Spending $20k on a new car over 4 years to avoid possibly paying $7k in repairs is accepting a $13k loss for what could be nothing. It would be more sensible for someone in that position keep the car and set aside the money they're saving by no longer making payments. If nothing happens, they've still got their money rather than a new depreciating asset. If something happens, they've got money for the repairs. By your figures, they'd have a $7000 reserve within 10 months if they saved the proposed $700/month car payment, more than enough to cover the worst-case scenario repair. In 4 years,if nothing happened, they'd have an 8-year old Mini - and $33,600 in the bank ($26,600 if they'd spend that seven grand on repairs).

Even if they didn't have all the money, put the repairs on a credit card and paying the smaller amount over time would be less expensive than financing a new car.

 

Just had two compliments this weekend from an auto place I went to buy oil from, his comment was, "Damn, you drive that? Those things are wicked!", and another comment somewhere else that this guy said, "Those are nice cars, super fast!". I laughed at the last one but said, "Yeah, she's quick." But with comments and the smile my car puts on my face, I can't resist her charming and mean look

 

That is exactly why I own more shares of Apple than MannKind. You should really look into a Camry.

 

Just saw this, the blurb nails all my complaints.

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]http://editorial.autos.msn.com/10-used-cars-to-avoid#8[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

My sentiments exactly... Must be an American thing, fun,fun,fun, regardless of cost. Boy, BMW saw us coming...

 

There's something about this continual dead horse kicking that puts me in mind of political advertising. I'm beginning to wonder if the loudest complainers aren't salesmen for a Smart car dealership doing their best to discourage MINI ownership.

 

You're on a forum where probably 70% of posters only post problems too. I havent had one problem that I didnt bring on myself.

 

yup

 

I'm trading in my 2000 Ford Focus for a new MINI arriving next week. I babied my Focus since buying it new and still, everything failed and had to be replaced. Door locks, ignition, starter, ball joints, tires, air conditioning, keyless remote module, you name it. Mechanics pointed out the cheap plastic used in many of the parts lead to failure, and it seems to be the same story in all modern cars. Anyone pointing out a car like my MINI as a bad purchase, I just ignore. I have years of experience calling tow trucks and forking out a fortune to repair a Focus. I always wanted a MINI and when I asked Fred (a tow truck driver I got to know really well) what cars he's never towed, first thing he said was "I never towed a MINI."
That's all I needed to know

 

Don't you need to flatbed a MINI? If Fred doesn't drive a flatbed, that could be why

In any case, like a poster above said, I haven't had any problems I didn't cause myself (or that were caused by inattentive drivers...) and so far the MINI has been really good to me.

 

No, the mini can be towed with the front wheels lifted, my tow truck guy has both vehicles, my focus has been towed on both of them.

I also ask local MINI owners I run into about their maintenance issues, they all rave about the local BMW service department, and not a single owner I've come across had a single negative thing to say about their experiences with their MINI. So, researching my area led me to choose a MINI, and I have no regrets buying one

 

I have owned my MINI for a year and a half an it still puts a smile on my face every time I push the Start button. I've never experienced that with any other car.

 

Ya, your math reminds me of a politicians. It sounds good when you hear it. When the calculator comes out, it's a different story. Lol... Posts like this are why I hate the internet sometimes.

No kidding!

 

I'm open to you explaining my mathematical errors - go ahead.

 

Apologize in advance for the long winded response.

About a decade ago I had a 1957 VW Bug. A real joy to drive, and very often something which people love striking up a conversation about. Most of these old timers would tell me something like: "I used to have one, I miss it. I really wish I still had it" .

Living in the city my wife had gotten in a accident in her car, and I realized that if that had been me in my bug, my head would have been impaled through the steering column. A few weeks later my bug was stolen.

So, being the practical person I am I bought a 1992 Honda Accord for $3000. For 5 years I didn't have to maintain it AT ALL. It was transportation, the height of boredom of a drive. Oil changes, 70K miles later and a few weeks ago it got stolen.

I sat at home trying to figure out my next move. I missed having a fun ride, and I couldn't imagine driving a bug in the city with the possibility of certain death sooner or later. To me, there is no car out there that is nearly as fun, as beautiful and as safe as a MC/MCS. For me, looking at all the other vehicles on the road, they're all the same. Terribly same and boring designs. At this point, most of the car designers are on autopilot, too worried about aerodynamics, mass marketability and whatnot. Nothing special about one of them. To me, this is vehicle is very different.

MINI Coop is the new (old style) VW Bug. I get so giddy and excited to drive every day. Best car I've ever owned, and could not imagine driving anything else at this point. If something breaks, I'll beg, borrow and steal to fix it.

TDLR;: My cars got stolen, MINI seemed like the only fun and safe choice.

PS: My car has almost every security measure at this point (except The Club ), if it gets stolen again, and it doesn't get recovered, it won't be for not trying to prevent it.

 

Totally agree with that one! Once I told friends I ordered a MINI, they keep giving me daily reports - running to me, all excited, they yell stuff like, "Hey I saw 2 MINIs today, one red, one yellow!" or "I followed one to work today! Mean looking black and white one with stripes!" It makes me wonder if no one ever paid attention to MINIs on the road all these years, or if suddenly they're selling like hotcakes

As we walk by cars in a parking lot, my girlfriend has a habit of saying out loud 'that car is ugly' or 'who would want to buy a car like that?' and this all started when I ordered the MINI. I have to keep watch that car owners don't hear my girlfriend's comments. I tell her to zip it, but she always quips 'But it's true! Look at it! It's shaped like a box/electric shaver/hearse/whatever!'

I hate to admit it, but I stare at cars when I'm at red lights. I think the same things that my girlfriend says out loud, and I feel kind of bad. Then I see a MINI pass by, and instantly forget being bad, and I just admire how nice the MINI looks on the road!

 

Couldn't have said it better!!! No offense to other cars but its repetitive and when I see a MINI I just wave.