[+SmellMyPat+]

Hi

I am new to the forums, well i have been around for a few weeks, just reading through all the posts really.(you guys have been making me laugh!!)
But i hope you guys can help me out??!

I am looking at getting a MINI ONE, but it is an Ex demo one,Indi Blue( YUMMY ) i have been told that it has the Salt pack on it, a CD player, Air con, and chrome inserts, for £10700, but it has done 15000 miles, and was built in september 01!!!
But reading through all the faults in the forums, i am worried that all the early build MINI's have the faults on them i.e pulling to the left??
I am also worried that it could have been a rejected MINI that they have repaired, but are just telling me that it is an Ex demo one, will the owners manual tell me the info i need to know, or could the car company have sort that out, so it looks like an Ex Demo one??
My MINI dealer seems really good,and has answered all of mu questions fully, but i guess a sale is a sale for them, and they do what ever they really have to do to get. Has anyone here used the Cooper garage in Maldon? if yes was it good?
Also what other things should i look out for??

Thanks to anyone that helps me out, i really hope it is a good one, as i REALLY WANT A MINI!!!!

Ethan_Hunt

p.s i have not seen this mini yet, as i am wait for it to come down from another location hopefully here tomorrow.

[LMB]

I personally wouldn't buy a Mini that is older than March 02.

The early ones did tend to suffer from a lot of faults. I am not sure what to advise you. £10700 does sound quite a bit for a ONE with 15,000 miles. My girlfriend got quoted £11,300 for a brand new Mini ONE with Salt pack, CD Player and other odds and ends. I know you may have to wait but the cars are now much better built.

[ELISEBOY]

the log book cannot lie, so i would ask to see that and if the first keeper was not the dealers give them a call and ask them about it.

I would say though that lots of MINIs of all ages (Brand new included) have had faults on them, but there have also been cars that have not had any issues at all.

What i would say though is that 10.7 for a ONE is a LOT of money, I have seen brand new ones advertised with a similar spec to yours for around the 11 mark

i would look to getting that figure a lot lower of just go for a new one.

Welcome to MINI2 by the way, welcome out from the shadows, glad you have had a laugh and learnt a few things since you have been around

[Bilbo Baggins]

I am very sure that I would never buy dealer demo car. I assume that everyone else drove it as I did and basically abused the snot out of it. Red line????? I don't need no stinkin' redline!!!

If you decide to go for it make sure you get all of the warranty you can talk the dealer out of. Try and get 3yr/30,000 from the time of purchase. You have to know that "proper" breakin procedure was not followed.

I guess that is the pessimist speaking.

Motor on, Dude!!!!

[Minty]

My Cooper is Oct 01 Build, and touch wood, i have had no problems, apart from a squeeky chair sometimes.

[KenL]

I agree that the price sounds a lot but if you look at dealer sites for the MINI cherished used cars they are often at least or even more expensive than a new one. Dealers are basically taking advanyage of the fact that there is now I'm told a 4/5 month wait for a new car.

I've ordered a new ONE with 8 spoke alloys, metallic paint, SALT pack, CD player & TLC total cost = £11375.

[lightbody]

Mine is an October 01 and have had no significant problems and less problems than any other car I've owned! Car is well built.

When did production start exactly? March? Even a September build is after Months and months and 1000s of cars of production...

Buy it - you'll love it!

[MINIMARK]

The new price of this car would have been £11,785 with the spec that is on the first post. Seems like the car hasnt lost allot of money, but it is a DEMO!!

All I can say is be carefull and shop around or PM me!

[monsta]

Mine is a July build and the only realy problem I have had is the left pull which is about to be fixed.

I am very happy with my car over all

[Ethan_Hunt]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINIMARK
The new price of this car would have been £11,785 with the spec that is on the first post. Seems like the car hasnt lost allot of money, but it is a DEMO!!

All I can say is be carefull and shop around or PM me!

What sort of warranty do you get on the mini is it 5 years?
If yes then surly if the engine was messed up then they would sort it out for me, also this is a new modern car, and they can take alot more now adays.
What should i be careful about mate?? Is it the engine you are thinking about or something else?
I am going to take the car for a good test drive, as this is my hard earned money that i will be using!

Thanks for replying, i think i am going to phone my dealer right now!!

[monsta]

The Cooper S I test drove only had 300 miles on the clock but obviously I wanted to see what it drove like so I didn't hold back!

