R50/53 New or used MCS?
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,382
Likes: 47
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Sorry to start another thread on this - I know it's been covered but here I go.
I want a MINI. I've wanted one since they introduced it in Car & Driver.
My ideal combo is: MCS, Indi Blue/white w/stripes, anthracite, Pkg #1, Pkg #3, DSC, Nav, fog lamp package, space cloth
Current stable: '85 CRX, '91 Miata (blue, modded), '92 miata (yellow, stock) and '98 Subaru GT wagon for the wife. CRX has 183K, rings are going.
I'm in finance and to date religiously buy only used cars, generally 3 years old (inflection point of depreciation curve.) Waiting for the miata was tough - I eyed that car for 5 years!
My dilema: How do I justify spending that much money!! I've justified the multiple car scenario because I do all my own work on them, and "all my cars together cost less than a new one". So how can I justify a new car that (even used) costs as much as all the others?
The truly insane part - while I don't NEED Nav, I prefer the look, love the shark fin, and the wife whines about how fast I drive enough - don't need her eyeballing the speedo. The odds of finding the combo I want with Nav are slim. I almost bit on Frogguts' car, but I LOVE the white roof. I'd happily trade leather for Nav.
At this point, the used MCS's are going for ~$21-$24K. To my specs on MINIUSA it's $25.6K, and waits are down to 8 weeks. I figure by end of summer I could get an MCS that's 'close' for ~$20K. So do I get 'close' and save money, or say screw it and get exactly what I want? (Note that I rarely *know* exactly what I want!)
Possible justifications:
I can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!)
I've had the CRX for 16 years - it's dying and it's time for change
Life's short - I could get hit by a truck tomorrow (without airbags! :smile:
40th birthday present to me
sell a miata (but what's $6K on $26K?)
I want to be sold - so sell me!
Thanks for the bandwidth, and any inputs.
I want a MINI. I've wanted one since they introduced it in Car & Driver.
My ideal combo is: MCS, Indi Blue/white w/stripes, anthracite, Pkg #1, Pkg #3, DSC, Nav, fog lamp package, space cloth
Current stable: '85 CRX, '91 Miata (blue, modded), '92 miata (yellow, stock) and '98 Subaru GT wagon for the wife. CRX has 183K, rings are going.
I'm in finance and to date religiously buy only used cars, generally 3 years old (inflection point of depreciation curve.) Waiting for the miata was tough - I eyed that car for 5 years!
My dilema: How do I justify spending that much money!! I've justified the multiple car scenario because I do all my own work on them, and "all my cars together cost less than a new one". So how can I justify a new car that (even used) costs as much as all the others?
The truly insane part - while I don't NEED Nav, I prefer the look, love the shark fin, and the wife whines about how fast I drive enough - don't need her eyeballing the speedo. The odds of finding the combo I want with Nav are slim. I almost bit on Frogguts' car, but I LOVE the white roof. I'd happily trade leather for Nav.
At this point, the used MCS's are going for ~$21-$24K. To my specs on MINIUSA it's $25.6K, and waits are down to 8 weeks. I figure by end of summer I could get an MCS that's 'close' for ~$20K. So do I get 'close' and save money, or say screw it and get exactly what I want? (Note that I rarely *know* exactly what I want!)
Possible justifications:
I can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!)
I've had the CRX for 16 years - it's dying and it's time for change
Life's short - I could get hit by a truck tomorrow (without airbags! :smile:
40th birthday present to me
sell a miata (but what's $6K on $26K?)
I want to be sold - so sell me!
Thanks for the bandwidth, and any inputs.
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 918
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I say go for the new car. You've got to at least experience a new car purchase once in your lifetime. Getting EXACTLY what YOU want and not just settling for something that's close enough.
And if that doesn't do it...
And if that doesn't do it...
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 571
Likes: 4
If you can financially afford it - and you aren't convincing yourself you can.
