I went to go look at a 2003 Mini Cooper. Its a velvet red metallic. She wants to do a straight trade for my 2006 Scion xB. Its kinda a good deal but i dont know if i should do it or not. I wanted to get some money out of it. Here are some pictures of it. The only add ons it has is the sunroof and xenons. Oh she took it in today to get her oil changed and they were looking for stuff thats broke and they opened the hatch and one of the hinges broke. and they were checking her exhaust and they broke one of the hangers. So they are fixing it this week.

 

Any Scion for Any MINI is a good trade.

However, you're giving up three years and that MINI appears to be not well taken care of and a Plain Jane.

What's the value of your xB ? That MINI can't be worth more than about $10K, if that.

 

According to KBB (private party value - looks like a dealer though so it'd be higher)

Condition Value
Excellent
$14,290


Good
$13,310


Fair
$12,070

 

KBB is always a little high. And that MINI doesn't appear to be in "fair" condition with hinges and exhaust hangers falling off and the paint doesn't look well cared for.

If you trade in (which I wouldn't do), I think the dealer still owes you a few thousand $$.

 

The MINI trunk hinges have been redesigned because the originals have a failure mode - nothing to do with not being cared for.

The paint can indicate a lack of regular polishing, but a good detailer can bring it back - what I was impressed with is how good the interior looks, seats look fine and carpets clean except for driver mat (which can be replaced). Maybe there's never been passengers!?

As to what it's worth ... I'd expect your 2006 Scion to be worth more; I think the $12K that Latka listed seems OK for that MINI

 

its a private party. we met at the dealership. she wants 11,500 for her mini. im asking 16,500 for my xB. she doesnt want to do a trade plus cash for me. she had it detailed a couple months ago and she said she usually doesnt have passengers. the interior like the seats and stuff are good but the shift **** is all scratched up and so is the steering wheel. and there is a big dent by the mini wings on the front. you can see it in the pictures. and the chrome on the rear hatch handle is coming off. and one of the fog lamps is broken. she didnt even know.

 

Yeah, the paint can be made to look good again with a PC buffer, some Prima products, and about 10 hours of your time.

The interior doesn't look beat up, but it sure is plain... cloth and plastic instead of leather(ette) and chrome. Blech.

I just keep comparing it to the dealer's loaner I have right now, a 5-year old Cooper Plain Jane (although the loaner does have Cold Weather Pkg) and I wouldn't pay $12,000 for it.

Tell her you'll pay $10,500 and not a penny more and watch her jump at it.

 

Was posting at the same time you were, 517.

If your xB is worth that much, NO WAY should you do an even trade. Especially with the info in your last post.

 

yeah thats what i was thinking. my dad said its not a good deal either but its whatever i want to do and my sister thinks its awesome and i should do it! i think i might wait to sell my car and then get it unless i find a better one for around the same price

 

Sounds like a plan. Sell yours first and if that MINI is still avail, offer her $10,500, or so, for it. If it's gone, there are others out there.

 

yeah hopefully it wont take to long to sell my xB. some guy in canada was interested in it but then he stopped emailing me. oh and to add ive had my eye on this mini. and i talked to the dealer and they said they would take off $1,000 http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...eadExists=true

 

Nav unit, Leatherette, S-Lites, CVT auto, couple of years newer, extended warranty... that one is a lot nicer and a better value, IMO, even though it is a few thousand dollars more.

Good luck in your search. Whichever MINI you end up buying, you'll love it !

 

yeah i think im going to either sell my car and get it or get a job trade in my xB and get it. either way i think im going with the BRG.

 

I looked at the pictures and I went: "Is that Cincinnati MINI...I know that guy and the incline!." Talk to Nate Drake, he's a MINI technician there, and tell him Cody Meyer sent you.

That MINI looks a little beat up to me, just make sure they fix everything. Have Nate check it out and look over everything.

-Cody

 

Sell the XB outright, then go find the Mini you want. Mini's are everywhere, and for $16k you can find a really nice one. I got my 04 S with 30k on it for less than $18k.

This deal of your XB for her Mini is a really really bad deal.

 

Go for the BRG. It's alot nicer.

 

+1 more

 

ok thanks. im going to get the BRG. i dont like this VR at all. I saw it when they pulled it out of the garage and i was like EWWW! i didnt even like it. i felt no attraction to it. but i really liked those new ones!!

 

When buying a used car:

1. Look for any corrosion on the wheels, especially on a high-brake-dust-vehicle such as the MINI. If there are black spots on the wheels, it means they probably didn't keep the car clean.

2. Find where she takes the car to for service... and see if they can tell you anything about the car. Have them pull up the history of the car using the VIN.

3. For a car with 74K on it, I wouldn't pay that kind of $. I say keep the Scion (no offense... but I can't believe I said that)... and wait until another one comes along.

4. Look for scratches on the corners of all four bumpers... those are the most likely places to get scratched up. Look for stone chips on the bonnet, and any rust around the doors or hatch.

5. Ask where she took it for car washes (if she didn't do it herself). If she took it to a touch car wash, you're going to have tons of swirl marks!

I've seen a lot of USED cars come through the Honda dealer I work at... not pre-owned... just USED. This looks like the latter. I've found a lot of the worst cars to have these problems (the corrosion, rust, swirl marks, dents, sketchy service records, etc.), so watch out!

I almost jumped on what could be considered a lemon... aftermarket sunroof leaked, funny smell, stains in headliner, corroded wheels... just because I WANTED a MINI. However, I was patient and found a much better car.

I say ditch this one... find another one. Unless she offers it for perhaps $8K.

 

im not getting this one. its the BRG for me!! i cant wait to get my car sold! yeah about the brake dust, the wheels were CAKED in it!! and the car is filthy. it was horrible. stuff was falling off all over the place. and i sat in it an looked up and there was smoke coming out of the vents on the outside in front of the windshield. i was like im out of here!!

 

I just picked up a used MINI on Friday. I had looked for about a month or so, everywhere, craigslist, dealers, cars, autotrader. I looked at a few that were fitting what I was looking for (around $13k, low miles, cvt, specific colors). Finally, after posting a WTB here I found the one. It is immaculate inside and has 29100 miles , cvt, heated seats, leather, and factory nav,etc. This was one of 4 cars +motorcycle of the owner, so he put on very little miles and the car is spotless. I ran a carfax and all was clean there too. I got a few good responses from the WTB here, but many were far away and I was willing to consider those if this car which was local was not going to be a good fit. Anyways, keep looking you can find a good MINI and consider a WTB ad here when your ready, I think people on forums tend to take better care of their car than others.

link to my new ride

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=118886

 

I know your excited about getting a MINI, but don't let that cloud your decision making. I don't think that's a very good deal. There are lots of MINIs looking for new homes, so take your time and find exactly what you want. If you sell your car first and than go shopping with cash you can probably find some great deals. What ever happened to the car in Fl??

 

Don't forget to checkout ebay and autotrader, they are a good source for comparing minis from all over the US.I have sold three cars on ebay and purchased one, all great deals.Take your time and I'm sure you'll find what your looking for.

 

Personally, I wouldn't do a straight up trade. Mini's are great and all, but that Xb is gonna be worth a little more than the Mini, mileage and body condition as well as motor condition taken into consideration. I would do a private sale on the Xb, buy a used Cooper S and mod it

 

What car in Florida? My Mini came from Tampa if that's what you're talking about.... (I'm the OP's sister)