Thank you CarMax

A proud Mini enthusiast for five years, having owned two models since 2003, I have decided to amicably part with the brand and my 06 Cooper S.  I have nothing but praise for the vehicle and would consider returning to the brand in the distant future.  My only advice to new buyers is not to opt for the 17 inch Run Flat tires since a "one" replacement tire is about $345.  I was informed that Mini  provides a premium tire protection plan to offset this inconvenience; however, it was not available when I purchased.  FYI: Patching a run flat tire punctured on the tread (not the sidewall) is a valid fix, aside from what the manufacturer says. 

At present, I am not inclined to purchase another vehicle as my driving repertoire has diminished during the past year, in part to a flexible public transportation system and exorbitant gas prices.  So what do you do if you are tasked to sell a vehicle, but do not want to trade-in or buy-up?  Well, you contact the awesome people at CarMax, who will evaluate, estimate and purchase your vehicle on the spot.  The CarMax, advantage is that they consider a purchase and trade-in as two separate transactions; therefore, unlike conventional dealers, you are not obligated to buy from them.  For those who want to jump into their next vehicle, then CarMax can facilitate via an impressive inventory of approx 30,000 vehicles of every make and model.

So weaning myself away from "drivers dependency" proved to be both advantageous and lucrative as I was able to sell my car quickly and easily, while recouping a significant amount of my investment (also due to the high residual value of the Mini brand).  I was very satisfied with the transaction and when need be, will definitely rely on CarMax for future acquisition and disposition.  In the mean time, I'll invest the money and wait for a more opportune time to drive.