And then there were fewer than ten ...

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Qisl

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new 2024 Cooper SE's to purchase.

https://www.miniusa.com/inventory.html#/results?Model=F56&FuelType=E

I've been watching the inventory list for new Cooper SE's available at MINI USA for the last couple of weeks. A couple of days ago there were around forty. Imagine my surprise this morning to see that there were fewer than ten of these wonderful cars left to purchase.

I wonder where the very last gen one Cooper SE in the US will be purchased?

(One politician for the 2024 US presidential election has said that he wants to apply a 100% to 200% tariff on all imported cars, even those manufactured in US allies such as UK and FRG. So, it may be more than four years before electric MINI Coopers return to the US.)

I wonder who scarfed thirty in only two days?
 
There are still quite a few new 2024 Mini Cooper SE here in Canada. But you cannot "build" your own. I guess that means there will be no 2025 models. Haven't heard that the Canadian government is going to increase the import tariff like the US. But I may be wrong. I suppose the 2024 models will soon become hot potatoes!
 
Qisl said:
I wonder who scarfed thirty in only two days?
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Perhaps miniusa wasn't paying close attention every week and just discovered the actual remaining inventory. We'll see the price for used MINI Cooper SEs skyrocketing once all the new ones are gone, right?

In 2016, I met a guy in Indianapolis who had acquired 35 gen-1 Honda Insights. None of them were new, however. In the background, you can see his fabulous garage, complete with a hydraulic lift, to work on his favorite cars.

upload_2024-8-11_17-26-37.webp
 
What does CO give on used ones? MA gives $3500 new or used, but to get the best deal on used is to wind in the Federal credit which has to be 2 model years old, so currently 2022 and earlier and under $25k. It's 30% up to $4k max. There was a 2016 Fiat 500e going for $6k recently, but it's not listed as MA eligible possibly an oversight since not too many sold. If it were eligible: 6000-(0.3x 6000) -3500 = $700 and I'd hope it would be a better $700 spent than Hoovie did on his.

A friend of mine traded a 9 year old Mazda3 on a 2021 Bolt and got it for under $7k out the door, about 30k miles IIRC. I do the occasional CarGuru search for 2022 and earlier EVs under $25k and have seen one ID.4, a Mach-E, tons of Bolts and Leafs (Leaves!) and quite a few Konas, some Model Ss, no Ioniq5s or EV6s yet. A used EV makes a lot of sense to me.

Meanwhile F56 SEs seem to be holding a bit steadier, but it will be an interesting calculation when the lease is up.

cheers
MacMini34
 
MacMini34 said:
What does CO give on used ones? MA gives $3500 new or used, but to get the best deal on used is to wind in the Federal credit which has to be 2 model years old, so currently 2022 and earlier and under $25k. It's 30% up to $4k max. There was a 2016 Fiat 500e going for $6k recently, but it's not listed as MA eligible possibly an oversight since not too many sold. If it were eligible: 6000-(0.3x 6000) -3500 = $700 and I'd hope it would be a better $700 spent than Hoovie did on his.

A friend of mine traded a 9 year old Mazda3 on a 2021 Bolt and got it for under $7k out the door, about 30k miles IIRC. I do the occasional CarGuru search for 2022 and earlier EVs under $25k and have seen one ID.4, a Mach-E, tons of Bolts and Leafs (Leaves!) and quite a few Konas, some Model Ss, no Ioniq5s or EV6s yet. A used EV makes a lot of sense to me.

Meanwhile F56 SEs seem to be holding a bit steadier, but it will be an interesting calculation when the lease is up.

cheers
MacMini34
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The 19k capital cost reduction was for a 2024 lease. 35k MSRP less 19k = 16k with a buyout in the low 14k.

Here is my 2023
https://www.copart.com/lot/62098174/2023-mini-cooper-se-co-denver-south
 
Sad to see your car on Copart and I notice 3 other SEs linked. The red one in CA has much right side and rear damage, but I don't see what's wrong with either silver one (NH and NC). Anyone?
 
Thanks to the 100% tariff, MiniUSA scarfed the last of the F56SE production while the rest of the world started getting J01s. My local dealer had 8 some months ago. I don't know what they peaked at. I do see used F56SE prices climbing until the politics are fixed for the J01. With the J01 even heavier than the F56SE and not offering much extra other than range, some of us may prefer the F56SE, anyway.

