I have deliberately avoided mentioning GBMINI#2, since this post when I first saw it for sale at MINI Peabody; but I was recently told that GBMINI#2 has had a “freshening” and now the exterior wheel arches and other trim are re-painted (eliminating two years of stone chips), as well as getting a full detailing; GBMINI#2 hangs out with two other JCW equipped MINIs, waiting patiently for his new owner …
And no, I don’t know the price. Email John at MINI Peabody and ask, if you are interested!
It looks like the 2005 model year, offering the new gear ratios and LSD as well as nice “tweaks” like the new headlights, is making life hard for older MINIs now. Particularly so perhaps for upgraded MINIs like these three JCWs – a pre-owned loaded MINI can be more expensive than a brand new one, and can’t offer the “performance essentials” like an LSD.
M&I / GBMINI 
Ian, it could be the Union Jack. It’s not for everyone, even as nice as it is.
I sold my ’02 quite quickly and did very well on the price, as I nearly got what I paid for it. I’m sure the right buyer will come along soon.
Tell Joel I said Hi. Also tell him I removed all that Auto-bond, or what ever that clear protective stuff was called, from the daughter’s MC. Looks 100% better. It had started to turn an odd color.
RB
I noticed at my local MINI dealer that higher priced MINIs move slower unless they are ordered by a buyer. The dealer seems to have mostly striped down MINIs at the present. Your car had the JCW kit and the dealer might of not given you the most $ for trading the car with it but will charge a premium to a new buyer.
My 04 CVT (my first MINI) sold in exactly a week from trading it. A very stripped down MC.
I suspect the higher cost of your highly upgraded former Mini indeed has something to do with it not “moving” as quickly. Part of the Mini experience is ordering it spec’d to ones specific tastes, etc. At the higher price point especially, I think a buyer is likely more willing to wait for the Mini they want down to the valve covers rather than buy one off the lot at nearly the same price. The LSD and other updates I am sure play a part with some as well.
Bummer it’s taking so long to sell, but just shows you were probably better off trading versus selling privately otherwise you’d be carrying two car’s and torn which to play with everyday.
torn which to play with everyday – yes; biggest reason why I decided to keep only one. Although I still wonder about buying #2 back when I see it at MoP …
I’ve been told the same by people here, that the union jack on the roof of my ’02 might make mine difficult to sell. But to me it makes it more MINI-like.
That explains why I couldn’t find it when I was there last week..it was off getting detailed. 🙂
A car with specific modifications will take a while to sell, until the perfect owner arrives. And yes the high saturated market here also does not help.
It took me six months to sell my previous car after getting the mini for similar reasons, it’s a good thing I didn’t plan on doing before paying for the mini.
I don’t live anyplace near my Mini Dealer, but the 5 or 6 dealers I see on my drive home all have Minis pop up from time to time, and none of them last there more then a week or two. Lets just hope they all make it to loving homes.
With what I think is an inflated resale price from KBB ($14,500 w/91K miles), I’m going to try to hold on to Roxy when I upgrade. My son will be 16 in 2.5 years, and I think a 100K MINI would make a great first car.
The situation is appalling on resale in Australia. My car is about 14 months old, was roughly au$47,000 on the road, and I would struggle to get au$32,000 for it now.
Ian,
I saw GBMINI#2 at MiniPeabody when I ordered mine a couple months ago. In my case, I opted for the LSD, though I was sorely tempted by anything with the Cooper Works already there. I picked up my car two days ago and GBMINI#2 was still there.
– Tom