8 replies to this topic

[james33ss]

Hi everyone, need your advice if it's a good choice. My wife wants to buy Mini for her on car auction. She have chosen several:

This one on abetter.bid car auction:

https://abetter.bid/...004-mini-cooper

 

And also this one https://sca.auction/...009-mini-cooper

 

 

Ran vin check and it didn't show any bad history or previous damages. Here are links to VIN reports:

https://www.epicvin....f4deeb24a7f17e4

https://www.epicvin....4e2dfb11c833dd1

Edited by james33ss, 01 April 2019 - 03:08 PM.

[Compdoc]

You may find more information on the mini2 forum https://www.mini2.com/forum/

as this forum covers mainly the older classic mini.

[minimanclive]

Are they both Automatic transmission? The older ones had a CVT type gearbox where as the 2nd generation ones had a more conventional auto gearbox.

The newer one pictured there is also an "S" so will be Turbo charged.

 

Look carefully at the spec as everything was available as an option.

[cal844]

You can get better cars buying from a private seller, auction cars tend to be the cars that are about to die.

[Cooperman]

I used to buy and sometimes sell at car auctions.
There are a few things you need to be aware of.
First of all have a top limit for any car in which you are interested.
Check the history as far as you can.
But as 'all good' but never 'as seen with no warranty given or implied'.
Remember that some large companies put fairly new cars into auctions. These can be ex-company cars, ex-rental cars and unslod forecourt vehicles or part-exchanges which might need work.
Once the hammer comes down it is YOURS!

Edited by Cooperman, 01 April 2019 - 04:01 PM.

[Dusky]

You can get better cars buying from a private seller, auction cars tend to be the cars that are about to die.

Tell that to the guys at barrett Jackson lol

[MuppetDonkey]

A couple of notes from past experience.  Though I don't know if the same necessarily applies in the US.

 

I find that public auctions often offer little or no savings over the cost of a private sale, but with a much higher risk as you'll likely have no test drive and no warranty.

 

Many dealers will user public auctions to shift cars they have not been able to sell (or dodgy part exchanges).

 

If you do do it definitely set a limit per car and don't get sucked in.

 

Remember to add your auction fees, taxes and transport costs to your max bid price.

 

I've had decent success with online trade only auctions, but with those you have time to review, and you at least get some sort of description on whether it starts and runs etc.

 

Good luck whatever you do :)

[cal844]

A couple of notes from past experience. Though I don't know if the same necessarily applies in the US.

I find that public auctions often offer little or no savings over the cost of a private sale, but with a much higher risk as you'll likely have no test drive and no warranty.

Many dealers will user public auctions to shift cars they have not been able to sell (or dodgy part exchanges).

If you do do it definitely set a limit per car and don't get sucked in.

Remember to add your auction fees, taxes and transport costs to your max bid price.

I've had decent success with online trade only auctions, but with those you have time to review, and you at least get some sort of description on whether it starts and runs etc.

Good luck whatever you do :)

I agree

[james33ss]

 

You can get better cars buying from a private seller, auction cars tend to be the cars that are about to die.

Tell that to the guys at barrett Jackson lol

 

Ha, ha, exactly! Thank you guys for help. And I think it will be a good idea to order inspection before buying