Do their upgrades retain similar resale value? For instance...

If I load up with all the upgrades (stereo, nav, auto ac etc) and it adds $10k to the price should I expect that $10k the same residual value as the rest of the car?

Just trying to decide how dumb I am being for adding 50% of the value of the car in upgrades

Thanks.

 

No, you won't nearly as high of a percentage return on factory optional equipment compared to the base value of the car itself when you go to sell it. And aftermarket add-ons add very little at all to the resale value, unless you happen to find a buyer that really loves what you added and knows how much it cost.

The base MSRP on my new 2006 'S' convertible was about 23k, but all the factory options drove the price up to about 36k. It would have been a dumb move if resale value were my primary concern, but I'm planning on keeping the car for a *long* time, so it was more important to me to get the car exactly the way I wanted it.

 

Same here - I'll be loading up on the options that I want that can't be retrofitted later as I will be keeping the car a while and saving money by not included options that are of little value to me (no leather or GPS/Navi).

 

Did the same when I ordered Molly, wasn't interesed in...
!) going much more over my budget ($25,000), ended up at $28,550
2) adding options that I didn't see a need for
3) resale value was of no consequence

But I am suprised at how much equity i have in her at this moment!!

 

It's really easy to go crazy on the options if you're not careful. Even with $13k in options on mine, that still didn't include the "big three" for 2006, which were the JCW package, the Navigation system, and the Digital Power Sound Module (essentially different stereo speakers and a bigger amplifier.) If I had gotten those as well, the final price would have been about $50k, compared to the $23k MSRP.

I've got 80k miles so far and the car barely feels like it's getting broken in. And I really haven't seen any MINIs since the R52/R53 that I've liked more than mine, so it's going to be in my garage for a long time to come.

 

Aftermarket parts do not add resale what so ever. If anything they lower the resale unless the person is looking for a modded car. That and if they have been done in your garage that is most certainly going to turn people away but, if it has been done professionally then they might help.

 

Bought a 2010 Clubman S listed below, sticker was $32,500 when purchased in October 0f 2009. The car has 18,000 miles on it and I went to look at ordering a 2012 Countryman so I wanted to see what they would give me for it after the bragged about how great the resale value was. They offered me $19,200 and I basically told them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine (Mini of Charleston). Needless to say this is a stupid offer, retail should be $26,500 and trade in at least $22,000. Either these people really are stupid, think I'm stupid or think the Countryman will keep selling great forever. Decided to wait and get an X1 due to their stupidity.