Has anyone out there actually bought a used, new shape Mini? I ask because at the 2(BMW) dealers whose ads I see ,even 2 year old ones cost more than new ones(yes even with 'extras').Surely there can't be a long waiting list now and if they are supposed to hold there value,you might as well buy a new one with 5 years warranty! Maybe thats why there's about 20 used ones sitting on their forecourts.
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Please could you quote some details of these vehicles, perhaps from the used car website - www.minicherished.co.uk I do not believe this to be the case anymore, sorry.
I had a MINI ONE. I got a good trade in for it but tried and failed to sell it privately. That was more than 2 years ago, I can only imagine values have softened further since then.
Many dealers now have LOADS of used MINIs, surely this has affected the values in comparison with a couple of years ago when they had 2 or 3.
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2.5 years ago my son bought a mini cooper - 6 mths old for £10,250 from BMW dealer.
Just traded it in to a Honda Civic and got £8,500. 38,000 mls and 3 years old - he only lost £1750 in 2.5 yrs - unbelievable!
So if the T/I value is £8,500 the SP must be well over £9,000
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Don't get me wrong,Minis seem a very nice car and seem good value when they are new, but the price of used ones are so close to to the cost of a new one(if not more, especially if you add in the cost of extra warranty to make it up to the equivalent of 5 years!)that I can't see why you wouldn't buy new.
Examples from Mini cherished;
Mini 1 (new £10995) 1 year old with pepper pack & a/c £12750
Mini diesel (£12295)1year old a/c metallic pnt. £14795
Mini 1 1 year old £10995 no extras
Mini 1 3 years old salt pack £9995
Local dealer in my town(its been there for months) mini 1 '51 plate,yellow,high mileage 3 month warranty yours for a bargain £9995!
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In a similar vein a major Sunday newspaper had an ad for an Audi A3 Sportback 2.0TDi SE DSG (it caught my eye as it's the same as mine and don't appear too often)- 15,000 miles - yours for £21,995. I paid less than this for a brand new one.
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Trade sales currently have a 2003 black Mini Cooper-S with 30k on the clock for £11k
Carse
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The BMW dealers do ask silly prices - but these are screen prices, it's in their interest to keep screen prices high to show potential new MINI buyers that the depreciation is very low
....maybe they will deal?
But also remember the new list price is seldom paid...........almost every MINI sold is spec'd up with loads of extras (eg ever seen one without alloys?)
most are sold with CD,alloys,a/c,sports seats,chrome grill, option packs, metalic, which can add over £2k - so most cars sold are actually sold at nearer 12.5K - 13K, Coopers even higher.
My wife bought a new Black MINI ONE in 2003, and added IMO only the absolute minimum options (a/c,basic alloys, chrome grill,sports seats, rev counter, & TLC all in servicing option ) and it still came in at £11800 (list was £10,300 then).
My opinion of the car (after nearly 3 years) is that it IS overated/priced - engine is harsh, and fuel economy is poor even when driven sedately, and it's not very practical, plus points are the handling,build quality (nothing ever broke/fallen off), and the fun factor, and by the look of it low depreciation !!..............SWMBO loves it though and will be keeping it - my efforts to persuade her to part ex against a new Leon fell on deaf ears !!
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Well done. You made a sensible choice by buying a new one!
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Jacks makes a good point. Most MINI's are bought at way more than list price because they come with only basic equipment. Stuff like air-con and alloys really bumps up the price.
Personally I think they are overrated. Engine is a bit rough, if you ask me. I drove a few hundred miles in one (in wet weather) and it had a nasty habit of the back stepping out unexpectedly. Defintely not comfortable over long distances either! Don't know if it was just the one I had, or if they are all like that.
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Mrs V, looked at MINI before choosing her Mx5, nearly 3 years ago, now.
Obviously even less around then, but when she added up the extras she'd have liked, it was £20k +. She didn't even test drive one, though, couldn't be caught up with the MINI Experience, hype.
The deal we eventually got on her Montana model, Mx5, even adding over £2200 extras to it, made buying used, not worthwhile.
There are lots more MINI & Mx5 in auction now, so the previous good residuals, of both of these cars, probably aint what it was!!
VB
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I've just looked at the Lind mini website and what do you know, the've reduced the price of many used Minis by £500-£2000. They must have read my previous posting!
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I looked at a Cooper S when I bought my Leon Cupra in Summer 03. By the time I'd specced it up, it was nudging £18k. The Leon was under £15k! Seemed like a no brainer, especially when I found the supercharger sound intrusive, the switchgear cheap and no room for golf clubs! The salesman was also arrogant and didn't call me back.
I can see the attraction, but they are overpriced, new and used.
Alex.
--
Dr Alex Mears
MG BGT 1971
If you are in a hole stop digging...unless
you are a miner.
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