Someone talk me out of this...please

"CKeffer" (KefferCameron) 11/22/2013 at 11:05 • Filed to: None

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So I've been giving serious consderation to selling my 2010 MINI Cooper S and getting somethign more practical. Something like a 2014 Ford Focus ST, and then getting a 1st gen Miata to use as a fun/track toy. As my mini currently stands KBB says it should get me 13-13,500 in trade in from a dealer, or 14-15 if I were to sell privately. I'm too lazy to do the private sale so trade in it's very likely to be. Now, the specific ST I'm looking at ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) has an MSRP of $29,750, and a current list price of $27,281 due to promotions they are currently running. Take out the $13,000 trade in and a $5,000 down payment, and I am left with less than $10k to pay off over 36 months. With my current finances this is honestly quite doable. I also talked to my insurance agent for a quote on how my insurance payments would change by replacing the Mini with the Focus, and it comes out to a tick under $11 per month, once again this is very doable. So, lets go over the pros and cons of this thing, and please, let me know if there is any that I'm missing:

Pros:

Back seat that is useable by normal sized people

A trunk that can actually hold a reasonable amount of stuff even with the back seats up

More power!

I'd once again have a warranty

I'd have a spare tire!

Butt warmers (more a plus for my fiancee than me, but a happy fiancee is always a good thing)

Cheaper repairs (parts for the mini all have to come from europe so repairing things that break gets expensive....fast)

That beautiful performance blue paint job

Those awesome Recaro seats

Cons:

I'd have a car note, the mini is currently paid off so the only note I currently have is for the fiancee's Mazda 3

No modding it (though this is what the Miata would be for so it's really a non issue)

It's still FWD (though once again, the miata would be the fun car so this is kind of moot)

Insurance would go up slightly ($11 bucks a month, it's not much, but it's still more, though if I brought my lunch instead of buying it every day this would be covered with lots to spare)

That's all I'm really coming up with for cons... Like I said, this is really looking very attractive to me. So, please, if there is something I'm overlooking, some huge reason I shouldn't do this, please speak up and let me know!

This is the Miata I'm currently looking at btw.

offroadkarter > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:06

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the mini is a BMW at heart, shits gonna get expensive when it goes wrong

focus ST + warranty FTW!

quarterlifecrisis > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:09

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I'm sorry, you said talk you out of it? Not gonna do that...

UserNotFound > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:09

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Buy it.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:09

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Talk you out of it? Are you kidding? If the finances work for you DO IT.

CKeffer > offroadkarter 11/22/2013 at 11:10

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Yeah, and that's why I'm considering offloading it now before it has any problems.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:10

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There is absolutely nothing wrong with a performance FWD car.

Torque steer is not a fault.

If you like the way it drives, and can afford it, then get it. You will not be any 'less Jalop' because you have a FWD DD; even if you have to wait to get a Miata.

Lazzris > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:13

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Yeah I'm not see a down side to this. I say do it.

offroadkarter > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:14

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I wouldn't blame you one bit if you did

CounterTorqueSteer > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:15

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I would not be the person to talk you out of it, as I just bought a Performance Blue ST last week. LOVE it.

CKeffer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 11/22/2013 at 11:15

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I currently have a FWD DD in the Mini, so this isn't much of a concern, it was more just me amusing myself by listing FWD as a con, I can honestly drive most FWD cars around a track faster than a good number of folks can drive RWD or even MR cars around one....as I found out last weekend when I surprised the hell out of some old guys in Lotus Elises on a roadcourse (this was an issue of tallent deficit, not the car, a MINI has no prayer against an Elise with a competant driver).

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:16

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Then:

Buy

Hoon

Enjoy

Repeat

CKeffer > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 11/22/2013 at 11:19

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Lol...yeah it's looking more and more like that is what is going to happen. I'll be sitting down this weekend to really hammer out what our fixed monthly costs are and what is just us spending money where it doesn't really need to be spent to verify that we can indeed afford this, but off the top of my head I'm just not seeing a reason why we shouldn't be able to afford it.

