In August I took delivery of one of the first 2012 Clubmans available. Custom built for me Ice Blue with Black Trim and Black Rims. Cooper S of course.

Since I bought the car in August I put 12000 miles on it. I love this car so much. Before that I had a Lexus IS250 AWD and loved it to death.... until the Clubman came around. Way more fun.

On Friday had nothing better to do so I went to see my awesome MA and we test drive a Roadster S. Holy ****....... I need one. I need one bad.

All weekend I have been thinking about this trying to justify and work out the pricing.

The Roadster I want is the JCW Roadster. All Black with Red. (the one that is on Mini USA with Red Lounge Leather). Total config price is well over 46K.

Am I crazy? Is anyone else out there thinking about trading their near new Minis in for a Roadster or am I the only crazy one.

I am getting my Clubman assessed today and if the trade value is there.... I will probably do it.

Help me out... talk me down.

 

LOL, your not crazy at all! When I saw the Roadster Concept I knew I wanted one then. When the production vehicles broke cover, I was all in This is a very intriguing vehicle...beautiful English Roadster, BMW DNA and Mini culture mixed just right. You reacted to it just like the rest of us who have/are standing in line to get one. It just sucks it might be hard on the pocket book with trading your Clubman. Press your dealer hard for a good trade in

-Steven

 

You'll get no help talking you out of this from me. Maybe your financial advisor would want to chime in about depreciating assets and so forth. .

The Roadsters are certainly compelling...and a JCW to boot.

If you have the financials under control to your satisfaction, then: you only live once, get what you like.

I don't even attempt to explain my MINI to family/friends..."wait, it's the same size as a Yaris, but it costs how much?". Come look at it. Let's go for a ride. "Oh. But still...if you just wanted x,y,z, you coulda got a <something else>". But I didn't "just want" or "just need"...I developed the "itch".

If you want a MINI, nothing else will do. If you want a *special* MINI...it's the same craving, and more highly focused!

 

You are not crazy. MINI makes a lot of nice cars, and few mortals can own them all. I'm intentionally refusing to drive any 2nd generation or newer car because I'll probably be in the same boat as you, and this is supposed to be my cheap, paid for transportation, so a more expensive car is NOT in my budget. Best of luck in making your decision, and please show photos of the new Coupe when you get it....

 

I say go for it,however for me i cannot purchase a car for that kind of money.Even if money were not a consideration,the paint chips the same as a less expensive car.I have built a JCW Coupe for 34.000 and will order this fall after the new engine has been brought on line.Q

 

2 other 2012 Mini owners (one Clubman, one Countryman) traded their in on a JCW Coupe within 6 months. I think both were in for service and test drove one while waiting and BAM! They posted on the Coupe forum. One traded his and the other sold privately, and I think they both bought right off the lot. To be perfectly honest I have deliberately avoided driving a JCW for that reason: I'm afraid I'll buy one. My (sort of) goal is to wait for the new F56 next year. We'll see how that works. But for the OP I say: GO FOR IT DUDE!

 

I'll try and help you out. Everyone keeps saying "go for it" but I'm going to be the voice of reason (thought I would LOVE to buy a Roadster).

1) Are you prepared and finically able to take a >$10,000 depreciation hit (imagine flushing $100 bills down the to toilet for a couple of hours) going from a 2012 to a 2012 car?

2) It's almost time for the 2013 (why MINI didn't make the Roadster a 2013 is strange, though it may be related to 3) ) so you will still have a 2012 model car after buying another new car.

3) MINI is about to start a complete model change over (starting with the Hardtop next year) and the Roadster is likely to be replaced with a new model in 2 to 4 years (just about the right time for a "normal" trade in time for you).

DOIN"T make a "fever" induced decision you could very will regret in just a few short weeks. take some aspirin and time and really think it over.

 

But just think about all those days that will pass in which you could be sporting around with the top down

 

Yah, I miss the days when you only had 2 choices... Hmmmm. Do I want a Cooper... Or do I want a Cooper S....

 

Do you live in a part of the country where you can take advantage of a convertible, or is this a three month car for you?

I think $46K for any car is ridiculous, but that's just me....

 

So there was only one choice then...