Then go for it - you won't regret it - and get exactly what you want. Try out of state and you might not have an 8 week wait... my dealer had the exact car i wanted on the lot on friday and i snatched it up on a trade-in. I sure as hell don't look back. :smile:
Just don't get the "mod bug" cause then that savings account will be - and those credit cards will be +
:smile:
Then go for it - you won't regret it - and get exactly what you want. Try out of state and you might not have an 8 week wait... my dealer had the exact car i wanted on the lot on friday and i snatched it up on a trade-in. I sure as hell don't look back. :smile:
Just don't get the "mod bug" cause then that savings account will be - and those credit cards will be +
:smile:
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: D.C.
First things first:
" can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!) "
Open up an ING Direct account online - you make a premium over the branch banks and it's great for rainy-day savings - nice and liquid relative to other investments. No I don't work for ING but I love their customer service and producs.
OK, now to the important stuff -- DO IT!
Eric, you sounds like a very sensible, conservative man. I bet your family is well cared-for and you are wise in your financial decisions. That said, it gets to a point where you can have all the financial and common sense in the world - and you haven't ever treated yourself.
A MINI is a very sensible "treat" - when you buy a new car, sure it's going to depreciate faster over the first three years than over the course of it's lifetime. But you also get:
1) The insurance that you're breaking the car in properly and caring for it
2) A true feeling of ownership - it's YOURS - your piece of MINI heaven
3) A hell of a good deal. I loaded up my 2005 MCS and it was still less than a Mercedes I was considering...not to mention a hell of a lot more fun.
4) Full warranty life - say about this what you will, but you've got the warranty from day one
5) The true MINI community experience - part of the fun (as I've learned) of getting a MINI is the community that goes along with it. You'll spend hours on NAM learning about your to-be delivered car, tracking it's build process......only to (hopefully, oh please, hopefully) be greeted by a MINI that is your very own....rolling off the dealership floor....it's the stuff dreams are made of!!!!
6) You won't have to settle -- the worst thing you can do is buy a car used and not get exactly what you want. If you were ever to see a MINI that was your dream - with all the stuff you WANTED but COULDN'T find......oh, too sad for words!
DO IT!
Eagerly awaiting your decision,
MINI_Dreamer
" can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!) "
Open up an ING Direct account online - you make a premium over the branch banks and it's great for rainy-day savings - nice and liquid relative to other investments. No I don't work for ING but I love their customer service and producs.
OK, now to the important stuff -- DO IT!
Eric, you sounds like a very sensible, conservative man. I bet your family is well cared-for and you are wise in your financial decisions. That said, it gets to a point where you can have all the financial and common sense in the world - and you haven't ever treated yourself.
A MINI is a very sensible "treat" - when you buy a new car, sure it's going to depreciate faster over the first three years than over the course of it's lifetime. But you also get:
1) The insurance that you're breaking the car in properly and caring for it
2) A true feeling of ownership - it's YOURS - your piece of MINI heaven
3) A hell of a good deal. I loaded up my 2005 MCS and it was still less than a Mercedes I was considering...not to mention a hell of a lot more fun.
4) Full warranty life - say about this what you will, but you've got the warranty from day one
5) The true MINI community experience - part of the fun (as I've learned) of getting a MINI is the community that goes along with it. You'll spend hours on NAM learning about your to-be delivered car, tracking it's build process......only to (hopefully, oh please, hopefully) be greeted by a MINI that is your very own....rolling off the dealership floor....it's the stuff dreams are made of!!!!
6) You won't have to settle -- the worst thing you can do is buy a car used and not get exactly what you want. If you were ever to see a MINI that was your dream - with all the stuff you WANTED but COULDN'T find......oh, too sad for words!
DO IT!
Eagerly awaiting your decision,
MINI_Dreamer
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Eric - -
While it is true that the break in the depreciation curve is about three years, and buying at that age can certainly save a lot of money, I’d still go for the new car.
Rationale: A MINI, and especially an MCS, begs to be driven hard - - and even if you find a low mileage car you have no way of knowing how it was driven. Think about the person who knows that he’s going to sell in a year or two. His daily commute may be short and the only way he can get his spirited driving needs filled is to hit it hard right from a cold start. Full throttle acceleration to the red line with a cold engine is not good for any engine, especially one that is supercharged! Since you tend to keep your cars until they have pretty high mileage it only makes sense to look at the additional cost of a new MINI as insurance against very expensive premature failure.
