Cooper

[craggers]

Currently thinking buying one for my wife. She only drive approx 5k a year (school run and shopping trip)

What is the known issues for it and what to look out for.

Is it suitable car to ferry 3 years old and 6 years old kids locally ?

[AndyM31]

As a shopping car I am not too sure. For a house for two the shopping used to overflow to the back seat, still yet we have home delivery these days so that is not so much an issue. For the carriage of children, I have seen people in holland with two kids, husband and wife and still fit the necessary bags it he trunk.

[craggers]

AndyM31 said:

As a shopping car I am not too sure. For a house for two the shopping used to overflow to the back seat, still yet we have home delivery these days so that is not so much an issue. For the carriage of children, I have seen people in holland with two kids, husband and wife and still fit the necessary bags it he trunk.

For foods shopping normally done when the kids at school (and even pre-school for younger one)

[mike9009]

What budget/ age are you looking at? Around 2006 the Mini Cooper had a model change which brings different issues to the early Coopers. But TBH there are no massive issues that you can check for whilst looking to buy. I have owned both generations in various guises. The first Gen (2000 - 2006) suffered from failed power steering pumps, airbag lights coming on and some gearbox issues on the pre 2004 models.
The second gen (2006 onwards) have some minor niggles, but I am only aware of bigger problems on the Cooper S model and not the Cooper models.

Have you considered a Cooper Clubman? - these provide a little more space in the backseats and boot for the little 'uns and shopping... but depends on your budget....

Mike

[sad61t]

Would suit the job well, the boot will hold about a small trolley's worth of shopping, although for bigger boxes you will need to drop a seat (they are 50:50 split). Biggest trips made in my 58 plate were 3 adults plus a week's luggage from Berks to North Wales, and self plus three 11 year old lads on a weekend trip to Kent; they slept most of the 90 minute trip home so it must be reasonably comfortable, but were wedged in with sleeping bags and cake tins. Soft bags are essential, a single proper suitcase will fill the boot, or force you to put the rear seats on the vertical setting which is far less comfortable (and optional, check the 12V socket is fitted in the left side of the boot as they're part of the same Storage Pack). I have the fitted sun-shades for the side windows which makes it a little darker, and cosy back there. For more rough stuff the full length boot liner covers boot and folded seat area, which is big enough to hold 4 winter tyres on steel rims; that surprised the garage! I can also fit a foldup commuter bike in the normal boot.

[craggers]

mike9009 said:

What budget/ age are you looking at? Around 2006 the Mini Cooper had a model change which brings different issues to the early Coopers. But TBH there are no massive issues that you can check for whilst looking to buy. I have owned both generations in various guises. The first Gen (2000 - 2006) suffered from failed power steering pumps, airbag lights coming on and some gearbox issues on the pre 2004 models.
The second gen (2006 onwards) have some minor niggles, but I am only aware of bigger problems on the Cooper S model and not the Cooper models.

Have you considered a Cooper Clubman? - these provide a little more space in the backseats and boot for the little 'uns and shopping... but depends on your budget....

Mike

Looking for post 2006 model, not considered the Clubman - is it worth having ? Only slightly bigger on boot space.