I'm looking at a used 2005 MCc with auto tranny, prem. pkg, sport pkg, cold weather pkg, convencience pkg, and leather seats. mileage is just over 17K.

What would be a good price for a car like this? Anything particular problems or issues I should be looking for? It's still under warranty until March 2009 so the only issue I've found so far (right rear seat won't fold down) should be fixable easily.

Thanks for all the input!

Mike

 

I don't know Mike...it's hard to say. My search had some wide price swings dealing with area, options, and mileage. (I'm sure season hold some to this as well).

First off, you only list this as an MCC...I assume the S model is not a necessity?

When doing my search, I was only looking at 6 speed S models, so take this for what it's worth...for the options you have listed, I would see a range of anywhere from 22K to 29K asking price in 05 and 06 models. In looking at my ebay searches on what I was watching from the last 2 months...

1) 2005 Blue Mini S in Chicago w/11000 miles- asking 25,500 - I bid 23,050 and did not meet the reserve. I did not call to negotiate.
2) 2006 White Mini S in Akron w/13000 miles - asking 25,500 - I offered 22,500 they did not call me back.
3) 2006 White Mini S in Cleveland w/6000 miles - Asking 28,500 - they declined all offeres of 24,000 - 25,550 - 26,000 - and 26,500
4) 2005 Blue Mini S in Philly with Nav w/20000 miles - high bid of 18,500 did not meet reserve
5) I had a watch on a Green non-S with a manual 10000- did not bid, but saw the 18,500 did not meet the reserve.

1/3/4 were well loaded...2 was kinda stripped.

The one I got had an asking price of 29,000...fully loaded manual without nav. Got it for 26 with a 7/70 extended warranty.

Also, I can tell you this, expect to pay more from a dealer, the capital 1 loan 6% rate does not work when buying from individuals, and if the exitsting owner does not have the title...expect a loooooooooong wait.

If you have any questions...feel free to ask. Good luck with your search, but just so you know, the right one will seek you eventually

 

BTW...I find that with the convertible version of this car, it's not what color you want...it what colors you can live with. When I was looking, they were few and far between.

 

That's interesting - in our local club, I think there's a cabrio in almost every colour offered (we may not have all of the blues covered, though - there are so many of them that I lose track).

Actually, I may have mis-read your post. Were you saying that all the cabrios you saw were the same two or three colours, or that you just didn't find many cabrios at all?

 

I didn't find many for sale at all. My main criteria was convertible, manual, S.

Within a 150 mile search on ebay, autotrader, craigslist, and cars.com I had 3 cars available. Extending it to 300 miles added another 4. When I started considering aspects of having the car delivered, or flying up to 450 miles away and driving home...I was up to 22, but by doing a nationwide search I was looking a little more specific in what I wanted. So with the few choices I had available, I was looking more at what color I would take...not what I had to have. There was a little of everything out there...including hot pink.

I ended up getting my second choice in color (wanted white, got red). Had all the options I wanted, and was off a private seller less than 15 miles away (closest of the origianal 3...the other two were 150 miles away). It was a total PITA waiting for the title...but our patience paid off. And while she looks like an idustrial sized shop vac...I'm happy.

BTW, just looked on ebay...there are 9 manual MCSc's to choose from, nationwide. And the one has a 5 speed??? Okay, so maybe 8? Of those, I'd probably strike a couple down. I'm telling you...it's slim pickings for these. I think the vert is more rare than my limited production Speed6.

 

I am negotiating on a 2006 MCSc for $26,500 with 16,000 miles as a lease take over for 22 months. Auto, Sport, Convenience, Cold, Premium, rear fog, chrono, and leather.

 

If your not dead set on a cabrio, I have a '06 MCS with only 13,500 miles and I want $22,200.00. It has the sport pkg, premium pkg, garage kept adult owned, it's just like new, send me a pm or you can call 205-901-5403.
The only reason I am getting rid of this little gem is because it is not a daily driver and trying to maintain 4 cars is getting pricey

 

My first post ... recent new owner of an '05 MCS cabrio.

My wife recently graduated from nursing school, and as she's a successful working RN, we decided it might be time to upgrade the old '92 VW Cabriolet that safely took her to school for all those years. We were thinking maybe a newer VW Cabrio, maybe something else ... went to a used car sale and drove a MCS and we were hooked.

We live in the Santa Cruz (California) area, and her commute is at night over the curvy Highway 17 (a mountain road). So our requirements were: MCS, cabrio (it's a beach town and we love to go topless), good lights (night commute), dynamic suspension (mountain roads), and nice to have: navigation. We decided that, if we could find the right car at the right price, we'd pull the trigger.

About a week later our new MCS popped up on Craigslist. '05 MCS Cabrio, cool blue, black stripes, all premium packages, leather interior, heated seats, nav system. Plus a significantly upgraded aftermarket stereo. 31K miles. Basically all the options except the rear fog light and auto-dimming mirror. And in beautiful shape. Price: $21K

The car was about 90 miles away, so we had to make a couple of trips to make it happen, but this was, no doubt, that "right MINI at the right price" that we'd been looking for.

Our seller was a private party who realized he was selling for well under retail. When we asked why it was priced so low, he told us that the wholesale market for MINIs is overstocked right now, and that demand is limited. We later learned that his $21K price was exactly what he owed on the loan.

ANYWAY, I think we got a heck of a deal, and we're really loving this great new car. I've not seen other similarly spec'ed cars priced so low (a local dealer let us test another '05 MCS convertible, far fewer options, but wouldn't go under $30K. He told us to go buy the one we ended up getting.) However, the other MCS convertibles for sale locally seem to be staying on the market.

Good luck and GET YOUR MINI! You won't regret it.

 

Great story MarcoEsc...and welcome to the group. Post some pics when you get a chance, I'd love to see it.

 

Joey, thanks for the detailed info on the pricing you ran into. I don't need the S model by any means....my heart wants it but my head says to get the base cooper as it's better on gas (I drive 500 miles/week).

I've found plenty of cabrio's down here in FL but most seem pretty stripped. I'm amazed at how many don't even have the premium pkg.

MarcoEsq, I'm putting you in charge of finding me my MINI!!! What a deal! If you ever find anything that good again, hook a brother up!

And Bzn By, sorry but I'm definitely looking only for the Cabrio. If I wanted a hard top, I'd get a nice Civic Si.

 

Not a problem...just as reference, I'm getting 30-31 MPG average on the S and about 380 to 400 on a tank (putting about 400 a week on her). I'm sure the other would get you some better numbers, but I was pretty happy with the above.

Again, best of luck with your search. Let us know when your car finds you.

 

Wow, 30-31 on an S? That's much better than I expected....I figured about 26-27 on an S and 28-30 on a non-S.

Ok, wish me luck....I'm going today to go talk numbers on the Mini in my first post. I think it's gonna be a long shot but we'll see what happens.

all the other MCc's around here are all missing something I deem important (DSC, chrome interior, H/K stereo, etc). Fortunately, I'm in no rush so time is on my side.