Before I go talk to the dealership about this, I figured I would ask you guys to see if you had any insight.

I have had my MINI for 2 years in August and I have an Owner's Option lease. I am switching jobs in a couple months (it may just be a transfer or maybe a whole new job all together) and I am moving out of state. At this point, it would be pretty much impossible for me to take the MINI with me.

I am moving to Manhattan. My rent will be most likely be much higher there and it would cost too much to park her....so I am trying to figure out my options as far as getting out of the lease...or maybe having it switched to another person. I don't know. This is still several months away, but it's time to start checking out my options.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I really don't want to part with her, but it looks like I have no choice.

 

Check with your lease company, some leases allow you to sell the car to a another buyer, as long as you sell it for enough to payoff the lease. Also, there is a website out there for people wanting to transfer their lease to another person. Here's the link http://www.swapalease.com/

 

Thanks for that link! That gives me a great place to start! :smile:

 

As far as parking costs go, you could always park it on the street in Brooklyn somewhere close to Manhattan, like Williamsburg, and have it a short subway trip away whenever you want to get out of town. I have a couple of friends that do this. Of course, that's assuming that you'd have enough use for it to justify what I'm sure are astronomically high insurance rates in NYC, and that you could stomach the thought of leaving your car unattended for weeks at a time.
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"Meine dispatcher says there is something wrong with deine cable"

 

Those are exactly the things that I thought about. I would never be able to do any of those things.

 

NYC :smile: :smile: or get out of lease and become one of the MINless MINIons

 

Dear L:

If you're coming to my town, I recommend GEICO. With the risk of sounding like a shill for them, I've saved a good deal of money and when I've needed them, they've been terrific. I'm lucky enough to have off-street parking in a small gravel lot near my apartment. A guaranteed space IS incredibly convenient.

Michael D
Brooklyn, USA

 

there will be no cost of living increase when you move to NYC? I have no clue what the normal thing is in this case so IM just asking... do you have family that lives nearby? maybe you could list it with them for insurance purposes and leave it in their driveway so its still available when you actually want to travel. im thinking maybe 30-60 mins out of the city by train? i dont know new york well at all. good luck with everything. i will be looking at some of these issues too, next fall...

Patrick

 

You could always move to NJ and commute. Rent would be cheaper than Manhattan, unless you already have a killer deal in NYC.

 

Cost of living increase or not, I still would not be able to pay my rent, for the car and for the space. I have no family up there either. Plus...in my eyes, there is just no point in having a car if you live in the city.

And no offense to those of you who live in Jersey...but I won't live in Jersey. I have enough friends that live there to know that it's not for me.

 

No offense taken on the Jersey comment...

 

that is a better idea than living in Manhatten. Can't own a car. Rent a closet for two
grand a month doesn't sound very appealing to me.

 

NYC, no thanks not for me. I'll stay in Florida. 74 and Sunny today.

 

To each their own then I guess. My boyfriend has a cool apartment in Manhattan and it's not too bad. He doesn't have a car up there. And to be perfectly honest....part of wanting to not having a car is actually NOT WANTING TO DRIVE. Period. I am getting fed up with traffic. I get stressed out where I live NOW when it comes to driving.

So, what might not sound appealing to you, sounds GREAT to me. To me, New York is the most exciting city in the world and I want to live there while I am still at an age where I feel I can really enjoy it.

 

Excellent attitude! It is a fantastic city....

 

keep the kar
move just outside of NYC pay cheaper rent and commute by bus or train
then you can motor on the weekends (NY state, NJ, CT, PA) awesome scenery, etc.

 

Lauren,
what a great opportunity! Even with the MINI, I'd sell and live it up in NY. Unless you have major mileage or dings and scratches, you'll prbably be able to sell your mini for payoff. Look into that. You have a 2002 and I think it's been well taken care of. Lot's of people are looking to add that year to the mix in their collection. It is the perfect time for you to do this! I know you'll miss the MINI but there'll other things to make up for it. Just stay independent okay! Your creativity will fly!
tmg

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Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose

 

L.MINI is moving to Manhattan??? Lauren's gonna be a city girl! Will you still go to MINI meets in NY/NJ???? Wow - L.MINI can't give up her MINI! What's this world coming to! Anyway, you can be sure that your rent will be much, much higher in NYC. Try autotrader.com. You can have someone assume your lease fairly easily as long as your lease company allows it (most do but you need to call them and check). If you're not over miles on your lease, I'm sure someone would ****** up your MINI in a flash.
But I agree with koolmini and dandp - move outside the city - maybe to NJ and save TONS of dough on rent, then you can easily keep your MINI which you'll need (and love) on the weekends. Depending on where your new job is located, commuting into the city from Jersey could be easier than getting across town even if you lived in Manhattan. So that's what I would do. But hey - do what makes you happy! Good luck L!

 

My job could really be anywhere at this point. If I transfer, it will be on Long Island. But I've already applied to a couple places in Manhattan and am getting some good responses. Thanks for the well wishes, you guys! As I said...I still have some time to decide....(Unless one of the jobs I applied for decides they want to hire me and they want to offer me tons of $$. In which case...I'm there!)

 

One other thing Lauren. You really don't have to be MINI-less. I have friends that live in the city and to save on car pmts, upkeep, insurance etc... they just rent a car when they want one. Then the price is way lower than what you'd normally spend on a car that you'd drive 4xs a month.

 

Doing a quick search on http://www.realtor.com came up with these averages for rentals in the city

350 sq feet $750/month

600 sq feet $2,300/month

1130 sq feet $4,200/month

3000 sq feet $12,500/month

Holy rental nightmare batman

 

Ease you mind.
Sell it
If things change you can always get another someday
We never really own anything. We just kind of rent it all for a while.
Billl

 

If you plan on working in Manhattan, you have to live there, period.
Don't let anyone tell you anything different. You will have a blast.
The down side is giving up your car, which of course stinks, but without
a car payment and insurance, think of the money you'll save.

 

hey L, you can just borrow/rent my MINI whenever you want

 

>>We never really own anything. We just kind of rent it all for a while.


My MINI owns me just ask my wife

Earl