After 3 years, finally picked up the MINI...
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After 3 years, finally picked up the MINI...
Well, I originally joined this site 3 years ago because I intended on buying a Mini. Unfortunately life had other plans for my wife and I, so after a cross country (international) move, the Mini got put off until now. My wife got a new job last week so it was time for a second car, and the Mini was it...
Now here in Canada, for our proposed budget, we could have picked up an '03 or maybe '04 MCS with ~50-80k km on it, however there aren't many in the GTA to chose from, so even though I didn't think I ever would, I started looking in the US. After a short search I found the car we wanted at Prestige Mini in Mahwah (a forum sponsor, ironically). It's an '06 MSC, Pepper White on Black, 12k miles. I was apprehensive about the whole importing a car thing however it was much easier than expected. I definitely have to thank Megan at Prestige, who was amazingly helpful throughout the entire process. She was easy to reach, very communicative, and willing to oblige our many odd requests (it's tough buying a car sight unseen!). Although it was her first time selling a car to a Canadian, she handled it very well. I think we both learned a lot in the process. Oh, the bottom line... we saved ~14k versus buying in Canada. Really.
I flew down Monday morning and picked up the car at around noon. I got my picture taken with it and signed their big wall, ate some cookies, and was away. I got to drive the car 700 miles back home so I got a good feel for it. Now, this won't be my car, but I almost regret not getting one for me too! I was amazed how much I liked driving it. I knew it was a fun car to drive around town, but it's surprisingly composed on the highway, has very good power for such a small engine (and the delivery is very nice), the suspension is fantastic even stock, steering is good. This is coming from a guy with a ~380rwhp BMW, so I have to admit I was surprised I liked it as much as I did. It makes my car feel like a pig.
My only real complaint is the lack of an AUX input, but I have resolved that already!
I haven't had a chance to clean the car up, there are some light swirls from the previous owner and given my profession you can imagine how much they bother me. :p I'll work on it this weekend. I don't think we plan on doing much to the car aside from some coil-overs, and summer wheels. Maybe when my BMW dies I will get one of my own!
Here she is, fresh from the dealership on my first potty break.
Now here in Canada, for our proposed budget, we could have picked up an '03 or maybe '04 MCS with ~50-80k km on it, however there aren't many in the GTA to chose from, so even though I didn't think I ever would, I started looking in the US. After a short search I found the car we wanted at Prestige Mini in Mahwah (a forum sponsor, ironically). It's an '06 MSC, Pepper White on Black, 12k miles. I was apprehensive about the whole importing a car thing however it was much easier than expected. I definitely have to thank Megan at Prestige, who was amazingly helpful throughout the entire process. She was easy to reach, very communicative, and willing to oblige our many odd requests (it's tough buying a car sight unseen!). Although it was her first time selling a car to a Canadian, she handled it very well. I think we both learned a lot in the process. Oh, the bottom line... we saved ~14k versus buying in Canada. Really.
I flew down Monday morning and picked up the car at around noon. I got my picture taken with it and signed their big wall, ate some cookies, and was away. I got to drive the car 700 miles back home so I got a good feel for it. Now, this won't be my car, but I almost regret not getting one for me too! I was amazed how much I liked driving it. I knew it was a fun car to drive around town, but it's surprisingly composed on the highway, has very good power for such a small engine (and the delivery is very nice), the suspension is fantastic even stock, steering is good. This is coming from a guy with a ~380rwhp BMW, so I have to admit I was surprised I liked it as much as I did. It makes my car feel like a pig.
My only real complaint is the lack of an AUX input, but I have resolved that already!
I haven't had a chance to clean the car up, there are some light swirls from the previous owner and given my profession you can imagine how much they bother me. :p I'll work on it this weekend. I don't think we plan on doing much to the car aside from some coil-overs, and summer wheels. Maybe when my BMW dies I will get one of my own!
Here she is, fresh from the dealership on my first potty break.
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