 

Update: Went to MINI in Minneapolis. Trade in value so far.... not so hot. On my 33500 Mini that I bought in August is now only worth 23K on trade..... WTF?

My MA is going to work for me to see if she can get the price up a bit.

I think this dream may be ending soon.

I did drive the Roadster again (just an S) &I gotta say. I LOVE THIS CAR!!!!

Cant believe how much a difference it is.

Julien321... Nailed it!

So sad!

If I can get 28K I will do it... if not.... its gonna be a tough sell to my wife.

 

Here's how I make these kind of decisions. I take a tape measure, and pull out 74" of tape (the average life span of the American male). Then, I put my finger on the 71" mark (my age). Then I can see, according to averages, how long I've lived, and how long I have left. Where do I order?
Dave

 

LOL, I like your thinking!!!

 

You'll like my thinking even more then. I've had the paddles at least once, I'm already off the end of my tape measure, so what's the sense in waiting?

 

The dealer will always lowball the trade. That's 68%, real low. You want about 85%, which can be had. You've got some excess miles on your car, but because there are like zero 2012 Minis on the market, and a private buyer saves over $2k in sales tax I think you could sell it quick for $28k. The dealer may not go that high because they have to charge tax, and make a predetermined margin on a trade, but they'll come up.

 

Wow Dave.....that certainly puts it into perspective. Bravo

-Steven

 

That little trick has worked with the wife on many motorcycle purchases. It really is an awakening when you see your life stated in that manner. However, I'm intending to skew the averages.

 

No matter how you slice it, you're going to take a hit trading back to the dealer. If you're heart is set on the roadster and you can be a little patient, you're better off selling to a private buyer. You'll get closer to the price you want and, because it will likely take a little longer to sell, will give you a little more time to consider if this is what you truly want (i.e. reduce the emotional aspect of the purchase of the roadster). If you financed your clubman, it will of course cause a real hit to your pocketbook selling to a private buyer as you'll have to payoff the loan and cover the balance. Again, taking this real loss (rather than just rolling the loss into the new finance such as through the dealer can be tempting) will further help you consider if the roadster is really what you want.

If all of this just isn't a consideration for you, I still recommend selling to a private buyer (regardless it is your money afterall). Overall, you would, in the end, spent less for the roadster than simply trading to the dealer. To put it into perspective, if you spent $33.5k and you decided to take the $23k trade, you lost $10,500. For argument sake, let's say the roadster was $45k (let's forget about finance fees, tax, and other fees). Then you actually spent $55.5k for it taking the loss into account. Sell for $28k and you lose $5500, for a total roadster cost of $50.5k. Sell to a private buyer and you might just get $30k, for a loss of $3,500, translating to $48.5k. Your money of course, but something to consider. My opinion is why spend more than you have to?

 

How will that $10k hit effect your lifespan when your wife finds out?

I've thought about trading "up" to an R56S or an R53 more than once, but I have a lot into my car. I've found I only consider getting rid of her for something faster/newer when I'm NOT driving her. If your car still satisfies you when you're in it, OP, reconsider getting something "newer" and losing so much. There's always something shinier, newer, faster, bigger, better... if you keep chasing something better, you'll never enjoy what you've got.

 

LOL!! Not to mention increased health care costs for a chiropractor for all of the couch time you'll be doing!

 

This dream is over. Dealership will only do 24K.

I dont have the time to private sell.... you guys all miss that it takes a lot of time and effort to sell on your own.

In a few years I will buy the 3G Roadster and be super happy again (normal time progression) with mini.

 

funny thats what we said about the clubman, as i needed commuter car and fell in love with an online ad for roadster, went to the dealership and my fiance fell for the clubman. we're your exact opposite roadster now clubman in a year or two. we are hoping they will introduce the clubman D in us by the time we are ready

 

I didn't miss... that was one of my first points exactly. It would take more time and effort to sell which would in turn give you further time to consider. If you "don't have the time" for a private sell and therefore don't have time to consider, that kind of helps your decision process right along.... the decision would have likely been a bad one. On the positive side, you get to enjoy your clubman and keep your money in your pocketbook possibly for what will come in the future when you might just REALLY fall in love with a newer roadster model rather than the 2012.

In the meantime - happy motoring!!!