A very small bargain.
2011 Mini Cooper
From the October 2013 Issue of Car and Driver
Mini may be first and foremost an automotive fashion statement, but it’s an enduring one. Spy photos reveal that the third-generation Mini hardtop, set to arrive in November, will look quite similar to the current one, despite riding on a new platform with all-new drivetrains. The transition should be no more jarring than the one between the first- (2001–2006) and second-gen (2007–now) hatches, so owners of used Minis needn’t fear that their cars will look horribly dated next year. Thank you, retro-design ethos. For those who love the style, nimble handling, and decent performance and are willing to tolerate scant rear legroom and utility, a certified pre-owned Mini Cooper or Cooper S hardtop—with extended factory warranty to ease concerns about their modest quality ratings—is an appealing prospect.
One reason carmakers create certified pre-owned programs is to prop up residual values to support their leasing efforts. By that standard, Mini’s “Mini Next” program looks like one of the most successful. Based on the average asking prices for cars in the program that were within 500 miles of our offices in the case of the Mini Cooper and within 1100 miles for the Cooper S, we found that most had little to no discount from the 2013 MSRPs ($20,495 for the Mini Cooper; $24,095 for the Cooper S). The average price of a 2011 Cooper in the Mini Next program is actually higher than the base price of a brand-new one.
That glosses over part of the story, though. Mini’s option lists are as long as Warren Buffett’s tax return. The inflation these options add to real-world transaction prices proves personalization is an appealing but, ultimately, costly key to Mini’s success. Picking several random examples from more than 200 Mini Next offerings we studied in early July, then employing the “build your own” tool on the Mini website (miniusa.com) to add the same options to a new car, we found the spread between used and new prices grew from 9 percent to more than 25 percent. On the other hand, you’ll have to do some digging to find a Mini Next–program car with the particular mix of equipment you’d choose for yourself.
CAR (EXAMPLES)
PRICE: 
LOW 
AVERAGE 
HIGH
2009 Cooper (3)
$15,499
$16,459
$16,987
2009 Cooper S
(none found)
2010 Cooper (25)
$16,999
$19,242
$20,950
2010 Cooper S (29)
$18,883
$21,278
$29,500
2011 Cooper (20)
$16,999
$20,887
$28,330
2011 Cooper S (27)
$18,981
$23,283
$29,981
2012 Cooper (18)
$19,981
$23,074
$29,200
2012 Cooper S (21)
$21,995
$24,987
$30,300
2013 Cooper (6)
$21,447
$22,922
$24,995
2013 Cooper S (4)
$26,491
$29,077
$35,588
Pictured clockwise from left: 2011 Mini Cooper, 2005 Mini Cooper S, and 2014 Mini Cooper S (spy photo).
True outliers on the cost scale, by the way, are often the special limited-edition Minis, such as the “Inspired by Goodwood” example we found. One of 100 sold in the U.S. with plush interior trimmings similar to those used by sister BMW division Rolls-Royce, it boasted an asking price of $42,000, so high we had to exclude it when calculating the averages. Still, that’s a tidy $10,000 off the original 2011 MSRP on a car registering less than 8000 miles.
To be eligible for Mini Next, a car must be less than five years old with less than 60,000 miles showing. Cars undergo an exacting inspection and refurbishment with factory parts, and Mini tacks another two years and up to 50,000 miles more on the original four-year/50,000-mile warranty. Given that Mini ranks in the lower half of the J.D. Power quality and reliability scores, that’s a comfort. A young car that’s passed through the rigorous CPO inspection might even prove more trouble-free than a new one. Mini also throws in two more years of roadside assistance, just in case.
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