Longtime MINI lover here, yesterday a friend introduced me to this forum, so finally today I'm road-worthy.

Looking to buy my Very First MINI. Currently drive a 1991 Civic Si, and while it's been a great driving car and super reliable, I'm ready for an airbag or two, LOL. Safety Good. (I'm also looking at Honda Fits, because they're cheaper and excellent, but nothing is a MINI.)

I do have a question: I understand that I should pay more for a MCS than a MC, and more for a MCSC than a MCS, but should I also pay for the options that someone else chose, say, heated seats, which I would never choose on a new MINI?

I'm thinking about this in terms of buying a new house--the seller cannot expect you to reimburse that kitchen remodel she did. But then I do understand that JCW is so expensive that the seller has the right to expect a return on it . . . I'm so confused about what I should expect, but I think I'll try to find a new 2006 if I can.

Thanks for reading this far!
Kristin in Austin

 

Welcome to NAM!

Are you looking to buy a used Mini, or from the dealer?

You will be paying for whatever packages are already on the car if you buy from the dealer. They're not going to remove them or change them, because of the labor costs involved, unless you're willing to pay for that work.

Like buying off the rack, it is what it is.

I'd suggest that you find a Mini that is as close as possible to what you want. I agree with you about other people's options, and that when I look on eBay for example, most of the Mini's have "deal breaker" stuff installed, overloaded with stuff I'd never want.

 

Welcome to MINI world!

 

Welcome to NAM!

 

Thanks!

Yes, I definitely want to check dealerships first to see that I'd pay for what I want, and I imagine right now they really want to move those 2006s (and let's face it: a new MC is the same price or cheaper than a used 2005 MCS, from all the postings I've seen here, on cars.com, and my local craigslist). So in a perfect world, I'd get something extra like BRG just so's they can move that car!

I don't know how much I trust buying a car sight unseen. How does one navigate that? Carfax? I mean, I won't even buy *shoes* over eBay! Internet buying seems very scary to me.

So yeah, I probably should post a WTB post. What I want is a 2005 or 2006 that's under $20,000 and isn't high miles for its age--I don't do much driving, but I want a decent bit of warranty left. Any MINI will be a step up from what I'm currently driving, so I'm looking for a MC (and not a MCS or MCSC). I'm really in awe of what MINI provides in the way of standard options (except paint), so I'm not sure I need any of the extras.

The problem is that in Austin definitely and it seems in America overall, people don't want to buy Base MINIs. So they're really hard to find.

And that's where I am.

k

 

Oh and Gromit, I love your name. Huge Wallace and Gromit (and cheese) fan here!

 

Thanks Kristin!

Go to a Mini dealer, and tell the MA what you want. Make sure he understand what you want, and you don't want an 07 (if I understand you right). If they don't have it in stock, he can search other dealers for you, and if something is found, bring it to his own dealership.

We bought Gromit with the JCW, Sport, chrono packages. We didn't want cold climate or premium stuff.

 

Ah! That sounds like a plan. Of course, I need to get to San Antonio to do that. And I don't want to wait for a 2007--and I think I should be able to get a 2006 at an excellent price thanks to the 2007s being not only new but also a bit revamped. But MINI values are all over the place--I see 2004 MCSs that are the same price as 2006 new MCs, but I guess I just don't understand the fine print. Just wish I saw more MCs--I would love to know the breakdown total and by year of nos. of MC, MCS, and MCSC sold in the US!

 

I'm sure those figures are available somewhere. Just don't know where.

Best thing actually, tell the MA what you DON'T want, and that might make it easier. For example, for us, a deal breaker would be a sunroof. We don't like them. Now, anything else on the car can be added or changed, but you can't undo the sunroof. See what I mean? Even a JCW package can be added, seats changed or swapped out, etc.

 

Welcome

 

Thanks again for the warm welcome!

Yes, I need to get all the add-ons sorted. I know better than to get a car with no add-ons, so we'll see. I'm nervous about the whole thing--I've never bought a car from a dealer before, and the SA dealer, I've heard, is Not Nice.

 

Welcome...
When I bought my MINI I didn't realize that there was NAM or my local car club so I wasn't able to get advice when I bought mine. The only thing I regret is not getting an MCS. I thought I would get into too much trouble if I had an S but I really wished I would have spent the extra money. In my 07 I will be getting a MCS.

Either way you will fall in love with this car and it will be the last car u buy.

 

I see your point of view, YMAZ, and of course I have testdriven neither, but I really think I'll be happy with the Base. Good mileage is really important to me--I'm crunchy in milk!--and the engine is still way powerful in the Base. And I'm a graduate student, so I gotta watch the old budget. I've really saved up for this so I can put down a huge sum of money to keep my monthly payments low, so it's all a triangulation of my MINI love, my eco-friendliness, and my budget.

 

Hi and welcome from the UK