I thought Mini's held their price? Awful trade in offered!
I thought Mini's held their price? Awful trade in offered!
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Discussion

MikeyT

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

297 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all
Wife's hunting around for a Mini - she fancies one of the convertible Coopers - the sidewalk special edition to be precise.

Seen a few on the net at MINI stealers - anyway - been on the phone most of today trying to get a ballpark trade-in with them - haven't had one of higher than 5k yet ... which is a joke I reckon.

Out car is an Electric Blue June 2003 Cooper S - with 57k on the clock. Full Mini history, all the extras - panaramic sunroof - auto climate, m/f wheel, tinted windows , 6 CD, Heated jets, DSC, half leather interior, Chilli pack etc ... excellent condition, good tyres etc - yet this seems to make no difference.

Yet at the local stealer, there is the exact same car as ours, with ste WHITE wheels, no leather, no m/f wheel, a RADIO!, no sunroof - but only 37k up for ... £8795

The expensive Mini

Jesus. I know those chrome and glass showrooms cost some money but come on!

And this is a trade in against a £14k car! And what's worse is, he says he woun't budge on the sticker price. ffs - there's a recession on, dontcha know ...

Do these stealers want it ALL ways or what? Lowest trade in plus highest screen price - ffs.

Sell privately (it's going in the classis on here) and then buy privately - save a fortune ...







Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 22 July 21:53

BlackMCS

173 posts

191 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
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I don't think it is only Mini who make things difficult when trading in cars. I don't understand any dealership that offers the level of discount you'd expect but then wants to shaft you on a part-ex. Surely they are making money on the deal not only from supplying you a new car but on your trade-in too. I accept there is a certain risk that the trade-in may take time to sell on but I don't see how the price of this can be a few grand! This year I have experienced this when trying to trade a 28 month old A4 against a new Q5 and a 197 against a Mini Cooper S. We walked away from Audi and instead bought a Honda!! I persevered with the Mini and got a deal I was eventually ok with (but still not where I wanted to be originally). I am not someone who is afraid to ask for a deal either.

If you really want the car this is the game you have to play....



KennyGT

758 posts

236 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
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My car sounds like yours. Electric blue, 52k etc. Dealers always give you jack st, then they valet it and sell it for like £3-4k more! The dealers do rip you off, but sometimes a bargain does come about, or can be found.

Nowadays selling private you get so much more. Im guessing you will get between 6-7 private, there are some in the classifieds at the moment at this price in electric blue, around same age etc.

MikeyT

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

297 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all
I'm unsure of where to price it - there are so may in the classifieds, it's hard to judge it right. I would like to move it on quickly, but don't want to give it away ... any Mini Cooper S is a lot of car for around the £6k mark!

Should the Sidewalk be a premium over the normal model? Special Editions always seem to cost more when new but you go and trde them in later and they say - ah, not worth any more!

CO2000

3,177 posts

235 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
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How about trying webuyanycar.com or similar ?

Eviltad

1,320 posts

205 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
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The earlier Electric Blues do kick about on Autotrader for Sub £6k though.

I think they are prob taking the piss with the one on their forecourt however.

Mine is a late 53 plate (Jan 2004) and I'd expect to get £6k in a private sale.

Holding their valuewise, similarly aged Clio Sports are £2 - £3k.

DanGT

753 posts

252 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
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You cant get many mini for under 4k, just spent that on a 01 mini one with 64k on the clock. Look at the adds on this site.

TOENHEEL

4,501 posts

253 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
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The current climate means dealers want huge money across cars incase they end up with a stock vehicle for a long time. Complete waste of time using webuyanycar unless your absolutely desperate and want to give it away they are traders after all and buy cars for peanuts. If you want stronger money theres only one option really and thats sell the car yourself unless a small indy has a car your interested in and can maybe work a deal out. Local Mini dealer to me offered 13k for my 6k mile Works GP oh how I did laugh!

hyperblue

2,871 posts

206 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
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They do take the piss sometimes, had one dealer offer me £8,200 for my 06 plate, 35k miles high spec Cooper S in excellent condition. Absolute joke, took it to the next dealer who offered me £9,500, seeing as I was going to put it up in the classifieds for £10k, thought that wasn't a bad deal.

£5k for your car is a joke, it's hard to find a Cooper S for under £6k unless it's done silly mileage.

Eviltad

1,320 posts

205 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
quotequote all
Not sure where you are looking. I just looked on Autotrader and found 2 pages of them within 40 miles of me for under £6k. Mileages from 60,000 which isn't astronomical in an 7 or 8 year old car.

CO2000

3,177 posts

235 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
quotequote all
TOENHEEL said:
Complete waste of time using webuyanycar unless your absolutely desperate and want to give it away they are traders after all and buy cars for peanuts.
For older stuff maybe but newer (4 years & newer) I have found them to be very strong v's trade in prices & at least you'll have a no trade in discount in a lot of cases when buying your next one.

worldwidewebs

2,906 posts

276 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
quotequote all
It's summer (apparently) so you're not going to get much off a convertible at this time of year - the dealer knows it won't be around for long. If you were wanting to buy a non-convertible car I reckon you'd see another 1k your way.

