2009-11 Mini One

2009-11 Mini One

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WWESTY

Original Poster:

2,690 posts

237 months

Friday 19th August 2016
quotequote all
Looking to source a first car for my son and Mini seems to be the favourite contender (after previously considering Polo/Clio/Ibiza/Mito).
Budget is capped at about £5.5k...
It seems that a One or a First are the options with reasonable mileage (say c.30k) and age (09-11).
A quick checklist of anything in particular I should be looking for would be very helpful.
I've seen there was an update in 2010 which looks like it would be worthwhile if we can find one?
Coopers are a fair bit more to insure so while they are nice, I dont think its going to be a good idea.
All views will be very much appreciated thanks.

SimNugget

580 posts

169 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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I think there was a very mild update in late summer 2010. I only know how this impacted the JCW model, sorry.

S

rosejem

176 posts

112 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
The later cars came with the 1.6 as apposed to the 1.4 in the One, worth paying a little more for the later model in my opinion.
Don't be put off by standard 15 inch wheels the ride will be more comfortable.
Good Luck.

WWESTY

Original Poster:

2,690 posts

237 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for replies. How about a Mini One, 1.6 Graphite. 2010, 2 owners, FSH, 38k mls,12mths MOT £5.6k.....??

johnoz

1,012 posts

191 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Check on insurance as its a young driver.

WWESTY

Original Poster:

2,690 posts

237 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
johnoz said:
Check on insurance as its a young driver.
Thanks, only considering these as weve established that insurance, with black box, is no worse than other small cars.

Zingari

902 posts

172 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
WWESTY said:
johnoz said:
Check on insurance as its a young driver.
Thanks, only considering these as weve established that insurance, with black box, is no worse than other small cars.
It pays to check again as I upgraded my daughter's 2003 Mini One 1.6 petrol for a 2011 One diesel thinking OK I'll pay a bit for the fact car is newer more expensive. Indeed I did pay more - near £500 increase to cover the next 6 months before renewal and she's had a blackbox policy since starting to drive 2yrs ago! 1.6 Diesel is 90bhp and 3 categories higher for insurance!

Mini is a great car, indeed it is very nippy compared to the old one, but with hindsight I should have bought a VW Polo 1.2TDI which was her other choice and similar costs. If it must be a Mini and you want petrol (I didn't) then get the MiniFirst which I think as its basic is the lowest insurance category of the range.

You also want R56 model to get past all the early R50 issues - believe me I scored the hat trick with all of the major faults! The failure of the Midlands gearbox was the final nail in the coffin


Edited by Zingari on Monday 22 August 15:54

WWESTY

Original Poster:

2,690 posts

237 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
Zingari said:
It pays to check again as I upgraded my daughter's 2003 Mini One 1.6 petrol for a 2011 One diesel thinking OK I'll pay a bit for the fact car is newer more expensive. Indeed I did pay more - near £500 increase to cover the next 6 months before renewal and she's had a blackbox policy since starting to drive 2yrs ago! 1.6 Diesel is 90bhp and 3 categories higher for insurance!

Mini is a great car, indeed it is very nippy compared to the old one, but with hindsight I should have bought a VW Polo 1.2TDI which was her other choice and similar costs. If it must be a Mini and you want petrol (I didn't) then get the MiniFirst which I think as its basic is the lowest insurance category of the range.

You also want R56 model to get past all the early R50 issues - believe me I scored the hat trick with all of the major faults! The failure of the Midlands gearbox was the final nail in the coffin


Edited by Zingari on Monday 22 August 15:54
Thanks for feedback and pointers. Much appreciated.

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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My brothers got a mini one and I think the only issue he has had was with the thermostat. He is selling his soon and it seems 5k is the going rate for the r56 mini one.

0llie

3,006 posts

195 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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WWESTY said:
Thanks for replies. How about a Mini One, 1.6 Graphite. 2010, 2 owners, FSH, 38k mls,12mths MOT £5.6k.....??
Seems like a good buy. A Graphite will not be the facelifted version, rather the last of the non-facelift but with the 1.6 engine as opposed to the 1.4

If you decide against the Graphite and you still want a One, all you really need is the 1.6 engine and Air Con (which became standard in 2010 IIRC), to be honest the rest is personal preference.

The facelifted model got a better stereo system as standard (the pre-facelift HiFi is really bad, the pre Harman Kardon upgrade isn't much better), and it also got black switchgear instead of the silver. A few other cosmetic changes, and a few new colours etc.

WWESTY

Original Poster:

2,690 posts

237 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
0llie said:
Seems like a good buy. A Graphite will not be the facelifted version, rather the last of the non-facelift but with the 1.6 engine as opposed to the 1.4

If you decide against the Graphite and you still want a One, all you really need is the 1.6 engine and Air Con (which became standard in 2010 IIRC), to be honest the rest is personal preference.

The facelifted model got a better stereo system as standard (the pre-facelift HiFi is really bad, the pre Harman Kardon upgrade isn't much better), and it also got black switchgear instead of the silver. A few other cosmetic changes, and a few new colours etc.
Thanks Ollie, that's really useful.