Considering a Cooper S.
Discussion
Good morning all. I apologise if this is all a bit vague and half formed thought, but that is because it is. I currently drive an MR2 Roadster, but due to the actions of a van with and its reluctance to leave sufficient distance to react – the back of it is now a funny shape. Insurance are currently totting up the repair, but it is borderline write off, and so whilst I wait to see if it will be repaired or not, I am totting up what to do should I be abruptly left with no car, but a cheque for its value.
I haven't really thought of a CooperS prior to this, but I have driven a couple of Cooper's and even the D was fun because of the handling.
The one thing that is troubling me, is that I know a couple of people who have had Mini's and they have been trouble, especially the clutch. These were not S' but standard Coopers. Possibly both cabs...but can't be sure.
The budget will likely be £3k - £4k. Can stretch for the right car I guess, but want to see how I get on in that ball park. The heart says I want a supercharged one over a turbo.
Are there generic problems that befall these cars? Will the S suffer from the same issues as standard cars, for example?
What jobs should I look to have been done before buying? What noises to listen out for on the test drive? Where do they rust in terms of body and components?
Sorry to bombard with questions - as I say its all a little bit half baked at the moment.
I haven't really thought of a CooperS prior to this, but I have driven a couple of Cooper's and even the D was fun because of the handling.
The one thing that is troubling me, is that I know a couple of people who have had Mini's and they have been trouble, especially the clutch. These were not S' but standard Coopers. Possibly both cabs...but can't be sure.
The budget will likely be £3k - £4k. Can stretch for the right car I guess, but want to see how I get on in that ball park. The heart says I want a supercharged one over a turbo.
Are there generic problems that befall these cars? Will the S suffer from the same issues as standard cars, for example?
What jobs should I look to have been done before buying? What noises to listen out for on the test drive? Where do they rust in terms of body and components?
Sorry to bombard with questions - as I say its all a little bit half baked at the moment.
I have a 2002 Cooper S. In 16months the only faults have been a failed heater matrix, and just other general wear and tear. It needs new rear brakes, but 2 MOT's passed with no issues.
- No rust at all on the bodywork, although the exhaust backbox is looking a little corroded in parts.
- The Xenon headlights on the early cars, are prone to failure and require a complete new unit to fix.
- The interior can suffer from squeaks and rattles but mine is not too bad.
- Due to the more condition of the roads near me the tracking keeps getting knocked as the ride is hard. Try and get one with the run-flats removed.
- I average around 25mpg at the moment due to lots of short trips. I can get around 30+ on a run.
- If the car squeaks when pulling away from standstill this is a glazed flywheel, which is not a problem, but expensive to fix. Mine does it occasionally.
For your budget you wont pick up a Turbo version as these are around 5k at the bottom end of the market. You can pick up a 54-56 version which is the facelight and a much better car.
- No rust at all on the bodywork, although the exhaust backbox is looking a little corroded in parts.
- The Xenon headlights on the early cars, are prone to failure and require a complete new unit to fix.
- The interior can suffer from squeaks and rattles but mine is not too bad.
- Due to the more condition of the roads near me the tracking keeps getting knocked as the ride is hard. Try and get one with the run-flats removed.
- I average around 25mpg at the moment due to lots of short trips. I can get around 30+ on a run.
- If the car squeaks when pulling away from standstill this is a glazed flywheel, which is not a problem, but expensive to fix. Mine does it occasionally.
For your budget you wont pick up a Turbo version as these are around 5k at the bottom end of the market. You can pick up a 54-56 version which is the facelight and a much better car.
I've got a 2007 Cooper S, so the mk2 of the new MINI. It's an awesome little car, but they're not without their faults. It seems the gearbox was a weak spot (particularly the clutch and dual-mass flywheel that were unique to the Cooper S).
As long as you do your research and shop around, you should be able to find a decent mk1 Cooper S within your budget. I test drove one early on and I found the footwell to be really cramped. The mk2 seems much more spacious inside. Then again, I'm 6'1" and have size 12 feet, so a MINI was probably never the most sensible choice. Blame the Mrs for that.
As long as you've got decent tyres on it, the MINI's handling is properly addictive, and with a few minor tweaks they have enough shove to give much more expensive metal a run for its money. Only the other weak I blitzed a chap in his Audi A5 2.0T. He stopped me at the next set of lights to ask what it was running and he couldn't believe it was only a 1.6
Do it.
As long as you do your research and shop around, you should be able to find a decent mk1 Cooper S within your budget. I test drove one early on and I found the footwell to be really cramped. The mk2 seems much more spacious inside. Then again, I'm 6'1" and have size 12 feet, so a MINI was probably never the most sensible choice. Blame the Mrs for that.
As long as you've got decent tyres on it, the MINI's handling is properly addictive, and with a few minor tweaks they have enough shove to give much more expensive metal a run for its money. Only the other weak I blitzed a chap in his Audi A5 2.0T. He stopped me at the next set of lights to ask what it was running and he couldn't believe it was only a 1.6
Do it.
A supercharged gen 1 is what you will want.
Generally no issues. Power steering pumps can go. Gearbox issues not a problem with an s. Arguably a better car than the later (2006 plus) cars. Only real disadvantage is fuel economy, over the later turbo cars.
