Now that MINI has scrapped new Roadster production (shame!), I'm scouring the used car markets to find an "upgrade" from my Coupe. No rush. It'll come when it comes.

I did find an interesting one. However, its CarFax says that the dealer that's selling it obtained it through an auction, rather than, say, a trade-in. Does this acquisition method raise any red flags? Does it mean that the dealer likely paid less or more than if they got it through a trade-in? The dealer where it's being sold not being a MINI dealer, are there other things I should be aware of?

 

There are a lot of reasons why cars go on auction so that alone doesn't mean much.
Usually the dealers like to ****** those because they can get it for a low cost and have the man power to fix it or refresh the worn items at little cost, and in the end make a decent profite while providing a warranty on the car to make it appealing to the buyer.

I would think the main thing you want to watch out for in an auction is if it is listed as a salvaged title. That usually means something is wrong with the car that the insurance determine it would be more expensive to fix than to replace the vehicle, and thus label the car as totaled. Then if the car is not completely totaled, someone can then purchase the car and fix it so it regains a drivable status.

 

A lot of times it's a dealer putting a car up for auction because it was taken in trade but is not going to sell off of his lot. Our local Ford dealer sold mostly PU trucks and 'off brand' cars went to auction. Good news for the buying dealer and selling dealer got his value.

 

No telling as to why it went to auction, there are many reasons as to why but not all of them would be a concern. But with respect to a MINI dealer buying them at auction. They do scoop them up to augment their used car inventory if low and as previously stated, more $ made in selling used than new.

 

Best thing to do is to look at a carfax and try to figure out where it was originally sold, where it was licensed and might be able to track down some service records. If you get the Vin, you can always call the original dealership and maybe find out maintenance history if it's available there.

There are places where certain cars will not sell well. Dealers auction them off and the cars usually end up in a market where the sale will be more probable. Cars are sold at auction all the time. So, before any used car purchase... do the homework to find out as much as you can about the car if the paper trail is there.

 

I agree, do your research on it. I have a family member that has access to dealer auctions due to his job and we've found some good ones at them. I've had a few friends purchase vehicles through auction without any issues. Ended up being super good finds/buys.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the insights. I wonder if a dealer can get a "better" deal by obtaining inventory through an auction, and if so, if they would be willing to be more flexible in their price.

I'd never buy a car that showed as salvage, no matter what shape it appeared to be in.

Not sure I'd want an orange one, but this just popped up in my research: http://www.audiofoakland.com/used/MI...6ade8536ea.htm

Claims to be "leatherette" seats, but they sure look to be one of the leather versions to me.

 

You're right about the seats... Leather. Lounge Seats I think they're called, black with white piping. That orange is very nice with the silver conical wheels. I'd like to see an orange Roadster with the silver stripes instead of black, just to see what it would look like. That's a nice Roadster.

 

Being sold at auction might raise some red flags but that in itself wouldn't stop me from buying a car that otherwise checked out well.

 

From my previous experience in the auto sales business. A dealer "can" get a better price on cars that run thru the auction. If he / she is educated on the current market value of particular cars and they bid accordingly.... yea it does happen quite often. I personally wouldn't bid a car more than 2-3 hundred over average book. Book being "Black Book" auction values. You do need to know your market though..

And yes, if they bought the car at the right money. They should be able to wiggle a bit more on an auction car compared to a trade-in that they (the dealer)sometimes bury themselves in to make a deal.

Bottom line imo, don't be afraid of an auction car. Sooner or later they all end up at auction.

Best of luck,

Sean

 

Whats the auctions, get the VIN , call the dealership and have them run the service history, see whats been done and any outstanding TSB or services. Just do the homework on the car and see what they find. You should be fine , if everything else checks out.

 

Probably 95%+ of all used (pre-owned) cars are run through auctions. I wouldn't worry about that in the least. Do your research & have any car checked out mechanically, etc. Even new cars aren't without faults sometimes!

Enjoy your search...the "hunt" is half the fun! ;-)

John

 

is it possible for you to boy in Germany and import to the States? Here in Munich @BMW/MINI Group you find every week 3 or 5 new Roadster's. The price depends Building Year 2012, 30.000km round about € 20.000......
heres is the link http://www.mini.de/used_cars/mini_ge...che/index.html

his model http://www.mini.de/used_cars/mini_ge...che/index.html
is a car from an employee from the BMW Group.

how big are the cost to import a car from Europe? including taxes and shipping. or maybe someone has a friend at the Army who is now in Germany on duty.....

 

Anyone have and ideas on how low a dealer, especially a non-MINI/BMW dealer, will drop the price on a used model before they just send it out for auction? I'm trying to figure out if there's a sweet spot where I could swoop in an grab it at the best price.

 

Make them an offer!! Doesn't cost anything... and you might be surprised at the answer. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. Walk away if they don't meet you at a good reasonable price. Tell 'em you tried, and to call you when they want to seriously sell the car. Be nice, but be firm. Sometimes that will work and they will meet you at a better price. More than once I've walked out and about the time I get in my car, the sales person or manager will come running out and agree to the deal. Last week of the month works pretty good, too.

They'll usually send it off to auction if their market area is not right for the car and it has been sitting on the lot a long time.

 

What's interesting is that it hasn't been sitting on their lot for a "long time" at all. There's a JCW up in Portland that's been sitting in the BMW dealer lot for 2 months and the price hasn't budged. But this one has been there for only about 2 weeks and the price seems to be dropping $4-500 every few days. But I also bet if I offered 'em a flat $18K that they'd wildly offer to underpay my trade-in Coupe......

 

Trading in is usually a bad deal. Sell it yourself. Way better.