I bought my 2003 MINI used with only 3300 miles for $18,000 (back in October) and I've done some "feeler" ads with a price of $19,000 and had lots of responses, so I think I did pretty well. I think compared to, say Volkswagen, the MINI holds its value fairly well.

 

Well IF you bought it for resale you're not the sharpest tool in the shed. Especially in the short run.

 

One of the local car dealers had an '02 MC on the lot for just under $17K and it sold in a few days....I paid that much for my '04 MC. It was a pretty little chili red with white roof and bonnet stripes, and looked to be well pampered by it's previous partner.

I financed my '05 MC for $8k. The storm surge drowned Ms. Kitty and although I bought her for $16,900 the blue book on it was $21K. I owed $7k....so the insurance paid off the bank and gave me the balance. Hence the great price of buying a MC for $8k...just to be a wise a$$ I financed it instead of buying it outright. Mick

 

The only person that sees an increased value for MODs on a vehicle is the guy who PAID for them. The rest of us see MODs as a fast way to depreciate a vehicle's value. I've said this numerous times now, Showroom Stock and "squeaky" Clean are the ONLY assets in resale of any vehicle.

 

That's why I'm modding only with factory options, dealer options and JCW components (except for the short shifter). Probably not enhancing the value much now, but at least the mods are not accelerating the depreciation. Another 30 years, though, the JCW options will add a premium (assuming gasoline is still sold).

 

Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) has 3 prices: Retail, Trade-in and Private Party Sale. I have found the private party price to be close to reality for a private party sale, but about 3-5% percent high. Probably because the info is a bit dated. They only release freshly updated info to their subscribers.

 

??? KBB is 16940. Your priced right at KBB, not "well below blue book"

I couple of suggestions on why you have a problem:

1. As others have said, your mileage is a killer. I really cant see the average person wanting a one year old car with that huge mileage on it. No point when for a few thousand more ... you can buy new and exactly as you want it.
2. You have loaded a low-end model with "luxaries" that most low end car buyers do not want or can't afford. Your also suffering for this because they do not get anything back on resale. For example:

 

Put it on Craig's list.

www.craigslist.com

Earl

 

I haven't recently tried to sell my '03 MSC but I know here in Jacksonville, FL the local dealer lot is crammed w/ trade ins. Many people are skipping past selling thier car outright and trading up. Even on the dealer lot some of the used are just shy of the cost of new. Sorry, hope you find someone soon.

PS. Don't forget the power of the car itself as a selling tool. Invest in some nice professional vinyl lettering for the windows or a nicely done sign. I had a 00 Dodge Ram that I tried to sell through several advertisers over a 4 month period. The best offer and buyer came from someone who's mom saw her sitting in a local parking lot!

 

Or, you can go my route and keep all the stock parts. When it's time to sell/trade, put them all back on. It's not rocket science.

 

sold it to a local BMW dealer for $16,000 today............. :(

 

EDIT: $16,000 doesn't sound bad as a price from a dealer if you were asking $17000 private party.

 

Yeah, that's not bad at all.

 

thanks, and like i said. this car was in A1 perfect shape. they couldnt belive their eyes when they saw how nice it had been kept. i guess i could live with $16000. but it is still way under what i wanted for it. i sold my first MINI (MCS) in july 04 to a NISSAN dealer for $500 more than i paid for it. then again those were different times.

 

Congrats on a solution found, flav . They sure were "different times" in 2004 and I venture to guess that the MCS you sold to the Nissan dealer was not quite so high-mileage ??

I'm certain that I read more posts where someone said they "just sold their MINI for more than they PAID for it!" a year or more ago. Not as many of those recently (but then what do I know? (wait don't answer that )).

Glad I won't have to endure selling any vehicles for a nice, long time,
Tatt

 

+2 or 3

 

That's 2500 less than I got for an S with similar miles, and that was with about $200 in advertising expenses, $20 in gas to show the car to people, probably 12 hours of showing the car, 4 hours of making ads and listing them...

You got a good deal Be happy

 

I think it is the mileage.. my opion only. We bought a new 2005 cooper a year ago with prem. package and cold weather package NEW no miles and full warranty for $19150. and I think the 2006 is only $500 higher. You are asking only $2000+/- less. I think thats the problem, that and the dealers have 20-50 new ones on the lots.Their not setting the world on fire either?? Good luck to you, I hope you make a sale..

 

We left coasters have tons of left coast used MINIs to choose from and more than a few Florida MINIs. I found two just skimming the online ads.

