Mini Cooper s -living with it
Discussion
Apologies if this goes over old ground but I'm really trying to convince myself that I need a Cooper S and that I can afford to run it!
I currently have a Mk5 Golf GT TDI and I love the torque surge but the handling is a little dead. Its done 110,000 miles and it might be time for a change.
My Girlfriend has a Mini one and I love the way it handles. It's just a little lacking in power for my liking. I'm drawn to the Cooper S as it has more of a sense occasion about it, popping exhausts, cool looks and a decent amount of power.I also like the optional spotlights!
Thing is, I do about 21000 miles a year which includes a daily 60 mile commute (round trip) Its about half dual carriageway and half country lanes. If I drive sensibly I can get 60mpg (OBC) which means a tank lasts about 600 miles-ish.
Insurance and tax are the same or less than my current car but I'm a bit worried that I might end up spending a fortune on fuel. If I take the manufacturers best figures (which are probably equally unrealistic) It'll cost about £30 per month more which I think I can live with. I'm a fairly steady driver for the most part but I do like a bit of a play from time to time and it's nice to have a car that gives me that option.
In your experience, what are the running costs like? Fuel, servicing, problems with reliability etc.. My Golf hasn’t been without problems, new door locks and a possible DMF problem looming are just a couple.
I’m looking for cars up to £9k with a maximum of 45-50k miles by the way.
Well done if you are still reading this somewhat rambling message, your advice/help is much appreciated!
I currently have a Mk5 Golf GT TDI and I love the torque surge but the handling is a little dead. Its done 110,000 miles and it might be time for a change.
My Girlfriend has a Mini one and I love the way it handles. It's just a little lacking in power for my liking. I'm drawn to the Cooper S as it has more of a sense occasion about it, popping exhausts, cool looks and a decent amount of power.I also like the optional spotlights!
Thing is, I do about 21000 miles a year which includes a daily 60 mile commute (round trip) Its about half dual carriageway and half country lanes. If I drive sensibly I can get 60mpg (OBC) which means a tank lasts about 600 miles-ish.
Insurance and tax are the same or less than my current car but I'm a bit worried that I might end up spending a fortune on fuel. If I take the manufacturers best figures (which are probably equally unrealistic) It'll cost about £30 per month more which I think I can live with. I'm a fairly steady driver for the most part but I do like a bit of a play from time to time and it's nice to have a car that gives me that option.
In your experience, what are the running costs like? Fuel, servicing, problems with reliability etc.. My Golf hasn’t been without problems, new door locks and a possible DMF problem looming are just a couple.
I’m looking for cars up to £9k with a maximum of 45-50k miles by the way.
Well done if you are still reading this somewhat rambling message, your advice/help is much appreciated!
You won't regret swapping from the Golf to a MINI, if driving enjoyment is your priority.
As per the other threads on here, I had a 2013 Cooper S on loan recently and averaged 33 mpg overall, dropping to well below 20 while thrashing it, and 40mpg at best while driving like a granny.
Driving in the same style over the same roads, I average 45mpg from my similarly rapid Cooper SD, dropping to 30 mpg at worst while thrashing it, and 60mpg at best while driving like a granny.
So have the best of both worlds, and trade in your Golf TDI for a Cooper D as sad61t suggests, and then add a simple sub-£400 remap to Cooper SD levels of power & torque - you'll still have your torque surge, the real world pace of a Cooper S petrol, with far more torque than even a MINI JCW...
http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=23&fue...
http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/Mini%20Cooper%2...
I'd also suggest trying a Cooper D with 16's and non-runflats, rather than the heavier 17's or 18's with their much poorer ride - the handling is still great on 16's, and the ride is so much better.
HTH
As per the other threads on here, I had a 2013 Cooper S on loan recently and averaged 33 mpg overall, dropping to well below 20 while thrashing it, and 40mpg at best while driving like a granny.
Driving in the same style over the same roads, I average 45mpg from my similarly rapid Cooper SD, dropping to 30 mpg at worst while thrashing it, and 60mpg at best while driving like a granny.
So have the best of both worlds, and trade in your Golf TDI for a Cooper D as sad61t suggests, and then add a simple sub-£400 remap to Cooper SD levels of power & torque - you'll still have your torque surge, the real world pace of a Cooper S petrol, with far more torque than even a MINI JCW...
http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=23&fue...
http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/Mini%20Cooper%2...
I'd also suggest trying a Cooper D with 16's and non-runflats, rather than the heavier 17's or 18's with their much poorer ride - the handling is still great on 16's, and the ride is so much better.
HTH
Thanks for your replies. I'll look at how much it would cost to insure when I get in tonight. I have to say one of the biggest attractions of the petrol is the crackling exhaust! A diesel would offer the economy so maybe I'll arrange a test drive. I have a couple of days off next week so I'll pop down to a few showrooms.
my first ever post as a newbie pistonheader, so quite fitting it should be on a subject i like very much indeed....
bought my 07 Cooper S last year after wanting one for a while and have absolutely loved every minute i spend in it. I think its something to do with all its little mannerisms.... in mine theres a split second, loud whine/whizz from the engine bay as it first turns over, and you can hear what i think is the washer fluid briefly slosh and ripple in its reservoir (strange i know but i like it!,) i love the chunky little steering wheel and how it tugs at your hands as it squirms and torque-steers you press on in first, as the turbo winds up. the pops from the exhaust are briliant when you change up, even better with sport mode on. i love its stance and proportions when i catch the reflection in a shop window. it really is quick and an absolute hoot through windy roads.