While it is true that the break in the depreciation curve is about three years, and buying at that age can certainly save a lot of money, I’d still go for the new car.
Rationale: A MINI, and especially an MCS, begs to be driven hard - - and even if you find a low mileage car you have no way of knowing how it was driven. Think about the person who knows that he’s going to sell in a year or two. His daily commute may be short and the only way he can get his spirited driving needs filled is to hit it hard right from a cold start. Full throttle acceleration to the red line with a cold engine is not good for any engine, especially one that is supercharged! Since you tend to keep your cars until they have pretty high mileage it only makes sense to look at the additional cost of a new MINI as insurance against very expensive premature failure.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
I too am a used car hound, but when I saw the MCS was coming to America, I ponied up to the bar and cast aside my evil ways (or maybe my good habits were cast aside, can't remember which) to get a NEW IB/W MCS. Go for it, then join the dark side with the pulley mod.
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
>>Sorry to start another thread on this - I know it's been covered but here I go.
Eric,
I don't think arguements about deciding on a MINI will always carry over from case to case.
So although others have asked the same question (should I buy new or used?) the answer for you may be a bit different.
>>I want a MINI. I've wanted one since they introduced it in Car & Driver.
So desire is there. You've obsessed about it like many of us. This is a "cult car" of sorts. And it has history and limited supply. While not cheap it isn't totally out of line although the upgrades do add up in no time. I'd say if you were only a little hyped then get a used MINI.
>>My ideal combo is: MCS, Indi Blue/white w/stripes, anthracite, Pkg #1, Pkg #3, DSC, Nav, fog lamp package, space cloth
You'll have to be the judge which of these options is worth loosing if a used MCS comes along at a good price. If you order new you get everything you want- a big advantage of a new purchase plus the full warranty. Used cars can be less costly but rarely will you find one that has all the features and options that are on your list. This is due to the very many options that MINI allows plus all that can be done aftermarket. The factory options are often too much for the average person.
>>Current stable: '85 CRX, '91 Miata (blue, modded), '92 miata (yellow, stock) and '98 Subaru GT wagon for the wife. CRX has 183K, rings are going.
You're like me. I had a 91 Dodge caravan with 125,000 miles, 95 Nissan Maxima with 100,000+ miles, and a 2001 Honda Odyssey for hauling things. I tend to buy new and keep my cars from 10-12 years or more. I used to buy used but had some trouble fixing things cause the previous owner was not so good.
I have never modded any car. I only once bought a car that I could use for myself, the Maxima but that is being used by my kids as they are college aged. So I sold the Caravan (only a few thousand but that helps to offset the cost of the MINI a little), and moved up to a MCS. Just stock it's a great car so you don't have to rush out and go mod crazy like many of us. Just enjoy the setup you have- esp if you order yours. I bought one in stock to not have to wait and ended up making many changes that added up. I could have waited 6 months to order one the way I would have liked and saved some but then I would have lost the 6 months of enjoyment of driving. It's hard to put a price on that but it would border on being priceless.
>>I'm in finance and to date religiously buy only used cars, generally 3 years old (inflection point of depreciation curve.) Waiting for the miata was tough - I eyed that car for 5 years!
I am thinking about adding a second MINI and might go the used route for that car. Used is always a compromise because you just don't know about how people drive. It's a mixed bag unless you know the owner and the way that person took care of that car. Some people are really low maintenance and hardly do anything to upkeep their cars while others cannot stop doing everything.
>>My dilema: How do I justify spending that much money!! I've justified the multiple car scenario because I do all my own work on them, and "all my cars together cost less than a new one". So how can I justify a new car that (even used) costs as much as all the others?
If you cannot afford it then there is no question. If you can afford it then I think the setup you have mentioned above will be a great match for you for the price. It is a good value but it is not cheap. If you plan to keep the car 10 years then it isn't bad at all for the level of fun the car provides all the time.
