Might have to part ways with my MINI =[
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 194
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Might have to part ways with my MINI =[
im really sad
more than likely needs a tranny. gonna cost me every last penny ive had to get it fixed.
once fixed ive been told by every expert mechanic to get rid of it as soon as possible! even with a new tranny it could last 50k. and htat worries me. ive even heard of trannys going in and blowing up in 35k.
i love this car to death but i just CANNOT afford it anymore
i bought the car for an even 8 with 95k on the clock. now after the transmission i would have put about 11500 into the car. now at about 10100k on the clock
ive been doing some thinking. keep in mind im finishing up highschool now and work as much as i can to keep this car running. its still very hard to do so. ive heard so many great things but also soooo many bad things about the 02 cooper around this mileage.
im really afraid for anything else to go wrong. i CANNOT afford it! this car is pretty expensive and prolly not wonderful idea for a highschooler to take on his own.
so the car has a brand new clutch and soon to be transmission. is it worth selling and loosing some money on or is it worth keeping and risking anything else that can wrong that i may no be able to afford.
on top of the new stuff. the car was in a very minor accident which bent the rear right control arm and set off the right curtain and seat airbags. the car has been put back together but with out the right side airbags. so i will loose massive value on the car for that. the control arms were replaced. the right back wheel must be bent says all the mechanics and pros. the car drifts a little and isnt aligned. with a new wheel it should be just fine.
i have a set of the 17inch crown spokes in pretty awesome condition along with some older SPAX coilovers a 19mm rear sway bar and a aruetech front sway bar. ready to be dropped in.
so with all that said. how much do you think the car is worth. if its not worth a lot ill keep it but if i can get a nice amount of money for it ill consider selling
it sucks that my first car had to be possibly the most fun and amazing car ever made. something pretty much impossible to replace
im looking to get into something easy to maintain and affordable. i was thinking about the Miata. my dad has one and loves it. he used to have the old 93 and loved it too. says its a world of difference now tho. i know they are prett ymuch dirt cheap on repairs compared to the MINI.
any insight is greatly appreciated
sorry if this is hard to read or understand. my noggin is having a hard time writing down stuff so sad
more than likely needs a tranny. gonna cost me every last penny ive had to get it fixed.
once fixed ive been told by every expert mechanic to get rid of it as soon as possible! even with a new tranny it could last 50k. and htat worries me. ive even heard of trannys going in and blowing up in 35k.
i love this car to death but i just CANNOT afford it anymore
i bought the car for an even 8 with 95k on the clock. now after the transmission i would have put about 11500 into the car. now at about 10100k on the clock
ive been doing some thinking. keep in mind im finishing up highschool now and work as much as i can to keep this car running. its still very hard to do so. ive heard so many great things but also soooo many bad things about the 02 cooper around this mileage.
im really afraid for anything else to go wrong. i CANNOT afford it! this car is pretty expensive and prolly not wonderful idea for a highschooler to take on his own.
so the car has a brand new clutch and soon to be transmission. is it worth selling and loosing some money on or is it worth keeping and risking anything else that can wrong that i may no be able to afford.
on top of the new stuff. the car was in a very minor accident which bent the rear right control arm and set off the right curtain and seat airbags. the car has been put back together but with out the right side airbags. so i will loose massive value on the car for that. the control arms were replaced. the right back wheel must be bent says all the mechanics and pros. the car drifts a little and isnt aligned. with a new wheel it should be just fine.
i have a set of the 17inch crown spokes in pretty awesome condition along with some older SPAX coilovers a 19mm rear sway bar and a aruetech front sway bar. ready to be dropped in.
so with all that said. how much do you think the car is worth. if its not worth a lot ill keep it but if i can get a nice amount of money for it ill consider selling
it sucks that my first car had to be possibly the most fun and amazing car ever made. something pretty much impossible to replace
im looking to get into something easy to maintain and affordable. i was thinking about the Miata. my dad has one and loves it. he used to have the old 93 and loved it too. says its a world of difference now tho. i know they are prett ymuch dirt cheap on repairs compared to the MINI.
any insight is greatly appreciated
sorry if this is hard to read or understand. my noggin is having a hard time writing down stuff so sad
Right nickydicky13 --you're in a bind. You love the MINI but can't afford to keep it running. A MINI will likely never be a "maintenance free" car like a Honda. I don't know of any super-low maintenance Euro car. If they make them, they don't export them to us.
