Greetings.

I just retired, and I decided to trade in my BMW 330xi for a MINI. But I have a dilemma.

The dealership found a MCS that appeals to me (red with all the packages, bells, and whistles), and I put my name on it for a thousand dollars. The car has been delayed in port, and I'll be away two weeks in August. So I won't be driving it much until September. With all the talk about the 2011 changes, I am tempted to start over.

I could wait a month and buy a new one off the lot. Or, when the one I reserved comes in, I could buy the 2010.

The question is, what kind of price would you pay for a 2010 with an MSRP of $30,750., when the 2011's are just around the corner?

 

MINI typically doesn't give a huge break on prices... if you have more than one dealer in the area, that may give you more room to play with. From reading on here and researching on edmunds.com, $1-2k under MSRP is about the best you normally see. Since it's the end of the model year, though, they may be more willing to deal better. Let your dealer know you're thinking about just waiting on a '11 and see how they respond. Their preference is to move a car now.

Good luck.

 

jtbrown is right, you won't get much more than a grand or two discounted on any MINI. The 2011 MINI will get numerous improvements that really make a difference, like BMWs valvetronic engine management system. This will give the little 1.6L more power, more torque, less emissions and better gas mileage. IMHO: I think the 2011 is worth the wait.

 

Well I would say that on the 2010 for 30K+ look for 2000 off, hit them with 3 or 4 first. Yes the 2011 will have a few nice goodies but you can count on paying probably $2000 more 2010 apples to 2011 apples. So your net difference could be 4K or more. What price the 2011 goodies?

 

I am grateful for your opinions. I could change my mind, but right now, this is the way I'm leaning.

I suspect that when I return home in late August, the new chili red MCS will be waiting for me, and it's going to look pretty darn attractive. Any improvements that the 2011's have over the 2010's will not be apparent to me. So I'll be faced with the choice of driving off in the car of my dreams, or waiting two more months, and paying at least two thousand dollars more to boot.

I'll probably take the car, and be glad I did.

 

Anytime you are driving a MINI, you are glad you have one.