Cross-posting in hopes of getting some replies before the weekend...

What would you say is the right price to pay for the following car...

-Astro black with black roof
-Mileage: 44,000
-JCW Tuning Kit (brakes, suspension, exhaust, etc.)

Options:
-Heated Leather Seats
-Navigation
-Harman Kardon Sound w/ disk changer
-Panorama roof
-Anthracite headliner
-Chrome S-Lites
-Tinted windows

The car is sitting at a used car dealer at the moment. The panorama roof has been a deal breaker for me in the past but I'm warming up to it.

What would you offer?

Thanks in advance,
Oscar

 

I would look it up on Edmunds.com and then start a bit below that. Most dealers will sit on a car before they loose on it so it depends a lot on what he has in it, what he will actually sell it for.
I have found that Edmunds prices (unlike Kelly Blue Book) are normally pretty realistic. Since you dont say where you are located thats all I can offer.

 

I bought my MSC 3 weeks ago from near Austin ( private seller) with 18k miles for $14000..

Chiili pepper with Checkered roof
cd player, cloth seat, chrome in and out, dsc, lsd, manual,boost/volt gauge (dealer Installed), factory driving lights, rear fog lamps, 17" wheels with potenza tires..

good luck.. hope it gives you little idea what to offer them..

 

lol forgot to mention the year .. its 2006 too..

 

I was thinking $15,000. The car is in Southern California.

 

Whatever they are asking for it, they have at least a $5000 profit margin built in. Guaranteed. So look it up on Edmunds.com and see what the trade-in value is, then offer $1500 over that. Good starting point.

 

What if it's already very near trade in value?

 

15K in Southern Cali is a decent bargin. Have it inspected before you purchase it by a MINI mechanic before you snag it. If it's an automatic, haggle for a lower price, but that's fair for a manual transmission.

 

So what's wrong with the roof? I love having more light enter the car.

 

I've driven both and the biggest factor was not having the extra glare. The added headroom was a plus. Less chances of something malfunctioning without the sunroof mechanics. Lastly, (not a big deal) lower center of gravity without the glass roof.

I'd probably wrap the roof with something to minimize the light from above.

 

Find out if it is a "Factory" JCW. While this was available in '06, it was still possible to add the kit afterwards. There shouldn't really be a huge difference, but Factory is somewhat preferred.

 

Kelley Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com/) is a place to start. Like my state, Cali probably has its own internal book rates (found that out when I bought my current '06 MCS). Mileage sounds good. Only issues I can think of at that point are leaks in the water pump, knock sensor, timing chain cover, or the antifreeze overflow tank. +1 to taking it to a MINI mechanic. If your near Jan's shop (http://www.revolutionmotorworks.com/), see if you can get him to check it out.

Don't be deterred by having a glass roof. MINIs have a strong top. When I totalled my '02 MCS back in November '09, I did a full roll. Actually landed on the driver's side window, and I crawled out through the sunroof (which had popped out). And, you guessed it, my current '06 MCS has a sunroof, too.

 

Turns out the car was an early '05 build and not a factory JCW. I shot Danny @ MINICORSA an email about getting a pre-purchase inspection. I went ahead and got my financing in order and went back to the dealer... only to find out the car had been sold.

On to the next one...