So taking the original 23K and adding another 6-7K that puts you in another league of teacher-car-buying. Are you going to have to take on another Economics class to make payments?

 

The $6-7k includes losses. I paid $23,600 for my MC, and am probably going to get a trade value of around $19-20K. So between that and a $24k MCS, plus tax on the difference, it's going to be pretty substantial.

I did find out my insurance rates will be $16 more per month ($100 more every 6 months) than on my MC. My age didn't think there would be any change, and was rather surprised. I'm just glad they don't rank as a 'high performance' car (shows what they know!).

By the way, I didn't mention this about the blackout, but I'm not even going to have to pull the parts off my car to do it. The guy said he could do it while they're on there, and considering his background I believe him. He's the referral for all the auto body shops and dealers, not to mention school and fire districts, in the area.

 

Lol, fortunately my income is not my sole reliance. Yes I'm taking a loss, but personally I think it's worth it. And what I think is the most important part of this whole deal isn't it?

 

I never considered anything but an MCS, becasue I knew that would have serious regrets if bought a justacooper. Sure an MC is more thrifty and virtous, but I just had to have the power.

 

Ah okay, gotcha. Are you going for less options in the MCS then? Having just a $400 MSRP on it over the MC is a pretty good deal. Just unfortunate that you're taking such a hit on trade-in, especially with the MINI's high resale value. Also no fun having to pay taxes, title, license and other fees all over again.

One thing you may want to look into which can save you a couple bucks. I transferred the license from my previous (totaled) MCS to my new one. Only saved me about $80 if I remember correctly, but hey it's something. Also since I purchased two MINIs from the same dealer in a relatively short amount of time, they gave me a very nice deal on the second one.

Good deal on the insurance, that's not bad at all! Very sweet with the blackout as well. Never heard of anyone being able to put vinyl on without removing the pieces. So I take it that'll be the first mod on your MCS!?!

+1

 

Yeah, paying taxes again won't be fun (though I'm paying taxes on the difference, not the MSRP) - but I shouldn't complain. Aftrall, taxes pay my salary.

Thanks for the idea on transferring the license. I'll definitely ask about that. It's just too bad MINI doesn't have a frequent customer return policy! This'll be the third MINI I will have signed off on in the past two months - mine, my partner's, and now the MCS.

 

Well that's definitely good news that you 'only' have to pay on the difference.

Although MINI doesn't have a frequent customer policy, your dealer may very well have an informal one. Definitely worth asking about. Especially if you got all three from the same MA.

 

I have to ask--how many new cars have you had? I've had a number over the years, and the MINI seems to be about average in new-car defects. And that's not even accounting for the fact that it's a total redesign in its first year. If it's out-of-the-box reliability you want, you probably should have chosen a Japanese car; most of the rest of the world's cars just aren't as good in this department.

The things you've mentioned are really minor, and certainly wouldn't trigger the lemon laws of any state, AFAIK. And the dealer has to have a chance to fix them first, anyway. (You mentioned parking the car if the window doesn't go up--are you serious? I mean, this isn't exactly a call-for-a-towtruck sort of thing.)

As for the alignment--I seem to remember reading that alignments were only covered for a couple of thousand miles. Certainly they are driver-related wear/damage items, and I don't think anyone would warranty them. You might call first to check this out.

It's too bad you live so far from the dealer; unfortunately MINI doesn't seem to be interested in much dealer expansion, and steadfastly refuses to allow BMW dealers to work on them. There's a thread around here on NAM asking everyone to flood ASK-MINI with requests for this, citing the travel distances and times, and it's been a real joy to read MINI's response--nope, ain't gonna do it, etc.

 

Beating a dead horse.

Keep it.... sell it.... who cares!

chuck

 

Deb,

This is, admittedly, the first new car I've ever bought. Yeah, I could've bought a Toyota or Honda and probably would've gotten a really well built vehicle that comes off the line every 23s or so. However, I didn't want a Toyota or Honda, I wanted a MINI. And I love MINI cars. I was just a little worried about the innate problems with this one. You're completely correct, they're miniscule in the grand scheme of things. They were just my paranoia after having bought a brand spankin' new car. But hey, I'm going to trade him in for an even better MINI and enjoy the driving experience even more

 

Careful. I've had 8 cars in the past 3 years --- that's how caraholism starts...

 

 

Whew... Before the MINI, I had two cars in 9 years, both of which were certifiable p.o.s.'s ('94 Ford Tempo for the first one, '97 Ford Ranger for the last one). I would hardly call me a caraholic...yet...lol. But hey, on a teacher's salary, there's only so much I can stretch my budget, so I shouldn't have to worry about it too much! Besides, I can't really see myself driving anything but a MINI for quite some time.

 

Thank God that there is no cure for this problem

 

you show me a car that has no problems, and i'll show you a car that doesn't exist.....

even the most expensive a car i can think of the bugatti veyron has small issues...

 

Boy, you guys sure flip 'em (not literally, I hope). Our past few cars:

'64 Porsche 356 SC Sunroof Coupe, owned since '67, fully restored
'94 BMW 325i, bought '96, sold '07 @190,000 miles
'01 BMW 325 Coupe, picked up at factory (Munich), smushed '04
'01 BMW 530i, currently owned @ 90,000 miles
'07 MINI MCS current owned 15,000 miles



(Oh, and don't call us non-car people, it's our #1 hobby. Over the past 45 years we've owned such critters as Audis (2), BMWs (4), SAAB (1), Fiats (2), Peugeut (1), Porsches (2), Karmenn Ghia (1), Healey (1), Honda (1), Mazda (1), and a few unfortunate U.S. POSs. Probably forgetting something.)

 

There was a link on some forum (NAM?) to a newspaper article about a guy who'd owned a super something or other--as I recall, it cost about $250,000--and it had been in the shop most of the time he'd owned it. And he'd had it about 2 years! I think it was a Bugatti--we might be talking about the same car.

 

Ì have owned 9 cars in the past 8 or so years.

 

The Veyron (assuming we're referring to the 16.4) is over 6 times that cost. Although I would be curious to know what car the guy does have.