OK, so here's the deal...I have a fully refundable down payment on a 2002 Mini Cooper S that I have to decide on by the morning of 1/16. I love the car. It was a dealer car, only driven by managers. The car has 10,000 miles on it Silver/Balck with the sport, premium package, and lapis blue leather. I talked them dowm to $21,500. What would you do? Is this a good deal? I think I'm going to do it, but I need some support to push me to buying this incredible car that I have been patiently researching.
Thanks,
Justin

 

just for reference a MCS with leather and both sport and premium went for 21,700 on e-bay with 800 miles....

 

Yeah thats a great deal! I would say that the car was simply broken in for you, I imagine that the sticker is around 23k or higher.

Pretty much everyone here loves thir minis, I konw I wouldent trade mine for anything less than 25k, and I only paid 22 (only because I could get one in silver)

 

Welcome to MCO Justin!

As for the price...hard to say. Where are you, which state? The car would have had an original MSRP of $24,000 and with 10k on the clock and a reduction from MSRP of $2500, that means the per mile discount on the car is $0.25. That's fairly decent if you consider the traditional $0.05-0.10 price most lease returns stick you for above your allotted mileage. The car is easier to be had in some markets than others, thereby driving the cost up (even for used) in certain areas. Also, some markets paid MSRP, some paid healthy bit over. All things to consider when weighing this price.

Can't make the call for you, but am hopefully providing some guidance on determining this for yourself. And all that being said...we want you to buy it so the poor MINI can have a real owner.

R

 

10k sounds like a lot of miles for a managers car. I'm always leary of company cars. Usually the maintenance on them is sub par. I got mine, 2003 IB/B" with all packages the NAV and anything else I could get for 24,500.

Frank

 

Hey Justin,
As much as you love the car-WAIT! Order one that you alone break in. I doubt the managers have given too much thought about break-in speeds. I'm sure there are many here that may disagree, but if you plan to shell out over 20k for a car, wait. Read the many threads about ordering from the dealers that are not gouging their customers (I.E. Roadshow Memphis). In the long run, you'll end up with an 03' that may serve you better. Just my 2 Lincolns.
Jim

 

Do not buy a managers car or a test drive car....
I'm not even addressing the mileage or the price...it's moot at this point.
Ask anyone here on this site....how their test drive was.
I got the test drive up to over 90mph , and put it thru downshift ..hell.

Do not buy it...wait...and get a NEW ONE !!!!!!
Just MHO

Peace,
D

_________________
2002 MCS:PS/B, w/Lapis Int.

 

You asked for an opinion, so here's mine... Don't do it.

First, you're getting a load of BS that this car was only driven by "managers." There's been a lot of talk on this site about the difficulty people have had in getting test drives, and one of the reasons is that BMW was particularly stingy with their allocation of dealer cars. Most dealers did not have more than 2 cars (some less) to use for demonstrators. That your dealer would have a car that "managers only" put 10K on is preposterous.

OK, so it was a regular demonstrator and they're giving you a story. Well, even though "regular people" driving the car in a demo mode wouldn't necessarily indicate a huge problem, it IS something to think about in terms of extra wear and tear. I've bought demos before, but not with that high a mileage. About 1/2 that is more reasonable. My local MINI dealer currently has one of their demos on sale. It has about 5K, and this is a high volume dealer (AND they haven't been able to unload it for about a month...but that's another story). Bear in mind that you'd be getting a car that is about 30% through its service warranty and 20% through the major repair warranty. If they HAVEN'T worked out the bugs, this could be a problem.

But the major issue to me would be that you'd be going out on a limb trust-wise. Trust that the car hadn't been flogged. Trust that the dealer had taken care of the host of minor (or perhaps major) bug that befall these cars under 10K miles. Yet, the bottom line is that this dealer who you need to trust is probably lying to you at the outset about the miles. Furthermore, you say you had to "talk them down" to 21.5?? What were they asking before? I think that list on this car shouldn't be more than about 23.5 (or 24 as someone mentioned). So, it doesn't seem that they really wanted to discount it much at all. All int all, doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Let them sell this thing on a used lot, and you should go find another car. Go for a new one. Shop around for a pre-spec car and you can probably get very close to what you want w/o a wait or paying more than MSRP. Sport and premium pkgs together are not at all rare (it's what I have on my S). The leather may be a bit more difficult...but I'll bet you can find one. Good luck!

 

I too would tell you - don't buy the car from the dealer. The mileage sounds very high for what they have supposedly used it for....besides - if you wait for the new one, you will be getting all the goodie packages from MINIUSA that you wouldn't get buying a used one!!!

 

>>Bear in mind that you'd be getting a car that is about 30% through its service warranty and 20% through the major repair warranty. If they HAVEN'T worked out the bugs, this could be a problem.
>>


Just something to consider on this point (if you're still considering purchasing): Get them to give you (as in - for free) the additional 1 yr. warranty coverage. If they are confident in the car, they shouldn't hesitate - you should say that.

 

I would also suggest not buying the dealer MCS for the same reasons already mentioned, the car very likely has some serious miles on it already. The MCS
is a robust design, but I would also recommend waiting and buying a new one,
or one from a private party.

Good Luck!

