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View Full Version : Is this a good deal?


Car54
09-07-2008, 08:48 PM
My wife and I are looking at a 2005 Mini Cooper, Red/White with 43k on the clock.


Ad: S Model Loaded with Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather Packages and in Great Condition!!!

Chili Red with White Top
Approx. 42,500 Miles

Engineering and Safety
-6-Speed Manual Transmission
-Sport Suspension with Front and Rear Anti-Roll Bars
-17" Alloy Wheels
-Driver and Front Passenger Airbags
-Driver and Front Passenger Seat-Mounted, Side-Impact Airbags
-Advanced Head Protection System
-6-Way Adjustable Sport Seats with Driver and Passenger Heigh Adjustment
-Center-Mounted Speedometer
-Anti-Lock Braking System
-Flat Tire Monitor
-Side-Impact Door Beams
-Rear Spoiler
-Center-Mounted Twin Tailpipes

Comfort and Convenience
-Premium Package: Multifunction Steering Wheel with Cruise Control, Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof, Automatic Air Conditioning, On-Board Computer
-Sport Package: Dynamic Stability Control, Front Fog Lamps, Xenon Headlights with Headlamp Power Wash
-Cold Weather Package: Heated Washer Jets, Heated Mirrors, Heated Front Seats
-Remote Keyless Entry
-Speed-Sensitive Intermittent Winshiled Wipers
-Split Fold Down Rear Seats for Expandable Cargo Space
-3-Spoke Leather Steering Wheel
-MP3 CD Player

The bad stuff that's not in the ad is:

Tires are all the wrong size (205/40/17) and one has a gouge and bubble
Rear bumper has dings
Rt Door has been repainted - crappy
chips in the hood and roof
curbed wheels
needs brakes soon
power steering looks to be leaking (warranty)


We are negotiation around $17k and we're back and forth over a couple hundred. My wife really wants white so she's not in love and I'm telling her this is a really good deal.

What do you guys think?
ScottinBend
09-09-2008, 07:49 PM
I would have it checked out at the MINI dealership if possible. Otherwise it sounds like a decent deal, provided they make good on the problems.
Epik
09-09-2008, 08:22 PM
Looks ok. But yeah I would try and get it check out first.
Car54
09-09-2008, 09:11 PM
We bought it tonight...it's still under warranty so hopefully any little bugs should be no problem.
tenfifteen
09-12-2008, 05:49 PM
Craig... what'd you end up snagging it at if you don't mind me asking? Seems awful high for the condition. Sorry I didn't see this sooner.
Car54
09-15-2008, 03:51 PM
$16,750....I don't think we could have found a better deal...the car, other than the cons I mentioned, is in really great shape. The interior is like brand new....maybe we'll bring it out to the next NCC autocross.

BTW, it's pretty dead around here...is NAM the best Mini site?
tenfifteen
09-17-2008, 05:37 AM
$16,750 isn't too bad I suppose. It does have the options you'd want, and the '05/'06 are the way to go in R53.

NAM is great in limited doses. There's a large contingent of crazy (no, really) people who name their cars. Not like "the Blue Bomber" or a title, but like... Sally, Tom, Winston. Lots of great info there though. Easily the best Mini site imho.
catseye
09-18-2008, 05:21 PM
$16,750 isn't too bad I suppose. It does have the options you'd want, and the '05/'06 are the way to go in R53.

NAM is great in limited doses. There's a large contingent of crazy (no, really) people who name their cars. Not like "the Blue Bomber" or a title, but like... Sally, Tom, Winston. Lots of great info there though. Easily the best Mini site imho.
haha I can't really get into the naming of my mini like it is a pet or kid, either...I've heard of birthday parties and such.....whatever floats your boat, I guess...

Our local club has been pretty good, I spend more time on that site than NAM, and I got to meet a few DC people at the Dragon, seemed nice. Here is their site:

http://dcmetrominis.org/

Enjoy your car, but try not to determine it's sex...:rolleyes
Brad5161
09-21-2008, 01:08 AM
My wife and I have come up with fairly unimaginative names for our cars. We call the Mini "the Mini", the Fiat "the Fiat". Call the two Hondas by their model names ("the Honda" wouldn't work) and the Z3 Coupe is the BMW while the Miata is the Miata. Rarely have any confusion remembering their names. Amazing.
catseye
09-25-2008, 10:15 AM
I figure if it's not going to come when you call it, it doesn't need a name.
exdes
09-28-2008, 06:07 PM
Should have kept my Mini. I sold my 05 with all options with 25K miles for $18.5K last year. This year most of them are going for over 20K.
Car54
09-28-2008, 06:25 PM
That was way cheap!
TheOtherGuy
09-29-2008, 12:47 AM
i paid 18.9k for mine 05 MCS with 36k so id say you got a pretty good deal. my paint is also pretty bad but its a great running car but with no options other than electric blue paint haha, i got the window sticker with it at purchase.

edit: wow i didnt realize ive never posted on this site until now. i am the ultimate lurker.
MrBlah
09-29-2008, 07:53 AM
19k ? a brand new one is not much more unless you load them all up
Car54
09-29-2008, 07:57 AM
My wife's used '05 stickered for $24k with a decent amount of options. Here's some pics:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/gspot35_photo/Mini%20Cooper/IMG_5313.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/gspot35_photo/Mini%20Cooper/IMG_5302.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/gspot35_photo/Mini%20Cooper/IMG_5306.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/gspot35_photo/Mini%20Cooper/IMG_5311.jpg
catseye
10-03-2008, 04:37 PM
very nice...

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/gspot35_photo/Mini%20Cooper/IMG_5306.jpg

oh, hey, look! There's a MINI in the pic......;)
oreoboreo
10-05-2008, 11:05 AM
Hot looking car, I was thinking about a Mini for my Airport car. BTW Hot looking wife as well! Hope I am not out out of bounds, Car guys appreciate great looking Cars and of course co-pilots