Who needs sway bars anyway > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:23

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The Focus ST is currently one of my favorite new cars and its the one of only a couple new cars I would actually consider buying if I wasn't broke and determined to DD something from the 60's. Plus its the only FWD car I have ever considered buying. To top it off I have a friend with a Mini S works and maintenance is expensive, overall you would probably save a lot at the end of the day. A mini cooper S is a great car but go for the Focus.

davedave1111 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:24

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If #4 on the pros is really important to you, don't forget that you can buy aftermarket warranties. Depending on what it costs you, it may mean some older, slower-depreciating car makes financial sense even after factoring in a large warranty payment.

Oh, and personally, I think your whole plan is bonkers. But that's just how I'd spend my money, not how you should spend yours. I'd be looking for a car about the age of the Mini, and I wouldn't dream of buying a new Ford and paying through the nose for depreciation. For $13k you can buy a very nice condition modern classic of some sort, and if you DD that for a year or two, you can save the extra payments and at the end will have a car still worth what you paid for it or more.

Cherry_man1 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:27

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Do it. the MINI will get pricy fast and with the Miatia to boot you can have megs fun.

CalzoneGolem > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:27

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If you plan on marrying this fiancee and having little CKEFFERs you should do this. You will need to eventually. Putting a babby in the back of a Mini will suck sweaty donkey balls. You can use all this as a selling point if needed to get fiancee on board with decision.

jsmizira > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:29

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here is a down side (only one i can think of though). if you don't run the ac once every week they have a small, and i mean really tiny, likelihood that the ac compressor seizes. but if you run the defrost or ac then you should never have to worry about it. I've seen a new (albeit not ST spec) focus do this from just sitting on a dealer lot. and I've been told ford has a tsb on it though i haven't read it myself.

Team6.1 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:29

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DO IT! The car payment is the only real con I see so if that is a non-issue than I say go for it. Fiance = eventual family? Which the focus could handle and the mini would struggle with

jsmizira > jsmizira 11/22/2013 at 11:31

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honestly though its a great car and you wouldn't be disappointed if you got it.

TheBaron2112 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:32

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I see no reason not to do this. I just bought a Fiesta ST. While it sucks on long journeys (it's a hatch, idk why I expected a GT car), it's basically perfect for around town.

Do it.

CKeffer > CalzoneGolem 11/22/2013 at 11:34

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And THAT is a big part of why I'm even considering doing this in the first place. The back doors would make kids seats much easier to manage, and if I can get it paid off before they are an issue, even better. As for her, she's already on board with it, and is jealous of the color.

CalzoneGolem > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:35

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Then I'm afraid that you will find no one to talk you out of this.

CKeffer > jsmizira 11/22/2013 at 11:35

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I live in Houston, AC get's run pretty much all the time. That said, it's a very good thing to know.

CKeffer > CalzoneGolem 11/22/2013 at 11:36

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I figured as much. Time to sit down and crunch the numbers this weekend just to make 100% certain that this will not ruin us....though I don't see any reason it would.

CKeffer > TheBaron2112 11/22/2013 at 11:38

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What sucks about it on long trips? The fiancee's Mz3 is great on trips from Houston to Dallas, and even the MINI wasn't that bad on the trip to Deals Gap this summer (12hrs the first day, which was brutal, but it would be brutal in any car I'd think.

jsmizira > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:41

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glad i could help. (subliminally: buy it)

jariten1781 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:44

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I was in a similar situation just a bit ago. The cars I was looking at were the Focus ST was my front runner to replace a 2004 Mazda6 wagon. Went and sat in it, and holy crap is that car large. I confirmed afterwards that it was taller, wider, and nearly the same weight as the mid-sized wagon I was trading in...that's nuts. Ended up trying on the Fiesta ST and it was just a much better fit and more fun car mostly because it's 500 lbs lighter than the Focus...(you just can't hide that).

I also own a fun car (96 Miata MP62 supercharged). When I have to haul stuff I just rent a pickup from Home Depot or U-Haul by the hour. For long trips with more than three people I just rent a minivan and thrash it.

I'd probably keep the Mini though until I could pick up something without loans unless you've just got that new car itch in which case I'd take a look at the Fiesta and the Focus, they're both good.

CKeffer > jsmizira 11/22/2013 at 11:45

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Lol, I don't need much in the way of encouragement :D Weather permitting I'm going to go look at one today, and crunch the numbers this weekend to get a definite yes or no (though I'm not seeign a reason why it would be no). Provided that everything lines up, this may happen sooner than later.