 

I would agree with the free extended warranty. I know when I test drove the "dealer car" on March 23, 2002, it had 88 miles on it and the test drivers and dealer personnel were certainly not being easy with the car for the first 1200 miles. Get a better price and extended warranty or just wait for a new one. :smile:

 

Remember, this is an opinion that was solicited:
DON'T DO IT!! I especially wouldn't do it if it was built before July. Many of the problem cars are the May and June builds. My July build MCS has been flawless, but some built in May and June have been very very troublesome.
Also, "manager car" doesn't really mean anything. I know for a fact that some of the MINI managers and motoring advisors flog the living hell out of the company cars. I'm talking about practicing e-brake turns and reverse spin-outs, etc. I would also hedge a wager that the car WAS test driven by customers and they may have flogged it severly during a test drive while it was still in "break-in" mode.
What ever your decision is I hope it all works out perfectly for you. Best of luck.

 

>>I especially wouldn't do it if it was built before July. Many of the problem cars are the May and June builds. My July build MCS has been flawless, but some built in May and June have been very very troublesome.
>>

Not to say that there isn't truth to this statement, but, in the way of temperament - My May build has been wonderfully absent of any "problems" - just a few niggles.

 

I'd wait and get your own new MINI. They could have fixed everything up and you wouldn't know if anything was ever wrong, but 10K miles on it already, that is the fun of having a new MINI...motor on!

Gidget

 

If I were you I would wait. The mileage is awfully high for a dealer car and if that car was used for test drives you never know how badly it could have been ragged out. I have had my Cooper since early August and I only have just over 7K on it. I would order your own. :smile:

Welcome to MCO!

 

Sounds like you're getting ripped to me. 10,000 mi qualifies this as a USED car. Don't let them fool you on any price break they give you, the dealer get's a substantial cash kick-back from BMW for demo-ing this car. Plus, dealers _always_ lie to make a sale so you don't know who's been driving this thing or how hard. I'll bet they didn't break it in properly either.
You'd be better off buying a used one from a private seller.

 

I would pass on this "deal". You can get yourself a brand new one for only a few dollars more

As with any used car, concerns about the car being beat up, maintenance history are valid. Are they offering an extended warranty. I wouldn't go near it unless it was a 100k mile warranty with all complimentary maintenance too.

bottom line: order a new one

 

I agree with other's recommendations here.

I would also like to echo my opinion on the matter: Don't do it!

The beauty of the MINI is the ability to order the car trimmed the exact way you like it. Don't settle for an overpriced and liely abused "manager's" car. 10K miles for a 5 to 6 month old car is fairly high. BEWARE!.

 

Don't buy it. Probably driven hard by everyone who has driven it.
Dump all the extras and buy a new base Cooper S. It has everything
you could possibly need. And as far as the price. I think it is too high...

 

Remember also, you can work a better finance rate on a new car... most dealers have a finance floor with their used cars... will toss in extra warrenties for extra $'s.

A new car is reliable, even if it has recall issues, those are the plunders one must journey through with a NEW NEW car, New as in First Model year. I got mine last April.... One Recall issue and now it's all good.

Buying used Pros n Cons

Pro- Broken in Con - Broken in
Pro- Cheaper Con - Value Loss = Warrenty Loss = Possible Reliability Loss
Pro- It's Settled into it's frame Con- You have to conform to it (other than it conforming to you)

New Car Pros-

FULL Warrenty
Full Reliability
You get to drive it the way you want it driven
It's NEW
New Car Smell
Crisp Interior/Exterior
You can maintain it according to the book and/or the way you deem fitting
IT's NEW
Financing - they offer better deals for new car financing Lower APR or lower Down Payments

CONS-
It's NEW
COST
Possible New Car Issues Unseen

It's a struggle of the wallet when it comes down to it... what can you afford?
There is NOTHING wrong with the standard Cooper... I actually prefer it to the S...(I know many others will gafaw at that, but I prefer the torque on the cooper as opposed to the superchardger which could become a problem as soon as the warrenty fades....Superchargers aren't cheap to maintain as they age.)

I say, do what you feel is right ....
Do what you can afford
Do Not Purchase if they want you to pay an APR higher than 6%
unless you are into giving money away, and if that's the case... My account is ALWAYS open for a generous deposit!

No matter what you choose, it's a MINI and you can't lose!

And that's that!

 

I got my 03 MCS in January 03. Based on the posts regarding the 02 models its a crap shoot in the area of mods fixes, retrofits, bugs etc. I love mine and didnt even consider preowned or used of any kind. This type of car must be ordered new if you are to be assured of how it was driven previously! I would not want to buy the demo car I drove! Thanks to the dealers for allowing us the chance to push a car for evaluation!! Order a new one and enjoy watching the progress of build and delivery! Very Cool!! Good luck CS

 

By this time you've probably made your decision - I just know how the motoring advisors drive those cars in Nashville. To say the least, their driving skills impressed me. But, if you have decided to take the plunge - best of luck! It's a MINI and it's wonderful no matter what!! They make me giddy...

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

That's way too much money for a car with 10K miles...ask them what they would give you if you were trading it in, laugh....it's easily lost 20% depreciation and once it hits 36K that figure will be 40%.....by the time you want to sell it or trade it mini's will be discounted at the dealers just like PT Cruisers.....At best maybe 18K, but even then as an above poster pointed out I'm sure it had the hell driven out of it by the manager, ask yourself how you would drive it if you had it for free for 10K miles and then had to give it back...lol!

 

OK, now that you've solicited many opinions, what are you going to do?