New or nearly new Mini Convertible

Doublespresso

My OH wants to get one of these hopefully with lots of extras. She would buy this ideally with finance.
I have no idea where to start looking... She currently drives a Smart Passion.
Help please?

Thanks

Doozergirl

I'm waiting for my cherished reg transfer, that's all, before I can pick my car up

I'd read Martin's article and use the brokers listed if you are buying brand new. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheapest-new-cars I used broker4carsto find my MIL's Mercedes - you still deal with a main dealer - our local dealer couldn't get anywhere near the price we ended up paying through them.

My MINI is 9 months old. I saved £3000 off the price new - managed to get £500 off the screen price which isn't great at all but I'd already tried with another MINI dealer and they were having none of it! They're not the easiest people to barter with!

I'm buying using MINI Select (PCP basically) which means I either hand the car back or pay the lump sum at the end. If you are lucky, the car may be worth slightly more than the Guaranteed price you are given so you may actually have a bit of equity. I just like the idea that I know exactly how much the car is going to cost me over the period I own it.

I did get about 10% off my monthly repayments by looking horrified at the original repayments and saying no basically. There's a code on the finance screen which they can adjust - mine went from 0400 to 0000 to make it cheaper, if that makes any sense to you The more quotes you get, you realise that you get absolutely pounded on the extras.

My car is actually costing more per month than one of a lower price with less spec because the residual value of those extras is much lower than just a bog standard car, so be careful what you choose!

I looked at leasing the car too. Found a really good deal at www.lingscars.com which to be is probably cheaper than actually buying from a dealer. Don't be put off by the website - you get used to it and it's actually more informative than most. You can ask for an individual quote for the spec of car you want; compare your quote to the price of bog standard car that she's offering on the site and you'll see what I mean about the spec costing you a lot!

vikingaero

A good MINI resource:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/

adamking52

A friend of mine is umming and ahing between a Mini One Convertible and A Mini Cooper convertible.
The Mini One is just so cheap on contract hire - £199.99 per month for a 24 month deal! I can't get my head around these leasing deals, I've just taken delivery of an Audi A3 through the same company for £279 and am absolutley chuffed with it.
I recommended company to my friend who hasn't found a cheaper quote yet.
Take a look at www.gateway2lease.com and ask for a quote. I think it was £199.99 for 10kpa and she gets to choose the colour, add spec if she wants as they are made to order.

Might be worth a phonecall

Adam

daveyjp

Minis are cheap to lease due to high (IMHO artificially inflated) residuals.

deltic_2

Doublespresso wrote: »

My OH wants to get one of these hopefully with lots of extras. She would buy this ideally with finance.
I have no idea where to start looking... She currently drives a Smart Passion.
Help please?

Thanks

Look for nearly new private sales particularly if you want lots of extras. They are nearly always high spec cars, and they have depreciated much faster as a result (options do not hold their value in the same way as the base car). Also Mini residuals are now slipping due to the volume now available.

Private sellers struggle to sell them because of the high price of the car. People who buy more expensive used cars tend to go to dealers for them rather than buy them privately due to reassurance etc.

Look for ones that are in warranty and which have the 5 year (from new) servicing plan included as this reduces running costs by quite a lot. Also try to get airconditioning (even though it is a convertible).

vansboy

I'm not always keen on pre-registered/nearly new offers, as most makes actually give a better all round deal, buy buying NEW.

But Doozergirl has got it right, she's saved the premium price MINIS acheive, got the car she wants, not lost much 'new car' feel & already had someone else take the initial depreciation drop,

& the personla contract plans, are by far the most easy to understand & sensible way to finance the purchase. This is particularly good on cars which DO have a lowere resale value, when you hand it back - you won't loose out. But as mentioned already, artifically high MINI prices are still likly to be there in the future, so you'll have extra £$£$ paid back to you, at the end of the lease.

& to answer the where to buy Q, best get down to your MINI main dealers have the pick of the crop, mostly due to the PCP finance!!

& THEN.... pop round to the Mazda dealers & buy an MX5 instead!!!

VB

epz_2

daveyjp wrote: »

Minis are cheap to lease due to high (IMHO artificially inflated) residuals.

yeah i did saw that when i looked at one's website, unfortunatllythe millage i do and thefact i actually like older cars means leasing doesnt make sence for me but i would certainly lease vs finance a new car.

epz_2

god damn this thread, i checked again and am now thinkina about leasing a convertable mini as a summer car, they are sarting at £230 inc vat and road tax.

i pay drive one and still save cash over what i currently pay in petrol in my v8 beast(£80 a week) with the better mpg.

oh well ill wait to see if we have a nice summer!

Doozergirl

Doozer wasn't impressed with the fact I wanted a Mini for ages, hence I've waited forever for it. Admittedly, it isn't the most practical car for my needs but I don't care and he gave in Mine isn't convertible because it really has nothing in the way of boot and I do need somewhere to keep my biscuits

Anyway, I've got mine now and he loves it! Really loves it! It's like a loving but slightly deranged and overexcited mongrel. So go on, get one!

Doublespresso

deltic wrote: »

Look for nearly new private sales particularly if you want lots of extras. They are nearly always high spec cars, and they have depreciated much faster as a result (options do not hold their value in the same way as the base car). Also Mini residuals are now slipping due to the volume now available.

Private sellers struggle to sell them because of the high price of the car. People who buy more expensive used cars tend to go to dealers for them rather than buy them privately due to reassurance etc.

Look for ones that are in warranty and which have the 5 year (from new) servicing plan included as this reduces running costs by quite a lot. Also try to get airconditioning (even though it is a convertible).

Thanks for the tips, very useful.
Can you suggest where I could possibly find nearly new Mini Convertibles? I looked on eBay but they were mostly quite old cars.