[SinCNY]

does anyone else go through this?...I am constantly second guessing the purchase of my S... and it mainly has to do with the 20TH AE GTI's...every time I see 1 I think that maybe I should have boughten another dub...and since they are giving out deals on the AE's and excellent trade-in values on mini's...I just keep thinking I should atleast go and see what kind of deal we could work out.

so what does everyone think about trading a Cooper S for a GTI...

too bad I can't find a dealer with an E36 M3 that wanted a cooper S on their lot

[NEMINI]

since you asked for an opinion I think vw's suck ... boring as hell and not comfy but my opinion doesn't mean anything, you should get whatever makes you the happiest, for me thats the MINI but for you ... thats up for you to figure out so I'd say go for a test drive, its free and can only help you decide what you want

[stryder]

A few issues:

Your MINI has excellent resale and trade-in values for a reason, people pay top dollar for them from the dealer. If you get a 20th AE GTI and its discounted, it'll have totally awful resale. Look at all the GM products with 0% financing and rebates, the used market for the same cars is horrible, a year later they've lost 50% of their value, because everyone got such a great deal on new ones.

Also, they've already shown pictures of the Mk V Golfs. Your GTI will be the 'old' model in around a year. Part of the logic of the 20th AE's is VW can sell more of the undesirable end of that model, because otherwise people would wait. Just think of what opinion you have, and how old looking the Mk3 GTI's are now, same thing will happen now. MINIs should be the same until at least 2006, and probably a few more years after that.

My friend bought an '02 GTI, its a nice car, its much more elegant then the MINI. The interior is lighted nicely etc. It looks like its more car for the money. Until you drive it, then its less car. VW spent all the money on nice plastic and cool blue lighting, MINIs have cheaper plastic and more driving. Also, they have better luxury features at the same price point.

Go see what kind of deal you can get, sure. But test drive the VW, its just another Golf, with nicer wheels and seats, its not a unique car. If that's your thing, trade in, but you're not going to make money on the deal.

Oh, and we're all biased, this is a MINI forum. (Which brings up a point, MINI2 is way better then VWVortex, if that matters)

You're in Syracuse. You bothered to spend the extra effort to get a car whose nearest dealer is in Albany. If that mattered to you, do you want to trade it on a car that has dealers that are close to just fit into the crowd?

Finally, really, you should check somewhere like edmunds.com and see the value of your MINI, you'll get more then you'll lose in sales tax probably selling it privately.

[Kurtster]

I don't think VWs suck. I like them. They're great cars. But that's why I'd keep the MINI. It's not just a car, it's an adventure. It's a way of life. It has character.

You can trade it in for a VW, but you'll have just another car like everyone else. Most people won't know what it is when they look in their rear view mirror. Almost NOBODY will mistake a MINI for some other car. It is truly unique. Since it isn't branded as a BMW, or any other marquee that has been hugely successful in the past 30+ years, people are intrigued by the MINI badge itself, not to mention the unique styling already mentioned. I'm dumping my second Miata to get my MINI. Everyone's got a Miata now. Everyone knows Mazda. People are still fascinated by the MINI and will continue to be for a few more years. It's a great time to have a MINI in my opinion...and I don't even have one yet.

[SinCNY]

well I went and test drove...the interior is what really sells the 20th AE...the recaro's are great...and the interior is def nicer...the exterior...I like it...but what to do...

they're willing to give me 18,500 for the mini...sell me the 20th for 22,000 so they're taking off 1800 for the 20th....which leaves me walking out the door with 25,869...since I still owe 22 for the mini...so...I am going to take my rents over to look at the 20th...even though I PAY FOR MY CAR...THE DON'T GIVE ME ANYTHING...just to make that clear because it annoys the **** out of me when kids are like..yeah my parents bought this car for me...but i'm going to see what they think about both cars...and I still have to talk to a few of my friends...a chip and front mount will give me huge hp in the GTI...and I have an appointment for pulley and intake for my mini...so they will still be about even...its just what I really want I guess...I just hope that if I do decide to trade the mini in...I can exchange my KW's that are in the mail for my mini

[stryder]

Your dealer's giving you a lowball offer on the trade-in, edmunds.com is saying you should get around 19,200 based on your car profile.

