I have never owned a Mini, but have loved them since they came out. I am so excited to be purchasing a Mini. I was living outside the country for three years and have not had a car in three long years. Now I have narrowed my choices down to two beautiful 2013 Hardtop automatic. I don't know how to drive a manual and don't want to learn with a new car.

Please give me your advice which one you would go with. I know I will be happy for years in either one. Thanks for the help!

Option #1 = 2013 Chilli Red

• Mileage: 2710
• Doors: 2 door
• SUNROOF + HEATED SEATS + BLUETOOTH
• Bodystyle: Hatchback
• Drive Line: Front-wheel Drive
• Engine: I-4 cyl
• Engine Size: 1.6L
• Transmission: Automatic
• Trim: Cooper
• Exterior Color: Chili Red
• Interior Color: Carbon Black

It is not certified, which will cost $750. The was used by the dealership manager. The original maintenance runs through 10/2015. So I would purchase the additional maintenance plan for $1695.

Total cost = $23, 445

Option #2 = 2013 White Silver Metallic (Basic Model Zero Miles)

• Brand New
  
• Doors: 2 door
• NO SUNROOF + NO HEATED SEATS
• BLUETOOTH
• Bodystyle: Hatchback
• Drive Line: Front-wheel Drive
• Engine: I-4 cyl
• Engine Size: 1.6L
• Transmission: Automatic
• Trim: Cooper
• Exterior Color: White Silver

Total cost = $22,920

Questions:
#1 If I go with the red model, do I need to have it certified?
#2 If I go with the red model, should I buy the extended maintenance?
#3 Do the amenities on the red one out way the benefits of a brand new, never driven model?

Sorry for the long post. But I have no reference point to make a sound decision that I will live with for several years. And like many people I am trying to stay within a certain budget. Thanks for your helpful advice.

 

Which one do you really like?

Do you want a sunroof and heated seats?

If I were to buy the Red one with that low milage and with it still having an existing warranty I would not bother getting it certified for $750 - they will fix most problems under warranty anyway.

With as few miles as we rack up a year we decided not to buy the extended service plan, and pay for whatever service we need out of pocket - so far two oil changes in two years at $69 a pop.

As far as worrying about the 2,710 unknown miles on the used one - since it was the dealership manager putting those miles on the car it is a pretty safe bet he wasn't out beating the crap out of it - so that would not be a worry to me.

We have a sunroof and blue tooth and don't use the sunroof much - matter of fact my wife put in a pair of Zippe Shades to cover them and has never taken them off - but the bluetooth is a convenience. We live in California so the heated seats would not of been a plus for us.

Bottom line is get the one that you really like!

 

A CPO mini will have waranty coverage to 6 yrs 100K miles, worth the $750 if you ask me.

My used hardtop is a CPO. The only way to buy a used MINI IMO

 

I have similar comment on the sunroof. It's so noisey, we quit using it. I see you are in NC, the heated seats could come in handy. Plug in the last 7 of the VIN here -

http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

Post all the options, you'll get more replies..

 

The sunroof has a bad inside liner and the sun shines though anyways. Many have complained about this. Heated seats in North Carolina seems like a waste. Both still get the 36,000 scheduled mileage and the warranty can be purchased later depending on how reliable the car has been up to 50,000 miles which is the bump to bumper warranty limit. Get the new car. Unless the first was a demo......why would it be on the lot as used with only 2700 miles? Hmmmmm....

 

LOL, my dad lives in Raleigh, had a lot of cold days this past winter. Though I suppose that does not compare to NY. In my case, heated seats would certainly be a waste, has averaged about 75-80 since the first of the year. Just got home from a spring training game, hit 84 today.

When we had the windows tinted, we also did the sun roof. Money well spent..

 

I'd go new at that price point. There's no way to know how hard that car was driven by the "management"; it may have also been used as a loaner. If you don't really like the new one, look around at other dealers for a more suitable car. My 2010 non-S (bought new) has been trouble free for 4 years; it's a keeper.

 

Get one without the Run Flat tires. You'll be glad you did.

 

For me it would be Choice #2. I don't want "sunshine on my shoulders" or head, for that matter. I also don't want the miles driven on Choice #1. Likely, the car was not broken-in with any care.

 

I'm leaning now towards the new one though I love the red color. I just feel more comfortable with one that has nearly zero miles, smells and feels new, and will be pampered by me from the first day. I don't know how the 2,700 miles were put on.
And I just love the black interior of the new one versus the standard gray.

This would come with the black bonnet stripes.

• 
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Do all Minis come with run flat tires?

These are the tires listed for the vehicle.
15" X 5.5" 5-STAR SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS -inc: P175/65HR15 tires

 

Voting for C/Red..

