My job is transferring me to a different location, jumping my daily commute from 60 miles a day to 140, if i want to see friends. Because of the new mileage, and the fact i'll be really far away from a dealership, i don't want it to add up on a car with a warranty still, and i think it'd be better off in someone else's hands. I'd rather put the miles on a beater, and i'd be in a better position to move out if i didn't have the maintenance/repair expenses with no warranty on a 2 year old car.

I wasn't looking to sell so soon, but if i get a good offer i'll sell it. I love my mini to death, and i never wanted to let it go, but i'd rather wait and own one when i've moved out for a while, and get another job closer to home.

I've KBB'd and NADA'd the car with it's specs, which are few, and it's coming up between 16-17k.

2004 Liquid Yellow/White Cooper
42,500 miles
16" 5 spoke wheels
Sunroof
Lip Spoiler
Black cloth seats
silver dash

Yep, that's it.

Engine bay sparkling, Door Jambs clean, vacuumed out/detailed/washed/waxed every weekend (unless it snowed or was below freezing, of course) And has won first and second place trophies even in it's stock form at car shows I've been in for every scheduled service, and is due for one more next week. I have all service records. I live in the country, so it's a big commute, mostly highway miles. Never been on any kind of track. No accidents. ONE ding that magically appeared after a dealership visit on the passenger side front fender out of the entire time i've owned this car. I almost got it removed, but it's so unnoticable i left it. It currently has an intake on it, but i don't mind switching it back to the stock one before selling. That's the only mod it's ever had, and it's only been on there for 4 months.

I don't know how much to ask for it, but it still has 7.5k miles of warranty. Located in Bumpass, VA, but i don't mind selling it from Richmond. I'm going to post on other places soon, figured i'd post here first.

 

I think you have it priced about right, but may have to settle for the low end because of the high mileage. I know the KBB and NASD pricing has already taken that into account, but the posts I've seen on NAM indicate a real weak market for hi mileage cars, especially the non-S Coopers. I'll pass this post along to a potentially interested friend at work.

 

So, why can't you move or find a different job?

I can't imagine driving an old beater for 140 miles a day. Actually yes I can. I drove an old pickup truck 100 miles a day over the Canadian border for a year. I have to say it SUCKED!!!!!!! There is almost no job worth that. The worse part with every commute was worrying if I was going to break down somewhere.

Good luck and take care.

 

First Scuderia now you! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Mikey

 

I'd say keep it and just enjoy it - or sell it and buy a new MINI! :-)

 

SB, Say it ain't so!

A question though. Are you saying your going to be commuting 140 miles, every day and hence ... want a beater?

Its none of our business but isn't that commute going to kill you? Why not just move closer to work?

If you buy a beater, don't you think the chances of breaking down are far greater than keeping the MINI? Just a thought.

 

I vote move or get a different job, or both.

 

Samantha,
If you post what you do for work, someone here might be able to help you.

 

When I saw you said you were selling TSB I thought maybe you were trading it for the Paddy Wagon (an SUV).

 

i want another miata. I know how to work on it, and i know the reliability on it is really good. Good gas mileage still, and if i ever have a problem, i have a very mechanically inclined father :P

I know it probably doesn't make much sense to most of you, but i'm REALLY scared to move out with a big car loan under my belt, for the first 3 years on my own. My insurance is high, my warranty is almost out, and i don't have enough experience in the field to just submit a resume and take the job i have now, and probably not the near the same pay i have. I moved up the chain at work VERY fast, but i'm still learning something new all the time. I'm a legal assistant at a law firm, and i like my job. I'm open for a different career if i can't find another like mine, but it's more about the money sitting in my savings versus the commute. I love driving, that's why i don't mind living in Bumpass and commuting to Richmond everyday, and that's why i refuse to own any car that isn't a blast to drive. I'm giving the new place a shot, and am keeping my eyes open for other positions, but i've pretty much made up my mind about the mini. i'm GOING to buy another one soon enough, but it'll have more of the options i want, and to be able to do the theme i wanted, and after i've lived on my own for a while. All my friends, family, coworkers, even strangers that have heard about me selling the mini have all told me not to do it, it's such a cute car, it fits me, etc. But no one else is fitting the bill but me, and i'm ready to take a break on that for a while.

 

Wow, this is sad. Samantha, I think your logic is a bit odd, but you do what you gotta do.

The real tragedy is that I was going to offer you a yellow shift-**** in the near future.

 

Buy a poo beater miata on the cheep cheep, and keep your mini for the weekends.

 

Buy a $300 civic, no car payments, tons of gas mileage, realatively reliable and you can make that warranty last. I know what its like to to become independent as I am slowly losing the support I have and will be fully indoendt very soon and I know that it is SCARY cause if anything goes wrong its on you. I'm a little more of an underhood junky, willing to learn just about anything from Chilton, Bently and Haynes. I know how much you love your MINI, because I can't imagine the past year without mine. So I have an idea of how hard this must be, but I'm also glad to know that you seem to be looking at getting another MINI even if you have to go without for a little while. I hope it all turns out for the best; and what doesn't kil you only makes you stronger so you can get through this bump and see happier days real soon.

