i should have bought a mini

[ElFenix]

do these things ever depreciate? instead of buying my sentra and suffering 45% depreciation i could have bought a mini, gotten better gas mileage, a better driving experience, and only taken a 10% hit

i'd kinda like a mini convertible, but a used miata is so much less (and probably better built).

 

[andylawcc]

but it is near impossible to get one to begin with right?

 

[ponyo]

Instead of the %, what's the dollar amount? I would rather take 99% depreciation on a 10k car than a 30% hit on a 100k car. That said, minis are still holding its value that well?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
but it is near impossible to get one to begin with right?

It's not nearly as bad as it used to me.

I would like a MINI convertible, but it's still based on the old R53 chassis, not that R56 chassis. Plus, their prices have really gone up from when we had them.

 

[iamwiz82]

Just checked, the 2008 convertibles will be R56.

Why not wait for a Clubman? http://www.motoringfile.com/20...bman-videos/#more-6009

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Naustica
Instead of the %, what's the dollar amount? I would rather take 99% depreciation on a 10k car than a 30% hit on a 100k car. That said, minis are still holding its value that well?

they're pretty darn close to that. probably a $4K difference (7-8 grand in depreciation for the sentra vs 3 to 4). assuming i could get one at msrp, that is.

sentras do not hold value very well. lesson learned, i guess.

 

[Pliablemoose]

If you really want a Miata, look for one in the wintertime on Craigslist, the NA's don't depreciate that much any more. You can get a great deal on a low mileage one...

Just be sure you can live with a 2 seater with a small trunk...

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
but it's still based on the old R53 chassis, not that R56 chassis.

how much better is the new chassis?

 

[Tyrant222]

So what sentra do you have?

I just sold mine a month ago and got a few hundred MORE than what I paid for it 1.5 yrs ago.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Miata trunks aren't that bad. I've had two 40lb bags of dog food in the back of mine with a litle very little room to spare. Miata rwd > mini fwd.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Miata rwd > mini fwd.

blah... just put the mini in reverse

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Miata trunks aren't that bad. I've had two 40lb bags of dog food in the back of mine with a litle very little room to spare. Miata rwd > mini fwd.

Agreed, I make Costco runs with mine

"Where the hell am I gonna put this gross of toilet paper."

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Tyrant222
So what sentra do you have?

I just sold mine a month ago and got a few hundred MORE than what I paid for it 1.5 yrs ago.

2003 se-r, bought right near the beginning of the model year so it looks like a high mileage car.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
but it's still based on the old R53 chassis, not that R56 chassis.

how much better is the new chassis?

There's nothing in it as far as the driver. AFAIK the main difference is it's cheaper to build. The MK1 was notoriously over engineered underneath.

 

[SearchMaster]

I thought they also lengthened it a bit for crash-test purposes.

 

[mitaiwan82]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i'd kinda like a mini convertible, but a used miata is so much less (and probably better built).

that's right! Miata > *

RWD, convertible, cheap, reliable, plenty-o-mods...what's not to like for a fun 2nd car?

 

[SketchMaster]

Just wait for the new Suzuki Swift.

 

[CtK]

My sister just took her 2004 Mini Cooper to Carmax and they offered her $12,500 and she paid about $20G for it 3 years ago. Not Bad!!

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Miata trunks aren't that bad. I've had two 40lb bags of dog food in the back of mine with a litle very little room to spare. Miata rwd > mini fwd.

That's a small trunk. I've had six people in mine with a fair amount of room to spare.

(living people who climbed in for fun. Not bodies or kidnappees)