A friend just emailed me about a MINI Cooper for sale and I'm considering it. Maybe you can tell me what I should pay.

2003 MINI Cooper "S" 12,000 miles
John Cooper Works, 3500 miles
Dark Silver
not sure of all options, told it's loaded but no sunroof, has back up alarm, cd, xenon, leather
SSR wheels with Dunlap Run Flats
Brembo Big Brake on front, stock rear brakes
Original 17 " wheels/tires with a couple of thousand miles
BMP intake
K&N filter
BMP front tower brace
H&R springs
Car cover

Car is weekend driver, garaged, not raced, hand washed, owner says total investment is over $36,000.

 

Hmm, I don't know. For that amount of money you could get a brand new MCS with the JCW kit and a few cash to spare in either options or mods. Mileage seems OK assuming the car was put into service at least 10 or so months ago.

If I were you, I would spec a brand new MCS with the JCW kit and all the factory options that your friend's car has and then do a cost comparison and take it from there.

Honestly $36K seems too high. For that cash you are into BMW 330ci territory.

The MINI has excellent resale values but at the same time, buying new is sometimes cheaper or more to your advantage.

Good luck.

 

i'm sorry if I wasn't clear, $36,000 is not the asking price, merely what he says he paid for the car and all the extras. He's asking for offers and I don't know how much to offer.

I guess the best way is to figure out what a MCS with the factory stuff on it would be worth, not including the Cooper packaage. The cars them selves seem to hold their value so with the miles I'd guess the car alone might sell for $22-24.000?

If I figure correctly the Cooper package (installed), the wheels, the air intake, springs, brakes and all that would be about 10-12,000 depending on installation. How much do these thing depreciate? I've seen some people estimate 50-60% while others say you shouldn't expect anything for modifications.

Does that explain it better?

 

I'd offer $25-27k, about the price of a new MCS with JCW kit, and you get to keep the extra goodies in exchange for someone else driving 12k miles on it.

 

Lots of performance parts for a weekend driver. But, assuming the "never raced" is true, I think 30 to 31k would be pretty reasonable. I don't know if I'd personally go that much though as I don't believe someone could have those enhancements and not drive the car hard.

 

It's less than a year old with 12,000 miles, but guy says it's a weekend driver? Sounds a little odd unless he took several long trips on those weekends.

 

>>It's less than a year old with 12,000 miles, but guy says it's a weekend driver? Sounds a little odd unless he took several long trips on those weekends.

I did about 10k in three months, weekend driving in California. I was going up and down the State from the Bay Area to Orange County and dropping into San Diego County once to see my dad. Doable yes, reasonable no.

Sounds like this person has the sports package only. I would most likley buy one new for the prices I am seeing here mentioned.