New MINI vs used car comparison + a what car.

[Stu_he]

Hi, I've been comparing the cost of buying brand new with used, for a car to do 20,000 miles per year in.

The new car is a MINI Cooper S on a PCP deal at a low APR (4.7%) through a work benefit scheme.

For the used car I didn't have a particular make/model in mind. This is where the 'what car' element of the thread comes in. The criteria are; petrol, 35mpg min on a motorway run, similar performance to a Mini Cooper S, can carry 2 mountain bikes on rack/roof.

The comparison of costs are below.
Some notes to accompany -
The value of the used car is £8k on the comparison but can be more/less.
Insurance not included as it will be pretty mush a constant for both.
Mini servicing is free with TLC pack.
The extras are maintenance costs in addition to normal servicing (tyres not included as considered constant for both).
The fuel economy for the MINI is 10mpg higher than the used car because I can't find anything that can touch the MINI for the performance/economy.




As you can see the cost difference is only £60 a month more for the MINI. As the used car will probably be out of warranty this £60/month saving could soon be eaten up if something expensive breaks.

Comments appreciated to try and make the comparison more accurate. Do you think 60% depreciation over 3 year and 60,000 miles is fair?

Also suggestions for the used car are very welcome.

Thanks.

[Mr2Mike]

You've made a mistake in your spreadsheet; under MPG you seem to have put down 45mpg for the MINI Cooper S. This will not happen.

[winshent]

sounds like you forgot that you will have an asset (the car) worth 3.2k at the end of 3 yrs..

Edited by winshent on Sunday 6th June 15:06

[Mr2Mike]

winshent said:

sounds like you forgot that you will have an asset (the car) worth 3.2k at the end of 3 yrs..

Edited by winshent on Sunday 6th June 15:06

That seems to be included in the total purchase cost.

I can't get the numbers to add up in either case though.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Sunday 6th June 15:12

[Stu_he]

Mr2Mike said:

You've made a mistake in your spreadsheet; under MPG you seem to have put down 45mpg for the MINI Cooper S. This will not happen.

I don't think I'll be too far off, my commute to work is a very steady 50-60-70mph cruise for about 35 miles.

[billyliar]

Mr2Mike said:

You've made a mistake in your spreadsheet; under MPG you seem to have put down 45mpg for the MINI Cooper S. This will not happen.

Mixed driving will see 30-32 mpg. 75 mph on the motorway will see 38mpg, and 85+ will see 32mpg.

[Stu_he]

Mr2Mike said:

winshent said:

sounds like you forgot that you will have an asset (the car) worth 3.2k at the end of 3 yrs..

Edited by winshent on Sunday 6th June 15:06

That seems to be included in the total purchase cost.

I can't get the numbers to add up in either case though.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Sunday 6th June 15:12

Used car cost - 6000
Fuel - ~9200
Service - 1000
MOT - 150
Extras - 600 over 3 years
Tax - 480 over 3 years
Total -~16.2ish

[bassanclan]

Why not compare a used Mini Cooper S with a new Mini Cooper S the you will know how much more you are paying for the priviledge of driving a new car?

[Mr2Mike]

Stu_he said:

Used car cost - 6000
Fuel - ~9200
Service - 1000
MOT - 150
Extras - 600 over 3 years
Tax - 480 over 3 years
Total -~16.2ish

The new car cost had me confused, but then noticed there is only 2 lots of tax as the first lot will be included in the price of the car.

You definitely need to compare the same car in both; choosing 35mpg for the used car is arbitrary, and 45mpg for the MINI is hugely optimistic. A friend of mine has just sold his Cooper S and never managed to hit more than mid 30's from it even on a run, and it was typically well under 30 when driving fairly hard. In fact he proudly showed me the trip computer a while back displaying an average of just 23mpg, which I guess would probably have included a fair bit of city use.

[greygoose]

billyliar said:

Mr2Mike said:

You've made a mistake in your spreadsheet; under MPG you seem to have put down 45mpg for the MINI Cooper S. This will not happen.

Mixed driving will see 30-32 mpg. 75 mph on the motorway will see 38mpg, and 85+ will see 32mpg.

My missus had a Cooper S and it did about 30mpg on the motorway, she currently has a new Cooper and it averages 42mpg on a 100 mile commute every day. 45 mpg is far too optimistic.

[Leicesterdave]

My 2009 Cooper S averages 38mpg. It can reach 45+ going at a very steady 70mph.
In town can drop to 32 mpg.
Good figures for the performance.
Tiring car on the motorway though.

[900T-R]

2010 spec Cooper S has variable cam timing, lower fuel consumption (at least according to the EU driving cycle 149 -> 136 g/km CO2) and 9 additional horses compared to the 2009 one. ow this translates to the real world is anyone's guess, though.

[kambites]

Those figures look believable, although you seem to have picked a used car with significantly worse depreciation than a MINI, which skews the figures a bit. 40% value retained is probably about right for most cars, though.

What do you get if you compare a 3 year old MINI Cooper S with a new one?

Edited by kambites on Monday 7th June 08:19

[PintOfKittens]

Get yourself a Cooper D - I get 64mpg while doing 0.9 cabbages an hour

[ZesPak]

PintOfKittens said:

Get yourself a Cooper D - I get 64mpg while doing 0.9 cabbages an hour

Friend of mine has one, drives like a granny.
This doesn't happen tough, she gets about 55mpg (mixed). Which still is very good imho.