Ok, well... my Integra was stolen las night, so this whole buying a car thing has gotten a little more urgent. I was wondering what you guys thought about used or new. Are used mini's just as nice, are there a lot of problems? I noticed that people tend to sell their mini's after the warranty is out. Anyway what do you think.

This is, by the way, a mechanical/reliability question. Lets assume that there is one that has all the options and the color that I want...

Thanks

 

It really more depends on if you want the new redesigned R56 model or if you prefer the original R50/R53 model.

IMHO if I were looking for another mini I would go with a low mileage used 2006 R53. The 2007 R56 has not grown on me enough yet. Also a late model R53 will have less problems than a brand new introduction model like the 2007 R56 cars.

 

I'm speaking with no real knowledge of why others do what they do, but rather just a sense of things.

I don't think people necessarily sell there MINI's because they're especially worried about liability issues. Rather, I think that many people who sell them just want to take that particular time as an opportunity to go ahead and upgrade, so-to--speak. If they can afford to do it, and their inclined to do it, then they just do it.

I've never been one to worry too much about how old a car is, or how many miles it has. What with putting kids through college, etc., I've always had to be careful not to spend to much on transportation. My MINI, which I bought used (it's an '03 CR MC) about six months ago with 84K on it at the time (and which has been running great BTW), is the first car I bought for the pure fun of it in many many years. And I plan on keeping it for a long time, or until I decide maybe I want to upgrade.

Just don't test drive one unless you're ready to commit. Once you get in one you'll never want to get out.

 

Well it is too late for commitment, cause I already test drove one! I just wasn't really ready to pull the trigger. But having my car stolen has put me into a little of a bind. I was going to buy a new one, only cause I have never had a new car. And now I am faced with the need of a car and I am not sure I have the money for a new one. So a used one might be what I am looking at.
I guess you are right, i am being a little paranoid. I am the type of person to drive a car till it falls apart, so I assumed that a used one would have issues...

Thanks for all the help!

 

I was all set to buy a used Mini, but when I looked at the prices of new versus used, I couldn't justify used.
The used cars at the dealer were loaded, and I was only interested in sport package, LSD, and cold package.
Which I ordered Sunday :>}

 

Don't spend more than you can afford. Check out the certified used MINIs through more than a few dealers - use their websites and then call to see what they have. Read Consumer's Reports and notice the different years.. Generally speaking if there were some problems in the early years they were taken care of by '04 - this is with regard to the manual transmission. Motoringfile.com is also a good resource for reading about different years of MINIs.

Good luck and I am very sorry about your car being stolen.

 

buy a new one the nice used ones are too much dough got mine on the 4th and like it more everyday

 

Bought mine Brand Spankin New Last yr, was also my 1st brand New Car. wouldn't have had it any other way. so great 2 order it how you want it!

 

Bought my 03S used with aprox 34K on it Nov. 2006, I love the heck out of the car. Currently 54K, and now my drivers door actuator is bad. That is the only problem I have had. I bought it at carmax and bought a warranty good till 74K so Friday I take it in for the actuator. I have to pay $50.00 deductible for warranty work.

I just put a used magnaflow exhaust on, and once again I know why I bought this car.

 

Thanks for all the advice! I will start reading. I have been researching minis for a while but really just the new R56 model. I now have to start looking at the R53s. There is one at my local dealer, and 04 mcs with 52k on it. I seems to be fully loaded. The only thing is I would love to put the JCW stuff on it. That was what I was going to do with a new one, you know over time. But it seems from some quick looking around that the kits for the R53 have been discontinued and might be hard to find. I was thinking JWC because it has been already tuned for the mini. Although I am not scared of aftermarket stuff, I did own an Integra...

Anyway looks like some reading is a head for me. Again thanks or all your help. And let me just say this community is the best on the net!

 

Another question on the same vain. I am looking at a 2004 mini but it says its "original in-service vehicle date" is 10/17/2003. So is it still an 04 model? Or did they make a mistake. Sorry again for the stupid question.