Do it, i have owned both versions and the earlier cars are more fun.....
mike
Generally no issues. Power steering pumps can go. Gearbox issues not a problem with an s. Arguably a better car than the later (2006 plus) cars. Only real disadvantage is fuel economy, over the later turbo cars.
Do it, i have owned both versions and the earlier cars are more fun.....
mike
The 1st gen MINI received a face lift mid 2004
You want to go for a face lifted 1st gen Cooper S
Easy to spot the face lifted cars:
Look for the passenger side airbag ontop of the dash (not behind the coloured dash trim)
The coloured dash trim comes in 3 parts (not 5)
The reversing lights are in the tail lamps, with the foglight in lamp over the central exhaust
I currently have a 2002 Pre-face lift Cooper S and a 2005 Post-face lift Cooper S
The Post-face lift is a better built car
Owned the 2005 car for 7 years and the 2002 for 5 years
Both great with no problems, only general wear items
I get on average 30 mpg
Great cars
You want to go for a face lifted 1st gen Cooper S
Easy to spot the face lifted cars:
Look for the passenger side airbag ontop of the dash (not behind the coloured dash trim)
The coloured dash trim comes in 3 parts (not 5)
The reversing lights are in the tail lamps, with the foglight in lamp over the central exhaust
I currently have a 2002 Pre-face lift Cooper S and a 2005 Post-face lift Cooper S
The Post-face lift is a better built car
Owned the 2005 car for 7 years and the 2002 for 5 years
Both great with no problems, only general wear items
I get on average 30 mpg
Great cars
mneame said:
DanGT said:
I would not go for a sub 4K turbo car. But if you can do go post 2004. Lots of updates to solve problems. As normal look for good history.
Wouldn't it be post late 2006 for a turbo version 
Guys, thank you for all the information. Really helpful.
There are plenty of 54-06 in budget, to be honest I had already discounted turbos as I really love a supercharged car!
Rather predictably budget creep has set in and the goal posts have already moved. Then my mate said those three little words (John Cooper Works), which threw a horrible spanner in the works and needed a great deal of self control to supress that one as it would lead me into the murky world of finance....
Anyway, obviously the service intervals are usage based - so its ahrd to tell prior to viewing when it will need doing. I have googled to no real result, but if anyone could broadly outline the costs of services I would be grateful
There are plenty of 54-06 in budget, to be honest I had already discounted turbos as I really love a supercharged car!
Rather predictably budget creep has set in and the goal posts have already moved. Then my mate said those three little words (John Cooper Works), which threw a horrible spanner in the works and needed a great deal of self control to supress that one as it would lead me into the murky world of finance....
Anyway, obviously the service intervals are usage based - so its ahrd to tell prior to viewing when it will need doing. I have googled to no real result, but if anyone could broadly outline the costs of services I would be grateful
Vocal Minority said:
Guys, thank you for all the information. Really helpful.
There are plenty of 54-06 in budget, to be honest I had already discounted turbos as I really love a supercharged car!
Rather predictably budget creep has set in and the goal posts have already moved. Then my mate said those three little words (John Cooper Works), which threw a horrible spanner in the works and needed a great deal of self control to supress that one as it would lead me into the murky world of finance....
Anyway, obviously the service intervals are usage based - so its ahrd to tell prior to viewing when it will need doing. I have googled to no real result, but if anyone could broadly outline the costs of services I would be grateful
I paid £230 for a full service 3 months ago, with my local garage, BMW Mini wanted £300There are plenty of 54-06 in budget, to be honest I had already discounted turbos as I really love a supercharged car!
Rather predictably budget creep has set in and the goal posts have already moved. Then my mate said those three little words (John Cooper Works), which threw a horrible spanner in the works and needed a great deal of self control to supress that one as it would lead me into the murky world of finance....
Anyway, obviously the service intervals are usage based - so its ahrd to tell prior to viewing when it will need doing. I have googled to no real result, but if anyone could broadly outline the costs of services I would be grateful
Service interval will show up then you turn the key to the on position.
ALso the Mk1 costs £270 car tax, but is far better drive (when pushing it) to the fatter uglier Mk2
Realist mpg is around 27mpg, more than that and you are not using the power
DavidLScott said:
Don't suppress that JCW urge.
I bought an 05 JCW @ 53k miles with high spec last May for £5700, which seemed a decent price compared to what was out there.
They really are rather good and I would have a supercharger over a turbo any day of the week.
+1 though I paid 6500 for a low mileage (33k) 55 plate one with no options barr the chilli pack (try for the full length roof if poss) but I went for mint condition. There are a LOT of dogs out there so choose wisely!I bought an 05 JCW @ 53k miles with high spec last May for £5700, which seemed a decent price compared to what was out there.
They really are rather good and I would have a supercharger over a turbo any day of the week.
Thanks for the advice. Due to timescales and not having time to really shop around and wait for a good one in budget, the JCW itch will have to remain unscratched (now carless and with cheque for dead mr2 pending, the courtesy car will be on borrowed time, and I really need a car for work.
There is a VERY intensive weekend of looking at Standard S' ahead of me!
There is a VERY intensive weekend of looking at Standard S' ahead of me!
Edited by Vocal Minority on Thursday 6th February 06:54
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