Hi,

I've been lurking around on here for a few weeks and have been doing lots of research before buying my first MINI.

I am looking for:

MCS 2007-2011
Manual
Less than 50000 miles
Pref. with all-season tires
Less than $20000 (inc. all fees & taxes)

My questions are:

Is this feasible?
If I can't find one to fit my criteria, what do you suggest? What is the next best thing? Would I regret getting a base Cooper if it turns out I just don't have enough money for what I want?

Hope somebody can help, thank you!

 

Where are you?

Yes, using cars.com's filters using your criteria, there were 20 results within 75 miles of my zip code in New Jersey.

 

I am in Colorado. There are a couple but I'm either not getting a good feel from the cars (like they haven't been looked after) or there is accident history.

 

how many show up when you do a search? Is it possible to buy from another region and drive home?

 

Just five cars show up and two of which would likely be over 20000 with all the fees. I am doing a search for 200 miles from my location, as that is the distance I'm prepared to travel.

 

The problem I'm finding is that they are either too expensive or have too many miles (over 50000)

What, in your opinion, is the best thing to compromise? Do I look for an older year, more miles or consider a base Cooper?

 

I suppose the issue is your location. My advice would be to look to your west in Cali and drive it home. TBH the ones I found here (NJ) are between 16,500 and 20,000 all manual and all between 18,000 and 45,000 miles. Don't know if this link will help. have to figure it would be a fun road trip home.
http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchr...nsTypeId=28112

 

Thanks for your help, amazing to see there is so much choice elsewhere! Will have to seriously think about your suggestion

 

I drove our MCS convertible from Missouri to its new home in Maryland.... over 1,000 miles. Got the MINI that I really wanted and made a fun road trip out if it.

Don't let distance be a big factor in your search.

 

You may be in an area that just does not have the stock. You have one MINI dealer in CO. One in Utah, one in NM, one or two in OK and five in TX. Most people tend to own vehicles close to where they have service (dealer). I may be an exception, Wife ordered hers at a dealer 1800 miles away, and our nearest servicing dealer is 300 miles away.

Just a thought.

 

I'd move.

 

Is there not a huge amount of risk in buying one so far away? Can't really afford more than one trip (even though minis outside of Colorado seem a lot cheaper!) and so there's a big gamble as to whether the car is exactly as you were hoping...

 

Any warranty you're going to get on a used one is probably going to be a remaining warranty from MINI. So does it really matter where you buy the MINI?

And the risk is low. You're not buying a 10 year old, 100,000 mile car.

 

You can buy new for 25K with nice options - then you get a better finance rate - unless paying cash

 

If you are going to make a trip to a specific region, I would have a few backups to look at just in case your first choice doesn't work out. If you are going to a location with a number of cars available, you should make the best of your trip.

 

Thanks for the good advice. Most of the cars we are looking at don't appear to have any warranty left on them. Also, we are looking to pay in cash so our budget is pretty tight.

Went to look at one yesterday, 2008, no warranty, new tires and brakes, seems pretty clean. Just not sure if $19800 (all in) is a good price or we would be better off buying a 2006 model for $16000!

 

Where specifically? Denver, Colorado Springs, NoCo, Western Slope?

In terms of what? Bad ownership? No preventative maintenance completed?

Neither, flash the cash on the car(s) you're interested in and see if the selling dealer flinches.
You've got a MAJOR upper hand paying 100% up-front with cash in hand; that's a serious power play that can be used to your advantage.

Two actually. One in Littleton, and the other in Loveland.

- Erik

 

I did an autotrader search with your criteria, and came up with 9. But none in Denver.

here are 2.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...13745049&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...23613284&Log=0

I wouldn't let 200 miles limit your choices. When I decided I wanted a mini, I started to do my research, had a shortlist of what I wanted ('03-'06, less than 20k miles, 6 speed, JCW, leather heated seats, cold weather pack, any color but white and red). I searched and searched. Finally found one with almost everything, and was willing to compromise on what it didn't have (no leather, no heated seats, no cold weather pack). I could live without those things. Talked to the dealer at length who had it, pulled a carfax, called Mini and had them run the VIN, had a mechanic check it out. Then I flew from Denver to St George, UT, checked out the car, was happy with what I saw, wrote a check, and roadtripped back.

