[kmpowell]

You guys have probably heard this story a million times before, but for those of you with a sympathetic ear, I need some advice!

I went out to my local dealer this morning to test drive a Dooper without really any intention of buying a brand new one due to the lead times. I was all set to compromise on some options and try to pick up a ex-demo from them as close to my spec as possible. However, after realising how good the Hi-Fi is (I did a direct comparison and it's brilliant!), the new car would have the newer engine which is even better on fuel and stop/start, and also how good the 'sport' button is, my mind started thinking new because finding a car with my essential spec is impossible. I was then told that the dealer had a first week of November delivery slot if I was quick!

Now, I vowed never to buy new again after being burnt losing copious amounts on new cars in the past few years, but as residuals are so good I am wondering if I should take the plunge?!?

My spec is as follows;

Pepper white
Black roof and mirrors
Black bonnet stripes
JCW bodykit
CHILI pack
17" flames
Panoramic roof
Hi-fi
Sport button
White lenses pack
TLC

List OTR £19,157, but I have negotiated a free TLC, so price is £19,007.

I only plan to keep the car a max of 12 months, so staying ahead of depreciation is essential. SO, if you have managed to stay awake through this boring post,what do you think the car will be worth in 12 months time? I have an idea, however I would rather hear your thoughts first?

It's a heck of a lot of money for a Mini isn't it!?!

TIA
Kevin

[Hickster]

It's not what I would call an excessive price for a Mini, those options add a fair bit and there are many who find themselves speccing a 20K+ Mini!

As to how much a 2008 model Cooper D will depreciate, its very hard to say. The fact current lead times are so long, it's a very 'green' car and the possibility that it will be Congestion Charge exempt are all good for maintaining future value. I have a new Dooper myself so may be somewhat biased but I think personally that in 12 months you'll lose 3 or 4K. Your problem is that the extras you spec won't add a great deal to the cars future value unless you find someone who wants to buy your spec. Like yourself, everyone who buys a mini wants one to their own design and they'll be torn between paying a bit extra for a new one just as they want it, or compromising for a cheaper used one.

In my case, I was offered the Demo Dooper which was very nicely spec'd and was in the colours I wanted. Trouble was, it was the same price as my new one spec'd as I wanted it so it was a bit of a no-brainer as to which I chose.

Hope it goes well for you and that you get into a Mini new or old soon.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I ordered my Dooper a week ago, for delivery in March.

In the first 12 months of any new car your are going to loose the most money. Im with Hickster on this one and reckon it would probably loose about 3/4k (My MINI One is 18 months old and has lost 4k, which I dont think is too bad in all honesty considering my mums 07 plate Corsa has lost the same in 6 months!!! )


Go on, go for it, you know you want to

[Streeters]

You're always gonna lose on any car - new or used. MINI has the lowest depreciation on the market and as hickster says the noew Dooper engines etc are i would think going to be in high demand and thus maintaining a strong residual. Dont worry about what you may lose, just enjoy the car for what it is..........loads of fun. November isnt bad at all for a lead time, as you can read in this thread supa dupa has to wait another 4 months more than you. Go On Do IT... You know you wanna!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Never a good idea to buy a new car with the intention of only keeping it for 12 months I've only ever bought new when I've had the intention of keeping it for somewhere between 3 and 6 years, preferably even longer!

As others have already said, the Cooper D is about as depreciation proof as a new car is ever going to be, but choose your options carefully. The Chili Pack and TLC make sense, the rest is personal choice. However buy the aero kit because you really like it, because you aren't going to get very much back on your additional investment in 12 months time

Tigger.

[kmpowell]

Ok chaps, thanks for the feedback much appreciated! My car history over the past few years has been as follows...

'99 Audi TT 225 Coupe, Nov '00 - May '02
'00 Audi TT 225 Roadster, May '02 - Apr '04
'01 Honda S2000, Apr '04 - Aug '05
'05 TVR T350 Targa, Aug '05 - May '06
'04 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo, May '06 - Oct '06
'06 VW Golf .:R32, Oct '06 - Jun '07

... so as you can see I do fall in and out of love with cars quite quickly - I have also lost a fair whack over the years too (especially with the TVR!). Bearing all that in mind if I were to buy a demo I would be missing a lot of the options that I like which is more amo to me binning the car early. By getting EXACTLY what I want I think there is more chance to me keeping the car longer. So providing I don't fall into negative equity with my monhtly payments I will be happy - I was thinking the car could be worth around £16k in 12 months, or is that wishful thinking?

