A little advice needed please from those whom have updated their Mini's to the 2nd Gen.

We currently own a fully loaded (all packages) 2005 R50 (CVT) with only 12,700 miles. I now have the opportunity to sell it for $20,000.

Question: 1) Would you be inclined to sell and upgrade to the 2nd Generation of Mini Cooper (2008)?

2) Would you wait for the 09's if "yes" to question 1?

I test drove a new 2008 Mini (an S but I believe I will get the non-s) and really like some of the improvements such as the French Engine, the Japanese Automatic, and the decreased center column size. The new radio form is questionable but I believe I could get use to it. The NEW STRUT design seems to be an improvement.

Economics 101 - We currently owe a little less than $13K. We configured a new one for approximately $23, 500. Extended warranty on our current Mini will cost approximately $1500 next June 09. Interest Rates currently at 4.99% at our credit union with Credit Life. Taking the $7000 "profit" from the sale of our old Mini and putting it down on the new leaves you with a loan of $17,000 (approx). (not including sales tax).

I guess what I'm asking is the 2nd Gen Mini worth an Extra $4000 dollars? We love our current Mini but find a Brazilian engine and a Belgium transmission a bit of a concern in the long term ....not to mention other possible improvements.

Regards and TIA

 

I would do it. Peace of mind for possible repairs in near future with new vehicle and added benefits of improved vehicle. The 2008 seems to be perfect now but with the way they are selling you may not be able to get a production slot until 09 model year. From what I have read the 09's are not very different. Exception being the convertible and factory works edition.
Also, I know local dealer in NJ has no stock on lot and are only taking orders. I saw in a previous thread that a dealer actually approached the customer about selling them their Mini so they have some on the lot. Apparently offering top $ for it also. I think you are in a great position.
Best of luck whatever you decide.

 

as someone who has upgraded from r53 to r56 i definatly enjoy the r56 more ,i went from supercharged mini to turbo and love it but since your thinking on a non-s id look at gas milage since your not worried about power the 07+ does get better gas milage and has a slightly different look and feel id upgrade if i were you. and as far as waiting for 09 model, i dont think it has changed any from the 07 or 08 so an 08 would work cause you gave the mini a year to work out problems thats wat i did and have heard alot less problems with 08 than 07

good luck in your decision hope i was of some help

 

What'd you pay for the R50? You outta get 75% of that you paid for it with that low of mileage in this climate. If so I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

Thanks for all your input.

The MSRP on my Mini was $23,520 plus tax in June of 2005. The car is listed on Cars.com and Autotrader.com if you care to look. 2005 $19995 with 12,700 miles Blue Mini Symbol used as main picture.

I've recieved MANY calls over the last several months but have not had the nerve to "move" on it until now. I hate to miss the prime selling season here in Ohio. The Cooper S demo I drive at Classic Mini was very nice.

Thanks again.......any further input is more than welcome.

BTW.....I am told there would be a 12 week wait at Classic Mini. Midwest Auto Group in Dublin Ohio informed me that there is a "few slots left" with only an 8 to 10 week wait.

Conversation about "open slots" is new to me . It actually made me wonder what sales person is telling me the "truth" about delivery time.

TIA,
Jeff

 

We traded our 04 CVT Cooper for an 08 Cooper automatic. In almost all areas the R56 is superior and we would do it again.

Also, the CVT durability is suspect and a replacement out of warranty is roughly 8k. That was a major reason for us to change as we were extremely happy with our 04 otherwise.

 

I sold my '06 MC in the private marketplace and put in an order for an '08 MCS. My payment is actually lower on the '08 because the '06 had such a good residual - and my '08 has way more options.

In this environment it can be a win-win situation for you and whoever buys your original MINI!

 

Definitely, sell yours for $20,000 and buy the R56 :-) Go for it.

 

i would keep and upgrade if the car still runs like new

 

My sister just did the same thing you are thinking about. She got me into mini's. She had a 2005 non-s mini and jumped into a 2008 mini s about 5 months ago. I'm just arrived at the dealer. She says it was the best decision's she has made in awhile

 

If you have not yet driven an R56 - try it. IMHO there is a world of difference and I would go for the '08. If fact since you can get $20K for yours have you considered a gently used '07 - probably get a good one for $20k

 

YES, it's that simple...

 

Most definitely. I just traded in my '03 on an '08 and I just love the r56.

 

no doubts at all, except it'll be an 09

 

From my understanding, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, is that each dealership has a certain allowance of vehicles within each production week (or whatever time allotment). It may very well be that Classic MINI has filled orders for all of their slots further into the future than MAG has. When I placed my order at MAG, they were spot on to the day when my MINI started production.

 

Having gone from an '05 cabrio to an '06 cabrio to an '08 coupe all within the last 4 months, I can say yes, the R56 is GREAT.

I love the turbo, love changes and smoothness of the R56.

And though you have low miles, you're getting a great price on the car and it would allow you to start over fresh.

I say go for it.

Good luck,

Mark

 

That's my understanding as well. When I put my order in for an MCS at Classic MINI at the end of June my MA mentioned that the Clubman slots were pushing towards October. In fact, every car coming into the dealership at that point had already been sold - no spec cars. I believe they're now down to one MCS in inventory and that's it.

I don't have anything to back this up, but I read before than not all dealerships are created equal - some may have more production slots per month than others...

 

Simple economics... if you can get a legit $20K for an '05 R50... run, don't walk...

 

Yes.

We've done it twice now. We swapped an 04 MC for an 07 MC and an 05 MCS for an 08 MCS. We swapped the 04 because we could finally get a 6 Speed MC, which is what we would have liked to get in the first place. Once we did that we worked out that the R56 was better in a lot of subtle ways, inlcuding handling and fuel economy. Quite a neat trick I though as the R50 was a pretty bloody good car.

Once we'd got one R56, swapping the MCS started to sound like a good idea, not least because the control feel is totally different between the two, and swapping between them gets really confusing.

Probably not. We always tended to get late model year cars, and I'm a bit suspicious of first of the model year cars.