it's not that the market is depressed, it's that used car dealers are desperate for lower-end vehicles like MINIs AND the ability to make a buck. They wouldve turned those cars for 40% more than their low ball offer.

After all, used car sales are the numero uno profit-maker in any car lot.

And as far as the LA salesman telling U the Clubman has lower resale value, how does he know? After all, MCC is so recent I dont think there's NADA or KBB data, yet. Sounds like a low-ball tactic many of the sales managers i used to slave for loved to lay on unsuspecting "ups."

 

- packages and all the accessories you ordered with the car don't really mean much when trading in. most car dealers don't even keep the car on their lot to resell it. most of them wholesale it. those 8-10K in packages and fancy trim might get you 1-2K at trade in time.
- MINI/BMW dealers will give you the LOWEST trade-in offer for your MINI. First hand experience with this as well as something I keep hearing from people across the country.

 

not neccesarily. when I traded my R53 last summer when gas was $4.50/gal and the dealer had Zero used MINIs on the lot, I received $18K on trade (towards my ordered 09 MCS) on a 3.5 year old car that msrp'd at $24K in 2004, only 27K miles. so trade in offers depend on market conditions, this time, expensive gas, MINI popularity, and NO used car inventory worked in my favor, big time.

 

Mystery solved...

http://www.theautochannel.com/link.h...ed-car-buying/

 

Purchased a gas hog last year got a great deal, since gas was almost $4.00.... Just traded on an 09 Clubby, $2.00 gas, got a great trade in plus too many MINI's on the lot, good all round. Guess when I'm trading the MINI... $5.00 gas anyone???

 

That's great, but it depends on what your car buying/selling habits are....

If you are like me or BuzzCut, it means nothing.

 

For resale value a cooper s hardtop retains the lowest % of depreciation from Msrp folowed by the Jcw hardtop then the cooper s cabrio then jcw cabrio,clubman s,clubman jcw then cooper and cooper cabrio.

A 3 year old Mini cooper s with 20k to 28k will bring 72 % of msrp on the retail market.

 

I just bought a 2008 Clubman with 6000 miles on it for $25K (Canadian). It has all the bells and whistles (leather, sport, convenience, comfort, 17" rims, media connect blah blah blah). Pretty much the only thing missing is the S.

The previous owner, after taxes, paid $40K for it. He owned it for 14 months, so shelled out over $1,000 a month to have the car.

I'm happy with the deal I got clearly, and am glad to not be taking the 1st year depreciation hit on the car. I figure I'll either drive it for 4-5 years and sell it while it's still in good shape and worth a bit, or like my other cars, drive it till I'm replacing engines.

 

Where are you getting these figures?

 

I have worked as general mgr of a new car dealer group for the past 10 years and have 25 years in automotive retail.

 

As others have said, if you're at all concerned about resale when you buy a new car, hold the line on options, especially Mini options where are ridiculously overpriced. Everyone knows the old saying that you want to own the cheapest house in an expensive neighborhood when you sell, and it is exactly the same with cars.

- Mark