EDIT: Reading that back I realise how fickle I am, so this needs to be the correct decision for me.

[Vern]

Kev i too went to the showrooms for a Dooper and was put off by the huge delay in build time (done to keep the demand and price high) these will certainly hold money the one to have is the 2008 MY with efficient dynamics.

I then found interest in the MCS and having owned a few things like yourself test drove one i was impressed by the new turbo engine, i very nearly bought a cancelled order was the exact colour and most of the spec was there, but @ £19K with only the the TLC thrown in, i had 2nd thoughts and for £1K got my exact spec and the new efficient dynamics with stop start etc cheaper road tax 6 MPG more and much lower emission's, it took 3 weeks from order to delivery and it had most of the options ticked Picked it up today..........No way this car has 170 ish BHP feels like over 200bhp and i am no stranger to torque i had a tuned 330d sport with 410lbft, go for a few test drives before committing

[appmacguy]

Kevin, looking at your past cars, why a Dooper. I'd have thought you would be a Cooper S man? Was the test drive that good?!!!

[kmpowell]

Quote: Originally Posted by appmacguy (original)

Kevin, looking at your past cars, why a Dooper. I'd have thought you would be a Cooper S man? Was the test drive that good?!!!

Economics really. I'm fed up with running (insuring, petrol, tax) a car that only dos a couple of thousand miles a year, so the Dooper seemed the sensible choice. As to whether I was impressed... I was VERY impressed with how good the Dooper was, especially with the sport button! I'm also thinking that a mild remap will unleash even more powr and make it just as good(if not better) than a standard MCS.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?

[Vern]

Quote: Originally Posted by kmpowell (original)

Economics really. I'm fed up with running (insuring, petrol, tax) a car that only dos a couple of thousand miles a year, so the Dooper seemed the sensible choice. As to whether I was impressed... I was VERY impressed with how good the Dooper was, especially with the sport button! I'm also thinking that a mild remap will unleash even more powr and make it just as good(if not better) than a standard MCS.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?

Yes Kev you are a pertol head, try an MCS it's like a go kart, remember how in love you were with the R32 ?it will be like that twice over, with small miles it makes sense, car loose money period but you knew that already you just need me to justify it lifes short and you would quickly become frustrated with the limted rev range of the Dooper get an MCS £115 / year tax and this one is running in and driven very spritly is returning 39 MPG put it on a 6K/year insurance plan and the job is good, i know from reading your posts on tyresmoke and the TT forums a Dooper would not suit your style

[sav112]

KM it’s simple I’m getting one next year.

Well I’m the tightest guy out there – so financially sound!

I’m the fussiest guy out there, very picky – So build and performance reports spot on!

I tend to keep my cars for ages, Still got my Honda from new from 99. – So even bigger decision than one that swaps his car like you do.

Only thing is I drive like a Nun, Can you say the same? I agree with Vern this might not be for someone with your History. Its MPG over MPH for me!

I honestly think as it’s your first mini you will either love it or hate it. At least you can live with it. I was looking at TT’s as well but even the limited back seat of the Mini won me over.

[appmacguy]

Quote: Originally Posted by kmpowell (original)

Economics really. I'm fed up with running (insuring, petrol, tax) a car that only dos a couple of thousand miles a year, so the Dooper seemed the sensible choice. As to whether I was impressed... I was VERY impressed with how good the Dooper was, especially with the sport button! I'm also thinking that a mild remap will unleash even more powr and make it just as good(if not better) than a standard MCS.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?

The economics won't add up KM. Doopers are better for high milage drivers to recoup the £1100+ extra in Diesel savings because of the MPG. If you are getting rid in 12 months then a Cooper or Cooper S will give you a better return and you have more choice on the used market making the savings even more attractive.

What do you think?

[kmpowell]

Quote: Originally Posted by appmacguy (original)

What do you think?

I think you and Vern(Vern I had no idea the tax was so low on a MCS!) have convinced me to go down the used MCS route. I am going to ring the dealer tommorow and ask them to find me a used Pepper White MCS with Panormaic & HiFi, and then get them to order&fit a JCW kit for me. It may take a few weeks, but it'll be what I want.

Many thanks guys, you may have saved me a whole would of pain!

[Vern]

Quote: Originally Posted by kmpowell (original)

I think you and Vern(Vern I had no idea the tax was so low on a MCS!) have convinced me to go down the used MCS route. I am going to ring the dealer tommorow and ask them to find me a used Pepper White MCS with Panormaic & HiFi, and then get them to order&fit a JCW kit for me. It may take a few weeks, but it'll be what I want.