The bottom line: You cannot afford a MINI on a high school budget. The R50 is not necessarily a high maintenance car, but you're not really sure that anyone has maintained it properly before you bought it. It now has over 100K and MINI parts are NOT cheap. Euro cars in general all have the same dilemma; parts are usually 2x to 3x what they would be for a domestic brand.
Object lesson: Don't buy a Euro car on a high school budget. Cost of ownership is too high.
I agree the Miata is a great choice, especially since you are no doubt a bit of a driving enthusiast. They are very affordable and easy to work on. The parts are readily available and relatively cheap --even on older models.
Of course you could go the Honda Civic, etc., etc., route, but you sound like you would like a bit more excitement than an econobox will give you. Sell the MINI and buy something you can afford to drive.
Once you are working fulltime, you may decide to buy a new car. Take a look again at a MINI -maybe even buy a new one. They are extremely rewarding and fun cars to own, but only if you can afford it. Spending your last penny keeping any car running is not fun.
The bottom line: You cannot afford a MINI on a high school budget. The R50 is not necessarily a high maintenance car, but you're not really sure that anyone has maintained it properly before you bought it. It now has over 100K and MINI parts are NOT cheap. Euro cars in general all have the same dilemma; parts are usually 2x to 3x what they would be for a domestic brand.
Object lesson: Don't buy a Euro car on a high school budget. Cost of ownership is too high.
I agree the Miata is a great choice, especially since you are no doubt a bit of a driving enthusiast. They are very affordable and easy to work on. The parts are readily available and relatively cheap --even on older models.
Of course you could go the Honda Civic, etc., etc., route, but you sound like you would like a bit more excitement than an econobox will give you. Sell the MINI and buy something you can afford to drive.
Once you are working fulltime, you may decide to buy a new car. Take a look again at a MINI -maybe even buy a new one. They are extremely rewarding and fun cars to own, but only if you can afford it. Spending your last penny keeping any car running is not fun.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 2
From: Grants Pass, OR
Does your MINI have a 'salvage' or 'branded' tittle? Generally an collision with air bag deployment will be 'totaled' by the insurance co. If so you may have a hard time to even sell it at all unless you practically give it away.
It may be better to keep it and buy a beater to get around in until you have enough money to fix the MINI properly.
It may be better to keep it and buy a beater to get around in until you have enough money to fix the MINI properly.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 194
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Does your MINI have a 'salvage' or 'branded' tittle? Generally an collision with air bag deployment will be 'totaled' by the insurance co. If so you may have a hard time to even sell it at all unless you practically give it away.
It may be better to keep it and buy a beater to get around in until you have enough money to fix the MINI properly.
It may be better to keep it and buy a beater to get around in until you have enough money to fix the MINI properly.
nope cars not totaled at all. it was just the curtain airbags. not the fronts. insurance would have paid for it. but ive had it done way cheaper
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Colorado
ND13 ~
Sorry to hear about your story. As you're learning, usually (and unfortunately) the biggest lessons in life are often the most expensive, especially involving cool toys.
I'll tell you a quick story then offer my $.02. My brother went through a similar situation with his VW GTI. Man, he loved that car, near obsession. He kept pumping a dumping $$money$$ into it for years. Finally, he just flat out couldn't afford to keep fixing it. He traded it in, got what he could for it, and then went opposite eurosport and went practical bought a Toyota.
He still has the Toyota, it's a daily driver, and instead of spending every last dime on the VW he's been saving his dough for another sports car in the future.
My $.02.
* You're a young guy, you're a car guy, and you're probably gonna own a dozen or so cars over your lifetime. Time to say goodbye to the MINI, cut your losses and move on. My guess is you'll feel a whole lot better once you do.
* Rebuild your bank account, save for college.
* College degree = good job = more $$ = Brand new MINI!
Good Luck ND13..
