Should I buy a used or new MINI in San Diego?

This is one of the questions we get asked all the time at MINI of Escondido. And if you had asked us two years ago, we could have given you a varied opinion. But now after going through the pandemic, the questions about used or new cars for sale or what to get at a MINI dealer is perhaps a little more difficult to answer, albeit not for the reason you think.

A lot of this comes down to production. When the pandemic hit, it hit hard, especially on the production line. While orders from a MINI dealer and pre-orders from clients typically determine the supply, it hit in such a way that everything slowed down to a trickle. Sure, we still received new cars, but sometimes less than a dozen a month. Because of that, gone were the days of price drops. Some dealers increased prices based upon demand, so getting the new MINI of your dream at an affordable price was a thing of the past (we did not increase prices).

So the context we ended up with and are still with today is a lack of supply for new cars and a dwindling supply of used cars, some who are on their 1st owner, others on the 2nd and 3rd owner. While this would not typically be a bad thing based on supply and demand, it does help explain why inventory levels are the way they are.

Take for example our new inventory at MINI of Escondido.

As of July 9, 2021, we have sixteen new vehicles ranging from the MINI Hardtop 4 Door Signature to the PHEV MINI Countryman, our signature hybrid fuel type. Compare that to our used inventory, currently sitting at twenty-one vehicles, with half of that inventory being from our service departments, specifically courtesy service loaners.

What do you think we’re going to see over the next several months? We will see a slight increase in new MINI production, but continue to see a lack of used vehicles. Drivers in San Diego hold onto their cars more than any other city in the U.S., so it’s no surprise that a lack of new cars equals a lack of new purchases or used car trade-ins. It’s why slightly used cars have will have a similar vehicle price to new cars.

What should I do: Buy used or new MINI?

While we cannot answer that for you, we can give you a few assurances.

1. We will continue to receive new MINI models to meet your needs.
2. We have a growing inventory of used MINI models.
3. We have certified pre-owned MINI models that come with warranties.
4. We have every MINI model pass a maintenance inspection so you drive off the lot safely.
5. We have MINI Financial Services to guide your purchasing decision.

No matter what you are looking for, from the hybrid PHEV MINI Countryman to the MINI Electric, 2 and 4 Door MINI Coopers and various John Cooper Works models; we have it. Every model is in excellent condition, varies between automatic transmission and manual transmission, and for the month of July, may even have a special price drop for our local San Diego customers.