Androxt

So I am going to purchase another FXT...this one is for me! My wife has our 04 FXT Auto and I have a local dealer with a beautiful 08 FXT MT in Dark Grey which I test drove just waiting for me.

Question is...should I keep my 05 Mini Cooper S or sell/trade and not have four cars for two people! I have a larger SUV for business...need to keep it even though I don't drive it daily. I have the MCS which I use daily for all the running around....love the car, took 6 months to get it after ordering and I own it outright. Now we have a 8.5 month-old daughter and the MCS doesn't work with the baby-seat, wife and stuff. The FXT is perfect for all the running around, all the stuff and just great as my daily driver. I think about keeping the MCS and just garaging it for a while. It is loaded with good options and in great shape with low miles. Might be a classic someday. My practicle side says sell it...my car-man side says keep it and just finance more on the FXT!

What do you think?

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04 FXT, 08 FXT, 03 4Runner SE V8 4x4

zach

Wow, tough one. It definitely sounds like the XT would be more practical for your family, but you already have one. The MCS is a great car and the fact that you own it is a bonus. Putting yourself into debt isn't always the wisest move. If you absolutely must have a 4-door daily driver to manage carrying the little one, then go for the FXT. If you manage fine with your wife's as it is now, maybe hold off. As far as the MCS becoming a classic, I'm not too sure about that one.

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it's geolandAr! with an A!

Androxt

Yes...maybe not a classic!

It is one with the SC and one of the last two years with them, thus BMW/Mini had gotten the bugs out of them. It has the LSD, and other options that just add the fun and specialness of the car....

Thanks for the reply.

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04 FXT, 08 FXT, 03 4Runner SE V8 4x4

twg

The MCS is a fun car, but no offence, it's not special enough to keep as a 4th car... the FXT is just as fun as the MCS (maybe even more so cuz it's more power, and AWD).

Trade in the MCS before it drops in value any further.

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2004 FXT

Bryan S

Take up autocrossing with the MCS. Although the mewer models are a bit faster and in all likelyhood all Mini s' will be bumped to D Stock, its still a blast.

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Bryan S
04 Forester XT, White
00 Golf GLS, Blue
91 E-Stock Miata, White

RAM95

Auto xing is a good option for the mini!

but if not id say try to sell it... dont trade, if your not paying for it dont worry about pushing it outta your hands too quickly.

Androxt

Well it's been 9 months since I purchased my 08 FXT 5m. I kept my MCS until a few months ago. After getting the FXT, the MCS was hardly driven. And...it's true, the FXT is ultimately more fun. It doesn't go around corners as fast (it's faster in a straight line), but I don't have to worry about driveways entrances, many potholes, dirt-roads, etc., things that the extra ground-clearance of the FXT makes non-issues. The overall impression of the FXT is that it's tougher, can handle more things that the driving environment can dish-out thus I have less concern/worry as I drive. The interior space and four doors is of course helpful with baby and baby things to carry. It's also more comfortable while driving although I haven't taken any long trips in it yet and the MCS seats were great for long trips. And the simple situation of having fewer vehicles to maintain is freeing in a way also. I like to keep all in great shape and clean, thus one less is less to do.

A good switch.

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04 FXT, 08 FXT, 03 4Runner SE V8 4x4

pleiad7

I'd keep the Mini... but that's just me. My husband and I have 5 vehicles among the two of us (three of which are daily drivers). It's fun to be able to mix it up and not drive the same car every day! Heck, if I could add one more non-Subie to our stable it would probably be a Mini!

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-Silke
04 FXT PP PSM ~ "Subed"
98 Forester S ~ "Slynki"
92 SVX LS-L ~ x2

SuperRu

I agree, keep it. I refuse to drive one because I know I'd be hooked. Heck this week there was a new blue with a white roof S Clubman at the far end of the Wholepaycheck parking lot. It was gone before I had a chance to check it out. Maybe that was good thing.

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Richard
04 XT.... 98S

YoGeorge

I believe the OP's followup post indicated that he has since sold the Mini. I'd have one major problem holding on to a newish car like the Mini along with the Foz--if it's only a couple years old, it will continue depreciating bigtime for a number of additional years.

My solution is to hold on to my '91 BMW 318is, which makes an excellent toy car, and which is pretty much finished depreciating. In fact, it may actually start going up *a tad* in value because it's a relatively rare and desirable one year model (last year for the E30 body, first year for the twincam 1.8 liter M42 engine).

I've also got a full size 2002 E150 Ford van which, with the latest gas price hike, is probably done depreciating after dropping like a rock in value overnight. We've got 5 vehicles in the house for 3 drivers, and it I had some more room to keep cars, would possibly have a couple more.

In the mid 80's, right after my wife and I got married, we had 5 cars for the two of us--3 of them had over 100k miles, but all of them ran dependably and served different purposes.

With the gas price crunch, I can see more people hanging on to an older truck or van for utility value (carrying BIG stuff, or towing), and driving something else on an everyday basis--instead of having a new pickup for an everyday driver.

George

Dan

You probably did it the best way - keep them Mini for a while and see how much you use/miss the MCS with the new Forester in the stable. Sounds like you didn't miss it overly much so selling it was then the way to go. It's nice to have the flexibility in those situations.

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SHIFT_to_Subaru
'04 XT, 5spd

Androxt

It was the good way and I think it was you Dan that suggested this in another thread. Thanks!

The FXT is tossable but of course doesn't have the handling limits as wide as the MCS...but again, the feeling of freedom in using it exceeds the MCS. Not just a paved-road car. I guess it would have been possible to abuse the MCS a bit on dirt roads when they were encountered, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It's new owner is estatic as the MCS was in perfect condition...like new. It now sits behind his 59 Porsche.

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04 FXT, 08 FXT, 03 4Runner SE V8 4x4

Jphank

I agree with this. Don't trade it in, maybe put out a classified/craigslist/whatever, and sell it to a private party, but wait until you can get a good price/buyer. When you sell it, pay towards the principle on the new FXT.

Or, just keep it and make it a race car....