>>The truly insane part - while I don't NEED Nav, I prefer the look, love the shark fin, and the wife whines about how fast I drive enough - don't need her eyeballing the speedo. The odds of finding the combo I want with Nav are slim. I almost bit on Frogguts' car, but I LOVE the white roof. I'd happily trade leather for Nav.
Trading leather for NAV is a good choice. Space cloth or leatherette is good. NAV is a fun tool. Not much use on my little island but for driving in areas you are unfamilar with it can be helpful and provide for some measure of safety.
>>At this point, the used MCS's are going for ~$21-$24K. To my specs on MINIUSA it's $25.6K, and waits are down to 8 weeks. I figure by end of summer I could get an MCS that's 'close' for ~$20K. So do I get 'close' and save money, or say screw it and get exactly what I want? (Note that I rarely *know* exactly what I want!)
It's possible you could go to a big city and look in the sunday paper and find quite a few used MCS that might fit the bill. I know that when I visited Atlanta I found there were many MINIs for sale. Just find somewhere with gentle winters.
>>Possible justifications:
>>I can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!)
Money is earned and meant to be spent not hoarded. These days $25.6K is not so bad.
>>I've had the CRX for 16 years - it's dying and it's time for change
I've had my Maxima since May of 94 and I'm waiting for it to die (107K miles) but it is so darn reliable.
My parents tell me to sell it now. But I hung onto my Caravan for several years past the 100K mark.
>>Life's short - I could get hit by a truck tomorrow (without airbags! :smile:
I'm only a few years older than you and I can tell you that Life indeed is short. It is a good time to take care of yourself and to do a few things that might be construed as fun.
>>40th birthday present to me
Happy Birthday. Go MINI.
>>sell a miata (but what's $6K on $26K?)
Sell. Every little bit helps. I got $2000 for my Caravan.
>>I want to be sold
I think you already are sold. You just need a nudge.
Eric,
I don't think arguements about deciding on a MINI will always carry over from case to case.
So although others have asked the same question (should I buy new or used?) the answer for you may be a bit different.
>>I want a MINI. I've wanted one since they introduced it in Car & Driver.
So desire is there. You've obsessed about it like many of us. This is a "cult car" of sorts. And it has history and limited supply. While not cheap it isn't totally out of line although the upgrades do add up in no time. I'd say if you were only a little hyped then get a used MINI.
>>My ideal combo is: MCS, Indi Blue/white w/stripes, anthracite, Pkg #1, Pkg #3, DSC, Nav, fog lamp package, space cloth
You'll have to be the judge which of these options is worth loosing if a used MCS comes along at a good price. If you order new you get everything you want- a big advantage of a new purchase plus the full warranty. Used cars can be less costly but rarely will you find one that has all the features and options that are on your list. This is due to the very many options that MINI allows plus all that can be done aftermarket. The factory options are often too much for the average person.
>>Current stable: '85 CRX, '91 Miata (blue, modded), '92 miata (yellow, stock) and '98 Subaru GT wagon for the wife. CRX has 183K, rings are going.
You're like me. I had a 91 Dodge caravan with 125,000 miles, 95 Nissan Maxima with 100,000+ miles, and a 2001 Honda Odyssey for hauling things. I tend to buy new and keep my cars from 10-12 years or more. I used to buy used but had some trouble fixing things cause the previous owner was not so good.
I have never modded any car. I only once bought a car that I could use for myself, the Maxima but that is being used by my kids as they are college aged. So I sold the Caravan (only a few thousand but that helps to offset the cost of the MINI a little), and moved up to a MCS. Just stock it's a great car so you don't have to rush out and go mod crazy like many of us. Just enjoy the setup you have- esp if you order yours. I bought one in stock to not have to wait and ended up making many changes that added up. I could have waited 6 months to order one the way I would have liked and saved some but then I would have lost the 6 months of enjoyment of driving. It's hard to put a price on that but it would border on being priceless.
