Hello All,

I am looking at an '04 MCS Electric Blue,white roof, bonnet stripes,lapis blue leather,Harman Kardon,Premium package,Sport Package, Cold weather package with 15,000 miles. The dealer is asking $23,995 What do you think?
I have loved Minis since I first rode in an original back in '72 ! The dealer doesn't want to give me what I want for my trade...and you all will get a good laugh when I tell you what I am trading....an '05 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab 4wd P/U truck.....

 

Sell the p/u privately, Go for the Mini.
But can you live w/o a p/u? I personally have both although it is just an old Japanese beater, it still serves the purpose you wouldn't want to throw crap in the back of the Mini. just a thought.
Welcome to the board!

 

The price sounds about right from what I have seen out there on the used lots. MINI's are far and few between used and usually are priced higher than a new one...but you would have to wait for a new one unless you are close to a dealer that has some on the lot and sells at MSRP. I ordered a 2006 at MSRP and it is currently in production and should be here by the end of April. I have to ask though.......why the big change ? I am trading in my 2004 Ranger Edge 4x4 on mine!

 

My wife has a Jeep Wrangler I can put hitch on and use my 5x10 utility trailer. I used to tow a 24' boat and a snowmobile trailer, but I got rid of those toys to make room for a Mini!

 

Can't you get a new one for that price??

Just a thiught.....

 

I read this somewhere: "Don't test drive a Mini unless your ready to buy one". I read that after I bought mine. But a test drive surely made up my mind in a hurry.

My only suggestion would be to at least go to a Mini dealer to see if you can grab a new one off the lot. That price you are giving is awful close to what I paid for my '06 after my trade.....a '99 Wrangler by the way. I probably could have gotten more for the Jeep on eBay or somewhere. It just wasn't worth the hassle......for me anyway.

Good Luck

 

I had considered this option, but in PA, we only pay tax on the difference between the trade and the new vehicle. This means I would have to sell the truck for about $1500 more than what I am getting for trade in value just to come out the same...and I don't know if I could sell it for enought o make it worthwhile.

 

Maybe I should check my nearest (100 miles) inventory online.....

 

Around here you can. My car was $24,750 (list) as below, so you're getting an HK, some fog lamps and 17" wheels and the Premium pack for $755 - 15000 miles @ $0.44.5 a mile (IRS deduction #) = $6675, and I have LSD and the short gears. Wouldn't be worthwhile to me when you can order and have a new io\one in 5 weeks just the way you want it.

 

I just spec'd your car out as an '06 on MINIUSA and it came to 26,550.

Brand new, full warranty, and probably more favaorable finance rates.

Happy Motoring!

 

I just looked also....Prestige Mini in Mahwah, NJ has about 50 MCS in stock. I realy didn't want to make that drive, but it seems like it would be worthwhile.

 

"I just looked also....Prestige Mini in Mahwah, NJ has about 50 MCS in stock. I realy didn't want to make that drive, but it seems like it would be worthwhile."

Don't forget only HALF the drive to pick up a new MINI is a pain, the return is pure BLISS....

 

Believe me, its worth going to the dealership compared to buying the used one. I looked at a used one first at a BMW dealership actually; they wanted more for the car now than when it was produced in '04. For the money you are better off going to the dealership and getting all the warranties, plus the satisfactory that its a new car; a big plus is all the inventory you'll have to choose from. These Mini's are hardly going to depreciate; so if you do ever decide to sell (highly unlikely), you'll get good money out of it.

 

One quick note..............

That '04 MCS i looked at had only 2300 miles and they still wanted that much for it.

 

Mini's are not worth it to buy Used. It's a true fact, funny and sad, but true. Even when the 07's come out this will probably still be the case. Order it the way you want it. Without any of the crap you don't need.

 

I have to agree with the folks that have already posted. Order a new one the way you want it. Seems for that price you can get new. My 2006 MCS was just under $24,000. Order it & sell the truck on your own.

 

I've done a little used MINI "shopping" and I see high prices but I also see the cars hanging around quite a bit. And I've started to see prices dropping. I've been following one BRG MCS on a BMW used car lot and it has come down over $1500 in a month or a bit longer. And as the other day, last time I checked the ad anyhow, the car was still on the lot.

I'd price a new '06 optioned the way the used '04 is optioned and compare the prices. I'd tend to go with a new one if the price difference was within say 25%.

'course, just because the dealer's "asking" $24blah blah blah doesn't mean he'll not take less from a savvy used car shopper.

Typically, a car depreciates 10% off the dealer's cost (his *invoice* price) the minute you drive the car off the lot and then 10% again every year older it gets, and it gets a year older when the next model year hits the showroom.

