[ninethreeeleven]

Okay heres my story...
Just recently got a new job, where I will need a car. I have one now that works fine (1993 Subaru Legacy Wagon) but they will give me $350 a month car allowence and a new car is something that I (as well as most) have wanted since I got out of college (last year).

Here is my probelm, I have decided on a Cooper S, and I really want it now (pure greed on my behalf) but I am going to save up a big down payment so I wont be putting my order in until early May. I am not sure but the rumor mill of this site say that dealers will be taking orders for the 2005 around then (or a little after). Does anyone know if I should wait or get it then as it might be a few more months in reality until they start taking orders for the 2005.

I am going to look at the 2005's once they hit the show room, and if I like what I see in person, and have already gotten a 2004 I might just trade it in for the 2005. That is my main problem. I dont want a brand new car for 3 or 4 months only to trade it in for the newer one.

Someone please talk some sense into me.
-Patrick

p.s. I know $350 a month is not enough, but that will make my payment that much smaller.

[CooperS4us]

I ordered my 2004 MCS, on January 26th, 2003. It was delivered to me on October 3rd, 2003, almost 10 months after I had placed my initial order.

Most dealers will allow you to place orders on 2005 MINIs (Cars built on and after September 2004), so check with your local MINI dealer to see if they will accept and process an order for a car that will not be built for another 6 months at the very least.

Originally, I was going to order a '03 MCS (For July '03 delivery) but at the time they were a considerable amount of complaints with the S regarding the coolant bootle, stumble, etc. I figured that by September '03 most of these issue would have been taken care of, so I asked my dealer to increase my wait time for another 3 months and get one of the first '04s instead.

I was totally right in my predictions......my six month old '04 MCS with 6,300 miles has been absolutely flawless...hasn't been back to the dealer for anything but adding some accesories (Roof flag decal and stereo Aux input jack).


It is really up to you. Most of the '05 changes you probably have read about seem to affect the Standard Cooper model whereas the MCS will essentially be a carry over from the '04 model year, save a few cosmetic changes and the addition of new colors (Indy Blue is going away in '05 and will be replaced with a new blue color).

If right now you have a perfectly reliable car to go to and from work and can afford to wait six months, sure go for a '05 instead. But in the other hand if you want to start enjoying a very fun and high quality car in just a few short months (or even weeks), by all means come aboard and get a '04 MCS instead!


I decided to wait 10 months mainly because I had a car at the time (2001 Chevy Impala LS fully paid off) so I wanted for MINI to address some of the teething quality problems the MCS had back in January '03 plus give myself all the time in the world to sell my Impala at the best possible and more fair price.


My plan worked like a charm in the end.


Have fun...waiting for your new MINI is only the beginning of the fun!

[dav]

I did the same for "teething" problems mentioned above. 10,349 troublefree miles on my 2004 MCS. I would place an order now for a 2005 and you will be driving in October. It will be here before you know it!

[CooperS4us]

Quote: Originally Posted by dav

I did the same for "teething" problems mentioned above. 10,349 troublefree miles on my 2004 MCS. I would place an order now for a 2005 and you will be driving in October. It will be here before you know it!

Dav, are you ready for your first scheduled maintenance?

[lespurgeon]

Can you wait that long?
The '05 won't have many changes (OK the dash will be better) - I'd run out to the Hamptons and pick up an '04 today (looks like they have loads, and could get you a special order in no time). Why wait when you don't really have to drive a Rubasu.