1. the convenience package available on the c/red MINI will help on the resale value.

2. it's approx. $6XX more... well worth from what your are getting, i.e. the convenience package.

3. resale value compared to the base model will help pay off from the $6XX you'll be paying upfront. more like a wash.

4. warranty is 3/36K… on both. you lose 2.7K out of that on a used car but it will be a nice trade off (convenience pkg.) $750 for 100K extended warranty is quite awesome.

5. panoramic sliding moonroof plus heated seats (and mirrors)… A MUST and great during winter since keeps the cabin warmer. And very nice on a hot summer night's drive.

Wish you the best and advance happy MOTORING!

 

Run flats are only the 17 inch and 18 inch and in the "S" where there is no spare tire due to the exhaust exiting the middle of the car. The 15 inch tires are conventional tires....... Non runflats. As for the the car with miles on it......as they say: " you what the best performance car in the world is?" Answer: a loaner.

 

I wouldn't buy either one. The lack of options on the new one takes away too much fun and will kill the resale if you have to sell it. As far as the red one goes, I would look into a certified mini that's 2-3 years old with 20-30k on it. They're usually one owner leases, they're warrantied to 5 years or 100k and you should be able to get one for several thousand less. As with any car purchase from a dealer (mini or otherwise), don't be afraid to haggle and be prepared to walk away.

 

IMO, skip both. Look for a low mileage, certified Cooper S with a good helping of options. In my experience, you will get the best deal this way. For example, I picked up my 2011 MCS with a sticker of $31,000 for $20,800 with 13k miles. I don't think extended maintenance is worth the price. Everything that it covers is a very simple DIY job. On the other hand, the extra 2 years and 50,000 miles of the CPO warranty is huge.

Edit: Don't worry about run-flats. Tires are easily replaced. Worry about getting the right car.

 

So what options on the new one are so important?

 

The fun is in the driving not in the options. My base is very base and I enjoy every second in the car. Furthermore I can focus on the driving not in the options. Then I don't have worry about an option failing and the expense to fix it. Resale value is not effected as there are no options to depreciate on the car. Options cost more than they are worth long term. You pay less up front you get less at trade in that is understood. I would still go new too.

 

16" are run flats on S

 

Whatever you do, get as much warranty as you can. I'm glad I did. My dealer brought down the price of the extended warranty for me quite a bit as it is a good thing for both of us.

 

I want to thank everyone for all your comments. I have actually learned a lot and have a much better perspective on it in its entirety. The more I listen and read on purchasing a Mini, the more comfortable I am in the process. I just did not want to make a rushed or rash decision without having a broader view.

Thanks a lot. I will be smiling and waving like a kid in my new Mini. And my dog will love letting his hair fly in the wind as we cruise down the road in our beauty.

 

If I were you like others have said buy what buy what you like. Why not do a 200 mile search and see what other dealers have in their inventory. Either way you are getting a Mini.

 

I want to clarify something on the options. They're not important if you don't mind not having them and you plan (like me) to own the car for a very long time. The problem with the stripped car will arise if you have to sell/trade it within the next 8 years or so. Everything else being equal, you're more than going to lose that $500 you saved in resale. Even if you plan on keeping it forever, you need to keep an eye on resale with a cooper because of its impracticality. I'm not sure what you're personal situation is, but a cooper can quickly become undesirable if your life circumstances change. Would you really want a cooper if you become divorced and have to pick up your kids every weekend? How about if you buy a fixer-upper house and you're making lots of trips to home depot? My best advice would be to expand your search from just the mini dealer. Look for minis at other dealers and from private sellers. That will give you options if the mini dealer isn't budging on price. In the end, I think you'll find that a certified pre-owned is the best way to go. It's the best of both worlds, you save lot of $$$$ vs a new one and you get the peace of mind with a good warranty. Good luck with whatever you decide.

P.S- "the heated seats are a waste of time" Are you kidding me???? Where have you been living this winter????? And BTW, I love the sunroof. On nice days, I tilt it up on the highway and I open it all the way going around town running errands.

 

I use my heated seats pretty much every day that I don't use my sunroof. Once in a while I use them both at the same time. I've also heard of base models with no cruise control; that would be REALLY bad.

 

Base models with no cruise ended in 2008. It was an option though. It's been standard ever since. Also no Mini is really stripped. They still have cruise, traction control, power windows, air etc. This is why I don't feel the need to add anything. What else is needed? Navigation for example is on my phone now.

 

Well on Thursday I purchased my 2013 Mini Cooper Hardtop with just 17 miles. I got what I knew I would love versus what I would like. I went with neither of my original choices, but what I wanted all along. My Mini has a sunroof and cold weather package. NC has had a cold winter. Those two options were important to me, and the marginal price difference will be unimportant over time.