[NeilF]

This weeks Autocar has a write up on their long term MCS, which is now fitted with JCW kit.

Mainly praise of the highest order, especially for the JCW kit which they reckon is well worth the dosh.

Also interested to note that they have run this car for 17,000 miles and list faults developed by the car during this time as 'NONE'. So maybe reliability is not so bad after all.

The article is worth a read anyway.

Also, their trade expert John Coates is discussing Mini residuals. He reckons that supply and demand have now evened out a bit and coupled with the facelift, he predicts softening of prices towards the latter part of the year. It couldn't last forever I suppose.

[SteveM3]

Quote: Originally Posted by NeilF

Also, their trade expert John Coates is discussing Mini residuals. He reckons that supply and demand have now evened out a bit and coupled with the facelift, he predicts softening of prices towards the latter part of the year. It couldn't last forever I suppose.

I had a 3 series and for 6 years Coates trotted out the same old "3 series are getting
common now so expect prices to dive". They never did, second hand they still lose
less than Mercs, Audi et al. I expect us all to lose money on the MINI by now but
it'll still be better than anything else for the money. It's more fun to drive and own to boot.
So don't lose any sleep over residuals, lose sleep over important topics like which set of
lightweight alloys to spend hard earned dosh on .

[NeilF]

I think he might be right to an extent in this case........residuals can't keep up at current levels forever.

I don't think they will crash but they will surely soften off a bit. What Car list a Cooper S as retaining 70% of it's original list price after 3 years which is still absolutely amazing and like you say, better than anything else around other than buying a bus pass.

[Parc77]

I think Steve M3 has the right idea about resale values - facelift will put a minor dent in resale values but the Mini will be worth a hell of a lot more than its nearest competitors - so Mini owners will have lost less than anybody else buying near equivalant Pug 206GTi /gti 180 - clio 172 -182 , Focus st170 etc etc.
I read Autocar also - the bit where it says get a small loan - convince your wife etc etc - girlfriend would kill me if I got the works kit b4 a dimond ring for her finger - looks like I better get doing the overtime and buying extra lottery tickets before I get the works kit booohooooo!

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by NeilF

I think he might be right to an extent in this case........residuals can't keep up at current levels forever.

I don't think they will crash but they will surely soften off a bit. What Car list a Cooper S as retaining 70% of it's original list price after 3 years which is still absolutely amazing and like you say, better than anything else around other than buying a bus pass.

Residuals have started to fall but I personally recon they'll stablise as the facelift model not only costs £600 more, but many of the options have gone up in price as well. If I was to buy the same spec Cooper S as I have now in July, it'd cost me £700 more and my spec is light. For some it'll cost a lot more.