The residual value of our cars may be on the way up!
Here's a new article from Reuters:

Fewer Mini Coopers to be built this year
Plant expansion and retooling mean 10 percent cutback in production of the popular little car.
January 18, 2006: 1:21 PM EST

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - If you're having a hard time finding a Mini Cooper in just the combination of roof, body and mirror colors you've been looking for, things might be getting a bit harder still.

BMW, the world's biggest luxury carmaker, expects to build up to 10 percent fewer Minis this year due to the retooling and expansion of its plant in Oxford, Britain, the company said on Wednesday.

After selling just over 200,000 Minis in 2005, BMW estimates a production cut of between 15,000 and 20,000 units in 2006.

At the Detroit Auto Show last week, the company announced plans to introduce a new longer variant of the car in about three years.

The company had already said early in November that it would build fewer Minis but had not given a figure at the time.

 

But arent they slowing down to make a bigger plant? In turn producing MORE MINI's in 2007?

 

Yes, but the 2007 MINI's will be the next generation MINI's, so the ones we currently have can be worth more

 

Yep! Just like the '58 Edsel.

 

No, more like a `58 Mini...

 

Here's a bit more from an article on MotoringFile from a few months ago: http://motoringfile.com/2005/11/29/m...rease-in-2006/

 

our cars are so good that I always compliment after EVERY drive. i don't know how the newer model will drive but as far as i am concerned, my mini is the bomb forever.

 

My guess is that the engine in the new R56 '07 MINI will be even smoother and more powerful.

As for the rest of the car it will likely remain the same. Perhaps interior materials will be better than the '02-'06 generation.

 

Okay, maybe that was a little too enthusiastic... When I brought Ducky to the dealer to show off my custom colours, I parked in the back lot. When I came back out, there was a man checking it out. So, I asked the man if he liked my car and he looked at me all surprised and maybe even a little disappointed that it was already spoken for . I thought he was just admiring my handsome, new "baby." Afterward the dealer told me they won't be getting anymore new MINIs until after March and their used stock is flying off the lot faster than they can get them . I didn't know about the cut back in production. I'm thinking that I am one lucky old broad because I feel like mine slid under the wire. Yep, I am lucky.... Flora Blue