[sony]

I have always loved A3's but now getting bored and love the looks of the minis.
I have a 56 plate A3 registered end of september 2006,23k miles, in immaculate condition (hardly any swirls) and wondered how much a mini dealership would offer. I have heard that Mini salesmen aren't particulary generous! I am after a fairly new mini if possible new shape. Would love a Cooper.
I have my car + £1k max as a budget. Thanks for your help!

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Oooh i'd definatly get rid of the A3 They are very dangerous cars them, they seem to have a magnetic attraction to MINIs and then cause damage!

Seriously

As for the MINI, you will probably find quite a few nice Coopers for your budget The new shape ones may be slightly more, but it depends what they will give you for your current car.

[minimeminime]

Your best bet would be to look at the GLASSES car pricing guide in order to get an idea of what the A3 is worth. Mini SYtner wont budge on negotiating part exchanges ! GOOD LOUCK

[sony]

£14800 seems to be the price based on excellent condition. But knowing main dealers they'll never give me that!!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Most dealers will base the trade in value of your Audi upon what they will sell it on for in the trade, rather than what you might consider its true value. With many makes this would be inflated by funds that you might otherwise have expected as discount if you had bought the car without any trade in. As discounts on new MINIs are small (they used to be non-existant) then the trade in value of your car won't be inflated in this way. If you don't believe me, go and ask a Citroen dealer what the trade in value of your Audi would be against a top spec C5! (But whatever you do, don't do the deal! )

Your only sensible option to get a good price is to try and sell your Audi privately; no simple thing for a car of high value though. No one really likes paying £14,800 on someone's driveway, with little in the way of come back if it all goes wrong

Tigger.

[sony]

Mini dealer offered £12k!!! the cheek!!!!! On the other hand tried the Cooper S and my god I love it. I just need it in my life!!
How am I going to sell my car privately!!!! It'll take ages!

[stefanbates]

Quote: Originally Posted by sony (original)

Mini dealer offered £12k!!! the cheek!!!!! On the other hand tried the Cooper S and my god I love it. I just need it in my life!!
How am I going to sell my car privately!!!! It'll take ages!

I have a Cooper S - I know what you mean 2nd best car I ever bought.

In my own experience you can do well selling privately around the £8k mark or less. Above that and I think people see the deal as a bit too much of a risk. Sorry, that doesn't help, but I have sold cars privately by using contacts at work, friends of friends, family etc. I once sold an A4 above book price to a friend of a friend because it was 1 owner from new, waxed six times a year etc. You don't always have to sell through Autotrader.

Alternatively, 12k is probably a fair trade price. If you can't sell the A3 privately, £12k will get you a nice MCS or MC. Eg.

MCS with only 11,500 miles:

MINI Cherished - MINI details

MC on an '06 plate:

MINI Cherished - MINI details

Good hunting!