I currently have a 2004 IB/B MC with 6600 miles on it. I have a lot of memories with this car, especially with the forum. However, I have been given the opportunity to make a trade. I have had the car since June, and it is pretty much stock, except for the metallic paint, foglights, white side markers, auxillary input, and an aftermarket bluetooth device. I have recently been given the opportunity to trade it in for the following:

2002 DS/W MCS
32,600 Miles
Premium Package
Panther Black Leather w/ Lapis Blue Inserts
Sunroof
MFSW
Auto A/C
Foglights
OBC

If I make the trade, I will actually get back enough money to pay for taxes and tags, as well as dealer fees, so the trade would be straight-up. My question is: is it worth it? I know I would lose a good chunk of free maintenance and about 16k worth of warranty miles. The warranty is set to expire 17 months from now, as well (it will probably reach that point before I hit 16k miles). If there were reliability issues, would the warranty have fixed them by this point? Also, what features will I lose? I'm not concerned about the speed readout on the tach. What do you guys recommend? This seems like a great opportunity to gain a lot of features I wish that I had gotten, but I would like your input. Thanks.

-Jeremy

 

Financially, NO. I don't understand why you'd go back 2 years & give up a new car?? A 2004 MC is worth more than a 2002 MCS. (Especially as the 2002 models did have some teething problems.)Hang on to your 04 and try to upgrade to an 05 or 06 MCS. All the 02 really has is premium as most other items you list are included. The leather (imho) is not worth it. You can always add more lights. A 2004 MCS w/premium is only $22K MSRP (or less). Check Edmunds.com for the trade-in on your MC.

 

I second that opinion.
Keep your baby.

 

Keep the 04.

 

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the help. Financially, it does seem to be somewhat of a loss. However, as a student, I have no way of getting the money for a newer one at any point in the next few years, even just to add a few things to mine. That is why an "upgrade", despite moving back two years, seems like such a good idea to me right now. Aside from the financial standpoint, however, would there be any other drawbacks?

 

Bad idea. Why move from a solid and reliable (and much newer and improved) '04 MCS to a first year '02? That makes ZERO sense to me. That move is called a false economy.

If you can't upgrade to a new '05 MCS, keep the '04, otherwise you will seriously regret it.

The fact that you still have warranty coverage makes keeping the '04 a much more palatable choice.

Move forward, not backwards!

 

The 2004's have NUMEROUS build quality improvements, some of them visible others not visible at all over the 2002 model year. These improvements alone justify keeping your '04 MCS. I had a '04 MCS until 2 weeks ago (sold it privately) and the car was absolutely fantastic: ZERO problems in 16 months and 17K miles of ownership. Now I am waiting for my '05 MCS due in 4 weeks.


Don't make that mistake. While the '02s are generally reliable cars, MINI made substantial improvements to the car in the 2004 model year and this makes the '04-05's much superior vehicles to the 2002's.

 

You already have a very nice car that many college age students wish they had on thier own. My advice to you is to concentrate in your studies and finish school. By the time you graduate, your '04 MC will still be there for you and after you get a job then you can think about trading/selling it for a new MCS, just the way you like it.

Your instant gratification desires to get a 3 year old MCS can back fire on you. You are a student and you say you can't afford to get a new car in the foreseable future, yet let me ask you, how do you plan to pay for unexpected repairs on that '02 MCS when it goes out of warranty????

Getting rid of a nice nearly new MINI MC for a 3 year old MCS just because of trivial options such as sunroof and leather shows very poor judgement in your part, IMHO.

Keep your '04 MC and enjoy the car. Most kids your age have to deal with hand me down beaters or public transportation. You are privilieged to have a MINI and drive it to campus each and every single day.

 

He is talking about going from an 04 MC to and 02 MCS...that changes the story a bit. He isn't saying MCS to MCS.

If you have driven the car (MCS) and you like the extra power AND if that extra performance means more to you than your newer, lower milage MC...then go for it.

I would go over the 02 with a fine tooth comb. Pay special attention to any rattles that may be present in the 02 which may be absent in your 04 and ask yourself if that is acceptable. 02 MCS's did not typically suffer from YoYo or stumble so that should not be so much of an issue.

If you know what you are jumping into and the trade is straight up, I say go for it. In the long run... your 04 MC wont be worth much more than an 02 MCS 5-6 years down the road. If you are talking about the real possibility of trading out of your car in 1-2 years the story might be a little different. It might help to compare blue book values of 02 MCS's and 04 MC's.

Cooper4US has a very good point as well as a lot of wisdom but ultimately only you can decide what it is worth to you. I would second that the smart money is on keepin' whatcha got.

 

MC or MCS, i'm not sure how much it matters. being a college student as well, i know i don't use my car for much more then going to school and going to work. for those two duties the MC is a really great car. if he wanted to autox or go to track days i could understand the appeal of an MCS, but it's usually a given, depending on the car company, that the first model year will have some problems. you have your warranty on ur MC, therefore you don't need to worry about maintenance. if you get an MCS, all you'll want to do is go faster, which means more gas money and more attention from your area's finest. IMO, stick with the MC at least until you graduate.

 

Keep the '04...definitely

 

Hey, I understand. There are so many things I like better about the MCS over the MC.

However, the MC is a fine car. It is enough of a fine car that I can't see trading an '04 that you know for a '02 that you don't know.

I'd hold on the the '04 as most have said. However, if the thought of a MCS is burning you up, do what you have to do. Just be aware that there's some risk involved and you're not getting anything for free.

Good luck.
Saludos

 

Yikes, that trade sounds like a really bad idea! I would heed all of the cautionary advice you've gotten here, but especially this:

Don't trade the increased quality and reliability (not to mention the longer remaining warranty) of the '04 for a bit of extra HP and a few options. Seriously, don't even consider it.

Try this: look at this trade from the point of view of the person who's willing to dump their '02 MCS with only 33,000 miles, and ask yourself why this seems like an attractive proposition to them (regardless of whatever they say their reasons are).

 

if it's power you want....well there are ways you can have an MC make just as much....

More over you have an IB....that's worth it right there!! no longer avalible!

 

I'd hang onto the '04. I undersand your impatience, but when you graduate and have some income, the '04 resale will still be pretty good. Then you can upgrade to a *new* MCS. In addition to some of the unknowns with getting a used '02, keep in mind that the '05 MCS outperforms the earlier models with the increased HP, gearing changes, and the optional LSD. Enjoy your current ride and be patient, it'll be worth it.

 

NO. No trade. Dont do it man. Hold onto it untill you can afford a new S.