Discussion
I've been looking for a replacement vehicle, one which will do a 100 mile round trip commute up to 4 times a week. I initially looked at big motors -Mondeo estate, A4 Avant etc but i was looking at one for a tow car. As I probably won't be getting a caravan until 2019 now, I might just get something small and frugal and not completely unexciting.
A Mini is always something I fancied owning a few years ago but never got around to it. I had the old original Mini but drove one of these about 10 years ago and was impressed with the handling.
It might not be something that would be the first choice for a long commute but I notice the diesels have very good economy and some no tax whatsoever. They're only around 90bhp though so not exactly quick.
Has anyone got one and can give advice on what to look out for? Budget is £5k max so 2006-12 likely. Anyone mapped one for extra power?
A Mini is always something I fancied owning a few years ago but never got around to it. I had the old original Mini but drove one of these about 10 years ago and was impressed with the handling.
It might not be something that would be the first choice for a long commute but I notice the diesels have very good economy and some no tax whatsoever. They're only around 90bhp though so not exactly quick.
Has anyone got one and can give advice on what to look out for? Budget is £5k max so 2006-12 likely. Anyone mapped one for extra power?
The early R56 minis were 1.6 but the later ones moved from the PSA lump to BMWs own 2.0. Personally I would go for a Cooper S D Clubman, the reasons being the Clubman is slightly longer in the wheelbase which gives it a better ride and cuts out some of the bounce, secondly it has a larger fuel tank which on long runs can make a difference. I'm pretty sure its 50litres compared to less than 40 litres for the hatch. However your budget might not stretch to one.
With Minis forget about prices, good ones with the right spec can go well above what the trade guides put them at. I've had my clubby S 4 years, i've put 30k on it, had the oil changed 4 times and from what i paid to what WBAC offer i've lost 6k. In reality if i sold it privately my loss would be nearer to £4500-£5000.
My petrol can make 45mpg on a run and over 500 miles per tank, i'm struggling to see what i could replace it with so i reckon i'll keep it for another few years.
With Minis forget about prices, good ones with the right spec can go well above what the trade guides put them at. I've had my clubby S 4 years, i've put 30k on it, had the oil changed 4 times and from what i paid to what WBAC offer i've lost 6k. In reality if i sold it privately my loss would be nearer to £4500-£5000.
My petrol can make 45mpg on a run and over 500 miles per tank, i'm struggling to see what i could replace it with so i reckon i'll keep it for another few years.
I run a 2014 Gen 2 Cooper D Clubman as a daily and it's great. I do about 2500 miles a month in it.
One D is 1.6
Cooper D is 1.6 with more power than the One
Cooper SD is 2.0
1.6s have two different engines. Post facelift have the more reliable BMW engine from the 1 series which is chain not belt driven. Facelift cars are post 2011 as a rule.
Love mine. It'll do a real world 60mpg+ on a long run if kept to speed limits and yet you can really hustle it down a B road on two wheels and a door handle.
I love how it drove so much I've become a real new Mini convert and added a 250bhp Gen 1 Cooper S to the fleet. Now that's a real hoot, but hella thirsty.
One D is 1.6
Cooper D is 1.6 with more power than the One
Cooper SD is 2.0
1.6s have two different engines. Post facelift have the more reliable BMW engine from the 1 series which is chain not belt driven. Facelift cars are post 2011 as a rule.
Love mine. It'll do a real world 60mpg+ on a long run if kept to speed limits and yet you can really hustle it down a B road on two wheels and a door handle.
I love how it drove so much I've become a real new Mini convert and added a 250bhp Gen 1 Cooper S to the fleet. Now that's a real hoot, but hella thirsty.
HorneyMX5 said:
I run a 2014 Gen 2 Cooper D Clubman as a daily and it's great. I do about 2500 miles a month in it.
One D is 1.6
Cooper D is 1.6 with more power than the One
Cooper SD is 2.0
1.6s have two different engines. Post facelift have the more reliable BMW engine from the 1 series which is chain not belt driven. Facelift cars are post 2011 as a rule.
Love mine. It'll do a real world 60mpg+ on a long run if kept to speed limits and yet you can really hustle it down a B road on two wheels and a door handle.
