I ordered my MINI back in August and it's finally due at the dealer in the next few days. When I ordered the car, I was fully employed and we had this crazy idea about moving to Maine. Since then, everything has fallen into place on the Maine move. We sold our house here in Indiana. My wife the nurse found a job and a house in Maine. So now, we're moving to a place a couple hundred miles from the nearest Mini dealer and I have no job. It just doesn't seem to make sense right now to start making payments on a new car, especially when there's no dealer close. Of course, I've read about all the problems some people are having and the haughty BMW attitude some of the dealers have. All that, and I can't sell my 99 Honda Accord Coupe, which has been incredibly reliable. (86 thousand miles and I haven't even replaced the battery!) Could the MINI possibly be so trouble free?

Anyway, you can see I'm having very serious second thoughts. Please talk me out of backing out on this deal.

 

From what you have said I am not going to try
to talk you into the deal. Get settled then buy
a Mini after you are in Maine. There will always
be another Mini.... :smile: .

 

I agree w/ 2mini's....
Settle into your new life.
I wouldn't refer to my MCS as reliable....it's fun.
If a MINI is in your future....it will happen....when it is suppsed to happen
Peace,
D

_________________
2002 MCS:pure silver/black top,lapis int.,all pkgs,17"ROH rims,

 

Your second thoughts are understandable considering your situation. The MINI is not a Honda, so if that is your expectation you will be disappointed. To me the MINI is the most fun car I've ever owned, and I've had several cool cars. I think you know your priorities right now, and MINI's will only become more plentiful and more reliable as you wait for the right time for you.

 

if i was you bigmini, i would see if you could put the deal on "hold" with the dealer and tell them you are not able to begin payments just yet (meaning your mini will be hibernating at the dealer for a while ). i know it sounds kind of awkward but hey it's worth a try...

once you find a job and your life is moving along just fine and all that good stuff (a few weeks, months?), give your dealership a call and tell them you're ready to wake your baby up and begin handin over the g's.

again.. this may or may not work, but if i was you i would definately give it a try.


if you are unsuccessful with the whole "hold" idea, id suggest you go ahead and back out of the deal (especially considering the dealership being extremely far away)

best of luck to you on finding a job, just give it time

-gerbs

 

if i was you bigmini, i would see if you could put the deal on "hold" with the dealer and tell them you are not able to begin payments just yet (meaning your mini will be hibernating at the dealer for a while ). i know it sounds kind of awkward but hey it's worth a try...

once you find a job and your life is moving along just fine and all that good stuff (a few weeks, months?), give your dealership a call and tell them you're ready to wake your baby up and begin handin over the g's.

again.. this may or may not work, but if i was you i would definately give it a try.


if you are unsuccessful with the whole "hold" idea, id suggest you go ahead and back out of the deal (especially considering the dealership being extremely far away)

best of luck to you on finding a job, just give it time

-gerbs

 

Yep, I agree, unless

1) you are going to take a hit on the deposit and
2) you have a good certaintly of finding employment within a month or two.

But then again, if you're going to be pounding out the mileage, as your doing now, stick with your trusty friend. He's been good to you...perhaps you should return the favor and hang on to him for another year or two

 

The MINI is a fantastic car......but it is just a car. Your life and happiness is most important. Get a great job, get settled and by then the MINI will have gotten better with development. Who knows you may see a 200+hp MCS in the near future. How about a MINI Clubman woody wagon with all wheel drive and 200 hp to boot! It would be worth the wait!

 

I just want to second the good advice from everyone else. MINIs will be more plentiful in the future; do what you have to for now. Best of luck to you, and I hope to see you in MINI some day further down the road :smile:

_________________
::Indi Blue MCS, White roof+wheels, All 3 packages:: En route to Chicago on the AIDA

 

Everybodys advice is good. But I went the other way. I too order a car and lost my job. When it arived I had to buy it. I've never thought a car is just a car. I'm not sure why someone said the MINI is not reliable but I hope that is a wrong statment. Some may think I'm crazy or stupid but I couldn't give up my one chance. Also according to the dealer the MINI will be harder go get next year. (probably a sales gimick.)

