MINI Cooper Named Best Resale Value 9th Year
File this one under “new news that’s old news.” Automotive consumer price index Kelly Blue Book has named the 2011 MINI Cooper range the best resale value in the compact car segment during the LA Auto Show this week. This makes nine straight years that the MINI has taken top honors at KBB.com’s Best Resale Value Awards. KBB.com’s Executive Market Analyst, James Bell, had this to say:
“Consumers should take a good look at the projected resale value of a car when choosing their next new-vehicle purchase, and they would be wise to carefully consider the 2011 Best Resale Value Award winning vehicles and brands on this year’s list. Vehicle depreciation is a new car buyer’s biggest expense. Taking the time to research and choose vehicle makes, models and options wisely now can help new-car shoppers hold value down the road when they go to sell or trade-in the vehicle.â€
Congrats to MINI for another year atop the value podium!
<p>In the real world, on the other hand, my 2009 Clubman with 26,000 miles, has lost $9,000 to $11,000 in value. $5,500 depreciation per year??? I want a 2011 MCS, but at this kind of resale value, it’s a no-go.</p>
<p>I was thinking the same thing. I have a 2009 MCS DS w/ redwood leather and was thinking about selling it and getting a Clubman or a Countryman due to a new member of the family being expected. I looked up the resale value on KBB and its lost $6000 in a little over 1 year of ownership and 16,000 miles. I guess im going to have to suck it up and find baby stuff that fits. Luckily my fiance just bought a Volvo.</p>
<p>I was thinking the same thing. 14 mo ago I got a 2006 MCS with 36k for about 1500, now the best estimate I can get for a trade in is $11,500 with 50k at carmax.</p>
<p>I was told that this was less than usual becuase the market for minis is soft at the moment.</p>
<p>My modestly optioned 2007 R56 MC has great resale value according to KBB. In almost four years of ownership it has lost 8.4K (trade in) or 6.3K (private party) for a 21.9K priced car in four years. Not shabby at all. Don’t know how accurate KBB is compared to real world.</p>
<p>Highly optioned cars will tend to lose more quicker than modestly optioned ones.</p>
<p>Options are worth very little to the secondary market. A low option car will retain great resale, your options will not. Oh and great resale means retaining more like 60% of value rather than 40% over the first 4yrs. that means you will still lose 10k of value and the majority of that in the first couple its not a linear curve!! so yes you lose a lot the first and second years…less in the third than the second and you lose less in the 4th than the third</p>
<p>glangford,</p>
<p>I think the point a few of us are making is that the KBB is quite a bit different than what you might expect in the real world.</p>
<p>If your mini lost that much money imagine what other cars are losing.</p>
<p>So would you buy another one? I need a car that gets great milage to drive 400 mile trip every two weeks but in and around town to work.</p>
<p>Someone ought to tell these dumbasses that they’re forgetting someone:</p>
<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1011/gallery.kbb_best_resale_value_top_ten/index.html" rel="nofollow">Cars: Top 10 best resale value – CNNMoney.com</a></p>
<p>Exactly – options don’t really up the resale value. I have a pretty basic 2006 Cooper that cost me $18,950. The only options I got was Sport Seats, Multi-function steering wheel, fog lights and Auto AC. KBB has the trade in at around $12,000. Pretty good for being over 4 years old!</p>
<p>@ hfred – You’re driving almost double the average. Come on…not many people in the used market are going to jump head first into a vehicle (MINI or not) with that many miles (All highway or not). It’s pretty spot on.</p>
<p>@ dr – trade-in value is based off of KBB (East Coast) or NADA (mostly the West coast) and the auctions. Ask anyone that wants to buy-out their lease. Residuals can vary depending on the current market. Also, options greatly increase the trade-in value; NAV = $$$, Premium Package = $$$, Cold weather = you’re getting my drift.</p>
p>@haemish</p
<p>They didn’t forget anyone… MINI didn’t make the cut at top 10 overall (#10 is 41.3% retained after 5 years), but is #1 for compact cars (40.6% retained after 5 years).</p>
<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1011/gallery.kbb_best_resale_value_by_category/3.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1011/gallery.kbb_best_resale_value_by_category/3.html</a></p>
<p>In June, I traded my $43,400 09 JCW Factory car with 16,000 miles on it at my MINI Dealer and got $24,000 for it. When I purchased the car in July of 08, they offered me $18,000 for my 05 S with 42,000 miles that was $28,400 new. That’s 64% retention after four years on the R53 and 55% after not even 2 on the JCW Factory car. Says something about the JCW Factory Car in my book.</p>
<p>@Charlie. Yes i would buy another. My first car was a 93 5.0 LX Mustang off the showroom floor at age 16, then i went to Jeep Wranglers for many years and to an 06 4runner, back to Jeep(with a few older BMW’S for fun in between) and this is my first MINI. I would have to say its my 2nd Favorite car. The first being that Mustang, but with the amount of ass i got with it in high school it would be anybody’s favorite….</p>
<p>Spokane: Sorry for you loss, but let’s face it, trading in a car with only 16K on the clock, that’s a bit soon isn’t it. Also, what did you put EXTRA on the JCW to get it to $43,400? I just took delivery of my JCW and it listed at $32,500 , but then again, I didn’t add at the VDC the JCW kits. My dad once told me that if I sold a car that was under 3 years old, to expect to take a bath. As for my JCW, unless it turns into a complete lemon, I intend on keeping it for many years, 5 years of more and play with it.</p>
<p>As for what this article is talking about, mainly it talks about the Mini base and S models. JCW is a special model, and they aren’t usually included in these types of figures. My opinion, but based on my experiences, too.</p>
<p>@fishbert Ah OK – thanks for setting me straight. I could have sworn the 5 year residual value for MINIs is over 50%. It used to be!</p>
<p>Currently 5 yr residual on a cooper is 44%</p>
<p>source – official MINI finance guidelines.</p>
<p>44% would put the MINI at #4 on CNNs list. However, a jeep wrangler at #2 on that list is laughable.</p>
<p>So…. How did the 2011 R56 LCI represent for re – sale?</p>