Meanwhile, I've been in China for nearly 3 weeks. 5 of 6 taxis I've taken were EVs. A car and driver I rented at $56/day! was also EV. Sensible sized EVs are everywhere. Think mostly model 3 and Y size cars. I've seen a few of those, but mostly Chinese alternatives. The S seems a luxury choice. Some provincial cities have a lot of Mini and Micro EVs zipping around too. I haven't seen any SEs, yet, but they are for sale and would suit affluent Chinese very well. There are hundreds of millions of EV scooters, which are the new Chinese bicycle. DC Charging seems to be up to 150kW that I've seen. With most EV batteries under maybe 60kWh, this works fine. China is way, way ahead of the curve with EVs. Anyone making EV policy decisions should visit for a few weeks. I can see why BMW are making the J01 here.
 
Qisl said:
Looks like MINI of Westchester has the last one available:

https://www.miniusa.com/inventory.html#/detail/WMW13DJ04R2V88632

I was hoping that MINI of Plano would have the last SE available, so that I could cheer on the last SE sold.
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I'm not sure if we'll ever know when the last one is sold. The nationwide search seems a bit flaky, and may not pick up every SE out there. In fact, my local dealer claims to still have one - only stock pictures, but with a VIN, meaning that the car is (or was) out there somewhere.

Hmm. Maybe I should drive there tomorrow and see if it really exists. It would give me a chance to check out the F66 while I'm at it.
 
pictsidhe said:
If the USA ever pulls its head out of its *** and starts making and importing small and medium size EVs again, sure. The BMW Minis were not exactly light for their size, even before the EV conversion.
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The 2nd-genFiat 500e weighs about 100 pounds less than the F56 SE, but taking 8.5 seconds to get to 60 disqualifies that EV from the hot-hatch club IMO.

After the sports cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Acura, Maserati, Chevrolet, etc. get their solid-state batteries, I'm hoping those lightweight cells will trickle down to a car like the Volkswagen ID. GTI (last year's wonderful EV hot-hatch concept). Then I have to hope the manufacturer of such a car would dare bring it to North America, land of the SUVs and pickup trucks.
 
insightman said:
The 2nd-genFiat 500e weighs about 100 pounds less than the F56 SE, but taking 8.5 seconds to get to 60 disqualifies that EV from the hot-hatch club IMO.
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I'm seeing articles about how "fun" the new Fiat 500e is, and what a great second EV it will be. While I'm not disparaging the 500e, the F56 SE rarely, if ever, got that kind of positive attention. I'm starting to think the F56 SE will one day, like in 10-20 years, go down as a legendary car model.
 
Puppethead said:
I'm seeing articles about how "fun" the new Fiat 500e is, and what a great second EV it will be. While I'm not disparaging the 500e, the F56 SE rarely, if ever, got that kind of positive attention. I'm starting to think the F56 SE will one day, like in 10-20 years, go down as a legendary car model.
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I agree with your first assessment. Why automotive journalists often seem to be completely unaware of the F56 SE is beyond me. The 500e is cute IMO, but objectively has nothing to offer over the MINI.

As for the second, I'm not sure "legendary" is the right word, but as a bridge to full electrification, I'm betting it will be viewed as a resounding success.
 
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insightman said:
The 2nd-genFiat 500e weighs about 100 pounds less than the F56 SE, but taking 8.5 seconds to get to 60 disqualifies that EV from the hot-hatch club IMO.

After the sports cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Acura, Maserati, Chevrolet, etc. get their solid-state batteries, I'm hoping those lightweight cells will trickle down to a car like the Volkswagen ID. GTI (last year's wonderful EV hot-hatch concept). Then I have to hope the manufacturer of such a car would dare bring it to North America, land of the SUVs and pickup trucks.
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Last week, in Chinese traffic, I looked at the EV next me, a Neta Aya. Definite Pontiac Vibes coming from it I was surprised to see it riding on 185/60-15 tyres. It's an 1150kg car. Only 90hp, but a bigger battery than the SE. A sporty version could be quite interesting. The basic version currently selling, even with the 100% tariff, could still be cheaper than every current US available EV. It is not only possible to build lighter EVs, they are already on sale elsewhere in the world. I really don't understand why the US seems to be the only country where small, medium and budget EVs are unavailable. If the US wants to move towards electrification, it needs to fix this.

As for the SE. It does some things very, very well. During the week, it is a fantastic city and commuter car. At the weekend? Well, I am having a lot of fun autocrossing mine... I can easily see it becoming a cult car, somewhat like the R53, my other Mini.
 
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