I know this may not be help but I was in your shoes, and I didn't have MCO to talk sence into me. However, I'm not regretting my purchase and I'm loving every minute of it.

 

You did ask to be "talked out of it", but in good conscience I can't do that. I will tell you this though. The closest dealer to you will be MINI of Peabody in Peabody, MA. They are absolutely fantastic. Sell at MSRP, fair, honest, service dept. is incredible. I live in Massachusetts on the Cape but have a place way up in Maine at Baxter State Park near Millinocket. My MCS loves the northern Maine roads. I must admit I worry about a break down way up there where cell phones often don't work. But, knock on wood, so far so good.
Good luck with your decision. Enjoy Maine! I would like to move there permanently too. What town are you moving to?

 

bigmini!

The MINI is too new to know about it's reliability, even though it has the fantastic warranty and all...and remember, more people post problems than those saying how perfect their MINI is. Having said that (ugh I can't believe I just wrote that...one of my latest pet peeves in triteness), it sounds as though you already have a great car...your Honda! I agree with the others, that you should wait until you are more comfortable with your finances. I love the thought that there could be a 200-hp woody-clubman in the future...that would be worth the wait!

Cheers!
Clover

 

If you're having second thoughts, don't do it.

 

We are moving to Ellsworth.

I'm still not completely decided. It breaks my heart to think about my MINI going home with someone else. But, I guess I could get over it.

 

I am sorry, but I can't in good faith try to talk you out of making a smart decision. The MINI is fun, but having a roof over your head is more fun. It's not that great of a car really. Don't get me wrong, I really like my MINI, but if it is going to possibly put you in a financial bind, then forget it. There are always other cars later when it won't be quite such a burden.

 

I'd concur with everyone here -- and commend all for a whopping dose of good sense! -- but I don't agree that the MINI is "not dependable." I think that such determiniations need to be highly qualified by what is meant by "dependibility" and informed by other data such as build date, etc. Just a cautionary note since the tone of a number of recent posts/threads has seemed to induce a sense of worry among pending/potential MINI owners.

I'll also note, Bigmini, that you'll probably be replacing that 86K mile battery pretty soon after you get to Maine. Just a hunch

Good luck on the move!

 

When my husband and I first started living together (before we were married) we both had new cars. We did not have a pot to **** in or a window to throw it out of. But, we had those cars and we had a blast in them.

I am saying this: If you put a deposit down on the car, GET IT! You will lose the bucks anyway so why not enjoy the rest of it!?

Those two cars are long gone and we now have 4 different ones and only one car payment. I am not sorry we ever had to scrape by to enjoy those cars. Personally, I would prefer to live in a cheaper house and drive what I want. My house is worth 90K and my four cars are worth nearly that if not more.

You have to set your priorities. YOU have to decide if you need or want this car bad enough to make the sacrifices that it will take to maintain it and the payments. We can give you advice until we are all blue.......

I personally support any decision you make. But, the one that matters the most is the support or decision you and your spouse make..........


Barb, Been there, done that!!

 

Thank you Barb. Even before reading your post, I decided F*** it! I'm gettin' the MINI! I finally sold the Accord and I should get my MINI next week. I'm just not a "point A to Point B" type guy. I've always wanted a really cool car, but I've always bought what I could afford... 3 VW's, 3 Honda's and 1 Plymouth(what was I thinking about?). Being 50 now, I'm thinking "you only live once, so why not go for the gusto". Thank you all for your opinions. It may not make a lot of sense, but I'm goin" for it!!!

Ps: It occurs to me that it's much easier to tell someone else to be sensible, when the person doing the talking is already motoring.

 

Keep the Honda and enjoy the move. As much as I love my Mini, I'd let it go quickly for an opportunity to live in New New England.
Jim