I love how it drove so much I've become a real new Mini convert and added a 250bhp Gen 1 Cooper S to the fleet. Now that's a real hoot, but hella thirsty.
So with a petrol and a diesel variant in your garage, do you find the diesel any different in handling? I looked at the Cooper S and quite honestly fancy something with a bit of overtaking ability, particularly when a section of my commute is single rural carriageway and is littered with farm dwellers and old people! One D is 1.6
Cooper D is 1.6 with more power than the One
Cooper SD is 2.0
1.6s have two different engines. Post facelift have the more reliable BMW engine from the 1 series which is chain not belt driven. Facelift cars are post 2011 as a rule.
Love mine. It'll do a real world 60mpg+ on a long run if kept to speed limits and yet you can really hustle it down a B road on two wheels and a door handle.
I love how it drove so much I've become a real new Mini convert and added a 250bhp Gen 1 Cooper S to the fleet. Now that's a real hoot, but hella thirsty.
My dad's girlfriend has owned several mini's her current is a cooper d (2014). This one is proving to be more reliable than the last (2008 cooper) the d is pretty nippy and mpg probably depends on how it's driven, she gets 40 odd mpg on average.
My gripe with mini's is that they are all rock hard and they are small inside. I'd recommend trying one before setting sights to buy one.
If you like them and have test drove/spent anytime in them, then go for it. Just be careful and picky when buying. I'd go for a cooper with a few packs, chilli etc.
It's a bit of a mine field from my experience in helping find the cars, as they are classless so can get some properly pampered cars or those run on a shoestring and it does show.
My gripe with mini's is that they are all rock hard and they are small inside. I'd recommend trying one before setting sights to buy one.
If you like them and have test drove/spent anytime in them, then go for it. Just be careful and picky when buying. I'd go for a cooper with a few packs, chilli etc.
It's a bit of a mine field from my experience in helping find the cars, as they are classless so can get some properly pampered cars or those run on a shoestring and it does show.
The cooper s is the one you should have for back roads for its size it's quite tourqey and in the real world will be quicker and more fun than the Sd, it's quite a big lump in the front and minis are all about being like a go cart.
I'm 6'4" and find it more comfortable than our b7 a4, but I guess you don't buy a mini for its interior space. If whatever you buy has runcraps then budget for swapping them ASAP.
I'm 6'4" and find it more comfortable than our b7 a4, but I guess you don't buy a mini for its interior space. If whatever you buy has runcraps then budget for swapping them ASAP.
Chicken Chaser said:
So with a petrol and a diesel variant in your garage, do you find the diesel any different in handling? I looked at the Cooper S and quite honestly fancy something with a bit of overtaking ability, particularly when a section of my commute is single rural carriageway and is littered with farm dwellers and old people!
There's a difference for sure. The R55 Clubman is the better steer but it's 12 years newer, the Gen2 has a better suspension design and th longer wheel base plays a part. They're both awesome fun though.For over taking I'd go petrol S all the way. While I can pull the odd pass in the D it takes planning and timing. If you go for an S then you need to be buying an N18 engined facelift Gen2. That will get you the economy and reliability. The N14 powered Gen2s have a lot of engine issues that are expensive to rectify.
Morning!
I've got an 08 R56 JCW, I seem to be banging on about that and Mondeo's recently (sad bugger). The Cooper S and JCW have weak High pressure fuel pumps and the timing chain tensioner "death rattle". A lot have been done under warranty and fitted with upgraded parts, so a lot will have been done. All known issues and easily rectifiable however.
MPG for mine is around 25/30mpg around town, and can get up to 46mpg doing a steady 70mph motorway journey. Great to drive, but a big turning circle compared to its size. If you want to service it yourself there are plenty of guides online available and endless modification opportunities, some more suspect than others. Grip is great and is powerful enough to have fun without going into licence losing speeds. Pops and bangs quite well too!
I've got an 08 R56 JCW, I seem to be banging on about that and Mondeo's recently (sad bugger). The Cooper S and JCW have weak High pressure fuel pumps and the timing chain tensioner "death rattle". A lot have been done under warranty and fitted with upgraded parts, so a lot will have been done. All known issues and easily rectifiable however.
