I'm confused. The lowest asking prices for R53s nationally is right here on NAM. Why is that?

Let me provide two bits of information:

First: photographers and videographers, for example, criticize other photographers and videographers for creating their own downward pressure on their own fees. Working for cheaper crushes the value of the product itself. This is what I see happening on NAM. NAM members offer pricing advice to potential sellers that suggests the sellers either take precisely **** for their expensively-modded, meticulously-maintained R53s OR take extraordinary measures to dismantle, pack and ship each individual mod after returning the car to stock (taking time away from whatever skill set allowed them to afford a Cooper S as a third or fourth car TOY.)

Question: is this because members want to vulture the mods off the unsuspecting potential seller of a whole car? Or is it that our very own devotees of the cars this forum was founded upon are their own worst resale-value enemies?

Second: let's take a hypothetical R53 with around $20K in mods that themselves at half retail would net $10K. The car, presumably "returned to stock" somehow miraculously retains it's retail value per KBB or NADA? Isn't it false economy and detrimental to the entire R53 resale community to suggest to the seller that the car is "worth $6K with mods?"

I call ********. If I were selling an R53 with $20K in mods and all stock parts and a long and complete maintenance history, the last thing I'd do is sell it on NAM with current pricing attitudes prevailing. Tell someone their car is worth $6k despite mods and faithful maintenance? Guess what? When it comes high time to sell our own, people here will likely offer well less than what is realistic.

One (and only one, with the other three performing more prudently) of the motorcycle forums, and another car forum I belong to are waaaaaay smarter about pricing recommendations to sellers. Either the forum policy is "PMs only for requested pricing advice feelers" or the policy says "NO pricing advice." I believe NAM needs to consider the latter.

If I decided to pull the trigger on a "worthless, optionless R53," with a carefully considered laundry list of mods worth say $10-20K retail, I say that car should command a premium equal to 40-50% of retail cost of mods plus NADA of stone stock car. Why, because it saves me time spent researching, ordering, installing and tuning. My time is worth more than wasting it doing what someone else already has done, usually exhausting their own time and money instead of mine.

Worth something? I think so.

The guys at Lotus Talk forum, for example, have this nailed. The cars have hardly budged in resale value in five years. Why? Because they don't reflexively drive down their own resale values with ******** replies to potential sellers that "the car would only fetch $6K in Texas" when it's obviously super clean with over $10K in mods, some no longer even available, and therefore period collectible in their own right, not to mention bragging rights, individuality for the car and just being cool to only the people who know why it was cool to begin with.

The guys at ApriliaForum have a good policy for pricing comments, but again, how the hell do they expect to compete with Ducati resale values EVER when they undervalue their own bikes publicly to each other and to potential sellers?

"Ooh, maybe I can get that no-longer-available, anodized billet only-20-ever-made bit of unobtainium for $1!"

Eff those vultures.

I strongly suggest that the tide of NAM chooses to raise all their own ships' resale values by NOT publicly suggesting that the very cars THEY OWN THEMSELVES are worth precisely **** (unless the carcass is properly parted out for the vultures overhead.)

It's just false economy and poor practice for an enthusiast community to deliberately undervalue the source if their own entuhsiasm.

Maybe PM that next price opinion to the next reseller posting a feeler? Think about it...

 

I’ve noticed in my area that R53’s are all over the place, but I rarely see any under 5k. It seems that condition does not matter either because I’ve seen total beaters selling for over 5k. What people are getting may be another story.

I’ve also noticed there seems to be no price difference between R50 vs. R53.

 

Unfortunately NAM membrs make up a TINY percent of MINI owners....
And the MINI is a MASS MARKET car, not a niche player....even the gen1 cars were sold in volumes that dwawfed the cars you refer too by several times in the lowest volume years...

 

Can't really compare a Lotus resale value to a MINi resale value. More MINIs are produced then say a Lotus Excige so that there helps it's resale. It's a $60,000-$65,000 car that in 6-8 years is still going for $32-38 or more in some instances..
The reason most on here say to take the mods off the car is because it then appeals to more people. As ZippyNh said us here on NAM are a small niche group of the total MINI owners. Most of which don't care about your mods to start with let alone willing to pay a prem. for them when they can find one without.. We/they are actually trying to help you get the most money out of the car by taking the mods off and selling them, and then the car may drop slightly in value but not near as much as what you will get from all the mods. Granted that depends on what mods you got!!! The Lotus group is a smaller group since there aren't as many cars so they have a bigger percentage of "gear heads" willing to pay for the mods already on a car since most of them will be wanting them anyway...

 

I agree with you RHT3. Has lots to do with supply and demand. Also what each individual sees as value. When a person who has owned a car they moded them selves and then tried to look for another car that is moded already. Seeing the fact that the mods are at a 50% discount is a steal to them. To others who are purists, they would consider the reliability implications, the driving habits of the owner and such. It's not all so cut and dry.


I have been on the Subaru forums for years when I had my WRX and many people have decided to part out their cars because they can reclaim 75% or more for their mods that way. However I have also seen 500whp beasts selling for $10k over KBB value. For whatever you choose to do, you just need to find the right buyer.


I agree with the sentiment though, no one should be commenting on your FS thread telling you it wont sell or that they can get one for a lower price.... go ahead then, find it else where and pay the lower price.