hey all,
ive been looking for a MINI for over a year now, and i found a great deal. i've been on NAM throughout my search (which im not sure whether or not it helped me make it through it, or made me want one more).
ive found a MCS (2004) with 56 k miles on it. its in "excellent condition" with no exterior damage. the interior is "Awesome" and everything checks out ok (clear title, no accidents, whatnot)
the man who is selling it has recently moved to scotland, and the car is in washington state, although it was originally listed on autotrader from ohio (i think).

is this deal too good to be true? there is only one picture and i am kinda sensing some foul play through the emails (hes moving it along too quickly and wont easily give any more photos). i need some help, this could be the one.

thanks alot.
b.p.m.

 

Well how much does he want for it?

 

how much does he want? Honestly sounds like a scam. If its too good to be true chances are that it is.

 

o sorry. he wants 6,000 for it. i thought i added that.

 

You didn't give us details, but in general, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Red flags I see - lives in Scotland, car is in WA, was listed in OH. If he asks you to send ANY money ANYWHERE, run far and run fast. If you think it's a scam, it is.

Edit - just saw your last post. At $6K, it's a scam. Don't communicate with the person again, and do NOT provide them any personal information!!

 

+1

Yea thats has to be a salvage title or theres no car or something up. i mean if it ends up working out for you great but it sounds to good to be true.

 

i havent given any information to him at all (except for my first name and that i live in ohio). this is really discouraging (but im glad) because i really thought this was my MINI.

 

For an 04 with 56k don't know the oppions but whatever, Anything under 19K is a scam or slavige title. sorry

 

i just tried to find it on autotrader and it seems like he has unlisted it. something isnt checking out. seems like it was another false hope. thanks for the quick replies everyone, and if anyone knows anyone with a mini at about 10,000 or lower, gimme a holler.

b.p.m.

 

yes, $6k for a 2004 MCS has got to be a scam or as others have said, salvage.

if you haven't used it before, one way to determine an accurate price is to use Kelly Blue Book online:

http://www.kbb.com/

go to the Used Car Values section and enter as much information as you have (year, options, mileage, etc.) and it will give you a reasonable market price -- private party or sold by a dealer. this is then the price that a legit seller would use to price a car and that you, the buyer, should start at for negotiations.

also, there should be some good deals more local to you, but there's not going to be anything below 10k or so for a regular cooper, higher for an S. as an example, i looked at a 2002 Cooper (no S) earlier this year that was at about $14k ... can't remember the mileage.

 

Pessimist.
Autotrader shows 343 Coopers (not all S models, though) at <$19K and less than 60K miles.
There are two listed at under $10K, and both are 'Rebuildable'.

mcdbrendan - Even a great deal will only save you a few thousand dollars. Anything not 'rebuildable' in single digits is likely a scam.
Keep looking, and save your pennies!

edit - if you want to spend $10K, you'll definitely be getting a salvaged car. They just aren't that cheap yet. Even if you go back to '02, Autotrader only shows 8 cars, and the one that doesn't say salvage is suspect (a black '03 Cooper CVT, 46K miles)) - check that, that apparently is the 'starting bid price'

 

I was talking only about an 04 MCS, with an 02 MC i have seen lots of them out there for between 13-15k

 

appreciate the help. i was thinking about taking up a rebuildable project. i have a daily driver, so it could be nice to have something to work on.

non-S is not an option. the car will be bought and may stay stock for 24 hours, but its unlikely.

on the topic of rebuilding, does anyone know a good (and trustworthy) site where i can get OEM parts of MINI's???

b.p.m.

 

even a salvaged mini wouldnt go for only 6k. Someone sold a completly messed up mini on ebay for 7k and it needed a lot of money in work and it was a 2003 with 45k miles.

 

new or used?

Classic MINI in OH is good for new. Have yet to find a good MINI graveyard.

 

crap. looks like it may not happen anytime soon. what other cars should i look for (something quick that can turn fast).
i was thinking a VW golf or gti for the price, or maybe even a jetta.

a friend jsut got an srt-4, which is a fun car, but i cant live with owning a dodge neon, or dodge for that matter.

anything else?

 

Tgtbt

 

haha. funny you should bring up classic. i actually work for BMW cleveland (their main competitor). i've been up to classic MINI a number of times trying to test drive a MINI before i make the plunge to buy one, and have yet been unsuccesful in driving one (i am only 17, and i guess that 2 months until i am 18 is THAT BIG of a differance).

 

It's a scam. Do I know for sure? No.... but it's a scam. This has been around for a while. It will usually involve going through an escrow company (invented by him) or involve sending money via Western Union or some other way that as soon as he gets a tracking number or confirmation number, he release the car.

 

I had a 2000 VW GOLF before i got the mini. I loved it, great car modded the S**t out of it. Fast handels good, nothing like the mini but good. Might want to look into a WRX as well.

 

mmm good suggestion. anything else i am missing???

b.p.m.