MPG for mine is around 25/30mpg around town, and can get up to 46mpg doing a steady 70mph motorway journey. Great to drive, but a big turning circle compared to its size. If you want to service it yourself there are plenty of guides online available and endless modification opportunities, some more suspect than others. Grip is great and is powerful enough to have fun without going into licence losing speeds. Pops and bangs quite well too!
So Cooper S for speed without economy, diesel for frugality and the standard 1.6 Cooper petrol for somewhere in between?
Also, stay away from anything pre-2010 due to the older engines being a problem? Is that Petrol and diesel or just Petrol?
I'm struggling to identify the facelift and non-facelift models. Anyone give me a tell tale sign in case i'm looking at the crossover year? Its like spot the difference...
Also, stay away from anything pre-2010 due to the older engines being a problem? Is that Petrol and diesel or just Petrol?
I'm struggling to identify the facelift and non-facelift models. Anyone give me a tell tale sign in case i'm looking at the crossover year? Its like spot the difference...
Chicken Chaser said:
So Cooper S for speed without economy, diesel for frugality and the standard 1.6 Cooper petrol for somewhere in between?
Also, stay away from anything pre-2010 due to the older engines being a problem? Is that Petrol and diesel or just Petrol?
I'm struggling to identify the facelift and non-facelift models. Anyone give me a tell tale sign in case i'm looking at the crossover year? Its like spot the difference...
More or less on the first point. I found the 1.6 cooper a tad underpowered, and thrashed it everywhere to get going, which ruined the economy a bit.Also, stay away from anything pre-2010 due to the older engines being a problem? Is that Petrol and diesel or just Petrol?
I'm struggling to identify the facelift and non-facelift models. Anyone give me a tell tale sign in case i'm looking at the crossover year? Its like spot the difference...
I think the N14 pre-facelift petrol S and JCW engines had the main problems, not a deal breaker to stay away from them if the spec is right and there is service history showing the work has been done to remedy these issues. Diesel I think it's standard procedure, do enough miles or at least give them a long run to keep them happy.
The main differences to the facelift was a new front and rear bumper, the interior around the cente console and heater controls changed slightly too. I don't know how to add photos to give a further clue.
Facelift - or LCi was around October 2010, if going for the Cooper S then you really want the LCi, under the bonnet the N14 you can see the coil packs, on the N18 they are hidden under a cover. Externally if you look at the front bumper the LCi has brake ducts in the lower bumper, the early N14 just has one wide grill.
Personally I think the N18 is good on fuel, on 15 mile each way trips top work mine was averaging 38mpg, i'm doing 1 mile each way now and averaging 31mpg.
If you can afford the N18 then thats what i would go for, if you really want diesel then go for the Cooper SD. I would go for the clubman and I would want the Chilli pack as a minimum.
Personally I think the N18 is good on fuel, on 15 mile each way trips top work mine was averaging 38mpg, i'm doing 1 mile each way now and averaging 31mpg.
If you can afford the N18 then thats what i would go for, if you really want diesel then go for the Cooper SD. I would go for the clubman and I would want the Chilli pack as a minimum.
Easiest way to tell pre and post facelift is the heather controls.
Pre left - Post Right
Pre has only one knob on the stereo panel and the fan speed and heat controls are like rotational things. Post has two knobs on the stereo panel and the fan speed and heat controls are an up and down rocker switch.
Pre left - Post Right
Pre has only one knob on the stereo panel and the fan speed and heat controls are like rotational things. Post has two knobs on the stereo panel and the fan speed and heat controls are an up and down rocker switch.
I ran a 2010 facelift Cooper D as a company car for a year and a bit and was commuting 120 mile round trip in it each day. It was very economical and the engine was excellent and felt like a larger capacity petrol engine with negligible lag and pulling nicely to the red line. Despite only having 110bhp it didn't struggle to keep up with traffic in lane 3 and the driving position is pretty much spot on. Very chuckable chassis and lots of fun in the twisted. I had runflats on mine and they were fine, although the fronts only lasted around 15k miles.
The downsides are that after a couple of thousand miles the cabin rattles start, the boot is comically small and because everything is an option or a special pack, finding the right spec car second hand is fun!
Chris
The downsides are that after a couple of thousand miles the cabin rattles start, the boot is comically small and because everything is an option or a special pack, finding the right spec car second hand is fun!
Chris
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