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Shifty Needs Your Help in Buying a Car
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Comments
What year and model Z3s are you looking at and how much are they going for?
e.g. A nice, really NICE 1994-95 Miata can be had for $4,000. People are trying to sell beat up ones for $2,000, that would easily take $4000 to make right. Ergo, the car has no value whatsoever---well perhaps for parts.
The Z3 and Boxter are very nice, but the cost of repairs and maintenance are concerns. These concerns wouldn't be deal breakers for me, however, if the right one came along, because in the end their other attributes trump the cost of ownership issue.
As for the MINI, the only one I'd consider would be the standard model, not the S, because the ride/handling combination is more to my liking for a daily driver. I've driven a standard one, and the relatively modest acceleration wouldn't bother me.
If I bought a MINI, it would be a new one, because the used ones hold their value too well to make them an attractive proposition. Regardless, in the end the MINI wouldn't be #1 on my list because I prefer RWD in a sports/sporty car. That said, I'd consider the VW Polo or something similar because it probably would have many of the MINI's attributes, at a lower price. While the MINI is attractive in some ways, it's neither an economy car nor a sports car. The base MINI should be tuned to run on regular gasoline, even though at the end of the year we're not talking about much money. The MINI's high resale value sends a strong signal that the market disagrees with me on the MINI. What am I overlooking?
I like the Mini alot, but are prices below $10k yet ? I don't know what your budget is but for a weekend car that would be the highest I would go.
Of course you can do the "heater on, windscreen installed, windows up" routine on modern convertibles and stay reasonably comfortable except for your head.
I will admit that by evening time we were doing the heat on and windows up trick and eventually had to yield to the inevitable and put the top up...
Someone offered me a really good deal on a BMW M3 coupe, which was fun to drive, but the thing is so ugly I just couldn't imagine myself in it.
In the past, when I buy a classic car, it usually sort of "hops into my arms", like at the Pet Rescue Center. If I push and convince myself to buy something using all kinds of thinking, rationalizing, etc., I usually end up regretting the purchase.
Usually, my classic car purchases are a done deal in 10 minutes---at least the commitment I mean.
Issues? Pretty hard riding with the sport package and 17" wheels, (but not as bad or noisy as the old run-flats) a few more squeaks and rattles than I'd like (I'm working on that) and, when it's cold outside, I do hear the beginnings of a throw-out bearing that's not happy. But that could last years.
Put about 10K on it already, no problems.
The car is really quick. I wasted some doofus on a Harley yesterday. All I saw was him screaming (well his mouth was open, I couldn't hear anything) and giving me the finger as he disappeared in the rear view mirror. Entirely his fault for trying to pass on the right, in a breakdown lane, on a bridge. That's not going to happen.
I'm lovin' it.
It'll be interesting to see how the FIAT 500 fares in the U.S. I predict it'll sell reasonably well, especially after the convertible and Abarth are introduced. It'll also be interesting to see whether the 500 will cut into MINI sales, or expand the market for B class cars.
I understand that there will also be an electric version, but that doesn't interest me. The small 500 based SUV that will follow should be interesting, though.
MINI could stand some competition. Right now there's really nothing much that competes with it directly.
A neighbor down the street just got a new Clubman. Nice car. It's kinda the update of what the BMW 2002 was back in 1970 or so--a beautifully performing, sporty, and yet economical BMW 4 cylinder.
They have fairly loaded Clubman (two sun/moonroofs??? on one small car??) for just 22k at the local Louisville Mini dealer. They are blowing the 2010s out the door. It even has a manual, which I much prefer.
Since I got a Mazda5 manual 6 months ago, however, which was a much cheaper and more practical car for my family needs, I'm plum out of luck on ever getting that...
Those "two" roofs.....I think only one actually opens.
Mine is a 2003. In 2006 they went "turbo" and I don't like turbo cars much.
Also, how do prices for parts and general cost of ownership between a naturally aspirated MINI and, say, a Civic or Scion Tc?
I'd say that during warranty of course, there wouldn't be much difference in maintenance costs between a MINI and a Scion, but after warranty---put it this way, these are two very very different automobiles. My Scion xA was almost the same size as a MINI, but felt light and cheap in comparison. Also cost a lot less, so fair is fair.
They still are available without turbo, I think?
I have 72,000 miles on it now. My worst possible mileage is 26 mpg, with my foot deep into the Boschware, and on the highway I have achieved up to 33 mpg. I think this is optimum with a SC Mini, unless you get into hypermiler silliness.
You know, for a used car with lots of options and perhaps 1/3 the cost of a brand new one all decked out, I'm pretty happy.
I rather like the "liberation" of a car with some paint chips, a few rattles, etc---I don't have to worry about it anymore.
If nothing else, I'm sure it would be fun to drive. The Italians make just about every car a "driver's car". Pretty much opposite end of the spectrum from most (but not all) Japanese cars.
I could have sworn I already posted this link a week ago, but it's not there anymore. So, here you go again. Not much info on the MiTo. Good look'n though. I think Fiat has a similar model?
I'd be tempted, very tempted.
Also MINI has a concept car--it's a coupe but as long as a Clubman, with plenty of power and AWD. The problem with *that* is I'm sure it's going to be big $$$.