Buy Now or Wait for 2024

The current third generation F series was introduced in 2013, not quite that old.

 

The Chinese MINI Electric is such an unknown quantity and getting a new factory up and running can be a challenge. Why not buy a 2023 and sell it if the 2024 turns out to be a winner?

 

I get $7,500 back from the fed, and $2,500 back from the state. My $35,000 car is now $25,000. Talk about old platforms, have you seen what a clean 944 is going for now? Outdated is an understatement. That platform came out in 76. How about what a Z3 is going for? That wasn't even a real platform, it was a mashup of a few that came out around 97. Even Bond wasn't impressed with the car. Of course there is the perennial favorite at autocross and LeMons, the Miata NA from 1989. I have a Cayman S with the proper amount of pedals, and when an outdated no ABS, no PASM, no sport chrono 944 or 968 shows up, I wonder if I should "trade down" for more grins.

 

Until recently I never did a deep dive into the Mini I have much to learn. I recently watched a Sandy Munro video where they had the SE up on the hoist to evaluate the underside. They pointed out that the suspension system design was almost older than dirt. Their overall opinion was it needed a lot of updating. LOL Sometimes I research stuff a way to much and learn things that I probably don't need to know. But once you know them you can't unknow it.

 

After claiming he was instrumental in the development of the BMW MINI, I'm angry that Munro didn't even deign to take their SE for a drive around the block because he was too busy remodeling his home.

Take a look at Honda's clean-sheet design for the Honda e. It's heavier and slower than the SE, but it can make a U-turn in 14 feet. That kind of fun would wear off quickly. It's not how new a platform is that counts, it's what it feels like to drive the car. Have you taken a spin around the block in an SE?

 

I have not taken one for a spin.

 

I suspect BMW won't allow the Great Wall collab to just be a Mini grille on an Ora Cat. The new car will be pretty good, and definitely a Mini. I do however follow a rule to never buy the first model year of a car. Plan to let the early adopters take the new platform bugs and buy year two or three.

 

That would leave @Almost Green driving some other, less-enjoyable car for 4 more years. I hope a test drive in a creaky, old SE is in the cards. I didn't get a test drive because I placed my order long before production began. Fifty-one weeks later, I declared my SE the best car I've owned in 50 years of owning cars.

 

It's been years since I purchased new car I'm not so sure that adage applies much anymore. Today's cars are are pretty much built with robots and high QA processes in place. Besides that the Chinese are build some quality cars these days. Just wait until they start selling their electric brands in the US. They will push the US Legacy makers further out of the picture.

 

So what is it that convinced you of the best in 50 car?

 

Back at you brother!
88 S. Don't use 16" D90 - 944 S2 wheels at the track. Too much heat

Prior owner, but i still use it the way it is supposed to be used

 

A few people lost bets on this one. Of course I let her drive it in her senior parade. If she can drive a manual on a track in the rain a few weeks before, she can handle a parade in the sun.

 

Based on the "objective" measurements I got from my butt dyno, I am guessing it has to do with the "objective" measurements he got from his butt dyno. That's why I got rid of my base and a ordered a mid. What started as an experiment I figured I would keep a year became a long term keeper. The $10k in tax rebates is icing on the cake.

 

Wait-or-buy is obviously very personal. I bought a 2021 Signature+ for $24k after the credits and can safely say it is the best car I have ever owned.

As a purchase in general it is some of the best money I have ever spent. I love how it drives, and that it feels like a mature product.

New models are always gambles. I would avoid the first year all together if possible. That puts a possible update even further into the future. But the bottom line is, even if they magically produced a lightweight 300 mile SE tomorrow, for $40k (highly, highly unlikely), I would congratulate their engineering achievement and go right back to driving my own car. I love it!

 

It definitely still applies, especially with EVs. Keep in mind many of these are not just the first year model, but the first EV a company has ever made. Whether or not problems become dealbreakers is a personal thing, but I won’t buy another first year model.

 

You asked for it--I hope my story won't bore you. It took me 5 hours to put it together and it became too long to put it all here. You can read The Road to My MINI Electric on my eMINIman website (which to the public is a 10-second slide show protesting the SE's skeuomorphic hood scoop).

 

Great story. A car guy through and through. I see why you love the Mini.

 

Nice! Reminds me of some of my former cars (including both some tiny cars and a few behemoths.