• Haven't posted in a good while. I am going to be selling my '05 MCS/manual (23,700 miles) w/warranty soon. I have come under the spell of the BMW 1 Series. Coming from an 01 Vette to a '05 MINI was quite a transition. I love my MINI and have had more fun in it than my old Vette. When the 1 series came out last Spring, I drove a 135 auto and was quite impressed but decided to stay with the MINI. In February I coaxed my wife to try a 128 i auto. Several hours later she bought it. We both love the car. Foolishly I drove a '09 335i coupe/manual and was blown away. I forgot what it was like to get slammed back in the seat on take off. I held off a month and drove her 1er enough to know the 135/manual was what I wanted. Ordered a "stripper" a week ago and expecting delivery in mid-May. If I had a 3 car garage I would keep the MINI. BUD has been a great car.
• For you young guys--I hate to tell you this--but the passion for cars doesn't subside with age. I am soon to be 66 and I almost think it is worse. From my new 1965 Chevelle Malibu--back when they were REAL cars through MG's, VW's, a 911 Porche, 5.0 Mustang, Z28 Camarro, the Vette and my beloved MINI. It has been a great journey. I know it will continue with the 135i. Thanks for letting me ramble. I would tell you it is a sign of aging--but I have always rambled. Have fun and enjoy your journey. Nick

 

How much was the new toy? I really like that car also, maybe it will be my next used vehicle after the MINI, never know.

 

MSRP $37,175--only option was the comfort access ($500)--as I said-- a stripper. Wholesale/invoice $34,440. I paid a teeny bit over invoice--couple hundred bucks. A far cry from my MINI buying experience(8/04) when I paid MSRP and begged for floor mats.

 

Enjoy the Bimmer. I also like the 1 series but I can't quite stomach paying that much for a car. Maybe Euro delivery makes the sticker shock a lot more bearable!

At 37, I am a certified car nut. Good to hear that at 66 the symptoms don't go away!

 

Hope you have better luck with your BMW than what my wife just went thru Car was a electrical lemon. Just to let you know trade-in on BMW's suck. She had a 05 330ci convertible we bought for $34k ten months ago, the dealer we bought it from offered her $19k for it BTW it was a certified pre-owned car. Frippin Carmax offered us $21k, so he matched that, and she bought a new MCS. Ordered it last Friday, atleast they sold us the Mini at cost Good luck

 

Definitely too high for me, but I would love to own the car, I am sure you will enjoy it! I will probably drive mine another two years then trade/sell it with about 45k miles on it by that point, and trade up to either another used MINI Cooper S, a used BMW 135i, or maybe a used Nissan 370Z. I dont seem to make it more than 3 years on any car I buy, I lose interest fast. So yeah I know what you are going thru, I'm a car guy thru and thru, that wont change.

 

^ I also agree with that statement. I tend to usually keep cars 2-4 years or so. With the MINI, im thinking next year to trade up to a BMW or something similar. However, the market sucks right now and im barely working so i have to wait at last a year or so.

As someone stated, BMW trades dont really suck anymore than any other marque, its the market right now ! I think you wouldve gotten that amount for a BMW from a toyota dealer, it really doesnt matter. Dealers are giving even less than they used to for trade-ins simply because they have to reduce the costs on the new cars to attract buyers, as they simply arent selling the volume they used to. There are cars sitting at the Ports here for weeks !

Nick, congrats on the 1-series ! I love that car, the 135i with a 6-sp manual anyway. Its a blast to drive. I too test-drove a 135i-6-speed and i was blown away. It may be a car i will consider in the future as the MINI replacement

 

Great post, Nick. I appreciate & envy your enthusiasm. I hope I'm that way when I'm 66 years young. Have fun with the BMW.

 

The car didn't depreciate, you paid way too much for it.

 

No thats what a "Certified Pre-owned" was going for at that time. Your right that we paid to much, because what a freakin joke they consider a "Certified" car We should have paid $3-4k less as a regular "used" car, but BMW charges for their "certification" But still, $19k The car still has a suggested retail in Kelly BB of $28+k.

 

Yeah, it's been much tougher to figure vehicle values lately for me. Due to fluctuating fuel prices and economic issues the auction prices for the cars vary by as much as $2000 from the week before.

 

Well, I guess I'm just blessed to be able to keep my 05 MCSc PS and have my 135i AW, too. I was one of the first in the nation to pick up my ONE in March last year and love...love it.

I paid $42K MSRP and have done about $8K in mods. It is now ready to do what I want it to do on the track or in the twisties or as a DD. I will say this, if I had to choose between the two I could not give up my MINI...totally different animal and the memories I've made with my Paris is just too great to give up. Thank goodness I can have both!
Here is my baby

 

Well trading a MINI for 135i doesn't sound like a bad deal at all. Hate to see your MINI go, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the new bimmer.

 

If I ever go the Bimmer route, it will be Euro delivery for me (7% discount and 2 fly to Munich for the price of one is too hard to pass up).

 

Well you could always add a classic Mini.

It can fit in a two car garage, ask me how I know!

Good luck with the new car.

 

Nick, I too am pushing 66 and believe me I'm just as crazy about cars as I have ever been.
Right now lusting for a Cayman.

 

I know the Cayman is a great car, but they do nothing for me.

If I ever do Porsche to me is 911 all the way....