You won't regret buying one, you'd think I was talking about a 458 the way im praising it, but i honestly do find any excuse to for a little blast...
bought my 07 Cooper S last year after wanting one for a while and have absolutely loved every minute i spend in it. I think its something to do with all its little mannerisms.... in mine theres a split second, loud whine/whizz from the engine bay as it first turns over, and you can hear what i think is the washer fluid briefly slosh and ripple in its reservoir (strange i know but i like it!,) i love the chunky little steering wheel and how it tugs at your hands as it squirms and torque-steers you press on in first, as the turbo winds up. the pops from the exhaust are briliant when you change up, even better with sport mode on. i love its stance and proportions when i catch the reflection in a shop window. it really is quick and an absolute hoot through windy roads.
You won't regret buying one, you'd think I was talking about a 458 the way im praising it, but i honestly do find any excuse to for a little blast...
PopsandBangs said:
my first ever post as a newbie pistonheader, so quite fitting it should be on a subject i like very much indeed....
bought my 07 Cooper S last year after wanting one for a while and have absolutely loved every minute i spend in it. I think its something to do with all its little mannerisms.... in mine theres a split second, loud whine/whizz from the engine bay as it first turns over, and you can hear what i think is the washer fluid briefly slosh and ripple in its reservoir (strange i know but i like it!,) i love the chunky little steering wheel and how it tugs at your hands as it squirms and torque-steers you press on in first, as the turbo winds up. the pops from the exhaust are briliant when you change up, even better with sport mode on. i love its stance and proportions when i catch the reflection in a shop window. it really is quick and an absolute hoot through windy roads.
You won't regret buying one, you'd think I was talking about a 458 the way im praising it, but i honestly do find any excuse to for a little blast...
Welcome to PH PopsandBangs. My sensible trousers tell me to stick with diesel but then I read your post and my trousers have come right off, so to speak! bought my 07 Cooper S last year after wanting one for a while and have absolutely loved every minute i spend in it. I think its something to do with all its little mannerisms.... in mine theres a split second, loud whine/whizz from the engine bay as it first turns over, and you can hear what i think is the washer fluid briefly slosh and ripple in its reservoir (strange i know but i like it!,) i love the chunky little steering wheel and how it tugs at your hands as it squirms and torque-steers you press on in first, as the turbo winds up. the pops from the exhaust are briliant when you change up, even better with sport mode on. i love its stance and proportions when i catch the reflection in a shop window. it really is quick and an absolute hoot through windy roads.
You won't regret buying one, you'd think I was talking about a 458 the way im praising it, but i honestly do find any excuse to for a little blast...
Thank you very much! To be honest, ive never seen my mpg as an issue. Its still only a 1.6, and a modern efficient one at that. Mine only really gets driven on a social/domestic/pleasure basis, probably around 200 miles a week (some of them briskly...) and has actually never worried me with its thirst, and im only on a lowly gradute wage! Ive tried the SD, and it pulled strongly and felt pretty solid, but nowhere near as exciting compared to the revvy, perky, very fun petrol. I just think thats the whole point of the cooper s, and the pros of the petrol farrrrr outweigh the cons.
We have Cooper D as a pool car at work, always the first car out the gate.
Really does go very well and great fun to drive. With a remap i'm sure it would be even better. Even abused round London daily it still averages mid 40s. I've seen over 60mpg on a run with foot control, around 50 using cruise control on the same route. Only big issue is the speedo, it has the sat nav etc and the speedo is a tiny orange blob round the outside you can't read at all at a glance. Luckily it has a small digital readout in the rev counter. I dread to think how many tickets it would have if it wasn't for the programmable 'bong' set at 32mph.
PS, you do realise with a remap the basic Mini is more powerful than the Cooper?
Hobbled by the throttle not being allowed to open full in One mode if remember rightly.
Really does go very well and great fun to drive. With a remap i'm sure it would be even better. Even abused round London daily it still averages mid 40s. I've seen over 60mpg on a run with foot control, around 50 using cruise control on the same route. Only big issue is the speedo, it has the sat nav etc and the speedo is a tiny orange blob round the outside you can't read at all at a glance. Luckily it has a small digital readout in the rev counter. I dread to think how many tickets it would have if it wasn't for the programmable 'bong' set at 32mph.
PS, you do realise with a remap the basic Mini is more powerful than the Cooper?
Hobbled by the throttle not being allowed to open full in One mode if remember rightly.
We have a Mk5 GT TDI and a 2002 Cooper S and I regularly drive both. The MINI is a lot tighter to drive, responsive and 'chuckable' as to be expected. Mind you, we also have a Mk4 GT TDI 130 and that is a much better car to drive than the Mk5. Quicker, more economical and feels more well-made.
I keep getting back in the Golfs though as 45-55mpg more sensible than 28-30mpg. And they are just as quick. Having said that I love the MINI, it looks good and handles great.
I keep getting back in the Golfs though as 45-55mpg more sensible than 28-30mpg. And they are just as quick. Having said that I love the MINI, it looks good and handles great.
For your budget you should be able to find one from an authorised MINI dealer, and as such will come under their 'Cherished MINI' scheme and have a 12 month warranty.
I've had my 07 MCS for about 4 weeks and am averaging 32mpg (worked out properly brim to brim), with a mixture of spirited and sedate driving. I'm sure on a long run i could achieve a lot more, but that isn't what they were designed for.
I really enjoy driving it, so much so that i'd say it's restored my love affair with cars, when i was getting a bit cheesed off with them and driving.
I've had my 07 MCS for about 4 weeks and am averaging 32mpg (worked out properly brim to brim), with a mixture of spirited and sedate driving. I'm sure on a long run i could achieve a lot more, but that isn't what they were designed for.
I really enjoy driving it, so much so that i'd say it's restored my love affair with cars, when i was getting a bit cheesed off with them and driving.
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