Well i live in Dallas and I work for DFW Audi and currently have a 2003 B6 A4 and I'm looking at this Chili red 2009 Mini Cooper S with 24,550 miles on it.... I've been looking for a car to thats more fun then my A4, faster, and to get me thru school, and this seems to be it. But the issue is, i'd be rolling over about a grand into it from my other car, and the car as of now, would be about $18K and payments would be about 330. But regardless I'm getting a warranty, so that'll bump the price to about 20K. Is this a good deal? The car is pretty base with i think just the premium package. No heated seats, has the phone control on the wheel but i don't see where to hook up the phone on the radio, and the car has some great mods to it. From what I'm told it has a full turbo back exhaust, lowered on Koni springs and has a carbon fiber intake..... the car looks phenomenal and drives great!!! It's also a 6 speed and would be my first manual car. But I'm only 20, and one of my coworkers says not to get myself in a hole with that car since I'm so young, and to just keep my car until something else comes along..... Which makes since..... but it seems like such a good deal. And others seem to be going for about $15-19K for normal people from other dealerships minus TTL/warranties.... Any input? Ill post pics of it in a few

 

 

The price seems a little high to me.

 

You'd better drive that lowered car around and see what you scrape it on. I'd be tempted to pass.

 

I've driven it for maybe 20-30 miles and it's been pretty good but with all the construction near work I know how do dodge the man holes in the ground. But that price seemed a bit steep. The retail sticker new was $27K. I'm still in limbo with the decision but I'm leaning towards a pass because the fact of being 20K in debt is a little overwhelming to me. But whatever car I get next I'm keeping until the wheels fall off. lol

 

The phrase "get me thru school" seems incongruent with the rest of your post. Prioritize what you want and need.

 

Regardless of finances and school and mods, too pricey for that car.

 

20 and in school? Get a Honda. Seriously, I see posts here all the time of a student that gets in over their head on a Mini (cost wise)..

 

Lol that's why I'd be getting a warranty with it. I don't like Hondas. Besides an S2K....I'll keep my Audi until something else comes along. I won't buy something I wouldn't want to drive. Just don't see the point.

 

I agree with the general consensus here. You have to remember that an extended warranty will not cover everything, like the $450 carbon cleaning that was causing misfires, that I just had to pay for out of pocket on my 07 MCS with 54k, for example.

I don't exactly call Audi reliable myself, but I would consider it to be much more reliable than the MINI. Especially since you're looking for something "more fun" to drive.

 

You hit the nail on the head.

Buy a cheap used car. Early honda or something similar. I can't imagine being back in college again and having a car payment on top of everything else. Additionally, the cost to maintain a euro car is not student friendly.

Buy a fun car after you get a good job. You can't have it all when you're in college. Sorry to sound like dad (i'm only 29) but I was in your shoes not too long ago. It will be worth the wait and the diminished financial burden is something that is priceless IMO

Yes, you don't like Hondas or similar daily drivers. I had a Dodge Dakota in college. Rust falling off every damn body panel. But hell, it got me to school and to work. That's all you need right now. You need to keep your costs down at this point in your life so you can invest smart after you graduate.

 

Yea I decided to keep my A4 since I work there anyway and my financial aid takes care of school at the moment. I'm just gonna start leasing since our lease Rate is 1% of the cost of the car for 6 months....but I won't do t until next summer.....but yea that mini was fun and all but I'm gonna keep my car for the time being.

 

Good call on the pass. It's a good looking ride but I paid about $18,500 for my 2011 clubman S w/28,000 mi.

 

Oh wow nice ride! My mom has clubman. Non S but pretty loaded with navi and all. Bit of a harsh ride compared to my a4.... Lol but they're 2 completely different cars. Haha

 

Your coworker is right. I bought my first brand new car in 2008 when I was 21. It was a 2008 Honda Fit. I financed it for 5 years with a monthly payment of 195 although my insurance had doubled for full coverage but still doable since I was working full time. I paid the car off in 3 years and decided to finish college and it was much easier without that car payment hanging over my head. The car was totaled about 2 months ago and I was fortunate enough to get into my new-to-me 08 MCS with 47k miles with the insurance payout. Though my original plan was to drive the Honda into the ground and buy a big bad BMW later on. lol

I had a friend who bought a new STI in college and he was working 2 jobs to pay for the car and insurance AND prolonged graduation.

My suggestion would be to try to buy one out right that you can afford.

Also, I wouldn't but something modded, no matter how tempting it is. I didn't want a car that was driven hard and abused. Mini maintenance is expensive enough. I passed up a lot of minis that I wanted to get one that was owned by a middle aged doctor with kids, just the peace of mind that it was well taken care of.