Which model mini? (Newbie looking)

[CarsOrBikes]

Yes, in reality most people don't use cruise, but it is nice, I like the limit function on Mercedes more, works well in the many roadworks ha.

It really looks a great car, nice colour, and really like the seats. Heated too! You'll be spoiled haha

[DavidLScott]

I don't even know if the cruise control works on mine as there is nowhere to use it in this country.
I use it in my X3 in France on the autoroutes but I've maybe only ever used it a couple of times in this country in the 11 cumulative years of ownership of cars with it fitted.

[paladin20]

DavidLScott said:

I don't even know if the cruise control works on mine as there is nowhere to use it in this country.
I use it in my X3 in France on the autoroutes but I've maybe only ever used it a couple of times in this country in the 11 cumulative years of ownership of cars with it fitted.

Yeh I am not sure how often I'd use it, but the cruise control, especially because of the MFSW, does help a lot with resale etc.

I would do without it if the car I bought was especially good as a deal, which that park lane one seems to be...

[paladin20]

So far that low mileage park lane car seems to be the frontrunner, if only because of the lovely seats haha. Should be pretty comfy to cruise around in id hope, the 16" wheels will be a touch better than the normal 17s, especially after i eventually change the tyres.

My next day off to go test it will be wednesday, so ill keep looking for better alternatives - or even a cooper s if one suitably specced comes up!

[paladin20]

Ok so day off today and I'll be trying to take a look-see at at least one of these cars. Just thought I'd keep this updated and see if anyone has their own opinions on them while I'm at it!


R56 Cooper - 60k miles - £4500.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
This is the cheapest and newest of the frontrunners, but is probably the lowest 'spec'. Air Con and 6 gears and (supposedly) a nicer ride than the R50 ones though, but very hard to upgrade the stereo (will need a full parrot kit install, so add a couple hundred quid and a lot of dashboard work I guess.)


R53 Cooper s - 62k miles - £4750
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Basically the same spec as the R56, pretty standard really, half leather seats and a supercharger. Seems to be in good condition.


R50 Cooper park lane - 43k miles - £4999
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Lots of little add ons, the better kind of full leather seats than most minis get, low miles. More expensive, but its easier to get the stereo working the way I'd like by installing my own headunit!


R56 Automatic - 39k miles - £4999
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
And this is an R56 with what looks like Park Lane seats, as well as steptronic automatic (I think?) and cruise control. Its quite far for me to view though, and as its private I'd have no warranty or way to sort issues.



Actually the cooper s and the park lane are basically the same price, by the time you add in the road tax and insurance I'd have to take out on day 1. Park lane probably edges a little cheaper. The R56 will gain even more of a lead on the price front.


These are the 4 front runners. They all seem good. Not exactly bargain prices necessarily, but I get less worry about things going wrong in the first 6 months.

[CO2000]

R53 looks v nice, can see it holding on well retained value wise in the years to come.

[paladin20]

Yeh it seems OK, but the mileage is a bit borderline, by the time I try to sell it'll already be well over 80k and the price will drop a ton. Being an S will help a bit though.

Otherwise I think the park lane one is the best bet, will be a lot more comfortable on the roads

[paladin20]

Ok so I went and saw this one:

R50 2006 43k miles Cooper Park Lane

edit: THe link has been taken down, so I'll put links to a couple photos instead-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3RokTIgUkywc24wW...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3RokTIgUkywNVRZR...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3RokTIgUkywLUNqU...

And it seems pretty much pristine! There were only two minor faults that I noticed -

1. The circular clip on ring that goes around the handbrake button had broken, so it didnt stay clipped on. The dealer will be getting a replacement one for it.

2. One of the 'park lane' decals on the wing of the car has started to peel. The dealer is going to get a replacement decal put on from BMW.


and a slightly more major fault was an advisory on the last MOT, that the back box on the exhaust had surface rust on it. Apparently that's very common on minis? The dealer has already said that when it gets inspected as part of the sales process, if the rusting has actually effected the inner part of the exhaust then it will get totally replaced.


So yeh... doesn't seem too bad! 6 month warranty on everything anyway.

Edited by paladin20 on Wednesday 23 September 22:21

Edited by paladin20 on Thursday 24th September 03:13

[mon the fish]

The stock back boxes all rust, nothing to worry about - but an opportunity to upgrade!

If you're happy with Cooper power, the Park Lane is a nice place to be - it's a high spec edition, more so than most would have specced a standard Cooper up to

[paladin20]

mon the fish said:

The stock back boxes all rust, nothing to worry about - but an opportunity to upgrade!

If you're happy with Cooper power, the Park Lane is a nice place to be - it's a high spec edition, more so than most would have specced a standard Cooper up to

I think more power would be nice, but I'd barely ever use it (i dont in my current car either) and the base cooper already has more power than the other cars i considered such as a mazda2. It'll still be fun, and much cheaper to run than an S for the next couple years.

When the newer turbo S's with N18 engines drop into my price range, then maybe I'll upgrade