ZippyNH...Got a TDI, R53 gone!

Well the title says it all....
In another post I alluded to being truly torn, and disappointed in the gen3 cars (5 door looking a bit odd, HUGE tail lights, etc), and where MINI is going in general (taking 10 years to admit to seat bottom issues, etc, where do I begin)...
While I have loved my r53, truly a modern classic, I had been in the same car for 10 years...and peoples needs change, and it was time to move on, as I could see upcoming expenses that were more than I was willing to spend the time and effort to fix on a 10+ year old car....
Replacement is a VW Jetta TDI SE+connectivity....simply put, I got such a good deal (used true-car,then got 3 dealers that did true car competing with the 2 local ones that did not, then BEAT THAT by $500+) had good incentives (took $1500 cash-back rather than 0%, then got the dealer to match the 1.75% 60 month financing I arranged...
Did take a bit of a hit on the trade-in value, but the end number of the two deals is what matters....and I got stunning deal....car, MSRP at $26,485 (2015 Jetta TDI® Clean Diesel SE with Connectivity)out the door with a loan of about $18,000 plus my 2005 r53....

Yup....
Drove the TDI jetta on a Whim...was like WOW!
Would I consider it a full price deal...NO. the new turbo 4 might make more sense....but the deal on the TDI, cash back, etc and the fact dealers are dealing since folks are buying gas cars and SUV's meant a deal was ready to be had, and I did it.
Sure the new Golf/GTI is AWESOME, but right now the price difference is just too great...
In the first 2 days of doing a mix of 75MPH highway driving and bumper to bumper, I am OVER 50 MPG..admittedly driving it kinda slow since I am trying to break it in a bit....needed or not, much debated, figure it can ONLY help...heck DID the same on my r53 when new...and was ALWAYS a good car, no oil burning, great Dyno HP, etc...

So while the MINI is gone, but I will forever have 10+ years of experience, fun, events and fellowship....
Should still drop in for a bit..only time will tell long-term.