>>I'm in finance and to date religiously buy only used cars, generally 3 years old (inflection point of depreciation curve.) Waiting for the miata was tough - I eyed that car for 5 years!
I am thinking about adding a second MINI and might go the used route for that car. Used is always a compromise because you just don't know about how people drive. It's a mixed bag unless you know the owner and the way that person took care of that car. Some people are really low maintenance and hardly do anything to upkeep their cars while others cannot stop doing everything.
>>My dilema: How do I justify spending that much money!! I've justified the multiple car scenario because I do all my own work on them, and "all my cars together cost less than a new one". So how can I justify a new car that (even used) costs as much as all the others?
If you cannot afford it then there is no question. If you can afford it then I think the setup you have mentioned above will be a great match for you for the price. It is a good value but it is not cheap. If you plan to keep the car 10 years then it isn't bad at all for the level of fun the car provides all the time.
>>The truly insane part - while I don't NEED Nav, I prefer the look, love the shark fin, and the wife whines about how fast I drive enough - don't need her eyeballing the speedo. The odds of finding the combo I want with Nav are slim. I almost bit on Frogguts' car, but I LOVE the white roof. I'd happily trade leather for Nav.
Trading leather for NAV is a good choice. Space cloth or leatherette is good. NAV is a fun tool. Not much use on my little island but for driving in areas you are unfamilar with it can be helpful and provide for some measure of safety.
>>At this point, the used MCS's are going for ~$21-$24K. To my specs on MINIUSA it's $25.6K, and waits are down to 8 weeks. I figure by end of summer I could get an MCS that's 'close' for ~$20K. So do I get 'close' and save money, or say screw it and get exactly what I want? (Note that I rarely *know* exactly what I want!)
It's possible you could go to a big city and look in the sunday paper and find quite a few used MCS that might fit the bill. I know that when I visited Atlanta I found there were many MINIs for sale. Just find somewhere with gentle winters.
>>Possible justifications:
>>I can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!)
Money is earned and meant to be spent not hoarded. These days $25.6K is not so bad.
>>I've had the CRX for 16 years - it's dying and it's time for change
I've had my Maxima since May of 94 and I'm waiting for it to die (107K miles) but it is so darn reliable.
My parents tell me to sell it now. But I hung onto my Caravan for several years past the 100K mark.
>>Life's short - I could get hit by a truck tomorrow (without airbags! :smile:
I'm only a few years older than you and I can tell you that Life indeed is short. It is a good time to take care of yourself and to do a few things that might be construed as fun.
>>40th birthday present to me
Happy Birthday. Go MINI.
>>sell a miata (but what's $6K on $26K?)
Sell. Every little bit helps. I got $2000 for my Caravan.
>>I want to be sold
I think you already are sold. You just need a nudge.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
I looked at autotrader.com, eBay, and local ads (Craig's list in particular) and found that most used 2003 and 2004 MCS were selling at within $1000 of the MSRP of a new MCS. Mind you, I am in SF, where a seller can make a credible case that avoiding the one year wait list (or $3000 on top of MSRP) at the local dealers is worth that. So, I went with Classic.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,382
Likes: 47
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Thanks for all the thoughts so far.
I am also in the SF Bay Area, so if I go new, I'll be flying somewhere to drive it home. And the thought of a cross-country trip in a new MINI DOES appeal to me! If they had UK delivery, I'd be there in a heartbeat!
I've been scouring Ebay/Autotrader/cars.com since early 2003 to get a feel for what they're selling for. Strange, it seems almost all the IB cars are on the east coast. There's actually one thats 'close' here, but it has HK, Leather, xenons, and at $23.5, I get close enough to new $ (+Nav and the '04 changes) that has me leaning that direction.
I don't tend to be an 'exclusive' guy, but I *would* enjoy the entry into the owner's lounge and the whole build process. I definitely wouldn't be modding it for a while - I've got an SC on the miata if I want to tinker.
Ah, sweet misery. Used mini and dive trip to Palau, or new mini? Dare to want it all? Early retirement would be boring anyway...
