Change is inevitable, and if you plan to keep up with the automotive market these days you eventually have to walk that walk and try something new. As you all are probably aware of about two years ago, I traded in my Audi A4 for a Volkswagen CC. This was more of a stylish sedan than a luxury car, but at the time it fit my needs perfectly.
Having owned almost a dozen of Audi or VW vehicles over the years, it began to feel like I was always sampling from the Volkswagen auto group buffet. I have had everything from a Stage III A4 Quattro, to the latest front wheel drive boulevard cruiser. My journey with VW/Audi always enjoyable, and the CC was been entirely trouble free for the 50,000 miles, I owned it..
But it is time for a change, and this time it is a big one…errr well really a Mini one.
Yes, I took the plunge and moved from a large sedan to a substantially smaller one. A 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman to be exact, or as many of you might think of as that over sized go cart that BMW makes. Pretty close, but there is a bit more to it than that.
How can I undertake such a down sizing? Well, while I still have he need from time to time to haul a bit of cargo or camping gear, something the CC was more than up to with that cavernous trunk, but the Clubman actually takes that up a notch or two with the rear seats down. Since I am still hauling around a stray teenaged baseball player from time to time, 4 seats were still going to be the norm for a while. As crazy as it might sound after weighing my usage needs, the Clubman was actually going to be a good fit.
New Or Certified?
Now a lot of you are going to wonder why a 2012 over the 2103? This is pretty simple if you think about it. Most of the depreciation of a new vehicle occurs in the first two to three of ownership. While our Agent001 is busy picking up the latest models and trading them out every two years. I am the guy pocketing the cash and scooping up these low mileage cherries when they hit the open market. In this case it was a certified Mini with less than 12,000 miles on the odometer. I simply let someone else pay a sizable chunk of that depreciation then I move in. Actually in the case on a certified Mini, the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty new car is extended to 6 years and 100,000 miles adding to the value proposition. Pretty hard to lose in that scenario.
The Deal
So after researching the market value of my CC, current interest rates, and Clubman prices, I knew what my payment should be if all went well. I can’t emphasize the importance of knowing the facts and figures ahead of time. How else are you going to know if you actually got a good deal? Preparation is the key.
So off to my friends at Mini Of Plano, where I hooked up with the consummate salesman, Paul Harding and I drove a Clubman S. Just to let you know, I had narrowed down the choices online and looked over on the physical inventory the day before while the dealership was closed. So walking in I was down to a choice of one or two. Now we were down to the deal at hand. The Clubman I chose was priced well under market value and knowing this and the lack of wiggle room, my main concern was a fair trade and the lowest possible interest rate. In a very short time and only one trip to the sales manager we had a market value trade and a flawless pre-owned Clubman at a steal of a price. My financing came through with flying colors and dealership actually met the lowest rates available. So what was the net difference from my calculated payment and the final figure? 26 cents a month in total, and oh yeah, and I ended up with cash in my pocket for the trouble.
A Steptronic over a stick? You HAVE to be kidding, right?
Well yes and no. Knowing this is the vehicle my son will end up learning how to drive in, I originally wanted a stick to keep the outside distractions to a minimum. After all with a steering wheel in one hand and stick rowing thorough the gears in the other, only other body parts are left to text with, and that most likely won’t happen. But after looking at what was available in the Clubman S range, almost every stick was a JCW with a much steeper price tag or an entirely stripped down model. So I skeptically ran the Steptronic through the paces and was pleasantly surprised at the power delivery. Now while this is not a DSG, it is more than adequate. The stick in this case will probably have to wait another two or three years.
Any Mods?
Most of you know I can’t keep away from tinkering with whatever I own, so what is next? The Mini has a large aftermarket going for it, so the options are wide open. Within 48 hours my friends over at Pro Tint of Plano were already doing their magic taming that large greenhouse from the Texas heat. In no time an extremely durable ceramic tint was installed. I have to say that contrasting black and silver stripes are already in the future budget, and when those run-flat tires are wiped out, wheels and tires are on the short list. Oh yes after scanning through the official Mini parts catalog is seems the JCW suspension should make that go kart feel even better. Is there a performance tune in there somewhere? We will wait and see, because these are just making it to the market for the Gen III power plant, but every car I have owned has had the ECU bumped at some point.
So the journey continues, this time to the beat of a different drummer. And I think this one will be the most fun in a long time. And oh yeah, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by Mini of Plano and give Paul a shout and tell him Agent009 sent you. This man and dealership know how to make the whole purchase process easy.
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