Hi Markymc,
I bought a used Cooper S convertible for my wife in December last year.
Mu budget was a bit lower, and we managed to find a good spec car with all the extras with less than 8k on the clock and 18mths old and paid about £11,200
It was originally on the forecourt for just under 13k.
My advice, is if your after a main dealer supply, go on the Mini website and set your search parameters for national, and your maximum price. Then have a look at the spec, age and mileage of the first full page.
Then set the maximum to 2,500 above your actual budget and look what is there. Refine the search until you have 3 that you like the colour spec etc.
Remember they will all have to have road tax added.
I would then speak to the dealer offering less than your maximum on the 3 that were above your maximum. Be cool, be calm, tell them you have 2 others to look at and leave it with them for a week if they don't bite your hand off! If they say "can't do" still leave it with them for a week or two.
If they come back quickly and say yes, tell them it is not quite the right spec, look to get some add ons, be aware of insurances and the like, go for goods and servicing, i,e. wind deflector,
JCW upgrades, stuff like that.
Be prepared to travel, I bought ours from Park Lane whilst I live in Warwickshire, train ride to London was only £25 and I had fun driving back!!!!
Another tip is to avoid part exchange if possible, if not, leave it out of the deal until you have agreed a price reduction on the car. When your speaking to other dealers, get them to advise how much they would provide for p-ex, I guarantee you it will be rock bottom and you may be better off selling privately. Our pex was offered at a grand, but markets for about £1,800!!! Mind it is still on the drive if anyone wants a Shogun Pinin!!!!
In reality my view is that anything less than 2 years old and less than 15k is as good as new, the build quality is consistently good on Mini's. You might find yourself a better bargain doing the shop around and taking your time, not a lot is shifting and it is a matter of finding what you want at the right time. The dealers also know its a buyers market and their professional enough not to make an unaffordable loss, so use your buying power wisely, don't buy on emotion, buy on what you want. THe big tip is patience, I started looking in September but did not make contact until November, the car I had seen in October!!!! It took me two weeks and in the end the sales guy asked me what I would pay, and the deal was struck!!
Just the way I do things, not saying its right or wrong, I was happy with the deal, that was the important thing, perhaps someone could have shaved a bit more off, maybe not, the point was to me, it was value for money.
By the way, they are really nice cars!!!!!!!!!!! Pics of mine in the "detailing" threads.........
Good luck do let us know how you get on,
Gaz