I am also in the SF Bay Area, so if I go new, I'll be flying somewhere to drive it home. And the thought of a cross-country trip in a new MINI DOES appeal to me! If they had UK delivery, I'd be there in a heartbeat!
I've been scouring Ebay/Autotrader/cars.com since early 2003 to get a feel for what they're selling for. Strange, it seems almost all the IB cars are on the east coast. There's actually one thats 'close' here, but it has HK, Leather, xenons, and at $23.5, I get close enough to new $ (+Nav and the '04 changes) that has me leaning that direction.
I don't tend to be an 'exclusive' guy, but I *would* enjoy the entry into the owner's lounge and the whole build process. I definitely wouldn't be modding it for a while - I've got an SC on the miata if I want to tinker.
Ah, sweet misery. Used mini and dive trip to Palau, or new mini? Dare to want it all? Early retirement would be boring anyway...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,382
Likes: 47
From: Santa Cruz, CA
>>I say go for the new car. You've got to at least experience a new car purchase once in your lifetime. Getting EXACTLY what YOU want and not just settling for something that's close enough.
>>
In that case, Robyn, I want your dash!! :smile:
>>
In that case, Robyn, I want your dash!! :smile:
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Eric,
Consider MINI of Murray in Salt Lake City. They were great to deal with . Ordered what I wanted and got it at MSRP and Debbie Linge (sales associate) picked up my daughter and I at an airport hotel and took us to the dealership. We were on our way home 45 minutes later and had a fun time getting 750 of the break-in miles out of the way.
I too, have been much too fiscally practical with regards to car purchases. Buy the MINI, you won't regret it.
Dave De Rosier in sunny San Diego
2003 MCS DS/B stock for now...
Consider MINI of Murray in Salt Lake City. They were great to deal with . Ordered what I wanted and got it at MSRP and Debbie Linge (sales associate) picked up my daughter and I at an airport hotel and took us to the dealership. We were on our way home 45 minutes later and had a fun time getting 750 of the break-in miles out of the way.
I too, have been much too fiscally practical with regards to car purchases. Buy the MINI, you won't regret it.
Dave De Rosier in sunny San Diego
2003 MCS DS/B stock for now...
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, FL
Got my '02 CR/W MCS from Carmax this past January. It had only 943 miles on the odometer, and was a bone stock base model. Exactly what I was looking for, a blank canvas for handling and performance mods. Still under warranty for a few more years and quite a few miles. No complaints, plus it beat waiting for months for a similiar car to arrive.
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
>>Thanks for the input - kind of feels like going to a gambler's anonymous in Las Vegas... :smile:
I don't gamble but I do admit to heavy modding and motoring.
A vice for one and all.
Hey, Robyn does not have the only Indi blue dash. (maybe just the first with gorgeous pictures on NAM)
You can make your own by pulling out the five dash pieces and painting it your body color.
I know you are partial. Don't take too long to decide because the rumor is that Indi blue will be discontinued and then you will be looking for used MINI options if you miss the boat and don't order something now.
Good luck.
I don't gamble but I do admit to heavy modding and motoring.
A vice for one and all.
Hey, Robyn does not have the only Indi blue dash. (maybe just the first with gorgeous pictures on NAM)
You can make your own by pulling out the five dash pieces and painting it your body color.
I know you are partial. Don't take too long to decide because the rumor is that Indi blue will be discontinued and then you will be looking for used MINI options if you miss the boat and don't order something now.
Good luck.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 1
From: Neenah, WI
>>At this point, the used MCS's are going for ~$21-$24K. To my specs on MINIUSA it's $25.6K, and waits are down to 8 weeks. I figure by end of summer I could get an MCS that's 'close' for ~$20K. So do I get 'close' and save money, or say screw it and get exactly what I want? (Note that I rarely *know* exactly what I want!)
Order what you want. I've been a used car advocate for years, but the resale on these is so good right now that it didn't make sense to me to go used when i could have a car built to my specs for a couple thousand more. Keep in mind that even after you place your order you'd have a few weeks to make changes to it before it went to production.
>>Possible justifications:
>>I can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!)
