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Full Disclosure: I’ve driven a MINI Cooper S before and they are pretty fun to drive- small, nimble, light, corners-on-rails and all that crap. But would you pay $22,600 for a two-year old one with over 50,000 miles? I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t pay that much for a new one, even if a dealer would sell it at that price. (BTW, I’ve always thought those cars were WAY overpriced). Even in it’s best possible condition, Kelly Blue Book lists the private party value at $18,130. I’m guessing the seller is counting on reeling in a buyer who wants performance and good gas mileage, and these fairly quick with a 168 hp engine pulling the car’s 2679 lb curb weight through the wrong wheels. That equals 15.5 pounds per 1 hp- certainly not mind blowing stuff. And, it’s not too far off of the power-to-weight ratio offered by many other cars including, surprisingly enough, my Crown Victoria. 250-ish horsepower and 4000 lbs works out to about 16 pounds per horsepower. Given the choice, you know which car I’d choose. Though the Vicky isn’t as fuel-efficient at 17 mpg versus 25mpg city, my car only cost $1500. 20 thou buys a lot of gas. Maybe a power-adder, too!
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