I would like to solicit some guidance or tips regarding my situation. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

Basically, I am torn between two Mini Coopers. Both are S levels with six-speed manual transmissions.

The first is a 2011 with 21,000 miles from a local dealership with a price tag of $18,800. The dealership provided a clean auto check report which shows the car was a Florida car sold in March of 2011. This one has has one year left on the original factory warranty. I just left my credit union and I will be able to purchase a bumper to bumper extended warranty next March for $1,650. This warranty will be for 5 yr/100,000. For the record, I will hit 5 years well before the car would get to 100,000. Basically, this one would be under a full warranty until 2020.

The other is a 2006 with 23,000 from a private seller asking $13,000. I spoke with the seller on the phone and he is an older gentleman who is the original owner. He ordered it from the Mini dealership in Memphis. He said it has never been driven in the rain, snow, always garaged, and never driven more than 3 hours from his home. He said he bought the car as a little weekend car for him and his wife which is why it has so few miles. He even went so far as to say he was the only person who has ever driven the car, except one time when he let his grown son drive because he was too tired to drove, because he is that paranoid about his cars. He said he has never raced the car or got into the supercharger very often. The car is stock with the exception of a cold air intake he put on because he enjoyed the sound. Now, because this one is a 2006 I can only buy an extended warranty for 3 years/36,000 miles, also for $1650, which would start immediately, since any factor warranty has long since expired. Thus the warranty will be done in 2017. Also, because of the age I cannot purchase the full bumper to bumper warranty either. However, it does qualify for the plan just below that still covers just about all engine and transmission components as well as electrical systems plus a multitude of other parts too.

Obviously, the 2006 I attractive because of the price, but knowing the warranty will run out three years earlier yet still costs the same as the extended warranty on the 2011 is a bit concerning. The car will just be my daily driver and I have no plans to race or drive it hard, but I have read enough on this forum to know I'm not buying any Mini without an extended warranty.

Can anyone give their opinion on where you would lean if you were in a similar situation? Is there anything I'm not considering? Anything I need to be looking for that would be a red flag to you?

I'm sorry for the length of this post, but I just feel overwhelmed. I would gladly post a link to each of the cars, but did not know if that was appropriate. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Personally, I would go with the 2011. There is 5 years difference, and a longer warranty for the same cost with the 2011. I believe 2006 was the last year of the gen 1 mini, so it should have a SC. If you read a lot of posts on NAM, a lot of members swear by the durability of SC over Turbo. Am sure you'll get lots of replies to your post, so stay tuned..

 

Thanks for the response! Yes, the 2006 is a supercharged Mini which has been another piece of the puzzle I have been trying to weigh since the 06 model year seems to have a solid reputation.

 

go for the 06' you won't regret it.

 

What are you wanting it for? Daily driver, bopping round town? The '11 is more comfortable. Motorsports, beating on it and fixing it, rinse repeat? The 06 s a better choice because the Motorsports enthusiast love that model for its receptivity to performance mods.

 

I wouldn't give it a second thought, I would buy the '06. Why? Because my being an old fart I know how we treat our cars and you have no idea how badly the '11 was treated.

 

Man I'd go with that 06 MCS in a New York minute. A low mileage garage queen that has not seen snow or rain. Heck yes!!!

 

what he said...

 

I am not a mechanic, so I would get the one with the best and longest warranty.

Make sure all the critical parts that will break are covered by the warranty or else do not buy it.

 

Wow! I'm surprised several are so passionate about jumping on the 06 despite the shorter warranty! And yes, she does appear to be a "garage queen". Heck, if I go with the 06 I will feel bad because I don't even own a garage, so that sucker will be exposed to the elements year round for the first time.

For the record, I have no mechanical skills whatsoever. I don't even change my own oil if that gives you any clue as to how much of a simpleton I am. So, considering that, would anyone who initially suggested the 06 change their suggestion to the 11? Also, I am not opposed to learning and trying to do the little things, have a cousin who I believe would be glad to help in they regard since he is a car guy and does all of his own maintenance. Truth be told through, if anything of any significance goes wrong it will be in a repair shop.

This leads me to another question, I called the MINI dealer closest to me (about 2 hours) to ask about the current factory warranty. The person said any work needed under the initial factory warranty has to be done by the dealer. So, what happens if something goes wrong and I love so far from the dealer? Would I just have to eat the cost of a tow? I thought they may have some policy where if you lived a certain distance from a dealer you could take the car locally for a repair, but I guess not.

Oh, and another user asked, but I will only be using the car as a daily driver. No plans to race, modify, alter, or do anything to either of the cars.

