13 Years Later... I'm Back.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 56
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13 Years Later... I'm Back.
Long story...
I decided to eliminate one of my high dollar cars and replace it with a Mini. So I started looking last month for a nice car. Found a JCW car in town that was cheap ($8500.00) when I went to see it... No Deal. It was out of Boston, had been in salt for several years and honestly I don't think there was a panel (or bumper) on the car without a dent or crack. Didn't even drive it. There's been a few on CL here, another I contacted the owner was a 2011 w/128k and a Salvage Title for $7500.00. Oooooo Kay, No Thanks. Digging on CarGuru I found 3 in Wilmington NC and took off up there Wednesday of this week. (2 at BMW dealer and 1 at a Ford dealer) The 2 at the BMW dealer were well worn. The car the Ford dealer had was a 2011, HT, Auto, 58k miles at $11,900.00. After a $699 Doc Fee and all the negotiation I could muster the total was $11,600.00 out the door. Nope, too high. Going back to Craigs List I found a 2012, HB, 38k miles, auto, 1 owner, new tires, with a 100k warranty for $11,000.00. I made a deal on it for $10,500.00. It's at the dealer now with an oil leak on the Oil Pump Solenoid connector. I'll pick it up next week.
Here's my thoughts on why I bough a standard car with the auto. The 2003 MCS I had never had any problems (while I owned it) but reading about the newer MCS's it's Turbo Charger failures and oil leaks. Yes, I know the MCS is Faster but... . I'd rather had a Manual transmission but at some point I will sell it and I now live in a Tourist Trap with really bad traffic.
I'll continue to dig on the R56 info here.
(Cobra wise, I sold the first one before moving to the beach in 2009 and just built another car at the end of 2016. If you hung in here this long, I bought a 2014 C7 with an Auto to replace a C6 with. I Do Not Like The C7 so I'm going to sell it and I think the Mini will work better.)
I decided to eliminate one of my high dollar cars and replace it with a Mini. So I started looking last month for a nice car. Found a JCW car in town that was cheap ($8500.00) when I went to see it... No Deal. It was out of Boston, had been in salt for several years and honestly I don't think there was a panel (or bumper) on the car without a dent or crack. Didn't even drive it. There's been a few on CL here, another I contacted the owner was a 2011 w/128k and a Salvage Title for $7500.00. Oooooo Kay, No Thanks. Digging on CarGuru I found 3 in Wilmington NC and took off up there Wednesday of this week. (2 at BMW dealer and 1 at a Ford dealer) The 2 at the BMW dealer were well worn. The car the Ford dealer had was a 2011, HT, Auto, 58k miles at $11,900.00. After a $699 Doc Fee and all the negotiation I could muster the total was $11,600.00 out the door. Nope, too high. Going back to Craigs List I found a 2012, HB, 38k miles, auto, 1 owner, new tires, with a 100k warranty for $11,000.00. I made a deal on it for $10,500.00. It's at the dealer now with an oil leak on the Oil Pump Solenoid connector. I'll pick it up next week.
Here's my thoughts on why I bough a standard car with the auto. The 2003 MCS I had never had any problems (while I owned it) but reading about the newer MCS's it's Turbo Charger failures and oil leaks. Yes, I know the MCS is Faster but... . I'd rather had a Manual transmission but at some point I will sell it and I now live in a Tourist Trap with really bad traffic.
I'll continue to dig on the R56 info here.
(Cobra wise, I sold the first one before moving to the beach in 2009 and just built another car at the end of 2016. If you hung in here this long, I bought a 2014 C7 with an Auto to replace a C6 with. I Do Not Like The C7 so I'm going to sell it and I think the Mini will work better.)
R56 in auto is an all around great car. No clutch, and no turbo associated issues or timing chain problems to speak of.
Always wanted to put an JCW or Aero kit on an R56 or the R50 for that matter due to lower angled front slope of the hood....looks awesome.
Welcome back !!!
Always wanted to put an JCW or Aero kit on an R56 or the R50 for that matter due to lower angled front slope of the hood....looks awesome.
Welcome back !!!
Welcome back, did the same here. Sold an 2004 Porsche 911 C4S, bought an 2004 Mini MCS 40th Anniversary Monte Carlo with full JCW aero package and engine upgrades. It's stupid fast, fun and cheap, lol. The Porsche was costing me about $1,000 a pop to take it to the shop for anything. If I spent $1,000 on the Mini it's almost a full makeover, lol.
Mini= 80% of the fun and 20% of the price of the Porsche, cheers!
Mini= 80% of the fun and 20% of the price of the Porsche, cheers!
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 56
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Thanks Guys. Since I almost never drove the Corvette, the Insurance and Taxes are more than anything I own... I'm 61 and looking at retirement I'd be much better off to buy another Cheap Rental Condo instead of the pile of depreciating C7 that I'm not in Love with. The V8-V4 junk is a Joke in the Corvette. (IMO)
I haven't really found that much info on the standard 2012's here.
I haven't really found that much info on the standard 2012's here.
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 963
Likes: 5
From: Formerly "Glacial" ME, now FL, USA
You've come back to Mini and definitely not a bad choice. Unless you live out west, say Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nevada or similar place with lots of empty space and small populations, big block engine sports cars are a bit limited. Good track time can be expensive out here on the East Coast, and since things are a little more crowded on the roads, Minis make sense and are really fun drivers.
I haven't driven an automatic Mini yet, but I probably would if I lived in a congested area. I just like the way Minis connect with the road, so it doesn't matter. Have managed to live out in rural areas, so a manual has worked out OK. Congrats on the Mini Cooper find. Good luck on retirement... it can be pretty darned good.
I haven't driven an automatic Mini yet, but I probably would if I lived in a congested area. I just like the way Minis connect with the road, so it doesn't matter. Have managed to live out in rural areas, so a manual has worked out OK. Congrats on the Mini Cooper find. Good luck on retirement... it can be pretty darned good.