I'm finally ready to buy that MCS. My new 2003 Laguna Seca Blue BMW M3 was stolen two weeks ago. Assuming my car insurance pays off that lease, I have decided against buying another M3 (if they are that easy to steal) and go with an MCS instead. I've wanted an MCS for a very long time. I called some of my local dealers, and I can order an 04 and it should take about 2 months once they start production in September, so I would probably be looking at a beginning of November delivery date. Instead of waiting should I try to find a 2003 MCS on a dealers lot? Believe it or not some dealers have them in stock. I have to wait at least two weeks before I could buy anthing to make sure my M3 lease is paid off. I love the idea of having one of the first 04's but I know that sometimes the two months turns out to be much longer. When I ordered my M3, I was told 60 days and it turned out to be four months.

What would you guys do, try to find an 03 (assuming it's the color I want, options, etc) or go ahead and order an o4?

 

Congrats on goin' Cooper... you must have driven one. I was in the same situation in being able to choose years, but I went went with the earlier, because it was '02 and saw value in getting the first year's. As you know, Minis aren't changing much year to year... perhaps someone knows of some small change in the '04's that would tip the decision... ya know, you won't go wrong either way.

 

Hiya RaceCarDriver! And Welcome Aboard... :smile: :smile: You could work this a couple of ways. If you have the $$$, you could put a deposit down at the dealership (it's refundable I'm sure), and do ahead and snag your place in line for an '04. :smile:

In the mean time, you could call around different dealerships to see if they have what you want on their lot... :smile: :smile: There are very suttle changes for the '04 so if you find an '03, not much difference....Good Luck!!

Chow!

Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

Donna,

I made some calls, and a local dealer has an 03 in the exact colors and options that I want. I don't want to take delivery until Sept (just want to be sure my insurance pays off my M3 lease) If I put down a deposit, do you think the dealer would hold it for me for a couple of weeks? Or should I order an 04 and wait?

RaceCarDriver

 

>>I made some calls, and a local dealer has an 03 in the exact colors and options that I want. I don't want to take delivery until Sept (just want to be sure my insurance pays off my M3 lease) If I put down a deposit, do you think the dealer would hold it for me for a couple of weeks? Or should I order an 04 and wait?

I'm in a similar situation. I put a deposit on a car in the showroom last night and my dealer is willing to hold it for me for up to three weeks while I complete the sale of my old car. I can't imagine they wouldn't hold it for you for a couple weeks, especially if you explain your situation.

Good luck!

 

Hum.....that's a tough call - I guess you would have to see what the dealership is willing to do for you as far as taking a deposit and holding the car....I can't help ya with that one....
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

Did you try the dealer in the Hampton's.
I was on there web site yesterday and they a bunch of MCS.
here's the link http://www.miniofthehamptons.com/

Good Luck and Welcome.

 

Robyn,

Thanks for the info, I'll give them a call. The MCS I was reffering to is also Indi Blue with a white roof. Good luck!!!!,

RaceCarDriver

 

Donna,

It has to been gone for 30 days for the insurance company to pay off my lease. It was stolen 8/7/03. I love the M3 and I hoped it would turn up somewhere, but my friend is a state trooper and he said that if they don't find it in 48 hrs it probably won't be found.

RaceCarDruver

 

I'd wait on the 04.

Joan & Tor @ Mini of the Hamptons are whom I purchased my MCS from in 07/2002.
I got most of what I wanted...as I took one from stock.

Order it personally.....Get exactly what you want....

and motor on !!!! :smile:

Peace,
D

_________________
I own a 2002 MCS w/ alot of stuff on it.

 

>>Donna,
>>
>>It has to been gone for 30 days for the insurance company to pay off my lease. It was stolen 8/7/03. I love the M3 and I hoped it would turn up somewhere, but my friend is a state trooper and he said that if they don't find it in 48 hrs it probably won't be found.


