Thanks!

Hey BOSS10L, see what you have to look forward to!?

 

Nice vid, Grommit!

Well, I head to the dealer on Saturday. Here's to hoping!

 

Hey, are you going to be in Buffalo at Towne MINI, I'll probably see you there as were having our annual rally Saturday 6/16.

I have an 06 Cooper with about 19000 smiles on it. Not a single issue and am very pleased. 06 was the last year for Purple Haze


Ask about the MINI select financing. My monthly payment is under 300/month.


Good luck,

Dave

 

Dave,

I plan on being there when they open at 9. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Mini select financing the one where you have a low monthly payment and then a balloon payment at the end? I'm not so sure I want to do that.

 

We went with our credit union, and got a good rate. Didn't care at all for Mini Financing.

 

I am looking to buy a Mini too...but trying to keep it in my budget. Basically, my car is getting up in the miles and starting to have a lot of problems (it made it through law school with me and the first four years of lots of travel for work) so I'm looking to buy a new car in the next six months or so....I could buy a cheaper car but I LOVE Minis.

I've been looking at used ones - 2005 or after. And I seem to be hearing that shooting for an '06 may even be better than an '07. I've been looking around on the internet (I'm about 3 hours from a Mini dealerships but I'll drive to get a good one).....

Any advice?

For a manual transmission, not a whole lot of options, any clue for a price/value range for an '06?

Does Mini do any sort of end-of-year deals that I should wait for?

I'd appreciate any help anyone could give me! Thanks so much!!!

 

I vote for a 2006. But ultimately it's personal taste.

Do a lot of reading and research on here, best source of info.

If you like superchargers over turbo's, then get a 2006. Also, being the end of the run for the R53, the 2006 has all the bugs sorted out. The 2007 is a whole new ball game.

Some dealers will mark down the previous year's cars, but don't count on it as the demand is still high so far.

 

Gromit -

When are the '08s due out? September like most other automakers, or does Mini follow a different release schedule? If September is true, those '06 are about to be 2 year old cars, even if they have less than 20 miles on the ODO.

 

Some discussion here.

 

I get a new MINI every 3-4 years before the warranty is up.

If I had not of been rear ended in my last MINI, an 03 Cooper, it would have been worth more than I owed on it! Instant Down Payment on the next MINI!

I broke even on my trade last time so as long as I'm committed to a car payment, I want a full warranty (and the full maintanence is cool too)....just add gasoline and tires and GO!

 

That is one thing I did consider, the fact that when I do get to that balloon payment that the Mini will likely be worth at least what I still owe on it, so I'd be breaking even or even better yet, being able to have an instant down-payment.

I just really hope that I can drive away tomorrow with a new Mini. I abhor the car-buying process, and I'm really sick of my current daily driver ('02 Ford Escort). I look forward to meeting you tomorrow. I'll be the schlep getting out of the silver Escort, dragging the wife and kids along.

 

Thanks for the link, and thanks to Ben and Hines 2 seasons ago. I had them in my FF team and they rocked!

Still, that does further prove my point. Within 5-6 months the '06s on their lot will be 2 years old. They should be motivated to move them, even if they don't get full MSRP, but still sell over invoice.

 

Well, it isn't official yet, but it looks as though I'm going to be the newest owner of the Mini crew! My MA needs to check tomorrow morning to see if they can do a dealer swap. He said it is almost a lock, but If not, I will most definitely order an MC from the factory, unless I can somehow figure out how to finagle an MCS into the budget.

The MC in question? OB/W, 6 speed manual, only options being sport seats and cold weather package. Kinda spartan, but that's okay. I'll save my pennies and in 3 years I'll get a totally loaded MCS.

 

Congrats! If Oxygen Blue had been available in 06, I would have given it some very serious consideration.

Make sure you post some pictures!

 

Ask about the multi function steering wheel.


My 1st Cooper did not have cruise control and it's needed!


Dave

 

I thought it was prohibitively expensive to have it added on after the fact? This car is already built, it's at the port in NJ as we speak.