You do the math as to what the car is worth based on the above "formula".

Sure everyone says MINIs don't depreciate but they got to start sometime. Might as well be when *You* go to buy one as any other time.

Also, I'd not give any weight to any "certification" BS either. I've been hearing and seeing almost first hand how this certification is being used to try to (and successfully in most cases) command a higher price for cars so labeled, but they ain't in any better shape and when something goes wrong, because they were "certified" the cost of making fixes/repairs is borne by the new owner.

Sincerely,

RockC.

 

Well, the dealer that has the '04 MCS I am looking at doesn't seem to want to play ball. They are also a Dodge dealer which should mean they should be able to give me a better deal than anyone else. Looks like I am going to try tosell the truck privately and then go to the Mini dealer for a new one.

 

Well of course consider a used MINI! You just have to shop around. Mine was under $19k, still has warranty, and all options were FREE!

Seriously, just shop around. There are used MINIs at decent prices, don't rush on that one that you've discovered...

Gosh, I sound just like a dad

 

Well, I have decided to give up on the '04 used MCS...I really love the cars but don't know if I can deal with having a dealer 100+ miles away. I don't understand why BMW doesn't let all their dealers have a Mini dealership. I have a BMW dealer 8 miles away. And a VW dealer 6 miles away....maybe I'll look at a new GTI???? Someone talk me out of it!!!!

 

Please check to see if the BMW can do you servicing. Or even...
A 100 mile first trip would be fun.

In 3 years of ownership I have been to the dealer 3 times.
(I wonder how often a GTI woul have to return to "Home Base")

 

The most consistent widespread worst service I ever got was from VW dealers. (And I've owned besides VW, Nissan (Datsun), Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Porsche: It has been the best car, with the best service!)

When I took new VW Golf in for regular service (to where I bought it), dealer insisted on overfilling engine with oil, which is specifically warned against in the manual and even though I supplied the oil and only supplied enough oil. Where or what the dealer was putting into the engine I have no idea...

Mech. would leave parts off the engine. Tires supposedly rotated were not. I noticed this when I saw the faint mark on the tire from when I had a flat fixed and the tire's position had not changed. Then I pulled the wheel covers and found that except for the one wheel that I removed when it went flat the other lug nuts were untouched, still had the factory paint splotches on them.

Even after I brought this to service writer's attention, he assured me the tires had been rotated...

Then I moved. Even 2000 miles away, at a new dealership, service no better. Took car in for its scheduled timing belt replacement: Dealer didn't replace all the hardware it was supposed to. I complained. Dealer relented, a bit, and only charged me parts to replace the rollers/tensioners..

The tech did not replace the engine mount bolts.

Shop manual stated these bolts are not to be reused (they're stretch bolts and will not survive another tightening).

When I asked about the bolts I was given a shrug of the shoulders.

I hate to have to question a professional about their work, and I certainly didn't want to be confrontational -- I mean I'm not the expert the dealer/service people are -- so I assumed that the bolts either had been changed or the factory had issued a TSB that removed the necessity to replace the bolts.

A few months later with no warning the bolts broke and the motor dropped down in the engine compartment. (And the timing belt service had cost me nearly $1000!)

Three weeks later, and around $400 poorer, the car was back on the road with new bolts. (I had the work done at a nearby local auto repair station.)

Then last Christmas, just outside of Albuquerque (come to find out later once in town) the alternator pulley disintegrated. Managed to limp into town and find a VW dealer because other auto repair places we not prepared to replace alternator pulley and all the other hardware associated with serpentine belt drive (thank goodness timing belt didn't suffer!).

Got car in Monday AM and service informed me of the extent of the damage but also informed me to expedite parts and repair it would levy a 20%surcharge on parts. Otherwse, I could wait 5 to 7 *business* days for the parts to arrive and then wait some more for them to be installed...

Of course, I agreed, not wanting to spend my vacation time in a nearby motel. When I left Albuquerque I was around $2000 poorer... (This for a car that only cost me $16,100 new in '02!)

I had expected the VW to be the best car for traveling for I expected parts should something go wrong, would be available at least by next day.

While I was wating for the car, just about every car that pulled in was the same type as mine, so it wasn't like the dealer hadn't sold any and therefore didn't think it needed to stock the parts.

Decided then and there I had had enough of VW and its lousy service. Got back home and shortly thereafter sold VW.

So, you want to be talked out of buying at VW GTI...?

Don't buy a VW!
Don't buy a VW!
Don't buy a VW!

Consider yourself talked out of it!

Sincerely,

RockC.

 

Thanks....I needed that! I have heard other such horror stories...