Here's my situation. The lease on my 2006 JCW, which now has 62,000 km (38,500 mi),is going up in June and I've got three options:

1. Obtain my own financing and keep my current car.
2. Get an R56 'Stage I' JCW
3. Seize the opportunity to finance a limited edition Astro Black 2006 JCW Competition Edition with only 15,000km (9300 mi) and extended warranty till Sept 2012/160,000 km (100,000 mi).

Financial reasoning aside (all three options have their pros and cons), I'm stuck on option 3. A 'no-brainer', some might say, but I'm not so sure. The car only has 9300 mi, which means it spent most of its life not being driven -- should this be a cause for concern?

Here are the pros and cons:

Pros:
-Acceptable monthly payment: about $250 less than my current lease
-Cachet: one of 64 made
-Aero kit, JCW shifter, JCW suspension, JCW sills...etc.
-Extended warranty
-Super low mileage
-Wife prefers colour

Cons:
-OBX header and 15% pulley will have to remain on my current car
-All my suspension bits (see my sig) will have to be swapped out
-Not my favourite colour
-No nav
-Effort put into maintaining my car goes out the window
-Super low mileage = leaks?
-Higher purchase price: $32,800 vs. $27,000 buy-out for my car
-Will have to pay out remainder of my lease plus excess mileage ($2700)

At this point, I have yet to even SEE the vehicle, let alone test drive it.
But based on what I've given you, please let me know what you think!

Many thanks!

 

It is very likely that the low miles are all/most track miles. Afterall, it is a 'Competition edition". If this is the case, the price is to high.

 

Good point, but my intinct tells me it never left public roads. 'Competition' edition is just a fancy name -- otherwise, what's it doing with a sunroof and air con?

The story I was given is that the owner, a millionaire, hardly ever drove it. He was accross the street at the Ferrari dealership, updating his Ferrari with a newer model, when he decided to update his MINI, too. He's picking up a 2010 JCW without ever having test driven an R56.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would keep my current car. If you think about it, the mods you've done already make it a special edition....to you. The Competition Edition was more a way of charging people more money by making them "unique". But are they really unique? It just sounds to me like you already have what you want.

 

The one word that got me here: wife

I'd would go for the black 2006 Comp Edition. It should hold resale higher than the other two. The mileage is of huge importance on the black one.

I would run, not walk to the bank, safe, wallet....

 

Hmm. Both Spooled and WildThang have good points. Thanks, guys.

In a way, the price difference IS actually justified: the cost of purchasing, painting and fitting the aero kit alone would eat most of that.

If I were to spec my ideal mini, this particular JCW Comp fits the bill except for the colour, which I still don't mind.

However, resale value becomes a moot point when my intention is to keep the thing until I'm too old to drive it. But then again, you never know...

I'm hoping to see this thing in the metal on Saturday, at which time I'm going to try and find the owner while he takes delivery of his new R56 JCW.

 

I have an 06 JCW, and never heard of a "Competition Edition." Is it legit, or someone trying to get more brass that it's worth?

 

It's legit.

 

It's the Canadian version of the GP. I know of three owners here on NAM.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...0works4me.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...4753-goat.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...fun2drive.html

The Competition Edition has different bumper specs, back seats & is a hardtop. The C.E. weighs in at between 90 - 100 lbs heavier than the American G.P. It's a limited edition with only 64 cars coming into Canada (14 blue, 25 black, 25 red)

 

Ah! It's Canadjun!

Explains it all, lol.

 

Wow. A GeePee w/o that dreadful color scheme (IMO here, all of U happy GP'ers) or those even more dreadful wheels. We Americans got hosed on that deal, MINI.

U Canadians are lucky to have so many choices. I would have happily considered a GeePee if it were offered in CR or HB or even AB.

And the Canadian version is even more exclusive! I say go for it, but only because agreeable spouses are few and far between. Good luck buddy!

 

he prob shouldve. if he dislikes torque-steer (like most RWD'ers inc me do) that car prob won't rack up many miles.

Me? I keep both hands on the wheel and deal with it