Looking for some input:

How much would you guys guesstimate the following vehicle is worth here in the states:

Fully registered, US DOT legal 2003 Mini Cooper that is an original RHD factory car, approximately 50,000 miles.

Not looking for any discussions other than this car's value.

 

Since it's likely not a rare car from the standpoint of not many were made, I'd say less than a left hand drive Mini. Remember, it's a right hand drive car in a left hand drive market. And there are plenty of right hand drive cars in the world. Just because it meets DOT isn't all that special.

It would only appeal to an extremely small segment of the market.

 

Correct, but I figure the small segment of people that want it will pay extra. Supply vs. demand. How many RHD R50/R53 Coopers have you seen in Southern CA?

 

This isn't the JDM market YO! I see no additional value in a RHD mini.

 

Therein lies the rub. The percentage of people who'd actually prefer a right hand drive car is extremely small. The percentage of those who'd want a Mini is even smaller. So, even though there is the potential for someone paying a little bit more (and frankely, it wouldn't be much), that's more than offset by the unlikely occurance of the buyer and the seller hooking up.

If you're thinking of buying one as an investment, forget it. If you've got one and are selling it, just get what you can for it. And if you do have one and are trying to sell it, it'll be a hard sell and you'll likely end up dropping the price just to be rid of it. Therefore, in practical terms, it's worth less than a left hand drive model.

And there are a number of other issues that make it worth less as well.

 

for what it is worth here's my view on this:

When looking at the going price of 'classics' I don't see a significant difference between rhd and lhd cars.

rhd tend to get more looks and questions at car shows (mine is rhd) but when you get into purchase discussions you'll find many folks won't consider a car because it is rhd.

so the issue comes down to finding a buyer. if I think my 79 is worth $1000 than a comparable lhd that don't mean diddly unless I find a buyer who agrees.

 

thanks for the feedback

assuming it doesn't add much value, whats a comparable LHD 2003 50k miles cooper S worth?

 

I second that yo. No additional value.

 

I don't understand why RHD doesn't add any additional value, considering the fact there are countless threads posted on this and other forums with people asking how they can convert their LHD Cooper to RHD.

 

I haven't seen any threads like that here, but you might get better info posting in those threads. They're the guys who might actually be interested in buying one.

 

Many of those threads are of folks in england, when cars imported with the steering wheel on the wrong side has a lower value...and to make driving simpler, safer, folks want to convert to standard english setup...since fewer cars are sold in england, and the rest of the euro market is so big, more options are avalable by importing a car...otherwise an imported car (used) would have to be shipped from a forrmer colony that still drives on the left....like in the Bahamas...
having driven a car with the drivers seat on the wrong side, it does feel odd....for both pax and driver.
Like said above, limited market.rarity does not mean big $$, heck but just makes car slower to sell to the right buyer....

 

Lower than a LHD for certain. I'd presume significantly lower in the US market.

 

Same value or slightly less.

Would i own one to track, yes.

Would i spend more to do so, NO.