Peep $2000 is only a difference of like $20 a month or something....anywho...what is the problem with your other car...who is the mechanic...is it someone you know...or some bum...cause MLE put 4k into a car before I met her...and the problem was never fixed...infact one of the "mechanics" sabataged the car to fail even more...she gave it to a friend...sure enough...one of them had put a twisty tie between the head and the block......this is why NO ONE works on my cars...

 

its someone i know and trust so i believe him when he told me to get rid of it because it was just going to cost me a lot of money in a short time -- and he knows how much i love my current car so...


and while i know its only $20 to $40 more a month -- its that debt to income ratio that im watching as i am planning on getting a house soon so my financial guy said if i needed to get a car, i could but to keep the cost down to around $18000 tops (including TTT) so that it will still look good to a mortage co.

but i will be honest -- there is a little voice inside of me saying "just get what you want...get the Mini.."

 

Don't abandon the other things you want in life to get a car. If you need to spend under $18K on a car to be able to get a house soon do it. But still get a MINI If you look hard enough you should be able to find a MC for under $18K. It may not be exactly what you want right now, but just think of it as a stepping stone

 

I had to look at this twice - this could be my story! Spooky. I had wanted a Subaru for a year or so. My old car was a 2001 VW Jetta VR6. Then I saw and drove a MINI, and that was the end of the story. Well, there is still more to the story but for space considerations...

I'll see how the MINI goes in NW Wisconsin snow before I can say it was a better choice than a Subaru...I kid. MINI! Get the MINI!

 

Good for you for sticking to your budget - only YOU know what you can afford. But like others said, it IS worth your time on the phone to do some power calling and see what might be on a lot that will meet your criteria.:smile: And yes, you will love an MC...

Donna

 

i'll be honest, i had a subie before my mini and i loved both cars, but for different reasons. the mini is so much fun to drive, but driving a subie through the snow is a hell of a lot of fun too. had my wife not been against me getting another WRX sport wagon, that would probably be what i'm driving now since i'm generally so concerned about how functional the car is. lucky for me my wife hated that car and made me buy the mini convertible.

 

Wish I were an auto broker, Peep. Helping folks like yourself get the very best deal would be my cup o' tea. Perhaps we should all be helping you locate the proper MINI.

The Impreza won't do, Peep. It's none of the spank, slap & charm that emanates from you & your aussie [nice pic]. :smile:

You've prudence, smack-a-roo & you respectfully 'love your loving'. You're essentially the personification of MINI. I'd take a Coop over an Impreza everytime. Really. And I have nothing against it besides its tame looks & lackluster residuals.

• Staying within budget
• Bravely going-it alone
• Becoming a homeowner
• All the while walking outside with a Walt-Disney-World-smile to hop & dodge life's puddles in a MINI Cooper

There's real value there, Peep.

[Like my buddy Bukowski always says, "Style is the answer to everything. A fresh way to approach a dull or dangerous thing... To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art." ]

 

ok -- i called 5 mini dealers within a 75 mile radius about what they had on their lot that i could get and prices and its not looking good kids...


i will be calling more tomorrow...worst comes to worst -- i get the suby...drive it for a year or so...get my house and then by my mini as a second car !!!

cross your fingers something comes up tomorrow or Monday... anyone have any other suggestions?

 

Get a second opinion on the upcoming demise of your current car.

 

Here is YuccaPatrol's MINI with TWO Saint Bernards in the back!

I had a Cooper before I got my MCS. They are great cars! From what I've read on the forums the past couple years they are very good in wintry conditions, too! I don't garage Wanda....I just wash her a lot!

Do your best to take the MINI plunge, sweetie! You won't regret it! Smackie-smack smack!


Clover

 

Hey Peep,

From one ex-Joisey girl...check it out!
North Carolina is not that far away, maybe they'd even meet you halfway!



08-09-2005, 03:26 AM
nckenk vbmenu_register("postmenu_613199", true);
Neutral
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4

Gallery

FS:2003 Cooper, Pepper White
For Sale:

A 2003 Mini Cooper, Pepper white/matching top, 16 inch wheels (5-Stars). 5 speed manual transmission.

Located in Chapel Hill, NC.

Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
AM/FM Stereo
Single Compact Disc
Dual Front Air Bags
Front Side Air Bags
ABS (4-Wheel)
Premium Wheels

32,000 Miles. All service performed by Flow MINI of Winston-Salem, NC.
Additional synthetic Oil changes every 5K miles.