 

Oh dude. the MFSW is so great. I hate not having it when I'm driving a different car.

 

Well, truth be told, I must not know what I'm missing, because I've never had/used cruise control before. The thought of having audio/bluetooth phone controls on the MFSW is cool, but I'm not wanting to spend more than MSRP to have it added after the fact. The reason why I'm choosing this particular MC is because it is inexpensive and it's already built. I honestly don't want to drive my current car another 6-8 weeks.

 

If I didnt have the cruise, I would be paying more for speeding tickets than insurance. If you havent had it, and you're not a lead foot, you probably wont miss it. If you ever drive with the MFSW though, you will never be able to live without it. I find myself doing the finger dance all over the backs of our other vehicle steering wheels, in search of my beloved buttons. The MFSW rules!

 

Well, it is a moot point, the OB MC I was hoping to get has been sold. I'm working with my MA right now to find something else, but time is against me. I need to make a move on this fast before my wife gets fed up and makes me buy another Ford.

They have the perfect Mini at the dealership right now, but it's about $30 a month too expensive. Everything else my MA finds is a minimum of 2-4 weeks away from being able to get here. Things aren't looking good. I don't want to drive a Focus!

The other one they have is the right price, has the right options, but is the wrong color.

 

Hope your time crunch doesn't keep you out of the MC. $30 is so close. They must be able to help you somehow.

Not to make it worse for you, but I went to drive one to see if it could replace an old Porsche of mine and I was more than impressed with the little thing. I still race and am totally sold on the car. Excellent mpg, speed, handling and style. Could the MPG difference make up the $30 spread? Guys are getting 32/40mpg with MCSs City/HWY and the MC is a little better. Your 302 must get 1/2 of that if its lucky. My p car was getting 12/20. A 2/3 reduction in my gas bill is a big deal. Maybe it'll be enough for your deal?

Best of Luck.

 

I don't own a Mustang anymore, my daily driver is an Escort. It gets good MPG, but is so staid and boring I absolutely dread getting in it to drive. And this time of year with it being so humid, I must have the AC on, which is almost like putting the engine in reverse it robs so much power from it.

I don't want to drive any more. I want a motoring experience. I want to feel alive again when I'm behind that wheel, not simply getting from point A to point B.

Things look like they will work out. I'm just getting nervous and jumpy. My wife is losing patience (I wear the pants, but she holds the checkbook ) and may force me into another grocery-getter if I don't find my Mini soon.

You're right, $30 is nothing, I've pointed that out to her 100 times in the last hour, but she's being stubborn.

 

"I don't own a Mustang anymore, my daily driver is an Escort."

Sorry, I knew that. So much for the MPG card. Still there, but not as big.

 

Do you want me to get my wife to talk to your wife?

When I was shopping for my MINI, and generally going MINI crazy, she was in the "roll eyes" and "whatever" mode. But by the time our MINI arrived from Oxford, she was just as MINI nuts as me and now loves them (and driving them) just as much as I do. She's even a member both on NAM & MINI2.

 

Come on, 30.00 is the cost of eating out once a month at a fast food joint. Tell her you'll pack sack lunches or something. Dont buy a Focus, look at how much money you WONT be loosing on an MC vs the Focus. I am willing to bet the MC holds its value a thousand times better than the Focus. Has she driven one yet? Get her behind the wheel, or work some sort of compromise with her, you really cant go wrong. Tell her that if you cant make up the difference on the cost somehow-within so much time-then you'll sell the car and buy what she wants. You know it'll never happen, and if by some fluke it does, well, you'll probably get out of the car what you paid for it, try that with a Focus. I have loved MINIs since prior to their release in the US, and have wanted one since first laying eyes on one. My husband is the one who thinks I am nuts (actually he is), but that car makes me so happy, what can he say? I dont butt into his obsession with airplanes, and he just looks the other way when I am washing and waxing for the millionth time. I really really hope this works out for you. A MINI can make even the most mundane task (like shopping) exciting (hey, maybe hit her on that angle)? Good luck!