Out of the blue... I just got a call from a MINI dealership regarding my "low mileage" (their words) one owner 2005 S Cabrio. I was told that they are looking for these cars for trade in or straight out purchase. Since I already bought a 2008 S for replacement last September... I don't need to trade-in. So after discussing/confirming the details of my car: 53,686k miles, Chili Red, Manual, Chrome Lines- Int/Ext, Sports Package, MFSW, Xenons, new runflats, NEW top, no accidents or damage of any kind... I told him that we are planning to sell it but just haven't listed it anywhere yet.

So the guy called me back with an offer. It was quite a bit lower than I expected. The guy asked what amount I was thinking and I told him. (Just looked up used car values on Edmund's and NADA to see how far off I was... I was pretty close... and the mileage actually added about $475 to the price. ) So the guy tells me (and I quote...) "the S cars with the Superchargers have taken quite a hit in value lately due to the new Turbo and maybe that's why you weren't expecting a lower offer".

REALLY??? I haven't read/heard anything about the "NEW TURBO" taking value from the 1st Gen Supercharged beasts. Has anyone else heard of this? And if this is in fact true... why would they want my Supercharged Cooper on their lot? I'm not buying it!

 

 

I personally would rather have a first gen. I would think they are more valuable since you can't buy a curvy supercharged MINI new anymore.

 

Nice spray OXY! I thought it had a familiar smell!

And Mitch- I would agree . I love the 1st Gen... that's why we got one of the last of them in 2008. Dealers had tried to convince us to wait for the new 2nd Gen but I was too worried about not having the Supercharger, the "burble" and the rollercoaster bars! (my favorite part )

 

Any new year is going to depreciate the prior years value. In this case it was a major model change also.

While there are some people who appreciate the whine of a supercharger or the bumpy ride, the masses want more refinement.

 

On the whole, it's the economy that's hurting sales and re-sell value more than anything else. New Minis can be purchased below MSRP now.

Less funny money running around these days.

 

I could understand "the economy" excuse... it was the "NEW TURBO tanked the value of the SUPERCHARGED" that didn't make much sense. Just wondered if anyone else had heard about this before.

I understand depreciation when a new model is released... but did this also happen when the Coupe changed? I mostly remember hearing that people preferred the 1st Gen.

As for less refinement... I guess, count me in with all of the less refined SUPERCHARGER enthusiasts!

So the 1st Gen has a bumpier ride?



Hey OXY- I just checked out your gallery. Is that your house? Probably has really high ceilings in the kitchen too, doesn't it? Beautiful place!

 

Last year gas topped $5/gallon here. People started buying any small cars they could find to save on gas. This dealership is probably trying to inflate their inventory to profit on the gas prices that are creeping up quickly now, too.

Private party is the way to maximize your sale price. The dealership needs to screw the seller on the offer, so they can turn around and screw another buyer, so they can make a profit.

D

 

Maybe so.

I suspect that this call from the dealership may have been a warm-ish "cold call". Since he mentioned that my car ('05) was "out of warranty" and that the NEW TURBO was so much better... well, my thoughts were that he was really hoping I'd want to do a trade. Unfortunately for him, I already purchased the 2008 replacement last year.

It was really kind of funny at the end of the conversation. In a nice way he basically said (not actually said), "Well if you decide that you want to sell... keep in mind that no one else will want your Supercharged car. And please remember that we at least offered you something for it.". Still makes me laugh.

 

crap, crap, crap...

I guess I have not heard them all. A few months ago dealers were touting the end of the Gen1's as "Limited Editions". It's all spin.

But there is no reason for them to cold call you and insult you. Like you wouldn't check out their offer?!

 

The masses are idiots.

 

I agree with OXYBLUE

 

those idiots determine the resell value of your car.

 

I couldn't care less about the resale value of any car I ever buy.

The masses are the reason why we have the Focus, but no Focus RS.

The masses are also responsible for buying useless SUVs and Crossovers, and not Jeta TDI wagons that get 45+mpg instead.

 

Thanks for the compliment and yes the ceilings are high throughout my home.

 

Me too! And yeah, there was a lot of talk about the last of the Supercharged! Funny. I was looking for the regular "S" but all the dealers seemed to have was the expensive JCW "S"pecial one. They were touted as being VERY rare... and each dealer made me feel so important by offering one to me. Almost like a secret society. I was even told (by more than one dealership) that they would be such a hot item for a collector that I could even buy one and then sell it on EBay for a profit! (Like a GP!! )WOOOOOOO! Glad I didn't fall for THAT one. It was always awkward though when I would tell each dealership that I had already been offered the "special one" by every other dealership that I called. They always got weird.

 

 

Yes, go private party.


The dealer is a business, if they bought high and sold low they would not be in business.

 

Just bought an '05 S Cabrio. It is a great ride, and the supercharger is awsome. We have two turbo's (non-mimi's) in the motor pool that are not as quick off of the start as the supercharged MINI. Sell yours privately. The next owner will be truely impressed with the 1st generation performance.

 

Someone I saw today has a 2005 Cabrio and MINI called her and wanted to buy hers too.

 

FIRST- CONGRATS on your PURCHASE!! You have very good taste.

I have not driven Turbo anything so I can't say what the differences are. It's nice to hear that my Supercharged S isn't a POS!

 

That's funny. And she said "NO", right?

Still makes me laugh how that all went down. HI! We're calling because we NEED cars like YOURS! Oh wait... ummm... you have no interest in buying a new one from us? Well... 'er... ummm... good luck selling your crappy car!


I would much rather sell to a person that will appreciate and love her anyway. Crazy I know... but we ALL have a little bit of the crazies here! Until then... she has a nice warm place to stay.

(BTW- I was offered between $11-12k... but they would have to SEE it FIRST.)

 

If you were on his lot trying to buy your car he would be telling you the exact opposite. That sense the SC cars were no longer being built they are fetching premium prices..

Simple fact is: he has a buyer looking for a car like yours and he will sell yours to them for at least what your wanting so he's low balling you to increase his profit margin. Tell him to Kiss your... I know of no one having to give away thier well taken care of SC cars and I've as of yet had a turbo Mini pass me on the track or street... SUPERCHARGERS FOREVER!!!!

 

If they are really "wanting" these 1st Gen MCS, they just need to look around. I live in a small town in the middle of the "Land of 4x4 Pickups" and right off the top of my head I know of 4 MCS's sitting on car lots within an hour of where I live.

 

They just want to have more diversity on thier lots, it not that the R53 is in high demand... Turbo forever!! Ya'll have your burbles, as we have our BOV's.

I do agree, car salesmen are crooks, but they are trying to pay bills too, and they've have had an especially hard year!

My mom has a first get Cabrio S, and it is what really turned me on to the MINI. So i owe the first gen a