The last few weeks I've been actively looking around the Virginia Beach, VA area for a good deal on a used MINI.

The first candidate was an '02 with 51,000 miles on it, from a little independent dealer asking $10,300. A quick trip to the mechanic at the MINI dealer talked me out of that one. It needed a new power steering pump, a window regulator, and the oil pan was leaking and needed to be replaced. There were other things, and this was without even a full diagnostic. Their estimate was $2,000-$3,000 in repairs. So I passed on that one.

I found an '04 with 52,000 miles which looked much better-cared-for. Talked the guy off his asking price of $11,900 down to $11,500 and took the car to an independent mechanic. The window regulator failed last night (owner admitted it to me when I picked the car up this morning), the front brakes will pass inspection but are worn, and the driver side axle seal is leaking transmission oil ever so slightly. Total estimate from the mechanic was $868 for those three things, and said it would be more like $1,200-1,500 if I took it to the dealer service dept.

The owner rejected my offer of $10,500 as is. He works for a VW dealer and says he can get their mechanic to fix it much more cheaply. So if he does, he might call me back...

Am I being too picky here? With a 1st gen Cooper, should I just expect to pay $1,000 on top of the reasonable sales price to get all the leaks/brakes/motors fixed?

Guess I'm just feeling a little frustrated... any advice/empathy/encouragement is appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

 

Just keep looking the right one will come. I think your offers are reasonable. KBB and NADA are often high with their evaluations. I picked up my 06 MCS with 21,000 miles with factory warranty last December for $15,000. NADA was around $20,000 for the car. Try to find one a bit newer like and 05 or 06 with less miles. They are generally better made cars that the 02-04s.

 

I don't think you are being too picky. It took us 3 weeks of avid searching to find my little beauty.
As long as you don't NEED your MINI right now, then I say take your time and be picky. In the end you will be happy you did.

 

My advice would be to check the marketplace on this site. Do your best to buy one from someone that loved and took care of the car. I will do that next time Getting a "deal" on a MINI may not be what you want.

 

The guy just called me back and said he'd settle for $10,500. That's $1,000 less than the price we agreed on prior to the inspection, and would let me do the $868 worth of repairs I wanted and still come out a little ahead.

Other than those three little things, the car is in great shape and the mechanics thought it had been taken care of well and probably by a dealer maintenance department. It's not a "deal" like the first one I looked at. It's basically blue book minus repairs for a car that's in much better shape than the conditions assumed by blue book value.

I'll check out the marketplace here, though... thanks for the heads-up.

 

You are not being too picky, you have to live with the car you decide on and you want it to be positive experience. I spent 8 months looking for the "Right" MINI. I had specific requirements, and 02-06 MCS (wanted SC vs Turbo), sunroof, six-speed, sport suspension, CLEAN CarFax (No accidents ever) and had to be a rust free southern car. I stuck to these requirements and purchaced my '02 Liquid Yellow MCS last December. The car has been rock solid and been a blast to drive. No regrets and was worth the wait for the right car.


'02 Liquid Yellow MCS, Sport Pkg, Premium Pkg, Cold Weather Pkg

 

You are not being too picky, but that said, maybe in your market area there are only 2 to choose from in your price range?

Got to Cars.com and there are many hundreds for sale, maybe you can spot one you missed before?

 

I used edmunds.com for valuation because it's the lowest and also more realistic of what is going on in the market right now. Local market supply/demand comes into play as well. IMO, I'd pay at "trade-in" or less right now. Try to stick to latest model years (if you can) as these cars can be expensive to fix.

good luck

 

I went down the same road, and it was not a fun one as I really wanted a Mini! I kept away from looking in states that had hail storms and floods.

After reading about all the different problems with certain years I made my mind up it had to be an 06 or no Mini at all !

It took almost 6 months but the 06 MCS equiped just the way I wanted finally showed up !

My plus was it also had low miles and a great CarFax report.

Keep searching, I know its out there . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

And do not, IMO, buy a CVT Just-a-Cooper....their transmission are troublesome. The autonon the S is fine.
Keep looking, you will find it...
Like any used cars, there lemons, and there are peaches for sale...the condition of the car at the point it is offered for sale is somewhat indicative of the care it has recieved...if it is broken, and being offered "For Sale", watch out IMO.
Then again you said it looked good...so go with your gut!!

 

Thanks for the advice, guys. I've slept on it, and I think I'm going to buy the '04 I had inspected yesterday. It's obviously been well kept. The things that are wrong with it are things that just wear out anyway and are not indicative of rough treatment. Window regulators are a common problem, brakes wear out, and the small leak in the axle seal is probably nobody's fault, either. And the seller has adjusted the price commensurate with the things that need to be addressed, so I think it's a fair deal.

I'm getting out of the Navy after 4 1/2 years and starting at a new job. I've been driving a wonderful '90 Toyota Camry to work and have managed to effectively save 25% of everything I've earned in that time, in spite of buying a house and having a baby. So I deserve a fun car to start off my new job and my new life, right?

Motoring, here I come.

 

Anyone that is responsible enough to do everything that you have stated, is more than deserving of having a fun car. Thanks for your service and enjoy the new beast!