Also, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think you have a good idea of what you want. Since the money isn't a big difference, you're shopping around, that clearly indicates you're not sure what you want to do.

When did you get your MINI, your profile says April, is that '02 or '03? Don't forget to include the 'loss' off all the things you've added to the MINI, you haven't gotten to use them, and even if you take them off, you're not going to make much of the money back selling them second hand, that's a significant cost.

Anyway, discuss it with your friends, but it seems like you're ignoring the bigger picture. Cars aren't entirely about the interior or what they look like. Decide if you like the handling, the drivetrain, the dealer service experience and what your options are for modifcations, as well as what the future will hold. You can always get Recaro seats for your MINI if that's such a big deal.

Let us know how your discussions go.

[mimicar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kurtster

I'm dumping my second Miata to get my MINI. Everyone's got a Miata now. Everyone knows Mazda. People are still fascinated by the MINI and will continue to be for a few more years. It's a great time to have a MINI in my opinion...and I don't even have one yet.

It's a great time to have a Miata and a Mini!

[Spy Car]

The interior on the VW is very nice.

But before you are seduced by the best aspect of the VWs realize that the suspension and handling are VERY poor when compared with a MINI. So you will lose a huge amount of the "motoring" aspect if you go with a GTI. The chassis/suspension on the VW is frightfully unsatisfactory IMO.

People have different priorities, for me the way my MCS feels through the canyons and twisties makes it a supercar.....a GTI on the same roads would be sliding sideways....while both cars maybe "hot-hatches" only the MINI feels like a sportscar.

And I think stryder was spot on the resale issues of a soon to be discontinued Mk lV dressed up for marketing purposes as a 20th AE. Yesterdays news...it will lose value instantly and just isn't that fun to drive. It does have nice blue lights in the dash....but don't be dazzled by them

[SugarBelly]

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. "

- Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"

Blaze your path, Sin.

[SinCNY]

I talked to another dealer...found a car with the ESP the only option offered...and they're going to give me 19,800 for my mini...and take 1,860 off the sticker of the GTI... I still don't know what to do....I know I can get different seats...and i'm not really shopping around....I was going to buy a 20th AE before I bought my mini because I didn't wait for them to arrive...the mini is a 2003 I bought in april with 13,000 miles on it at this point...that's another factor in my decision...the fact that i've put a years worth of miles on it in 5 months...beating the **** out of it all along the way...i'm not easy on cars...and I won't be easy on the next...the KW's haven't even gotten to my door yet...and my appointment to get my mini pulley'd and get an intake is the 26th...

don't get my wrong...I love my mini...but I hate the BLACK paint...so if I do keep it...I have to look at a respray and seats...a good 5,000 if I get what I want...recaro A8's and a full respray...I then have to look at getting more power...more than the pulley..more than just the average bolt ons

I am just too indecisive...I have a day to think....but more opinions are VERY welcomed at this point...and yes I understand this is a mini board...but i'd rather hear that I shouldn't get rid of it from people who knows it quirks and its blessings

[stryder]

Well, if you hate the black paint that much, don't get it repainted, you'll totally decrease the value of the car unless you spend several thousand doing it, in which case its not worth the money.

If it matters to you, then get the VW. If you trade it in a year like the MINI with 30K on it, you won't care about the price decrease, and you'll be happy and quit second guessing yourself. You're obviously not very happy with the MINI for various reasons which aren't easily solved.

[MiniMan7]

It's completely up to you. Sure we may have an opinion on what you should do, but we're not the one making the decision.

Do what YOU feel is right, don't let anyone else tell you different.