Sorry to hear about your story. As you're learning, usually (and unfortunately) the biggest lessons in life are often the most expensive, especially involving cool toys.
I'll tell you a quick story then offer my $.02. My brother went through a similar situation with his VW GTI. Man, he loved that car, near obsession. He kept pumping a dumping $$money$$ into it for years. Finally, he just flat out couldn't afford to keep fixing it. He traded it in, got what he could for it, and then went opposite eurosport and went practical bought a Toyota.
He still has the Toyota, it's a daily driver, and instead of spending every last dime on the VW he's been saving his dough for another sports car in the future.
My $.02.
* You're a young guy, you're a car guy, and you're probably gonna own a dozen or so cars over your lifetime. Time to say goodbye to the MINI, cut your losses and move on. My guess is you'll feel a whole lot better once you do.
* Rebuild your bank account, save for college.
* College degree = good job = more $$ = Brand new MINI!
Good Luck ND13..
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 776
Likes: 2
im really sad
more than likely needs a tranny. gonna cost me every last penny ive had to get it fixed.
once fixed ive been told by every expert mechanic to get rid of it as soon as possible! even with a new tranny it could last 50k. and htat worries me. ive even heard of trannys going in and blowing up in 35k.
i love this car to death but i just CANNOT afford it anymore
i bought the car for an even 8 with 95k on the clock. now after the transmission i would have put about 11500 into the car. now at about 10100k on the clock
ive been doing some thinking. keep in mind im finishing up highschool now and work as much as i can to keep this car running. its still very hard to do so. ive heard so many great things but also soooo many bad things about the 02 cooper around this mileage.
im really afraid for anything else to go wrong. i CANNOT afford it! this car is pretty expensive and prolly not wonderful idea for a highschooler to take on his own.
so the car has a brand new clutch and soon to be transmission. is it worth selling and loosing some money on or is it worth keeping and risking anything else that can wrong that i may no be able to afford.
on top of the new stuff. the car was in a very minor accident which bent the rear right control arm and set off the right curtain and seat airbags. the car has been put back together but with out the right side airbags. so i will loose massive value on the car for that. the control arms were replaced. the right back wheel must be bent says all the mechanics and pros. the car drifts a little and isnt aligned. with a new wheel it should be just fine.
i have a set of the 17inch crown spokes in pretty awesome condition along with some older SPAX coilovers a 19mm rear sway bar and a aruetech front sway bar. ready to be dropped in.
so with all that said. how much do you think the car is worth. if its not worth a lot ill keep it but if i can get a nice amount of money for it ill consider selling
it sucks that my first car had to be possibly the most fun and amazing car ever made. something pretty much impossible to replace
im looking to get into something easy to maintain and affordable. i was thinking about the Miata. my dad has one and loves it. he used to have the old 93 and loved it too. says its a world of difference now tho. i know they are prett ymuch dirt cheap on repairs compared to the MINI.
any insight is greatly appreciated
sorry if this is hard to read or understand. my noggin is having a hard time writing down stuff so sad
more than likely needs a tranny. gonna cost me every last penny ive had to get it fixed.
once fixed ive been told by every expert mechanic to get rid of it as soon as possible! even with a new tranny it could last 50k. and htat worries me. ive even heard of trannys going in and blowing up in 35k.
i love this car to death but i just CANNOT afford it anymore
i bought the car for an even 8 with 95k on the clock. now after the transmission i would have put about 11500 into the car. now at about 10100k on the clock
ive been doing some thinking. keep in mind im finishing up highschool now and work as much as i can to keep this car running. its still very hard to do so. ive heard so many great things but also soooo many bad things about the 02 cooper around this mileage.
im really afraid for anything else to go wrong. i CANNOT afford it! this car is pretty expensive and prolly not wonderful idea for a highschooler to take on his own.
so the car has a brand new clutch and soon to be transmission. is it worth selling and loosing some money on or is it worth keeping and risking anything else that can wrong that i may no be able to afford.
on top of the new stuff. the car was in a very minor accident which bent the rear right control arm and set off the right curtain and seat airbags. the car has been put back together but with out the right side airbags. so i will loose massive value on the car for that. the control arms were replaced. the right back wheel must be bent says all the mechanics and pros. the car drifts a little and isnt aligned. with a new wheel it should be just fine.
