I know this is a loaded question but I'm thining of trading in my 2003 Mini (Fully Loaded - Sticker price of 24,500) with 39,000 Miles (MINT) - with the extra maintence until 50,000 Miles.

I was looking at the Acura RSX Type S. Just test drove it, it sucks (sorry fans), no bluetooth, no radio controls at the wheel, not even a XM radio options. Very limited, but more importantly the acceleration was sad. I have learned today that Japan, American and Europeans have a totally different idea on fun driving (although I'm sure the new Mustang Cobra would be cool).

Anyway, I was hoping to get about 17,500 for it. Is that possible. What else has anyone else gotten (either through a Mini dealer or another).

I'm thinking of a 2005 Mini. Once a Mini owner, always a Mini owner

I don't want to go in blind sided....Oh I have to say the Acura TL was sweet.

 

Kelly Blue Book is posting ~$17,300 trade-in value for a fully loaded '03 MC in excellent condition. If you sold it to an individual, they're saying you could get about $19,600.

I'd say call the dealership for a more accurate quote.

 

Sell it yourself if you want max $$$ for the car. Just to give you an idea:

2004 MCS CR/W with 17K miles, fairly plain car, no sunroof, no packages, H/K stereo trip computer, rain sensing wipers and a few extras here and there.

Carmax offer (February 2005): $18,500 cash
Dealer trade-in offer: $18,500 cash
Sold it privately in Cars.com: $21,900 cash!

Made $3,900 INSTANTLY over the lousy trade-in offers I got.

It pays to sell the car yourself!:smile:

 

I agree with C4! Sell it yourself! Dealerships make more money selling traded-in MINIs than new ones!


Clover

 

Yeah Thanks. I was afraid of that. Never sold a car before always traded in. Time to step up and be a man Any advice?

 

Clean the car and take some nice photos of the exterior/interior. Then go to an online car selling service and create the ad plus the pics.

I have plenty of expertise in this area, so I can help.

 

my dealer only offered me $15,500 for a 2003 MCS with 27K! Didn't take it of course. Still trying to sell it through cars.com and only got one call in a month. And I'm in a metropolitan area!

Sharon

 

Try Craiglist.com Some people have reported success there and best of all its free!

 

That's a bummer cinnaMINI2.

What are you asking?

I also have to keep in mind that if the dealer gives me 1000 less then I could do it, the tax on the new car is much less just trading it in (well...not 1000 but still a lot).

I'll try the other place instead of cars.com which is what I was thinking.

 

Your local market conditions will determine how soon you will be able to sell your MINI to a private party. Used car markets differ by region, so don't go by others' experiences as a way to gauge interest generated by your car. Color, options, mileage, condition, etc, etc are what brake or make the sale.

Even in the worst case scenario, you will still be coming ahead on a private sale than trading in the vehicle. Trade in is the most expensive convenience you will ever pay in your life, period. Ask yourself this question... Do you make $4,000 in ten minutes? Unless you are Donald Trump I doubt so.

 

I did try craigslist and no bites either. The trouble with that one is that there's so many ads going up that my ad went right off the first page within a day! Here's my ad here on Marketplace:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=48810
I am ready to go as low as $19,000. I also have a set of 16" MINI BBS r90s?
with Yoko's to sell if they wanted it with the car. I had those on the car most of its life because I hate the Pirellis.

See my car(s) in my gallery. I thought there would be people knocking themselves over to get my car and I was wrong! THere is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I just decided that I needed the MCS auto for my commute and daily driving. In the two years I've had it I haven't had a chance to go have a fun drive with it which is sad really.
Sharon

 

Dont forget to account for the tax savings on the new ride if you trade in....

For example if you get 17,500 trade in and pay 24,000 for the new car you pay tax on 6,500 only, at least her in massachusetts at 5% sales tax rate

so cost really is [old car + 6500 + tax (325)] = $6,825... skipping other fees

but if you get 18000 for selling your car privately...

then pay 24000 and tax of 5% then total is 25,200 less 18000 received for sale of car then out of pocket cash is 7,200 which is more than if you traded in car for 17500..

reality is that spread between trade in and sale may be large, and thus selling privately almost always makes sense... but also one may want to factor in risk if you don't sell your car, insuring both, registration, etc.... and also one should add cost of advertising with lost sales tax reduction benefit...