My advice would be first call Schomp Mini and see what they have in stock, or possibly comming in on trade. Do your homework and find out what you cant live without, and what you can compromise on. Start searching on line, and here in the classifieds. Once you have a short list, if you see something you like that's not local, call on it, and do your homework. Tell the seller your situation and ask if they would be willing to have their local mini dealer do a check out and send you the report of you are serious. Tell them you will pay for the inspection. If it all looks good, send a deposit, but a plane ticket and hopefully driveyour new car back.

Like others have said, With that milage, you should still have a warranty, and as long as the car hasn't been wrecked, you shoudl be in pretty good shape.

I wouldn't get hung up on all season tires. Tires are cheap in the grand scheme of things.

I have no idea what kind of driver you are or what you will be using the car for, and I can't speak to the S vs cooper, as I have a 06 JCW (specifically R53 because I wanted the supercharger vs turbo) but I wouldn't consider the non-S, You are already at a disadvantage in denver with regards to power. I would drop down in model year and get the "S" vs. a newer "cooper". Personlaay, I drove R53's and R56's, and after driving a few, decided I wanted the feel of the R53. Just my 2c.

 

I just ran a 2008 - 2010, under $20K and under 50K miles AutoTrader search, there's 6 in the Denver area alone...
And that's not including the countless ads on Craigslist. Don't be fooled; there's a lot of inventory to be found...

- Erik

 

If you go to a dealership go directly to the Fleet manager, do not talk to a saleperson. Fleet deals in quantity and are not on commission. Your price will drop quite a bit. I bought my used JCW from the Mercedes dealer that was on the lot for 23k marked down for a holiday sale to 20k, from Fleet for 14k. I talked him down from his starting price of 16k.

 

Thanks for the useful info. I am in Denver and the ones I have looked at seemed to have been neglected or had accident history. There are only three that come up in my search (for this area) like I said, it had to be under 20k including all taxes and fees, so I guess I should have been more explicit and said my price range is up to about 18000.

Mib4840 that is an incredible deal. I didn't know there was such a thing as a fleet manager, but do now, thanks.

I tried Schomp but they only offer me cars above my price range or try and get me to come in and see a justa... (I must look like I don't know what I want... not the case!)

I decided that $19800 for the 2008 MCS was just too much money. There was something making me doubt getting the car (though I admit I was struggling to get past the bad decals, even though I know you can remove them with some effort) and so we declined it. It had no warranty as it had aftermarket mods.

Going to see a private seller tonight about a 2007 MCS with cold weather, premium and sport packages. Fingers crossed... I really like the look of it and the price is much better.

 

I bought my 2007 mcs with 42K miles from a dealer a year ago for $16,789. The car is manual, chili red/white top, sunroof, leather/heated seats,new tires and full maintenance records from the dealer where I purchased it. It's been a great car and I have had zero issues or problems with it. THEY are out there, I bought mine from a Mini dealer in a Chicago suburb.
Good luck, don't be afraid to travel a few hundred miles, it will be worth it.

 

Actually, I've fallen in love with the 07 MCS I saw the other night. Took it to the dealership to have it inspected before we bought it.

As I was leaving work to go to the dealership, I started the engine and it sounded louder than it had before. Listened closer and it was rattling. Turned it off, left it for a few then on again and all was fine. I was suspicious as I've done my research and know all about the timing chain issues!

Mentioned it to the dealership, they came back saying it was in great condition, other than needing the rear brake system redoing. I asked them to double-check the timing chain, they came back to me saying the chain was stretched and needed replacing.

They said they are trying to get it done under the (now expired) warranty as they had replaced everything but the chain last year in-warranty. He said he doesn't know why they didn't do the chain then as they should have. Without the warranty it would be between $1500-$2000.

Really hoping they can get it fixed so we can buy it. Really like the car!!

 

Good luck and keep us posted!!! What color and options??

 

It's beautiful! Dark silver with white roof, mirrors, alloys and racing stripes.

It's leatherette and comes with premium, sport and cold weather packages!