i have a set of the 17inch crown spokes in pretty awesome condition along with some older SPAX coilovers a 19mm rear sway bar and a aruetech front sway bar. ready to be dropped in.
so with all that said. how much do you think the car is worth. if its not worth a lot ill keep it but if i can get a nice amount of money for it ill consider selling
it sucks that my first car had to be possibly the most fun and amazing car ever made. something pretty much impossible to replace
im looking to get into something easy to maintain and affordable. i was thinking about the Miata. my dad has one and loves it. he used to have the old 93 and loved it too. says its a world of difference now tho. i know they are prett ymuch dirt cheap on repairs compared to the MINI.
any insight is greatly appreciated
sorry if this is hard to read or understand. my noggin is having a hard time writing down stuff so sad
Sorry to hear that you're having a hard time knowing what to do about your MINI. I can tell that it's a little love and a heartbreaker at the same time. You are young and there are so many things to look forward to and lots of cars to drive. It's probably safe to say that it may have to go.
You've had that great feeling that comes from your MINI and that will always be with you. The MINI Cooper that you've known and felt will always be the ride to compare to, as you go further along. And there will be more and more fun and exciting cars in the future, to compare it to.
Good Luck
ehhh sadly college degree doesnt = good job anymore... Well thats how it is in my neck of the woods. most of my friends with bachelor/master degrees cant find jobs. Myself, having a bachelor in Criminal Justice/ criminology, cant get a job. Times are tough 
HAHA, anyways to the op,
I can relate to you, i bought my mini being a college student, wait, i still am! and i am poor, poor....poor. My mini is what brings a smile to my face, my girlfriend and friends think im nuts but its a car like no other. And NAM is a great place that i enjoy.
Unfortunately, everyone here is probably right, your best bet it to sell it and buy somethings more practical. Save yourself headaches and money.
HAHA, anyways to the op,
I can relate to you, i bought my mini being a college student, wait, i still am! and i am poor, poor....poor. My mini is what brings a smile to my face, my girlfriend and friends think im nuts but its a car like no other. And NAM is a great place that i enjoy.
Unfortunately, everyone here is probably right, your best bet it to sell it and buy somethings more practical. Save yourself headaches and money.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,027
Likes: 1
From: Washington State
I agree. It's time to cut your losses and cut the car loose. It's not an ideal choice on a high school budget. There are several fun hot hatches that are less expensive to maintain that are doable on a high school budget, the MINI is just not one of them.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I'll agree with everyone else -- a MINI probably isn't the best bet on a High School budget, but it sounds like you've already figured that out the hard way. You might want to sell the car and go find a stock Honda Civic Hatchback. Someone above mentioned that they're econo-boxes but the truth is there's a huge tuning crowd out there and the cars are really simple to work on. With some spare change invested here and there you could find yourself in a car that's almost as much fun to drive as your MINI. And I can almost guarantee that anything you want to do to the car has already been done and well documented at least once, which makes it a great learning platform.
But to be fair, I'm biased. My first car was an 89 CRX and I still miss it.
But to be fair, I'm biased. My first car was an 89 CRX and I still miss it.
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Denver
Agree with everyone else. Get a Honda. Of course then you'll have to worry about it being stolen by ricers and stripped for parts. That was my experience, I'd probably still be driving it otherwise. 10 years of ownership and a total of about $500 for repairs over those 10 years.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 194
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im just really not into those spiders. nice cars no doubt but i just dont feel them.
ive driven a few hatches but the clutch is just mush and the gear box doesnt even feel like its there, i feel like a manual car like that would just become borring and a pain to drive if the fun isnt there. being where i live up in twistyville where i take tiwsites everyday its gonna be more than hard to find a car that will make me feel the same way as the MINI.
seriously thinking about a miata. ive heard they are really cheap and affordable but WAY more fun then the hondas. space isnt really an issue and id LOVE a drop top!! anything years 95 and up would tickle my fancy.
plus i really want to get into a few track events this summer and i know miatas are an ideal track car.
parting ways with the MINI will be hard but im gonna have to do it.
how much do you think i could get for the MINI
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Murrieta, California
Of course I made a few specials mods to the Spyder myself...