Well, it might be found, but probably not in a condition you'd want to drive it in! A friend of mine had a 2 month old '03 T-bird stolen. It was found 3 weeks later wrapped around a tree 80 miles away where the kid that took it wrecked it.

Personally I'd wait until the '04. There aren't too many changes being made between model years but there are a few, like the rear power outlet. Man I wish I had one!

 

I just shed a tear for you and your former M3. ): wait for the '04. Yeah, so, there aren't any major additions to really tip the balance too much, but there might be a major SUBTRACTION if they manage to work out the sniggling stumble issue. Coming from an M3 (or any other car, for that matter) you don't want to be lurching all over the place, do you?

Of course, this can also be avoided by test driving the exact car you're thinking of purchasing.

I'd wait... but that's just me.

Good luck and congrats on a great choice!

 

>>Robyn,
>>
>>Thanks for the info, I'll give them a call. The MCS I was reffering to is also Indi Blue with a white roof. Good luck!!!!,
>>
>>RaceCarDriver

So sorry your car was stolen! I went through the same thing with a classic '83 280zx. It was found within 4 days, stripped (stupid me I looked at the pictures of my vandalized baby) so I got my insurance payoff very soon.

Does the Indi Blue Mini have exactly every option that you want? Remember, you're not only choosing exterior color but the color the seats and dash/doors! Then there's sport, premium, all that! If the car has exactly, down the line, everything you want then talk to the dealer. Waiting is annoying, especially when you have to drive a rental, assuming you don't have a second car.

If you have a second car and don't have to put up with a rental, then go ahead and get an '04! It'll keep its value slightly better. The only change between '03 and '04 that I remember is the ability to play .mp3's, but do a search - there are posts that list the changes.

Hope that helps!

 

Just out of curiosity - How would an '04 keep it's value better than an '03?

 

Assuming he gets a late 03 model (which he is, BTW) versus an early model 04, several yrs from now when he wants to sell it, his MINI will sort of be one yr newer. Although the car may only be a few weeks newer, it will "act" like a whole yr newer with regards to resale.

 

Yep. That's what I meant. :smile: For trade-ins and selling privately, no one cares what part of a year your car was made in.

 

>>>>
>>
>>Assuming he gets a late 03 model (which he is, BTW) versus an early model 04, several yrs from now when he wants to sell it, his MINI will sort of be one yr newer. Although the car may only be a few weeks newer, it will "act" like a whole yr newer with regards to resale.


He's correct. The 03 bought in Sept and the 04 bought in Oct would have basically the same miles, but the 04 would be worth more. And then there's the mileage issue with getting an early 04, they will say you have "high" miles on the car, but you say I've owned it since October of 03... they say but it's an 04 with High miles... so they get you coming and going. . . .

 

I was actually speaking from the experience of trading in a '99 VW GTI I bought in March of 2000. Car was new, just a leftover. When I traded it in in 2002, it had far less mileage than it should have. The dealer gave me above book, and I had cash left over for the down payment. That was my reasoning in buying an '03 in '04...

 

i would say just test drive it and make sure it has every single thing you want and nothing more you don't want to pay for.

on the other hand, my salesmanager said that the '04 models will not allow for selective choosing of options. ie, it's either the whole package or none at all. at least from the factory. oem add-ons can be done at the dealer, but of course that will be pricier with the install charges. basically, if you only want xenons, you're gonna have to get the whole sport package. or you could add it on at the dealer for cost + labor.

taking all this into consideration, i chose to go the '03 route which should be coming in oct. what put the '03 over the top was the fact that i could get it sooner rather than much later.

anybody else heard of this all-or-none deal? of course, this only deals with those options which are included with the 3 packages, which is most of them.

 

my salesmanager said that the '04 models will not allow for selective choosing of options. ie, it's either the whole package or none at all. at least from the factory.

The last time I checked out MINIUSA --a few days ago -- they were showing a la carte option ordering as well as the packages. When is this supposed to kick in?

 

you know when i play around on the miniusa site, i'm still able to selectively choose my options too.

hmmm???

anybody else got info on this?