 

We've got 2 Legal Professional Assistant positions open. I'd be glad to forward your resume.

 

Compromise and move halfway to the new job. That way on the weekends you can still motor backto Bumpass.

 

Just don't ask me about my lemon lawed Miata!

I say keep the car and drive it ti'll the wheels fall off. Cars are meant to be driven!

This new job better be worth it....long commutes take a lot out of you...mentally, physically, and your wallet. Whatever you drive...it still needs gas and the prices are soaring

 

Work gave me a raise to cover the extra gas, but i didn't think it was enough to cover the wear and tear that the person who gave me the raise wouldn't understand.

I can't count how many times people have told me to keep the mini, and there wasn't one person that said it'd be better to sell it. I went three years without one DYING to own one, but i was patient, and had the old miata to hold me over. I don't mind doing it again, since i know what it's like to have one, and the responsilibity of having a car payment is like.

I was planning on sitting on the idea til May, in the mean time i'll look for other positions, tidy up my resume, and send it out. But i still have to commute in the mean time, and even so, i'll still have that car payment over my head while trying to save to move out.

 

Does that raise cover the extra gas, the wear and tear, as well as pay you for your commute time to and from and the related stress it's forcing you to deal with (traffic, less time at home, physical strain from sitting in a car so long every day)? I'd think some sort of extra compensation would be in order on TOP of that, to make me commute 140 miles. That's rediculous.

DON'T DO IT SAM!

EDIT:
By the way, gas is going up again this summer. Expect over $3. Something to keep in mind.

 

at first they tried to give me less money to cover because my car gets "such good gas mileage compared to my SUV" says the office manager... then i was like we're supposed to be paid so and so by the IRS for every mile, but they made "a special arrangement to include it in my pay check," so they tried to skimp. I talked it up quite a bit, but i didn't take into account at the time when i'd lose my warranty. I sat down and it'll cover my gas and then some even when gas goes up... just not enough to cover me stuck on the side of the road an hour from home. I'm going to look for another job, but i'm still thinking about selling the mini just to be safe. BTW: the commute is only about 10 minutes more, if that, than the one i have now. It's just the OPPOSITE direction of my friends and family, and the more mileage is all highway.

I'm open to look for a different career as well. I even looked up insurance agents, and it looks like they do half the work i do for the same pay.

 

I hate to say this but just because its in the opposite direction of your friends really means nothing in the big scheme of life. Someday you may end up moving to the other side of the country and leave everyone behind ... it aint no big thing

Cant you get a studio apt in Richmond? Something to get you going on your own or is that impossible?

 

i'll put it this way. I can keep the mini, live with a roomie, and feel comfortable... or i can sell the mini, not have to rely on someone else, and be ok.

I dont care what they say, besides.. my boyfriend's brother in law just brought up his miata and said he'd sell it to me.

 

The only revelant point here is what Sam's priority is...if living on her own and being independent reigns over having the MINI (for now) it is what it is and her decision should be respected. I know everyone here, including me, would encourge every NAMer to keep their MINI if its a reasonable financial possibility, but sometimes its just not. I'm not discouraging feasible solutions, I'm just saying sometimes you DO have to choose and it's not the best feeling, but it pays off in the long run. Good luck with whatever you choose Sam

 

Suzanne,
I agree that we should all respect decision of Sam to sell her MINI, but I think the responses here are really not about the car. (ie everyone is wishing Scuderia well and he is just trading for another car). People here are questioning a 140 mile commute which is a lot of distance for a lawyer, but even more of a pain for a legal assistant. I think many here are giving more so parental advice versus worrying about which car Sam drives.
In the end it is clearly Sam's decision, but a 140 mile roundtrip commute just does not make sense in my book.

Sam, I wish you well with your new venture and we all here and at MOTD will be missing your bubbly personality.

See you on myspace.

Herbert

 

A 140-mile commute is a KILLER! No matter how young one is, that is a very difficult and stressful daily routine. I would NEVER do that...no way.

I really hope you DO look into the insurance job idea, Sam. Take this as an opportunity to find a job that is closer to where you really want to be living. Best wishes!

 

I would keep the MINI for a couple of reasons

1. the MINI is a safe little car
2. if you are going to be in any car for a long period of time why not have fun and be comfortable?
3. you WILL feel the loss when going to any other car
4. as far as miles go get yourself an extended warranty if that is one of the issues

I was going to get a beater to drive into NYC 3x a week. My girlfriend talked me out of it using the safety and comfort logic. I am glad I listen to her as I open my sunroof sitting in traffic along the Hudson River sucking up all the other drivers attention