Death of a MINI Cooper - the rest of the story.

"Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost) 03/25/2019 at 03:07 • Filed to: None

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So last week I talked a bit about my middle daughter’s dead MINI Cooper. Here’s the rest of that story, some of which I only found out this weekend ...

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As far as I’m concerned this car has always been a little bit of a problem. Or, my ex-wife’s attitude about cars has been. To best explain all of this I’m going to rewind about 4 and a half years to when Taylor (my Mini driving daughter) was 15.

For reasons unknown to me, my perennially underemployed ex-wife decided that the kids each needed to get a car when they were 15, to learn how to drive and then become “their car” once they got a license. Had either of us been independently wealthy I would have had little problem with this. Unfortunately I work for the state and she doesn’t have a full time job at all, so there’s some issues there. I will say that unlike what I’ve seen other parents do (which might have been my move) she let the girls pick out their new (used) cars. Taylor wanted a red Mini Cooper.

Since my ex-wife couldn’t afford to foot the bill on it herself, she went to her mom for financial assistance. Her mom isn’t wealthy either. At the time of the purchase of this car, they spent a long time sitting at the dealer lot awaiting financing, ending up with an 18% interest rate and payments of $380 a month, on a 2010 Mini Cooper. Not an S, not a Cooper Works, not a clubman, just a regular mini. At no time has the total purchase price of this car been discussed in my presence, but they still owe seven grand on it. Yes, this car with a dead engine has a seven grand lien on it likely by some fly-by-night dealer financing at a terrible interest rate. All I knew at the time is that I was making those payments through my child support.

When the time came for our youngest daughter to go through this same process (she wanted a VW New B eetle), the ex came to me and asked if I would co-sign. My answer was no. I proposed that the two girls, being only two years apart, share the Mini. This was apparently the wrong answer and they found some way to get her that VW. (I t was a total mess of a car, and is already gone.)

My ex-wife and her mother go through long periods of time where they piss each other off and then don’t talk to each other. Over the years this has been about various personal issues as well as financial ones. Neither one of them is any good at managing money. They always feel like there’s more money coming in next month, so why not borrow against that, even when that money is already earmarked for existing expenses. When this car blew up, they’re on the outs and my ex-wife has no qualms whatsoever about thr owing her mom’s admittedly already screwed up credit under the wheels of the dead car.

I went and talked to my mechanics about the car, despite the fact that it’s in Houston where I am not. When I showed them the photos and described the situation they immediately went to the engine replacement at over $5k. With the car itself not being worth that, let alone the $7K on the note, there’s no way I’d be willing to go find that kind of cash to fix it. Unfortunately Taylor is in a position where she really needs some reliable transportation, she’s a college junior, with all of the things that go with that, and will be living with me for the next semester, so will go from living on campus (with outrageous rent) to becoming a commuter student.

We talked about what she needs in a car and came up with a list of criteria. I spent a good chunk of Friday test driving various things that would fit her needs and landed on an oddly familiar car in the end.

A 2009 Mini Cooper S.

Her criteria? Inexpensive, small and manual transmission . I did consent this time to co-signing for it on financing if necessary to get a better interest rate, since I’ll be actually able to keep track of the maintenance and condition of the car myself. This car has 10,000 fewer miles than her 2010 did, and everything is tighter all around. The clutch, brakes, suspension, everything seems to be in better shape than the dead one. There are a few little things it needs, but she can scrounge those off the old car before it gets repo’d.

Saturday morning I picked her up and took her to the Credit Union. “Good morning, my daughter would like to apply for a used car loan.” I had them put it through with only her to start with and the result was tentative approval for more than she needs at 3.98% interest. The payment on that is half what she had been paying. We should have final approval on the loan today, and we went back by the car lot and got all of the paperwork filled out and sent over to the credit union already, so once approved we can just go pick up the car.

I’ve already made her rehearse what she’s going to tell her mom, “No, I will not co-sign a loan for you.”

CB > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 03:13

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Jeez, what a mess. My condolences. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing (minus the fact that a manual Corolla might be financially safer).

Aso, ban your younger daughter's boyfriend from even looking at it from across a parking lot.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > CB 03/25/2019 at 03:26

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Yeah. I wasn’t able to find a manual corolla, and the only manual civic I could find had more miles and a higher price tag than I wanted.

I wish I could launch the younger daughter’s boyfriend from a canon...

NKato > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 03:35

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Best I can do is a ride in the back cage of a retired police cruiser.

And it’ll be an Uber.

DutchieDC2R > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 03:44

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Man, that boyfriend really screwed you guys over. Well, maybe not in terms of finances, but, pulling the engine apart just like that?

Props on keeping your head cool about it all...

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > DutchieDC2R 03/25/2019 at 03:59

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Thanks.

I kept telling Taylor that she had my permission to hit her sister’s boyfriend with whatever she wanted, but she’s an incredible voice of reason.

CB > NKato 03/25/2019 at 04:21

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I really hope you don't have a cage in your car still...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 05:41

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What a magical cacophony of clusterfuck to have circling around your head. Big ups to you for making it work out...kind of.

In the end though , pinning it all on the idiot at the pointy end of the F unnel of Bad Decisions is a bit like shooting fish in a bucket. However, he should still have engraved head parts jewellery as a reminder...though you might want to get another one made for the ex as well.

NKato > CB 03/25/2019 at 06:39

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I don’t. But I did recently salvage one at the Lynnwood pick and pull.

(It’s being resold by my friend, we’re splitting the profit since he found it and I had time to yank it.)