-Adam

[muffinresearch]

Reminds me of that song that goes...
All in all its true 2 say,YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT U'VE GOT TILL ITS GONE.
I hit a corner tonight that should have been taken at 30 mph in my old car(Vauxhall Astra SRI)I was trying to change a CD at the time*slaps self*
But my new MCS just sailed round without any tyre squeel at 60 MPH .
Bless my MCS,she's so forgiving

[d2create]

Sounds like you are unhappy with the mini. I mean something is making you look around and it sounds like you regret not waiting for the gti. You are also starting to rationalize why it may be a good idea, but not rationalizing why it may be a bad idea. I say get the gti.

[SinCNY]

all of you have very valid points...I mean don't get me wrong..I love my mini...but I believe the max power output of a mini is not that far out of reach...and to find more is going to be rather difficult...however the mini has amazing handling and gets constant attention from everyone who sees it...if I go the route I planned to go with the mini it will have a 3" drop, a respray, and all the bolt-ons possible....it will be even more unique than it is

the part that is making me have a very hard time rationalizing keeping the mini is that they're giving me 19,800 for a car that I paid 22,075 for that has 13,028 miles as of tonight...and taking 2,000 off the sticker of the GTI...granted that means that no 1 wants the GTI so mark 1 in the negative column for the GTI....then look at the fact that they're really not rare at all...and they're larger (which is good and bad) don't handle as well...and aren't as unique...however you then look at the tuning capabilities of the 1.8T engine...and you're like...damn power is so easy to find my friend has over 300 to the wheels (granted with a ton of work) but I can't foresee a daily driven mini ever making that much

so basically I declare this a useless fight...there will be no right decision or wrong decision...just regrets no matter what I do...I think the fact that the mini isn't new anymore has caught up with me and i'm trying to find a way out....I like new...but if I go to new I know i'll miss the mini...F' IT I am trading the mini in on a Trek...hell its a 24 speed I GOT MORE GEARS THAN YOU NOW...so there...lol

[Kinster]

I think you should get rid of the MINI

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by SinCNY

if I go the route I planned to go with the mini it will have a 3" drop, a respray, and all the bolt-ons possible...

EEK! Please sell your MINI

Positive for MINIs:
This forum
Active groups of MINIs driving and having fun
Styling

Negative for MINIs:
Apparently not the beastiest engine in the universe
You have one already so it makes it "old"


If you trade to something else, will you be happy? Or will you quickly get bored with it too and be looking at WRXs or other different cars.
Like a computer, as soon as you buy a car something better comes along ... the trick is to have something good enough, and enjoy it.

[stryder]

People already have daily driver MINIs with 230hp, and 250 should show up very shortly. John Cooper is working on a 250 kit, which will probably be factory waranteed (but expensive of course). I think 250 on a car that weighs at the curb 2678 instead of one that 2916 isn't a bad deal at all.

And if you're so into car hopping, start saving for the R32, the GTI is an '03, so its already 'old' and the R32's coming around the corner...

[SinCNY]

I have decided to keep my S...and I will say for all I complain I love the car...I do hate the black but mostly because its not metallic...so my thought is that I will respray it cosmos black...keepin it in the family atleast...

I will also say that everyone has their own styles...my style is all about euro...so euro my girlfriend doesn't shave (j/k)...most everyone in the US is stuck on either big rims or light rims...so I just go with my own style....and my car will be debadged, dropped and have dish...16x9's at the least...yes they'll poke...so what? anyways...

so now I guess I just decide where to go with the power issue...my pulley install will be in 2 weeks at Hyannis...along with intake...then wait for the Garrett chip...and at that point I have no clue...my coilovers will be going on tomorrow evening...and my adjustable rear control arms will be going on friday...first snow it goes away til I save the $$$ for the respray...and then it goes to the paint shop and then back to storage...

so after all this complaining...and people telling me to sell...to keep...that i'm basically a retard...yeah I keep the car...the saga is ended....i guess....for now....thanks for all the opinions...

[jsteine2]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kinster

I think you should get rid of the MINI

I vote sell...