Sorry, but I did come up with another question, his are the MINIs with insurance premiums. My Mom is retired but used to work in insurance and she told me I better get a quote before I buy because she would be concerned at how expensive it might be.

Sorry for being so long winded. Buying a car stresses me out. I end up trying to research everything which in-turn makesy head want to explode! I really do appreciate everyone giving me their opinions.

 

You just touched on the reason I never owned a MINI before two months ago. Prior to this past year the closest dealer to Tucson was in Phoenix which means a two hour drive. Within the past year we finally got a dealership in tucson and that's when I got my MINI. You seem so worried about warranty. Save some money by buyiing the older car. Don't worry about a dealership. Find a good independent mechanic in the area. Or, don't buy a MINI.

 

By reputation on this site, the 2006 may be more dependable than the 2011. The 2006 had the benefit of all of the years of 1st-gen MINI production, and it sounds like the 1-gen may have been somewhat more solid in the first place.

The 2006 is supposed to be a more agile and more "go-kart" type of car. The 2011 is supposed to be more comfortable and refined. The 2006 has the supercharger with its unique sound, and is likely quicker off the line than the 2011. The 2011 makes more power, though its turbocharger likely means the power comes on a bit later.

Drive each one if you can, and see which experience you like better.

I'd be sorely tempted by the 2006, even with the shorter warranty. But then, I already have a 2nd-gen MINI...

 

+1 Million what they said.

Very low mileage, no rain/snow? Best of the breed... more visceral experience. Hell - I'd even buy it - and I'm in Canada.

I am biased - as I have an 05 - but you can't get me behind a 2nd gen without cringing. IMO the 2nd gen is a "softer" experience. It's too "electronic" if that means anything to you (1st gen has a different feel to the shifting and hydraulic steering which makes a world of difference)

as Slave to Felines says - drive both

The Distance to the dealer for warranty work should be considered a negative for the 2011 (for the remaining duration of that warranty). That's one hell of a tow if needed (Better to rent a U-haul trailer and do it yourself).

For either choice... get the VIN and call the dealer with the VIN numbers asking for a history of the repairs & recalls that they know of and if they were completed.

 

Low hanging fruit here, but as you're driving a 1st Gen, you'd typically be in the rear view mirror of a 2nd Gen.

 

Perhaps; but that's just because I broke down, or I'm waiting to make it a fair contest for you and your turbo lag :nudge:

 

Go for the 06! I would!

 

Well, thanks in no small part to you fine folks here, I have decided on the 2006 MINI. Going to look at it tomorrow afternoon, provided no one shows up earlier, and beats me to the punch!

What I decided to do is roll the dice and go without the warranty for a year or two then add the warranty. That way it will be under warranty at around 60k miles when the chances of problems arising are greater than now at 24k miles. Honestly, it just seems like too good of a price to value deal to pass up. Not to mention it is cheap enough I can easily finance it for 4 years instead of 5. Once it is paid off I will then take the amount I was paying monthly and instead start putting it into some account so I will have cash ready in case of any catastrophic failure!

Thanks again to everyone for their input!

 

SNAP!

 

I would suggest test driving both (if owners let you). 06 is more fun and gun, 11 is more refined with a "whoa it can really go, ****" feel when you punch it. the 11 is basically what the 06 was for the first gens, its the model that fixes a lot of the pre '11 second gen problems (for the most part) and it's reliable in my opinion, well technically both are. The decision also depends on how long you planning on keeping the car, short term = 06, long term = 11.

 

Broke down being the key component there...

 

Or both gens would be found on the side of the road waiting for road side assistance haha

 

Well, I was finally able to drive the 2006 S yesterday. What slave To Felines said regarding the experience being vastly different compared to the 11 was spot on. Before I drove the 06 I never really understood how that was even possible, but it sure enough did! The difference in the hydraulic steering was so pronounced! At first I thought something was wrong with the steering because it was difficult to turn at a slow speed, but then I remembered the comment above and it made sense. And the sound of that supercharger was FANTASTIC!

Now I have to figure out if the added on cold air intake will void any extended warranty. Can't seem to find anything definitive.

 

Short answer no...it has to be irefutable that the modification caused the failure...I tell that to my customers all the time.

 

Aaaaannnnnnndddddd............I come home in the 2011! Dealership ended up accepting my offer. The 06 was a blast to drive, but the 11 was fun too! Heck, I was coming from a 2003 Pathfinder, so anything not a tank would of been an improvement!

I am one happy camper!