TheBaron2112 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:45

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I'm going on the only really long trip I've taken so far (Nashville to Memphis). It's a boring straight road with no turns, so my hands get tired on the race style wheel grips.

The other thing is how the seats are. Idk if I haven't broken them in yet (I have the cloth seats because Recaros looked childish) but it's tough to get in a position that's comfortable to sit in a long time AND to be able to effectively use the pedals. It's really nitpicky stuff, but on a long journey, constantly readjusting adds up.

The biggest pet peeve I have with it is the ergonomics of the wheel/shifter/pedals.

If I move my seat back far enough to where using the pedals are comfortable, I have to stretch to do gear shifts. If I move the seat up to where it's comfortable to use the gear shift, I feel like the pedals are JUST a bit too close. But again, I may not have the seat adjusted properly.

jsmizira > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 11:48

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let us know if it does and post some pics. Oppo will be more than happy to congratulate you on a new acquisition.

CKeffer > TheBaron2112 11/22/2013 at 12:04

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Hmm, that is something I will definitely keep in mind. Thanks for the heads up.

CKeffer > jsmizira 11/22/2013 at 12:05

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Lol, will do.

TheBaron2112 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 12:10

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I didn't notice it when I did the test drive and when I first got the car. I have been fiddling with the seats a lot, though.

I figure it's like adjusting my glasses. I think they aren't perfect, but when I adjust the ear and nose pieces, I just make it worse. And I'm constantly doing it, making it worse and worse.

I fear taking this to a valet or the dealer because I know they'll adjust the seat. lol

CKeffer > jariten1781 11/22/2013 at 12:11

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I'll definitely give the Fiesta a look as well. Part of it is the new car itch, but it's also that I'll be getting married next year, and I'd like to have a car that will be easier to manage with kids, and hopefully get it paid off before they get here too. So, larger is honestly the point of this car while still having it be a reasonably fun DD.

CKeffer > TheBaron2112 11/22/2013 at 12:15

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LOL! I'm usually not super pickey about seat position so long as I can depress the clutch without fully extending my leg and reach the wheel with and still have some bend in my arms, and then have enough headroom that I don't feel like I'm going to hit my head, I'm happy.

TheBaron2112 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 12:18

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Then you'll be happy with the Focus ST.

CKeffer > Team6.1 11/22/2013 at 12:25

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Yeah, that's a big part of why I'm looking into this. I love my mini, and while some have made it work with babies, getting car seats in and out of the back would kill MY back, the Focus would eliminate this issue via those back doors, also the trunk in the mini is laughable.....though it's made me REALLY good at luggage tetris. Now, we're not going to be trying for kids soon, but that just gives me a greater chance of getting it paid of before they become an issue.

Team6.1 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 12:40

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Also the benfits of a second toy car aka miata is that you can really REALLY hoon it. Autocross or track days or modify it or whatever, and you aren't depreciating your DD or risking a breakdown and no transportation. Plus aonce it's the nice weather weekend car you can go as crazy as you want with it, and still have the Fiesta (which is still fun and enjoyable)

Team6.1 > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 12:43

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I debated trading in my SUV on a new Jeep, ended up keeping the suv and buying a used jeep. Have beat the shit out of it but have loved every single second. And when it's been down with broken axles or electrical problems or whatever else I still had a DD

CKeffer > Team6.1 11/22/2013 at 12:43

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Exactly, I have a terminal case of the mod bug, so if I can direct it's attention elsewhere the DD should be unaffected.

CKeffer > Team6.1 11/22/2013 at 12:46

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Nice, and this is why I'm lookign at an old miata as a toy. If I break it by putting it in the weeds or something on track, then I will still be able to get to work on Monday, and I won't be in a huge time crunch to get it fixed, not to mention they are super easy to work on and parts are both cheap and plentiful.

Milky > CKeffer 11/22/2013 at 13:09

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No one here is going to talk you out of this purchase idea. This is Oppo, you know that.

Second, butt warmers are a positive for everyone!!

CKeffer > Milky 11/22/2013 at 13:13

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lol, I honestly expected as much. As for the butt warmers, they're ok, but here in Houston, I honestly haven't missed them as it rarely gets cold enough for me to want them.