The one closest to me -- down on a BMW dealer's used car lot in Fremont -- I just drove by again today and the MINI's still for sale, though the price is now $21,993. It has come down at least $2000 and maybe more: I tossed the copy of the online ad when I decided I didn't want the car.

The MINI used car market is I think overhyped... Used MINI bytes: Be careful letting a new car dealer feed you stuff about a MINI holding its value as justification for paying a premium for a new MINI. The market appears saturated.

Sincerely,

RockC.

 

Hey Flav:
You done good !

It's a good thing you didn't have to sell my '99 Jetta VR6 like I did last year.
In 7 months, only 3 people came around to see it and not one offer. I ended up wholesaling it and took a bath to the tune of $2000.

 

Flav, If I would have been in the market for a MINI/MCS and had seen your add, I would have definately been interested.

A 1yr old MINI (loaded) for less than $17,000! I don't understand! To hell with the high milage. You can't put that many miles on a 1yr old car without it being mostly highway miles.

The problem had to be the time of year. I don't understand why a MINI enthusiast did'nt go after this car. And to see that you replaced it with a TT says that you're an auto enthusaist and definately took care of this MINI.

So it's a snow belt car, so what! A well kept car in the north does'nt corrode. Hell, a not so cared-for car in the north does'nt corrode. Not for about 10 yrs. And MINis are warranted for rust & corrosion for 10yrs...Correct me if I'm wrong.

And than there's the theory about getting a brand new MINI for only 5k more. Only my ***! 5k is alot of money to alot of people and that's not including the additional sales tax/insurance on 5k more. Plus add to the fact that alot of people REFUSE to buy a new car because of depreciation. OH! I forgot! MINIs don't depreciate...Well this one sure did!

I'm curious as to what the dealer's asking price is going to be and what they actually get out of it. You ott-to keep tabs on what happens to it (price-wise).

 

thanks flip, my thoughts exactly.

 

I was just offered $13,700 cash for my 02 MCS with 45k, listed now at $16,250. No way, but it is the only offer I have received since it has been on the market (since December 05).

 

Flip, Flav's car was not an MCS. It would have been worth 2-3k more if it had been. I think he got very fair value from a dealer. Maybe could have gotten another 1-1.5 from a private party sale, but those can be real hassles (lookie-lues, no-shows, wasted time to show the car, etc.)

Flav, congrats on the sale. I'd be interested in your driving impressions of the TT as compared to the MC maneuvering & handling. I don't think the engine performance will be a fair comparison.

 

after driving the TT for a week here is what i noticed comparing it to the MINI. it feels alot more solid, but its an audi so thats a given. the front cabin space feels about the same as far as room to the MINI. the back seats of the TT are way smaller than the MINI almost unusable. the TT has abit more of a blind spot in the rear but not to bad (nothing compared to the blind spots in my previous 350Z.) manual gerabox feels 100% better in the TT. i actually drove my mini a few times after the TT and the 5 speed feels cheap, very quirky and notchy. i have the 1.8T engine in my TT and i actuall like the MINI engine alot better. the TT has alot more torque and it come on at 1.5k but the mini engine was way more free reving. it loved to be reved. i would get it up to 4000-5000 and love it. the TTs power is way to linear so if im at 2500 or 5500 it does not make any difference. kind of boring campared to the mini. and my MCS was even more fun than my cooper. so i would say that the engine in the MINI and MCS are better tahn the TT. the interior quality in the TT is unmatched. no rattles and the seams between different pieces in the dash are air tight. the accents of brush alluminum are awesome. as far as the ride. the TT has alittle more of a quieter ride. not so harsh. not sure i like that. i always loved the connection with the road and road feedback on the mini. as far as handling there is no contest. the MINI wins hands down 100%. the TT is not bad at all (again better than my 350Z was at cornering) but the MINI rocks it. breaking goes to the TT. it beaks very strong and fast. the rotors in the front wheels are HUGE!!! the MINI felt spongy in comparison. my gas milage has been unbeliveable in the TT. i though i was going to take a hit coming from the cooper. and of course i have but by only a mile or two a gallon. my trip computer tells me im getting 29 MPG in the TT and my mini was at 31.5. in fact the TT gets noticably better gas milage than my old MCS. the reason i got rid of my 350Z was it was rear wheel, to much power (not good in the snow), horrible gas milage 19 average and im certain i would have died with its blind spots. the TT has none of the bad, and improves on all the 350Z's shortcoming. thing is all four 350Z, TT, MCS and mini are all great cars and i feel lucky to have owned all three.