[shkeller55]

I just made a deal to buy a used S I drove Saturday. It's Chili Red with White roof/mirrors, leatherette, 17" alloys, DSC, and the premium, sport and cold weather packages. Just about everything but leather, the Harmon Kardon stereo and NAV (it does have Xenons). It has 8,000 miles on it and is in great shape. The owner's selling it to pay for a restoration to another (non-Mini) car and of course has mixed emotions about selling it.

My 16-year-old son and his friends are excited (as am I of course). It'll be my car but I do plan to let him drive it.

Now where's that Moss Motors Mini catalog I had lying around....

[Squidly]

Congratulations.... You are going to love it!

[Paul]

For you..

and for your son...

[shkeller55]

Thanks guys, and you're very perceptive Paul - my son is indeed smiling bigger than me!

[tomskilv]

What did you pay for it? Did you pay less than 118% over MRSP? Everyone seems to think used minis sell for 118% over msrp. Thanks.

[thegrommit]

Benefit of buying used = no break in period

[Spy Car]

Congradulations!

You and your son have a lot of fun in store for you. Enjoy

[shkeller55]

Quote:

Originally posted by tomskilv
What did you pay for it? Did you pay less than 118% over MRSP? Everyone seems to think used minis sell for 118% over msrp. Thanks.

I'm paying less than an equally-equipped 2003 model would list for. Once I take possession (Wednesday) I'll have the owner's original window sticker so I can calculate the exact percentage reduction below the 2002 price. I went to Edmunds' web site to calculate its worth, offered the owner that, then we compromised a little higher due to its extra-pristine condition. The Carfax report was clean and I couldn't see that the car had ever been damaged.

Edmunds gives you a lower price for a private-party sale since there is no dealer inspection/certification available (of course in this case the car's still in warranty). I just used it as a guideline though, not the final word, since they couldn't evaluate this specific car. Also, Edmunds deducted $39 from the value as a "regional adjustment." Wonder where that came from; maybe their baseline is value in California or something.

Yes, I get the advantage of having it already broken in; that's a plus. And he's had the few initial quality problems like the rattling rear hatch and squeaky seat fixed, had the coolant leak fixed, and he's had the ECU software upgraded already. He had the oil changed (using Mini-branded synthetic oil) every 3000 miles even though he was told he didn't need to, and in the 8 months he's owned it he's had it professionally waxed a couple of times already. He made me promise to take good care of it. He seems to be the kind of guy you'd want to buy a car from.

I'm hoping for a long and fulfilling relationship with this car. ...I better stop; if my wife reads this she'll accuse me of being unfaithful.