JCW.

I'm sure I'll be happy...

Mark

 

Congrats. So can U install those ricey-looking wheels on yr. new ride?

 

 

Congrats Mark. This thread is useless w/o pix

 

NICE JOB!!!!! CONGRATS!!! Sorry I missed this post the other day! Keep me posted on how things go with the new car!

 

Thanks Adam.. keep me posted on when you have something to write over the JCW tune.


Mark

 

True



True



True

 

Didn't post pics....figured you've all seen a stock mellow yellow cooper before. I'll definitely post pics when it's done. Already started to prep the aero kit today.

 

^^^^ NICE! JUST BECAUSE we have seen them before, doesn't mean we don't want to see another one