Front & Rear Chrome Bumper inserts.
3M headlight protection film installed.
Leather wrapped steering wheel.
Toyo T1-S tires recently installed.
Factory floor mats (carpeted).

This Cooper is immaculate (never smoked in/no pets).
Pictures upon request.

$16,995.00

Respond to nckenk@gmail.com, thanks!

 

slobber machines!!!!!

but soo cute and loveable!

-Josh

 

Hannah and Lucas are fantastic dogs! They are funny, playful (EEEEK) and really really SUPER sweet!!

Peep....that listing above in NC looks pretty nice!


Clover

 

Buy used MCS with warranty left. You can find them. Try Autotrader.com. I bought mine used and have no regrets.

Sean

 

People on this website always recommend Classic Mini in Ohio - give them a call - tell them your circumstances and that someone on NAM recommended them. Also, I believe one of the Mini dealers with the largest inventories is Townsend in Baltimore. Get a Mini!

 

It isn't. You have to be a creative shopper.
Check out this MINI for $16,000 for example.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=48338

There are MINIs in my area for about $16,500 to $18,500 used, most are in good condition. Most major cities will have good used ones for less than $20,000, probably 2002 and 2003 model years and likely an MC or striped down MCS.

If you just run out of time, get whatever car fits your budget and use it for some time then save up for a MINI for later. While the price of your used car is dropping, so is the price for a used MINI over time (though maybe not as fast as you want it to).

Good luck

How about this one?
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?p=616971
Asking $14,450. Need to ship it to NJ. Sounds like a road trip!:smile:

 

Here are a few MC at Towne mini in Buffalo. They have a new MC under $18K and another under $18.8K. Plus they do not gouge you.

Vince
picking up my...
05 MCS w/ JCW
PW/B
this week

 

Just a comment from an ex-Subaru owner:


The build-quality (lack thereof, actually) was my biggest gripe on the Scooby. New MINIs far outshine what Fuji Heavy Industries / GM is doing these days.

Your budget limit for a car means you can't get a new MCS. It also means you can't get a new WRX, so your Impreza will be a base model. The All-Wheel Drive may be a big plus in the northeast - I owned my Impreza 2.5RS (basically a non-turbo WRX) when I lived in Boston, and found it useful in the snow and slush a few times. (AWD is great in non-inclement conditions as well, but you won't get much from it with the non-sport suspension of the base Impreza.)

The one BIG reason no one has yet mentioned to get a base MINI over a base Subaru is that of support. With ANY model of MINI, you will find friendly encouragement from fellow owners, and plenty of info about how to maximize ownership. Scoobies have great support and camaraderie as well, but mainly for the WRX models. Base Subarus don't really inspire much in the way of excitement, so there's just not much of a culture built up around them.

All of the reasons other posters have given seem valid as well, especially the resale value angle: You can a base MINI now, and still have tons of fun with it - get involved in owners group activities, etc... Enjoy the smiles on the faces of kids (Young and old) as you pass by... fit into tiny parking spots, and generally bask in the warm glow of Motoring...

Then, when your financial situation allows the larger car expenditure, trade your valuable little MINI in on that Liquid Yellow Cabrio S you've been imagining (Oh wait! That's me Sorry.) ... Ahem. Trade it in for the S model you really want, and know that you made a great decision.

Having said all this, I also want to say that I LOVED my Scooby! In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I used to have a vast website that included a rudimentary blog, and loads of pics of my local club functions, with lots of Subies all in one spot. (NESIC: New England Subaru Impreza Club - Despite the name, just about everyone in the club had a STi, WRX, or 2.5RS... And most of the buzz was about driving really fast.)

I was such a fan that SUbaru of America invited me to be part of the SIPP: Subaru Internet Performance Panel - a small group of folks with websites about Subarus. They flew us to the Detroit Auto Show to attend the US intriduction of the WRX, and also gave us a day at Firebird raceway in Phoenix to drive the WRX on various track configurations, plus play "navigator" (ride shotgun) to a pro-rally driver who tossed the WRX around the main track - mostly sideways- and had to replace all 4 tires after each three laps! Yeah- I loved my Scooby, but I love my MCS convertible even more, and the vibe from the clubs is just much friendlier!

_Dave_

 

thanks for all the leads everyone -- im still looking and am down to 3 days and counting -- so im checking out everything !


am0eba - thanks for the scooby story -- i totally see the difference in the culture of the cars and love the people here on NAM more so than on any of the cooby sites i have visited...and im coming from the Jeep world so im used to the love and waves that you dont get in the scooby world it seems...

so im still looking -- cross your fingers and we shall see what happens...worst comes to worst, i jsut get something and then still plan on getting my MCS in 2 years..