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Keep "stuff" in perspective
Like a lot of other readers, your story resurrected youthful memories of first or favorite cars now long gone.
Mine was a 65 1/2 MG Midget between HS and U and for 2 years during U of Toronto. Looked great (white with red and black interior), chicks dug it, it was a great image car at a time when I cared about such things - which is normal at the age.
At the time an original MINI was about $1500, a Datsum 510 was $2700, a 240Z was $4300. I bought the Midget for $750 newly painted and spent over $3000 in the 3 years I owned it, replacing everything but the transmission because I couldn't stand the thought of letting it go.
As you can see from the numbers, I would have been way further ahead getting a loan and buying a new car, with a warranty, but I just didn't want to have any debts.
So I learned this - never get emotionally involved with a hunk of steel (and plastic and aluminum) with thousands of moving parts. Instead, enjoy the memories and the blessings of living in a time and place where you can have a fun vehicle once in a while (00 540i 6sp, 99 M Roadster, 11 Countryman S All4) . At other times, practicality rules. (86 Toyota Camry, 95 Acura TL, Pontiac 6000 4 cyl auto)
And regarding that debt thing - manage your credit well, it really helps when you do need to incur a debt.
Mine was a 65 1/2 MG Midget between HS and U and for 2 years during U of Toronto. Looked great (white with red and black interior), chicks dug it, it was a great image car at a time when I cared about such things - which is normal at the age.
At the time an original MINI was about $1500, a Datsum 510 was $2700, a 240Z was $4300. I bought the Midget for $750 newly painted and spent over $3000 in the 3 years I owned it, replacing everything but the transmission because I couldn't stand the thought of letting it go.
As you can see from the numbers, I would have been way further ahead getting a loan and buying a new car, with a warranty, but I just didn't want to have any debts.
So I learned this - never get emotionally involved with a hunk of steel (and plastic and aluminum) with thousands of moving parts. Instead, enjoy the memories and the blessings of living in a time and place where you can have a fun vehicle once in a while (00 540i 6sp, 99 M Roadster, 11 Countryman S All4) . At other times, practicality rules. (86 Toyota Camry, 95 Acura TL, Pontiac 6000 4 cyl auto)
And regarding that debt thing - manage your credit well, it really helps when you do need to incur a debt.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
I think if I were in your shoes, I'd sell it. Making smart financial decisions now will make your life MUCH easier a little further down the road. I'm only 26 but I sure wish I'd been smarter with money at 17, I could have a huge wad by now! 
Keep your bank account in the black, save your dollars and buy something really hot in a few years when you're making more money. In the meantime, I'd agree with everyone here and buy something still sporty but with a smaller price tag and lower maintenance costs. A Miata sounds like a great choice, I've never driven one but I am very interested, they seem like fun cars.
Keep your bank account in the black, save your dollars and buy something really hot in a few years when you're making more money. In the meantime, I'd agree with everyone here and buy something still sporty but with a smaller price tag and lower maintenance costs. A Miata sounds like a great choice, I've never driven one but I am very interested, they seem like fun cars.
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Chicago area
nickydicky13 try Edmunds and Kelley blue book to get an idea. I used both to better understand the level of negotiation I had when I bought mine; it is not perfect but it will help you. You can access them at:
Edmunds:
http://www.edmunds.com/mini/cooper/2...tyle=100074116
Blue book:
http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/mini/co...cb90a6ec5a33be (address will ask for your zip code)
Good luck and hope this help you
Edmunds:
http://www.edmunds.com/mini/cooper/2...tyle=100074116
Blue book:
http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/mini/co...cb90a6ec5a33be (address will ask for your zip code)
Good luck and hope this help you
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
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looked up the book value on the car and got some estimates.
im leaning towards an NA miata. something nice and small and fun and affordable. im a very spirited driver and love to toy around and mod. the miata seems to fit my money support
im leaning towards an NA miata. something nice and small and fun and affordable. im a very spirited driver and love to toy around and mod. the miata seems to fit my money support
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