Hey All,
I have been lurking here for about a week. I decided a week ago I wanted to purchase a Mini Cooper. I have not purchased one as of yet, but will in the near future. I just wanted to say hello and commend this site on all the great information. I have learned alot in only a week. I am going to look at a 2007 this weekend. If things check out ok, I will be bring her home

AXO

 

Be sure to let us know if you get her!

 

Good luck in your search and hope you find a fine MINI soon.

 

Greetings from the other side of the state. Good luck on the looking and take pictures and be sure to post them here.

 

Likewise, greetings from the other side of the state, Sarasota area.Just do it you wont regret it, join the madness.

 

Off-topic: are you driving, er, motoring up for the Guy Fawkes bonfire near Odessa on 11/05?

 

More info on this please. I will probably not go as that Sat and Sunday are the first meetings of the new SWFLA MINI Club. We needed something in our area so a small get together and lunch is in order.

 

Here's a link to the announcement on the Bay Area MINIs section of SSM. Guy Fawkes bonfire

Included therein is info about accommodations near Odessa, and a link to more info about the event itself.

Just thought I'd pass word along, but even if you don't make it I hope you get a great turnout for your SWFLA meet up, and grats on a new club!

 

HI AXO: I got my 2010 Chili Red Clubman from Lauderdale MINI in North Lauderdale and the sales guy, Jim Guedry, was super nice. I even drove from Palm Beach County to buy her. My husband dealt with Jim over the internet after we knew what I wanted. The price was negotiated online, (with a phone call or 2), and the next day, we went down, took the Clubby for a spin, and bought it! I test drove the Clubby at Braman in West Palm, but I decided to purchase from Lauderdale MINI because the Lauderdale MINI staff were so great. Braman's MINI sales team was nice, but the the BMW service dept has such a terrible reputation. (That's another story if you don't know it already). The fact that Lauderdale MINI gave me a better price for the Chili Red that I wanted made the deal even better. And the free MINI t-shirt I got was nice too!

Good luck!

 

Unfortunately the 2007 Non-Turbo I was thinking about purchasing was sold yesterday. I am looking for a nice used Mini in the $14,000 price range. I am wondering if I should opted for a low mileage 1st Generation S model instead of a 2nd Generation non-S model?

 

I can personally vouch for the first gen S's - just picked one up myself <2 weeks ago. Great handling, a helluva lot of fun to drive, and everything I hoped for from the MINI motoring experience. Personally, I prefer the first gen S to the 2nd gen ('10) S I test drove.

I found mine on AutoTrader. My advice is to be patient & hold out for the car you want. I found a low-miles S w/all the options I'd hoped for in a spec order car & then some, at a price I could handle. When you do find a car, spend $100 or so & take it to a MINI dealer or independent MINI mechanic for a PPI.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the advice. I am definately going to wait for the right Mini.

 

I'm impatient as all get-out, so I know waiting, researching, reading, and scanning the various sources for cars can be tough. But, it all becomes more than worth it when you find the right one & drive home.