 

OK, I said I would have to see your pic first before deciding on the smack. If I were not a married man, the type of smack I would give would not leave a mark . However, since I am happily married I'll get back on topic and say that, based on the level-headedness (is that a word?) you are displaying in your approach to this, I have confidence that you will make the right choice for you. Continue to do what you can to find a Mini that does not compromise your long term goal, knowing that the Suby thing is your "insurance policy". And yes, an MC is still a ton-o-fun to drive!

NAM'ers in Peep's geographic area - let's find her a car!

 

You said it.... worst comes to worst.....This idea is what you should be slapped for.....You got car fever man, take a shower and start making this decision with your head and the math!!!

This is correct

read through this thread
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=48473

Please, don't take this as an insult. But, you really need to slow down here and do the right thing with your money.

First, Don't listen to broke people. Carefully examine the choices people you listen to make with thier money. If they have lots of debt and you listen to them you will too. If a slave to the lender is what you want to be, so be it.

Second, Financing things generally means you don't have the patientce to save and pay cash or pay over a very short term. It just simply COSTS YOU more. Again if you actually prefer to pay more for your car than I did, so be it.

Third, credit scores are for people that can't afford what they are buying.
No lender will turn away someone with a 20% down payment and good rental history. As someone pointed out buying a car will actually hurt your mortgage finance options because it will raise your debt to income ratio.

Fourth, repair is always cheaper then new. I don't care if you have to replace the whole engine in your current car that still amounts to maybe a few months of payments on a new one. A new car is a lifestyle choice and one that makes sense when you can afford it. not just because you are tired of your current car

Fivth, Only finance your home on a 15 year fixed rate and do not get a payment more than 25% of take home pay

The choices you make now will have very long lasting effects. They need to be concidered carefully and with wise consel (i am not refering to myself) Choose your advisors carefully, do not listen to your peers, and beware of people who appear wealthy but own nothing. Lastly, read read read. There many books aimed at protecting the consumer and making wise choices with money.

Get clark smart is a handy brief refrence an consumer pitfalls, Not exhaustive but covers just about everything you spend money on
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...5858288-0906517

The millionare mind and the millionare next door are also good for deciding your priorities for your money
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...=books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...5858288-0906517

Good luck,

 

Agreed. Since you seem to be speaking with a financial planner/advisor regarding home ownership, ask them if you are honestly better off buying a new car (MINI or otherwise) and incurring that debt or biting the bullit and paying whatever it takes to repair your current car. Remember, in addition to TTT, your insurance will probably go up as well.

 

I have to disagree with these points. If for no other reason than to ask how many people you know who have bought a car and/or a house outright. Trust me, many people drive Minis because we can't afford M3's or Porsche's. I can't imagine saving the money to buy a $150,000 home. Hell, I'd be buying a retirement home by that time. Not to mention, buying a car outright would be pretty dumb since you're basically paying the dealer the depreciation value up front.

As well, credit scores are not "for people that can't afford what they are buying." In fact, they're just the opposite. Credit scores are a rating of how well someone has paid off their debt and in what sort of timeliness of fashion they'd done so in the past. No more, no less.

Peep, I'd check around for a car within your budget, and not take financial advise from people here too much to heart. Good luck.

 

No,,,,,,,,,Please try to get a MINI.

 

This is what i mean by not listening to broke people, And Im not saying listen to me either. I am saying find someone you know who has a clue and read some books!

I did not say buy a home cash....I said never do a 30year mortgage...only do 15yr fixed rate at no more than 25% take home pay. By the way you better be planning to own your home by retirement anyways so the what is diffrence bewtween saving or financing? In both cases you own the home at retirement....But In one case you gave ten's of thousands of dollars to the bank for intrest. As it is right now intrest rates are such that property appreciation is higher than intrest rates hence the housing boom. This is not the way the world always worked or will work. So when you do finance something it is never ever a bad thing to get it paid off very quickly

You mill never drive a porche or an m3 if you don't do smart things with your money.
WHAT? Depreciation happens. The car loses value at the same rate regardless of how you financed it. you just throw more money down the drain by financing

No, not exactly, though usually true. What I said was
You only need credit to go deeply in debt. Save and pay for things like your Grandfather and you will be far ahead in the long run. You will be able to drive that M3 one day the other guy wishes he had.