Whenever my sister asks me to drive her around (I refuse to, for private reasons), I respond that I’d have to reinstall the partition before I’d seriously consider the request.

You can imagine her reaction. 

shop-teacher > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 07:49

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Wow ... Just wow. She’s had that for multiple years, and they still owe $7k on it? That’s incredible.

Well, I'm happy that you were able to help the kid out. She's obviously doing something right to get those terms as a college kid. Now she can build her own credit.

RacinBob > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 08:17

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Have you looked into the cost of installing a used engine in the dead one? Granted you can get the new car financed but an engine replacement you can’t. I’d guess $5000 all in.

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > RacinBob 03/25/2019 at 08:36

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um, kind up yeah, it’s up there...

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > shop-teacher 03/25/2019 at 08:37

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She’s a good kid, and doing the right things with her money. I’m just so glad she could pull a good rate on her own, making building even better credit easier.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 08:41

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18% interest rate and payments of $380 a month, on a 2010 Mini Cooper

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB 03/25/2019 at 09:16

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I don't recall if he does. It's a sweet crown vic though!

getFuckedHerb > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 09:27

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Man breaks my heart to read stuff like this where your EX goes way beyond her means to try to do something she thinks her kid needs but can’t see how much it’s hurting them in the long run. Super happy ending, she can afford the payments and gets a fun little car, you help her learn about regular upkeep and what you have to do to keep a car going. She takes more pride in it because she’s paying for it to boot. Bonus on her getting (basically) market rate right now on used stuff of that vintage- will be huge for her credit when she has that paid off after college and is looking for a house/apartment etc.

Cheers to the good Dad’s club.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 10:14

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just read the first part and my car is starting to do the same thing but in coolant. has the same mileage too (77,795 to be exact). i suspected water pump but when i read that he took the cams and head apart i just facepalmed. RIP that 1.6

edit: if she heard a rattling and then just stopped, it was probably the timing chain and the water pump going bad. look up “mini cooper death rattle” and you’ll see what i mean

Future Heap Owner > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 10:39

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I’m glad that this had a (somewhat) happy ending, though I still feel sorry for the old Mini.

And kudos for raising a child  that puts “manual transmission” on their list of car requirements.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 11:01

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Glad to see everything worked out in the end. If you don't end up shoving them up the boyfriend's ass you should make her some camshaft lamps out of the old parts to give her when she moves into her own place.

bob and john > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 12:25

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I feel like ex’s wifes lack of money solving problems is at least partially the reason for her being an EX wife.

good for the daughter. glad she has a head on her shoulder and is learning, both in cars and in money things.

is there anything she/you can sign before hand to say you dont let the ex wife have ANY thing co-signed with her?

Spanfeller is a twat > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 12:26

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18% APR?

Jesus...

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 12:55

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Love it, it says something she stayed with MINI. And congratulations on the manual too.

I’m sure you know but be sure she keeps up on maintenance- it’s even more crucial in the MCS. This one could have thermostat cracks too (had one in my 11 Clubman) so straight to you / dealer / good MINI shop at the first sign of any trouble.

FCT > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 13:28

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You made a a huge mistaking replacing a Mini with a Mini S. The 2007-2010 Mini Cooper S (N14 Engine) is literally the most unreliable car I have ever owned. I love it, but I'm a gearhead and can fix or at least diagnose things and even then it is expensive.

RacinBob > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 13:35

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So plan B is insurance fraud?!  :) 

Tim > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 14:14

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Huh. It would seem from the story that one look at your future mother in law should have sent you running from the woman who became your wife.  And dont say it was because she is beautiful. I refuse to believe any jalopnik staffer or contributor has a good looking wife.

Tim > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 14:19

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Ad btw, mini engine swap is very fast. Did my neighbors with him on his wife’s car in 3, 4 hour shifts. Replaces 36k mini motor with 11k mini motor that was 1200 from local full service junkyard. Btw, mini cooper seem to have range rover levels of reliability. Exploding water pumps, head gaskets, exploding clutches(which alst require throw and out bearing collar, bushing and a few other things along with normal clutch bearing and slave if you want to new clutch to engage) plus a ton of other issues that come up at low mileage.  Fiat abarth is bulletproof by comparison.

StudyStudyStudy > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 14:33

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With the turbo, it is going to eat a bit more oil and need to be checked a bit more frequently, and if I’m not mistaken with the all aluminum block you won’t get as much wiggle room if the engine is overheated from low coolant. Consideration for a good old miata ever come up in conversation? 

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 03/25/2019 at 14:44

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No such thing.*

*Minus the one I drove on a track day, because of the sweet skids and launching a pylon 40 feet.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > RacinBob 03/25/2019 at 19:35

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you know, I don’t care what the ex does with the dead one.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 03/25/2019 at 19:37

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well, I know the thermostat housing was cracked, and it needed new hoses and clamps on the radiator, so I think that was the start of the issue. Then of course the water pump . The world may never really know though what killed this one...

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > bob and john 03/25/2019 at 19:38

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I feel like ex’s wifes lack of money solving problems is at least partially the reason for her being an EX wife.

True. This daughter has a good head on her shoulders. I think she understands the financial lesson here.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Tim 03/25/2019 at 19:41

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No, I didn’t spend any time with her mother before the wedding, and before then the ex was ok with money...

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 03/25/2019 at 21:39

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it was the guy pulling apart the cams and head gasket. and, if the car didnt look like this when you first saw it in the light, you’re basically fucked