The revs were way over 4,500 so I think from that you can conclude that Demo cars don't get run in correctly which will lead to premature engine wear and possible failure (maybe after 5 years)

[LMB]

I once bought a demo car and it suffered from engine trouble at a fairly early age. My advice would be to stay well clear.

They are driven hard!!!

[zoooooom]

[quote]Originally posted by LMB
[b]I personally wouldn't buy a Mini that is older than March 02.



LMB you surprise me,
If you said that you would not buy a car from zoooooom then fair enough but yes the early cars had faults (my car included)but BMW were quick to react and all the faults have been rectified.

Any used MINI is worth buying if the price is OK and they all have a three year warranty anyway.

[Ethan_Hunt]

Quote:

Originally posted by monsta
The Cooper S I test drove only had 300 miles on the clock but obviously I wanted to see what it drove like so I didn't hold back!

The revs were way over 4,500 so I think from that you can conclude that Demo cars don't get run in correctly which will lead to premature engine wear and possible failure (maybe after 5 years)

But i am not looking at keeping the car for 5 years, i will keep it for the three years, then look at a cooper probably.
But if i did go for this car, and the engine did have trouble my car would still be under warranty wouldn't it? So if they fixed it and i still wasn't happy with it, couldn't i get them to fit a new engine?(probably after a few arguements lol)
My dad had a Ex demo Golf, and he had no trouble at all, he says it is one of the best cars he had(and has had alot of cars, 911's, boxtser, BMW & more), so i guess it is just the chance i take.
Also say the car was really bad, wouldn't i be able to reject it?

Thanks agian guys(I JUST WANT A MINI!!!!! )

[M]

If you're getting a thousand pounds off the retail price consider yourself lucky and grab it, most people are paying full up even for used cars. The one thing that would stop me buying that car is the mileage. Unless you have a Very Very low annual mileage you get kicked in the slats when you come to get rid of it. Its already done more than the average annual mileage and the oldest it can be is 9 months. If its an ex demo then its probably nearer four or five months. Caveat Emptor!!

[zoooooom]

Quote:

Originally posted by Ethan_Hunt


But i am not looking at keeping the car for 5 years, i will keep it for the three years, then look at a cooper probably.
But if i did go for this car, and the engine did have trouble my car would still be under warranty wouldn't it? So if they fixed it and i still wasn't happy with it, couldn't i get them to fit a new engine?(probably after a few arguements lol)
My dad had a Ex demo Golf, and he had no trouble at all, he says it is one of the best cars he had(and has had alot of cars, 911's, boxtser, BMW & more), so i guess it is just the chance i take.
Also say the car was really bad, wouldn't i be able to reject it?

Thanks agian guys(I JUST WANT A MINI!!!!! )

Go for it you will not regret it

You may want to book a dental appointment.

Because everybody will see your big smilly grin and you want your teeth to look their best

[MINIMARK]

3 years from new on MINI's not 5!

The MINI COMMITMENT

If, against all odds, a MINI Cherished car gets temperamental becouse of a demonstatable fault within 30 days/1000miles of ownership (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST), there's no need to worry. If MINI can't fix it will exchanged. If it can't be exchanged, a refund will be provided.

-------------------------------------------------

It seems to have allot of miles for a demo car.

what did the dealer say?

[Ethan_Hunt]

Quote:

Originally posted by zoooooom



Go for it you will not regret it

You may want to book a dental appointment.

Because everybody will see your big smilly grin and you want your teeth to look their best

You guys lol

Thanks sooooo much for helping me out, i am looking forward to the car agian now, as i got abit down about it yesterday, now all i haver to do is get the dealer to hurry up with the car, i have waited for it to be delievered to my dealer, close to three weeks now, and it is only a 600 mile trip!!!!
Once i get it and have cleaned it all up, and have got my alloys(wolf race) on it, shall i post some pictures up of it??

Agian thanks for all your help.

See ya
Ethan_Hunt

[Clutch Cargo]

The wait is only 4 or 5 months for a new one? Why are you even considering a used one, "cherished" or not? If I were you, I'd wait.

[KenL]

Where in the country are you? There may be other dealers around who have more available through the cherished scheme if you are not willing to wait for a new one. I'd say that is the best way to go if you can wait.

If you go to www.mini.co.uk and use the
"take me to your dealer > find a dealer" tab you should be able to find a dealer in your area.

From local dealer sites hit the "look me over" tab followed by the "mini cherrished used cars" tab and then the "View our current range of used MINIs" tab.

You may find more choice and ones with less miles but unlikely to get another for <£11K.