In terms of your car trade-in price v. the selling price of a similar car, remember that the dealer: 1) has to prepare/service/MOT the car 2) offer a warranty 3) pay VAT on the selling price 4) pay people's wages 5) make a profit.

So the 8795 car could probably be had for 8k. Take off VAT and you're down to 6800. Warranty - 500 (6300). Preparation - 500 (5800). So there's is probably 800 quid profit in the car before the costs associated with running the place. Their offer to you seems about right on that basis.


MikeyT

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

297 months

Friday 23rd July 2010
quotequote all
worldwidewebs said:
It's summer (apparently) so you're not going to get much off a convertible at this time of year - the dealer knows it won't be around for long. If you were wanting to buy a non-convertible car I reckon you'd see another 1k your way.

In terms of your car trade-in price v. the selling price of a similar car, remember that the dealer: 1) has to prepare/service/MOT the car 2) offer a warranty 3) pay VAT on the selling price 4) pay people's wages 5) make a profit.

So the 8795 car could probably be had for 8k. Take off VAT and you're down to 6800. Warranty - 500 (6300). Preparation - 500 (5800). So there's is probably 800 quid profit in the car before the costs associated with running the place. Their offer to you seems about right on that basis.
Sorry mate, that doesn't stack up. I reckon they've had it a good month or so. Convertibles are popular in the summer for obvious reasons but they ain't *that* popular. I've given mine a good clean today and the condition stands comparison with the expensive local Mini at the dealer so £500 I can't believe, sorry.

So you're basically saying that any £5k car bought in is going to hit the forecourt at a main dealer (whatever make) at close to £9k? That is mad. No wonder everyone hates them.

RIP_puffsorted2

2,442 posts

251 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
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Have shifted my 34000 mile Hyper Blue 54reg Cooper S Convertible eventually but had very very little interest - given the spec, Climate, Chilli, Full Heated Leather, Cruise, Bluetooth, 17" Bullets etc plus a host of other bits including my M60PER plate I was amazed at the lack of interest. I priced it low I thought as well. Put it like this if I had trouble shifting mine nothing must be moving

Irish

3,991 posts

265 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
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I am looking for one but there are huge price disparities at the minute. All the private sales appear to want dealer prices!

Eviltad

1,320 posts

205 months

Wednesday 28th July 2010
quotequote all
RIP_puffsorted2 said:
Have shifted my 34000 mile Hyper Blue 54reg Cooper S Convertible eventually but had very very little interest - given the spec, Climate, Chilli, Full Heated Leather, Cruise, Bluetooth, 17" Bullets etc plus a host of other bits including my M60PER plate I was amazed at the lack of interest. I priced it low I thought as well. Put it like this if I had trouble shifting mine nothing must be moving
For how much? (if thats not in discreet) This thread needs a decent guide to real world prices.

MikeyT

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

297 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Irish said:
I am looking for one but there are huge price disparities at the minute. All the private sales appear to want dealer prices!
Hah - wish I'd seen this before I traded it in - for £5500 in the end ... against an 08 Cooper Convertible. Got a few incentives from the dealer as well so not TOO bad - if I'd have sold it privately, I'd have had it up for £5995 probably - it may have gone, it may have not at that price.

Gave it an all-day clean last weekend before looking at the convertible - when the dealer saw it - he immediately upped the trade in by £500 ... I wasn't going to sell it to him for £5000, no way.

Thing is, now it's spotless, the wheels look the dogs and the interior and glass are great, makes me wonder why we're getting rid of it!




Irish

3,991 posts

265 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
MikeyT said:
Irish said:
I am looking for one but there are huge price disparities at the minute. All the private sales appear to want dealer prices!
Hah - wish I'd seen this before I traded it in - for £5500 in the end ... against an 08 Cooper Convertible. Got a few incentives from the dealer as well so not TOO bad - if I'd have sold it privately, I'd have had it up for £5995 probably - it may have gone, it may have not at that price.

Gave it an all-day clean last weekend before looking at the convertible - when the dealer saw it - he immediately upped the trade in by £500 ... I wasn't going to sell it to him for £5000, no way.

Thing is, now it's spotless, the wheels look the dogs and the interior and glass are great, makes me wonder why we're getting rid of it!
Damn. If anyone else is getting stiffed by dealers feel free to PM me.

RIP_puffsorted2

2,442 posts

251 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Eviltad said:
RIP_puffsorted2 said:
Have shifted my 34000 mile Hyper Blue 54reg Cooper S Convertible eventually but had very very little interest - given the spec, Climate, Chilli, Full Heated Leather, Cruise, Bluetooth, 17" Bullets etc plus a host of other bits including my M60PER plate I was amazed at the lack of interest. I priced it low I thought as well. Put it like this if I had trouble shifting mine nothing must be moving
For how much? (if thats not in discreet) This thread needs a decent guide to real world prices.
Went for £8750 (but I kept and sold the Wind Deflector) The guy did buy it then and there and drive it away so that was quite persusive

MikeyT

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

297 months

Thursday 29th July 2010
quotequote all
Irish, shame - it's a great car - in superb nick.