Cooper or One?

[ziontrain]

I'm looking at getting a R56 Mini as my first car. I've got a budget of about £6k, do you guys think I should be looking for a cheap Cooper or a One with a few more toys/lower miles/is newer? Thanks

[12TS]

Tricky question, depends on you and your circs

I've not driven a One, but from what I've read it's a slower stripped out Cooper. We had a Cooper for 5 years and it was good car, had the odd fault but nothing too serious.

So do you priorise speed and toys over cost? If so go for a Cooper, if not the One maybe for you.

As ever buy on condition. There seem to be way more Coopers to chose from though

[eatcustard]

I would go for the Cooper, as it more desirable

[0llie]

For £6k you're probably looking at a 1.4 One. Insurance will be more favourable against a Cooper, but the one I drove had appalling throttle response and felt gutless. Stepping into an R56 Cooper was a massive step up, well worth it.

I have also driven the 1.6 One (from 2010 onwards), great improvement and thoroughly enjoyed driving it.

[ChasW]

We have a One which I have just had fully serviced plus new brakes all round in expectation of having to sell soon, reluctantly as it's now surplus to requirements. I haven't driven the Mini for a while and I had forgotten how quick it feels. We also have a Peugeot 207 with the identical 1.4 engine and they are like chalk and cheese.

[Honsta]

As you have said this is your first car, then I would opt for the MINI One - it would have all the qualities you like about the MINI but with cheaper running costs, especially as it's your first. Any car will feel fast if you have nothing to compare it to, so look for one that is well looked after: full service history, no knocking noises, good tyres and decent brakes.

No matter which model you get, you'll love it.

[Tannedbaldhead]

Horses for courses. Older leggier (but then again a fare bit quicker) Cooper or newer fresher One, lower in the miles and maybe with a few more toys. It's not a case of One being better than the other ( see what I did there?) it's a case of one being better suited to you than the other.

Solution? get one's hairy arse to a dealer and drive both only you have the answer.

[Blue62]

Im looking at a used One (12-18 months old) for my daughter, any buying tips greatly appreciated.

[Tannedbaldhead]

Blue62 said:

Im looking at a used One (12-18 months old) for my daughter, any buying tips greatly appreciated.

Mini dealers have the best ones at that age. Also have good aftersales packages. Sources your consumables elsewhere mind you, they're expensive buggers.

[watchnut]

As a first car I would look at running costs over the size of the engine and maybe a 1 or 2 second drop in 0-60 times

I have a Mini 1 diesel, it has the acceleration of a striking slug, but owing to the cooper s suspension, 16" alloys, and the steering grip ,it provides all the handling you require, with the cost of fuel halfed....yep 60 mpg against 30 odd......being young, and maybe not in such a well paid job as others, do you want to have no mates as you will not be able to afford to go out owing to having to pay a shed load of money every week on fuel, then every month at least the same amount on insurance (assuming you are paying £1500 a year?)then there are the other unseen costs like MOT's every year, a service, tyres, cuddly dice etc....and sometimes they just "go wrong"

Getting a MIni as a first car is great, and I love our car, but, being a BMW they are not cheap cars to run, Your insurance quotes should be the first thing to enquire about, depending where you live, a £6k car could cost you more than you imagine, and in some cases some companies may not want to touch you.

good luck.