I am torn.

I'm in love with my Ollie (03 MCS, IB/W). He was my first new car, for which I had to forsake my first EVER car (which was tough... so tough...). He was purchased with my dad's life insurance policy, which lends a strange emotional attachment, and he took me on my first ever X-country road trip in the summer of 2003. He's got 45,600 miles on him. He's lovely.

But

He has 45,600 miles on him. And they have been far from trouble free. Not that HUGE things (aside from The Stumble) have gone wrong -- just little things that would add up if not covered by warranty.

He's got a service appointment on Friday and I've made arrangements to test drive an MCS/c as his potential replacement. (I hope he can't see)

I know that cars are "just machines" (yeah... sure I do) but I've got a real bond thing going with my Oller and it causes me physical pain to think of selling him to someone who may or may not take care of him. He's an earlier MCS and I really thought that I'd have him forever, almost like a queer little collector piece with eventual Cabrio stable mates.

I don't know what to do. It makes me sad to think of replacing him and it makes me sad to think of sinking lots and lots and lots of money into him (for repairs -- it makes me happy to think of sinking the moola into mods ).

Help.

 

On the one hand I completely understand how you feel... I have a 2002 jet black Thunderbird 2 seater roadster, one of the first ones made of the retro design, that belonged to my dad, who is now gone.

I've had it for almost 2 years now, but it still only has 10,000 miles on it.
I've decided to sell it -and then changed my mind completely at least a dozen times now . All told they've only made 60,000 of these over a 4 year run, and production stops in July. What if I sell it and then regret it -?? ack!


On the OTHER hand, though, I have my 3rd MINI, a 2005 Hyper Blue MCS (the other 2 were regular Coopers) .. and it's by far my favorite of the 3.
The 05's really are better, & more powerful too. Plus, I must say that having now seen several MCSCs in action at the Dragon 05, they look much cooler than I expected they would, and not at all like a too cute/chick car as I expected (ala New Beetle conv., which kinda is)
So I don't know if any of this helps, but overall I'd say go for it, especially because you can still get a very good price for an 03 MCS (check NADA.com, Edmunds.com, KBB.com).. and so technically that money will roll over into the new one.....

 

45k miles, just getting broken in . Don't let the milage sway your decision. If you really want a MCSc, then get it, I'm sure you wont regret it. I don't think anyone has yet. I know for me I don't plan on selling my 03 ever, but when funds allow I will be purchasing another MINI, hopefully a MCSc. But in reality thats some time off.

Good luck w/ the decision making, I know I don't envy you

Nik

 

I've spent the last 45K WAITING for 50K... so I could do whatever I wanted to my car without having to justify it to the dealer. So, XS, I completely understand what you're saying -- I, too, think he's just getting broken in. In fact, I feel like a weenie selling a car with only that many miles. I was planning to consider 100K middle-aged.

I just don't know if my wallet can bear the burden of that decision. And if I wait too long I won't be able to salvage as much cash which will make me think EVEN harder about buying a cabrio, as I won't want to take more of the difference from savings. I feel like whatever I decide to do needs to be done soon.

Bart -- that's a rough decision to sell the T-bird.

Sometimes I wish that I could be one of those people who just rolls through cars year after year. But I get too attached...

All told, it will have to be a pretty spectacular test drive to convince me to sell Ollie. SInce posting initially, I've decided that thinking about selling him causes me more stress than thinking about the inevitable repairs.

Sheesh!

 

Don't test drive the Cabrio.....you will end up with it....

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven - burned up)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"
05' HB/W MCS

 

Oh dear... according to NADA, I *could* get $23,380 for Ollie...

Oh dear...

 

Om, your gonna kill yourself if you keep agonizing (sp?) . Go test drive, and then get the MCSc (as Donna said). The longer you think about it, the worse its gonna be

Nik

 

Hon, go get the MCSc...and sell Ollie while you can get a really nice price for him, and a price that won't royally pi$$ you off! I know how much you love him, but it's not bad to let somebody else enjoy him now. You are not in a position to begin collecting MINIs right now, so go for the new one! We will still respect you in the morning.....

Clover

 

If you think about it, it's not as if someone stole your '03 and you got insurance money from it. To me, that money is not the same money as if you traded Ollie in, or sold him. Think of his 'spirit' (via the money) as being passed on to a new MCSc!

 

I know what you mean, I just passed 50K with my 02 MCS, lots of little niggles since I bought it and when its a 320 mile round trip to the dealer, going every 4 weeks (like I was for a while) is tiresome. And the cost of the repairs must have been huge - $200 for a broken headlight etc - I can't imagine paying for them out of pocket.

So I too am pondering whether to trade in for an MCS/C but I hate to see my Sarah go but perhaps like most difficult children, the best way to love them is to let them free??

 

If you can manage it, go for it. I dithered between a tin top (the purist in me) and the MCS/c (the romantic in me) for some time. Then I got a rare east coast 65 degree sunny day in February on which I test drove the drop top. Well there was the difference in interior space and the fact that the drop top does have a bit more shake. In the end, I realized that I'm never going to be a rally racer and that what really brought joy to me was a 70-80 degree day with the top down in a car that can do pretty much what the tin top will do. I obviously bought the MCS/c (with all do respect to the hard top owners who really have all the performance angles in their corner). No regrets at all.

The 05 cabrio S (per the C&D article) goes 0-60 in 6.6. Well, maybe mine does. I don't know since I can't figure out how to really test it. Frankly, I don't care. It goes quick enough, handles any corner with aplomb, and puts a smile on my face a mile wide whenever I drive it, but especially when the top is down.

So I say, get it. You won't regret it. Whatever you do though, order the LSD.

 

so... Om, ..... the votes are in, all we need to know is... what color is it going to be -?

 

Well, with all due respect to my fellow Motorers, a car, ultimately, is just a car. But a convertible...well...that's something else entirely!

Motoring is better topless. Love my MCSc. Go for it!

 

Go for the test drive.
Go by your gut feeling on the Cabrio.
Call him Ollie II.
Done deal.


If I had to get an MCSC I'd opt for the 6 speed with LSD for sure.
It's much much better than the 03' MCS with manual. But test drive it so you know what the difference is.

 

Buy a used Miata Keep the S

 

I can't decide between CB or HO -- both with the blue top...

As long as you'll all still respect me in the morning (thanks Clo)