>>I've had the CRX for 16 years - it's dying and it's time for change
>>Life's short - I could get hit by a truck tomorrow (without airbags! :smile:
>>40th birthday present to me
>>sell a miata (but what's $6K on $26K?)
These are all great justifications. Before I got my MINI, my two favorite cars were the 87 Civic Si and the modded 90 Miata a had a few years ago. I used to try to come up with reasons to pick up a CRX or a Miata as a fun car to add to the stable. I hardly have those urges anymore, though I do miss the RWD and top down fun of the Miata.
I say sell a Miata, retire the CRX and focus on the "life's short" justification :smile:
>>
>>I want to be sold - so sell me!
>>Thanks for the bandwidth, and any inputs.
Order what you want. I've been a used car advocate for years, but the resale on these is so good right now that it didn't make sense to me to go used when i could have a car built to my specs for a couple thousand more. Keep in mind that even after you place your order you'd have a few weeks to make changes to it before it went to production.
>>Possible justifications:
>>I can afford it - I have the $$ in the bank (making .2%!)
>>I've had the CRX for 16 years - it's dying and it's time for change
>>Life's short - I could get hit by a truck tomorrow (without airbags! :smile:
>>40th birthday present to me
>>sell a miata (but what's $6K on $26K?)
These are all great justifications. Before I got my MINI, my two favorite cars were the 87 Civic Si and the modded 90 Miata a had a few years ago. I used to try to come up with reasons to pick up a CRX or a Miata as a fun car to add to the stable. I hardly have those urges anymore, though I do miss the RWD and top down fun of the Miata.
I say sell a Miata, retire the CRX and focus on the "life's short" justification :smile:
>>
>>I want to be sold - so sell me!
>>Thanks for the bandwidth, and any inputs.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,382
Likes: 47
From: Santa Cruz, CA
The answer: Used MCS!
I'll revive this thread to announce that now, after two years and 800 posts, I am finally legitimate - I am now the proud owner of a 2004 IB/W MINI!
IB/W, #1,#2,#3, Nav, HK, leather, aux gauges, white S-lites, full toggle rack, aux. port, tinted windows, alloy patina dash
Ended up getting a great deal in VA, and as an added bonus got to drive it back across the US! The Nav worked GREAT. Saw a HB next to my IB in the showroom (they parked my used car in the showroom just for presentation!) and am really glad I went for IB - that color just does it for me.
I am SO happy and excited! Thanks for letting me share. :smile:
IB/W, #1,#2,#3, Nav, HK, leather, aux gauges, white S-lites, full toggle rack, aux. port, tinted windows, alloy patina dash
Ended up getting a great deal in VA, and as an added bonus got to drive it back across the US! The Nav worked GREAT. Saw a HB next to my IB in the showroom (they parked my used car in the showroom just for presentation!) and am really glad I went for IB - that color just does it for me.
I am SO happy and excited! Thanks for letting me share. :smile:
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
From: Lakeside, CA
Originally Posted by Eric_Rowland
I'll revive this thread to announce that now, after two years and 800 posts, I am finally legitimate - I am now the proud owner of a 2004 IB/W MINI!
IB/W, #1,#2,#3, Nav, HK, leather, aux gauges, white S-lites, full toggle rack, aux. port, tinted windows, alloy patina dash
Ended up getting a great deal in VA, and as an added bonus got to drive it back across the US! The Nav worked GREAT. Saw a HB next to my IB in the showroom (they parked my used car in the showroom just for presentation!) and am really glad I went for IB - that color just does it for me.
I am SO happy and excited! Thanks for letting me share. :smile:
IB/W, #1,#2,#3, Nav, HK, leather, aux gauges, white S-lites, full toggle rack, aux. port, tinted windows, alloy patina dash
Ended up getting a great deal in VA, and as an added bonus got to drive it back across the US! The Nav worked GREAT. Saw a HB next to my IB in the showroom (they parked my used car in the showroom just for presentation!) and am really glad I went for IB - that color just does it for me.
I am SO happy and excited! Thanks for letting me share. :smile:
Earl
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