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MINI Cooper - READ ONLY

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Messages Page 22 of 267

#211 of 2671 Capitalism - Strike While the Iron is Hot by rickrover

Dec 26, 2001 (8:21 pm)

Perry - I understand where you're comming from - I've been there. I'm a total car nut, I have serious weaknesses for BMW's VW's, Land Rovers and Porsches. My current cars are 2000 M Coupe, 2001 X5 3.0, 2002 GTI 1.8t modified for autocross. I know I will eventually replace the GTI with a Mini Cooper S - when all the hoopla dies down, and as nycarguy so eloquantly points out, it will die down. I've made a profit on the sale of the current "hot" vehicle more than once, it subsidizes my car addiction, I hope to make $10k+ on the sale of one of the first Mini Cooper S' to hit the U.S.. I've been on the waiting list for over a year now. I'm already on the list for my second one.
I jumped on the list for the ML (#3) New Beetle (twice) M5 (twice) 2001 M3 coupe (#9) 2001 M3 convertable and 2002 M3 SMG. I use two different BMW dealers in different states.
 
I find it entertaining to make a few bucks on the next hot thing. You have to develop a solid relationship with a local dealer to be able to do this. Some let you sell your place in line, others make you buy the car to resell it.
 
I'm looking forward to driving the Mini S for a couple of days before I give it up to a loving home.
 
I don't always go on a waiting list with the intention of making a profit, it just turns out that the vehicles I've jumped on a waiting list for turned out to be hot, so I sell them (or my place in line) for a profit. I was planning to keep the Mini until it became obvious it was going to be hot. Instead of waiting to own one I went out and bought the GTI and plan to unload the first (and maybe second) Mini Cooper S.

#212 of 2671 True Rick by nyccarguy

Dec 27, 2001 (7:13 am)

I was just breakin' B&%S. If you've got the capital to sell cars at a profit, then more power to you.

#213 of 2671 Its funny by qbrozen

Dec 27, 2001 (7:17 am)

I WANT to be mad at people like rickrover who take advantage of a situation and actually degrade the whole automotive industry and make true enthusiasts hate it more and more. Just like I WANT to be mad at those 40-year-old men who have nothing better to do than wait outside a toy store for several hours before it opens for a chance to scoop up every last copy of the latest toy (meanwhile taking it out of the hands of a child who ACTUALLY wants to play with it) in order to turn around and make a profit on Ebay. However, I just can't get mad about it. Fact is that its the stupid people who pay the markup that makes greedy people WANT to do these things. If there wasn't a market for it, then it wouldn't happen. But, alas, there IS a market and therefore someone will take advantage of it. Just human nature I guess. Frankly, I'm almost envious of people who do that. I just can't bring myself to make poor suckers pay more than they should for something. If I could, I'd be a man with more money.

#214 of 2671 nycarguy by qbrozen

Dec 27, 2001 (7:21 am)

ya know, you don't really need capital to do it. OK, so he gave $1000. That's not a lot. As long as you have good credit and they'll give you a loan on your 4th or 5th car, then you would have it sold before you even have to make your first payment. It doesn't take capital, just nerve.

#215 of 2671 Only In America by rickrover

Dec 27, 2001 (9:04 am)

I never planned on making a profit by getting my name on a waiting list, it started with that ML. I jumped on the waiting list in Colorado, just happened to be in the dealer getting a car serviced the day they started the list, put a $500 refundable deposit down. I had a really old Range Rover at the time that I was thinking of replacing and thought what the heck, if I like the ML I'll be one of the first ones to get one, if not I get my $500 back. A few months later I get a call from a guy in Aspen that wants my place in line and offered me $8k to get my place - SOLD! Who in their right mind wouldn't have? As it turns out the first time I actually saw and sat in an ML I thought it was a piece of garbage (still do). Around that time the New Beetle was comming out and I did the same thing - not thinking of selling it, got on the list, I was 26 or 27 and got one of the first ones. Total hyped up demand when it arrived, sold it at a $5k profit without a problem. The second one I made about $3k on after driving it for 6 months. The M5 was the same deal - $1k deposit, got one of the first ones (Le Mans Blue)and sold it the day I got it for an obcene profit, the second one I thought I was going to keep but again someone really wanted that car - Imola Red with matching two tone Imola Red interior - that one was hard to give up (but I got over it). I picked up my slightly used (3k miles) Estoril blue M Coupe that day. About that time the waiting list started for the new M3, same thing all over again, total hyped up demand when my Laguna Seca Blue M3 coupe arrived. I plan to sell the M Coupe and keep the Laguna Seca Blue M3 SMG coupe that should be here in a couple of months, I don't care what it's worth. I will own a Mini Cooper S for keeps and get rid of the GTI - in a couple of years.
The M3 SMG is a keeper, I'll drive the X5 until the wheels fall off (like my old Range Rover with 170k miles)the X is a fantastic vehicle.
 
I REALLY like my 2002 GTI 1.8t, I put a little over $1k in engine/ suspension upgrades. It's got 225HP and an extremely nice suspension under it now. It will be interesting to see how the Mini S compares.

#216 of 2671 I saw a MINI this week by smchale

Dec 28, 2001 (1:47 am)

I'm in Germany this week and saw a new MINI. The interior is hot. However, it looks like there is no legroom in the backseat. Your kids may get their knees squashed. There also is very little in terms of a trunk, I mean, boot. You'll have to rotate the backseats just to transport 2 bags of groceries. My Honda Civic hatchback has more room.
 
I still want one - I just have to make more friends with people who own larger cars.

#217 of 2671 Hmm by sphinx99

Dec 28, 2001 (6:38 am)

With no rear (based on the above post) how safe will this car be in rear-end collisions. I know there are a few other baby cars fully capable of getting squashed on the road, but at least the Miata has a trunk...?

#218 of 2671 safety by qbrozen

Dec 28, 2001 (7:42 am)

Well, you have to consider how much is between you and the car colliding with you in a side impact. I mean, with the right construction, that small rear area should be just as good and even better at protecting you in a rear collision than if you got hit in the driver's door.
 
I guess something of a concern should be if you had people in the backseat and that back window is close enough that their heads whip back THROUGH that window. OK, I could see that as a problem. Side impact airbags keep that from happening in a side impact.
 
SMchale - was it SO small that what I suggested could happen to the rear occupants?

#220 of 2671 Old vs. New Mini? by richardjenkins

Dec 28, 2001 (7:26 pm)

Has anyone on this board actually driven a new Mini that has an old one? Or conversely is there anyone who owns an old Mini that is waiting to or has placed an order for a new Mini?
 
Just curious to see how the market in the US is reacting to new Mini; in so far as whether the sales of them can be traced to Mini enthusiasts or just enthusiasts.
 
--rich

Messages Page 22 of 267

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