Hey Guys and Gals,

Mike here from Fredericton, NB, Canada. I've owned a couple classic Minis.....currently own a 1987 Austin Mini....modded. I don't know a whole lot about the modern MINIs to be quite honest, however have always toyed with the idea of owning one. I would like fuel economy and don't need an S to make me happy.

I am looking at a 2002 Launch Edition Cooper with 61,000kms on it. (38k miles) and am wondering what it's worth and how to determine if it's real mileage and whether or not it's a clone, or the real McCoy. Apparently spent a few years in Virginia, now it's back here....

I might be able to get some winter tires thrown in the deal. (we get LOTS of snow here in NB)

Would this car normally have heated mirrors?
Cruise control?
Is there something different somewhere in the upholstery?
Is there a # or dash plaque to indicate some # out of 500? (ie: 333/500 or similar). I know on Classic Cars, there are lots of Cooper S's and special edition clones, to bump the retail price up a few thousand....

The car is 5 hours drive away, so before going to look at it, I would like to be armed with a little information so as not to appear totally lost.

The asking price is $14,900CDN, which is a shade high for an 02, but really not out of line at all for what a modern MINI is going for in these parts of the world. (expensive, I know)

The ad can be seen here.
http://www.autoseller.ca/trader/resu...1&vid=30955118

 

Never heard of a "Launch Edition". Cruise control was an option on all new MINIs, and still is, though in my opinion it should be standard equipment. Not like you gotta use it if you don't want to...and around here not having it makes a car harder to sell. Heated mirrors, I doubt it, but in Canada, who knows.

The ad says 15" wheels, but those shown appear to be 16". Make sure the "leather" is actually leather and not pleather.

It looks just like my 03 MC, maybe I can clone a "Launch Edition".

 

The Canadian Launch edition was made up of 500 Cooper models with 5-speed transmissions sold in the Canadian market in early 2002. The car's number is marked in the tachometer fascia (Says "Canadian launch number ### and has the maple leaf symbol). I know of at least one Canadian launch Cooper that made it to the United States. These cars have Xenons, cold pack and DSC as standard equipment. Since they were never sold in the US, I suggest you checking with other Canadian based MINI owners in www.mini2.com. Look for poster HarryIndyBlue (He is from Guelph, Ontario and has been a regular poster there for 6 years). He used to own an Indy Blue/white Canadian Launch edition Cooper. Check with him to see about second hand values of these special cars.

 

Canadian spec Coopers of the time period had Xenons and DSC as standard equipment. There is/was a lower spec Cooper offered in Canada called the "Cooper Classic" that was offered with Halogen headlights and no ASC/DSC as a lower cost option model to the regular Canadian Cooper. Remember also that in Canada buyers could order Electric Blue metallic in the Cooper model (I saw one when I visited Vancouver in early 2005) and the CVT models offered steering wheel paddles, unlike the US spec Cooper CVTs that never offered them. Also in Canada you could order the heated windshield, an option that was never offered in US spec cars.

 

Here is an old thread in www.mini2.com from August 10th, 2005. This was Canadian Launch edition #172 that was sold here in the United States: http://www.mini2.com/forum/sale/9742...172-500-a.html

 

Thank-You guys !
-

 

Gothboy, who currently lives in Los Angeles has a Launch Edition.
Not sure if he's on NAM or not, but I understand he's a member of SCMM as well as the Vancouver MINI Cooper Club.

 

Those Canadian Launch edition Coopers are grey market import cars in the United States.

 

you Canadians and yr wacky special edition MINIs really crack me up, eh?