Many thanks guys, you may have saved me a whole would of pain!

Kev,

Just so you have all the facts i am talking about the MCS turbo not supercharged which i think you already know, but caution you need a MY 2008 with the stop start (efficient dynamics) for the tax to be £115 &149g/kg Co2 the one before MY2007 turbo was £140 tax & 164g/kg, also nearly get 6MPG more on the combined cycle, with the MY2008, the car i nearly bought was the latter July MY2007 which i only could get £150 TLC off even if i paid cash for a car which was £19200 (read no discounts!!) even on old MY2007 model, i then as said previously spent another grand and ordered the spec i wanted, which was everything bar nav and the roof you want, it only took just over 3 weeks for a factory order, get the exact spec you want and order new car as the MY 2008 have only just landed and there wont be many around yet if any, unless you can find a cancelled order that meets your spec which i doubt, and you will not get a discount, i got a cut price GAP policy and full tank of fuel ( you pay for half a tank as part of the on the road costs) the day i was in the showroom 4 people bought MCS's......... all walked with NO discount they sell themselves the residuals are as good as you will get, go test a 2008 MY MCS and tell me you don't like it

OH and don't forget to oder the LSD it only cost £115 and works a treat

[kmpowell]

Quote: Originally Posted by Vern (original)

Kev,

Just so you have all the facts i am talking about the MCS turbo not supercharged which i think you already know, but caution you need a MY 2008 with the stop start (efficient dynamics) for the tax to be £115 &149g/kg Co2 the one before MY2007 turbo was £140 tax & 164g/kg, also nearly get 6MPG more on the combined cycle, with the MY2008, the car i nearly bought was the latter July MY2007 which i only could get £150 TLC off even if i paid cash for a car which was £19200 (read no discounts!!) even on old MY2007 model, i then as said previously spent another grand and ordered the spec i wanted, which was everything bar nav and the roof you want, it only took just over 3 weeks for a factory order, get the exact spec you want and order new car as the MY 2008 have only just landed and there wont be many around yet if any, unless you can find a cancelled order that meets your spec which i doubt, and you will not get a discount, i got a cut price GAP policy and full tank of fuel ( you pay for half a tank as part of the on the road costs) the day i was in the showroom 4 people bought MCS's......... all walked with NO discount they sell themselves the residuals are as good as you will get, go test a 2008 MY MCS and tell me you don't like it

OH and don't forget to oder the LSD it only cost £115 and works a treat

Roger all that Vern, I knew there had been a very recent Co2 change to the MCS, but wasn't sure when. I can now speak to the dealer tommorow armed with the facts. In all fairness I'll prob end up buying a new one next weekend unless I am very lucky this week finding a used one.

As for the discount, I'll get something! Nobody beleived me when I said I managed to get the free TLC on the Dooper, but I like a challenge and a bargain, so I use every trick in the book!

I'll let you know how I get on.

[minisoopercooper]

you'll be lucky to get anything out of Lovetts if thats who you are going to?

[kmpowell]

Quote: Originally Posted by minisoopercooper (original)

you'll be lucky to get anything out of Lovetts if thats who you are going to?

Not a chance they are complete monkeys.

[minisoopercooper]

must be wellsway then

[kmpowell]

Quote: Originally Posted by minisoopercooper (original)

must be wellsway then

Yep - streets ahead of DL, the personal customer service in there is second to none.

[Vern]

Quote: Originally Posted by kmpowell (original)

Roger all that Vern, I knew there had been a very recent Co2 change to the MCS, but wasn't sure when. I can now speak to the dealer tommorow armed with the facts. In all fairness I'll prob end up buying a new one next weekend unless I am very lucky this week finding a used one.

As for the discount, I'll get something! Nobody beleived me when I said I managed to get the free TLC on the Dooper, but I like a challenge and a bargain, so I use every trick in the book!

I'll let you know how I get on.

LOL Kev Yes TLC is good to aim for and a discount on the JCW kit Fitted for £1K would do it as well as fuel etc, Xenon's are standard on the MCS chili pack also but not the Dooper Chili pack iirc.............Make sure you test it before negotiating so he has time invested in you, then give him the deal you want ( don't mean to tell you how to suck eggs, but i have bought new BMW/Audi/VW/Ford and Mini dealers think they are doing you a favour by letting you buy one )



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