After some hard looking, I have found a MINI within about 4 miles of my house. It's at a GMC dealer whose sticker price for it is $18,900. This is for a 2002 with few options, 16" tires, fogs, cold weather, and chrome bumper inserts. I noticed that the original sticker was still in the glove compartment and the original sticker price for the car was $17,800. I thought their price was way unacceptable and so i offered $17,400. This price was accepted, but now i have a feeling the price is still very poor.

KBB on it is around $19,600, but i dont really rely on them.

Now my issues: i have to get a car ASAP, due to an accident and having sold my other vehicle. Should i get this one, or wait(hope) for a better one in the ultra-near future.

The local MINI dealership(Motorcitymini) has a loaded 2004 for $24,000, but that is out of my price range.

 

I can't help you with the pricing issues as I'm not familiar with the MC pricing. However, you might want to check out the build date on the car. I have read several posts on here that people with some of the earlier '02 cars are complaining of a lot of build quality issues, some to the point of selling their cars to buy a newer one. Not all cars are like this of course, but it seems to be more of an issue with the earlier cars. Take that car out for a long drive and see if it's got any big problems. If they won't let you take it for an extended drive, maybe they're not telling you something.

Good luck!

 

Well... buy it. It's a fun car, it's what you have to spend... buy it and have a blast!

God speed.

 

You got yourself in a bad spot when you offered $17,400. I know I'd have trouble paying only $400 less than list for a two year old car, regardless of KBB pricing.

Question, at what price would this car need to be before you felt good about buying it? Tell them you're sorry, but you've re-evaluated you finances and it's still too expensive for you. They may ask you " well, what would you pay" or something like this. If they do, make sure your offer is low enough so the if accepted it leaves you with a very happy feeling.

Remember, you can get an 04 with the only required option, (the multi-function steering wheel), for the $17,400 you've agreed to pay for the 02.

 

>>You got yourself in a bad spot when you offered $17,400. I know I'd have trouble paying only $400 less than list for a two year old car, regardless of KBB pricing.
>>
>>Question, at what price would this car need to be before you felt good about buying it? Tell them you're sorry, but you've re-evaluated you finances and it's still too expensive for you. They may ask you " well, what would you pay" or something like this. If they do, make sure your offer is low enough so the if accepted it leaves you with a very happy feeling.
>>
>>Remember, you can get an 04 with the only required option, (the multi-function steering wheel), for the $17,400 you've agreed to pay for the 02.
>>
>>

I realize that, and am kicking myself now. My only concern is that I need a vehicle by next week. The local MINI dealer states a 3 month wait to get it. I could fly out to Southampton MINI and return with a new one, but then the cost of flying, gas, travel from JFK to Southampton, and a hotel room come into play. This is one of 2 MINIs available within 250 miles or so. I have checked auto trader, local papers, ebay, and a few used car lots.

My original intention was to buy one for alittle more, but even at $17,400 the price is lower than any i have seen recently.

 

Are there any miles on the car? If not, why? Why didn't it sell along with the other '02s, when wait times were so long? And how did it end up at a GMC dealer? The situation sounds a little strange to me.

 

it has 20,000 miles. Here is the story, as I have been told. One of the Senion Mechanics at the GMC dealer has a child who moved to Boston to live on her own. She bought the MINI over there and at the time and the car was severely marked up. We were told by two different sources that her payments were in the range of $450/month.

After a year(around July of this year) she came back to Michigan because she couldnt afford to live on the east coast. She had her dad trade the MINI in on a used Alero to lower her payments. This was about 4-5 weeks ago. Now it sits on the GMC lot.

 

Well, first of all, you can safely assume that the car has had only one oil change in those 20,000 miles, at the dealer's 10k servicing, and that it's been running the crap factory oil for that entire time, burning it off with no one checking the level until it arrived back at the dealer. That alone would make me think twice about buying it. Plus the '02s definitely had more problems than the '03s, especially if it's an early build.

But to pay only $600 less for a 2-year-old car with 20,000 miles? No offense, but that's insane. It's not worth more than $16k max. Don't do it, unless they'll sell for that price! If you're worried about getting a car by next week, spend a couple hundred and rent a car for a week so you can give yourself the time to make a good decision.

Good luck! :smile:

 

Who cares what she payed? A 2 year old car is not worth list price...especially a first model year with so many problems. I would not buy a used 2002. It's just too risky. I'd rather buy a base new mini like someone else suggested. Full warranty, less worries.

 

it's more of a "I want it NOW" thing, unfortunately. I have very little patience

 

Sorry if my reply sounded insulting, I didn't mean it to be. The need for a car NOW is the problem. Have you considered renting a car for a while, (Rent-A-Wreck maybe)? The cost shouldn't be that much. Then take the time to visit the nearest MINI dealers. You may find something off the lot that isn't loaded with everything but the kitchen sink. If not, it took 8 weeks for my 03 MC to be delivered. Getting an 04 for the cost of a 20,000 mile 02 would certainly be worth the cost of two months, (or even 3 months), car rental.........doncha' think?


R.E.

:smile:

 

>>Sorry if my reply sounded insulting, I didn't mean it to be. The need for a car NOW is the problem. Have you considered renting a car for a while, (Rent-A-Wreck maybe)? The cost shouldn't be that much. Then take the time to visit the nearest MINI dealers. You may find something off the lot that isn't loaded with everything but the kitchen sink. If not, it took 8 weeks for my 03 MC to be delivered. Getting an 04 for the cost of a 20,000 mile 02 would certainly be worth the cost of two months, (or even 3 months), car rental.........doncha' think?
>>
>>
>>R.E.
>>
>> :smile:

I really wouldnt even need to rent a car, since we have 3. My 3rd car is a pure toy, though. She really isnt road worthy since I managed to hydrolock the engine a few weeks ago.

 

call Mini of the Hamptons and see what they have in stock

NUTS to buy the 2002 with 20,000 miles IMO.

just my .02

GOOD LUCK

 

>>>>Remember, you can get an 04 with the only required option, (the multi-function steering wheel), for the $17,400 you've agreed to pay for the 02.
>>>>
>>
>>I realize that, and am kicking myself now. My only concern is that I need a vehicle by next week. The local MINI dealer states a 3 month wait to get it.

why not try to find a good price on a 2-3k Honda to drive while you wait for your new Mini to arrive? not only will you likely get a better interest rate on a new car, but you'll have a full warranty. that would also give you some time to save up for a few more options.

at least you're not on the west coast, where the wait is nearly a year

you could try Julie at Classic Mini in Cleveland - http://www.driveclassicmini.com/index.asp

we just ordered our car from them, and have been vey happy with the service. i believe they have some on the lot and/or coming in very soon.