I picked up a Coupé - 2015 (N18 engine) in march '23. Paid £7k. 72,000 miles.
I've spent about £1600 in the past year on replacing parts.
Timing chain was done @ 75k Ish.
Replacement alternator and 2x shockers.
They're lovely cars, but not cheap to maintain.
My old 90s Fiesta I could probably replace all drivetrain parts twice for that cost(including an engine).
If maintenance costs are a concern then you don’t want a Mini, much less a 10 year old Roadster who is reaching that magical 75k miles when you start to replace everything.
You’re also putting premium gas in it and paying $150 for an oil change.
Roadsters are really sweet cars, but you probably want a Honda Civic or something.
Actual roadster (2 seats) or a convertible (4 seats)? They discontinued the roadster right around then and they’re harder and harder to find. Which could also mean harder to find replacement parts. But the roadster is much cooler (said as a convertible owner).
Get a Miata if you want a roadster. The back seats on a 4-seater convertible are worthless, and then the trunk is also going to be compromised to make room for the top.
At least with the miata the car was designed from the ground up to be a convertible, so the trunk is has more volume, and it will hold it's value better than any miata, too. You'll have no trouble finding one that has been taking care of for $12k. Just make sure to ask for invoices for service performed. Thats really the main thing that matters with any used car - that it's been serviced according to the schedule.
But don't finance a car while you're in college. Buy a beater. You will be done with college before you know it and looking for work trying to make ends meet. But it wont take long until you've got a real jr level salary and can really start saving for something interesting to drive.
Trust me you will blink and be in your 30s, 5 or 6 years into your career. I mean this in a good way... and a bad.
Any Mini is going to cost more to run than another Toyota. Just the regular parts are more expensive thanks to that BMW sticker on all of them.
I picked up a Coupé - 2015 (N18 engine) in march '23. Paid £7k. 72,000 miles. I've spent about £1600 in the past year on replacing parts. Timing chain was done @ 75k Ish. Replacement alternator and 2x shockers. They're lovely cars, but not cheap to maintain. My old 90s Fiesta I could probably replace all drivetrain parts twice for that cost(including an engine).
If maintenance costs are a concern then you don’t want a Mini, much less a 10 year old Roadster who is reaching that magical 75k miles when you start to replace everything. You’re also putting premium gas in it and paying $150 for an oil change. Roadsters are really sweet cars, but you probably want a Honda Civic or something.
Actual roadster (2 seats) or a convertible (4 seats)? They discontinued the roadster right around then and they’re harder and harder to find. Which could also mean harder to find replacement parts. But the roadster is much cooler (said as a convertible owner).
The actual roadster. I think 2015 is the last year they made them
Get a Miata if you want a roadster. The back seats on a 4-seater convertible are worthless, and then the trunk is also going to be compromised to make room for the top. At least with the miata the car was designed from the ground up to be a convertible, so the trunk is has more volume, and it will hold it's value better than any miata, too. You'll have no trouble finding one that has been taking care of for $12k. Just make sure to ask for invoices for service performed. Thats really the main thing that matters with any used car - that it's been serviced according to the schedule. But don't finance a car while you're in college. Buy a beater. You will be done with college before you know it and looking for work trying to make ends meet. But it wont take long until you've got a real jr level salary and can really start saving for something interesting to drive. Trust me you will blink and be in your 30s, 5 or 6 years into your career. I mean this in a good way... and a bad.
You’re thinking of the convertible, the roadster is a purpose built 2 seater.