I'm not "officially" in the market yet for a MINI, but ads like this could make me get in the market real quick. I was planning on selling another car first, and then buying, but if push comes to shove, I'll buy the perfect car and deal with selling the other one later.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/308872283.html

I thought I was only going to focus on '06 Chili Red/White "S" Coupes with 6-spds, but I *was* a huge fan of Indi Blue when it was out. Hyper looks somewhat close in pictures, and this one seems like it's got all the right bells and whistles.

I'll just say that there's a nearly identically optioned (but brand new, instead of 17.5k miles) 06 JCW at East Bay in Silver/Black (not my preferred combo). The only major items it has that the above car doesn't are Cold Weather and Park Distance Control. The silver car is $35,750 - this one is a good $10k less...

Any thoughts?

 

I can't comment on the price since I don't know what the going rate is on that configuration/year/mileage, but it sounds like a nice car, and the extended warranty is a bonus if it can be transferred to you, although I'm not sure what it covers exactly.

Something to note, I think the factory 06 JCWs came with the JCW brakes included (and maybe something else, I'm not sure), so it may not be an apples to apples comparison. Oh, and just fwiw, the colored dash was a free option in 05 vs 06.

The dealbreaker for me would be that it doesn't have heated seats - oh how I love those

 

Yeah, I hear ya'. My wife used to have a Jetta with heated seats - they were definitely very nice to have, even when we lived in AZ. Sometimes you get a back ache at work, and those seats are JUST what the doctor ordered for the ride home!

I'm taking that into consideration on this car. It may not be "the one" after all... I guess seeing it in person would be the true test, but I'm not one to go waste a person's time "tire kicking."

 

Well, if you really like the car the seats may not really mean much in the end (so to speak ).

However, I'm not kidding in the fact that I'm addicted to having heated seats now. I never thought it was a factor at all until I had them and once I did I was hooked, use them every day unless its summer/hot - although here in SF even in the summer there are times at night and in the early a.m. its still great. But really, if the car suits you in every other way and you are not an addict like me it is likely still worth consideration.

Good luck - oh and Hyper Blue over Lapis is superb, it shows great taste and style