Bored of my MINI Cooper D - something more exciting needed

[thenortherner]

I bought a 2018 Cooper D from a main dealer around 4 months ago in a bid to economise. Beforehand, I was running a 2020 Abarth Competizione, and whilst it was fun, the ride quality was so poor and harsh on anything other than a glass-smooth road that it became unbearable. I do 15-17k miles per year so needed something a little more comfortable. It was by far and away the worst riding car I've ever had.

In no particular order, I've had the below list of hot hatches:

Mini R56 Cooper S, F56 Cooper SD, F56 Cooper S Works 210, F56 Cooper D
Abarth Competizione x2
Peugeot 208 GTI Prestige x2
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Fiesta ST-3 MK 7.5 Mountune
Renault Clio 200 with cup pack
Honda Civic Type R EP3
Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4 TSI DSG

The Cooper D I have is perfectly pleasant and decently equipped but ultimately it's hardly exciting! I'm really missing owning a hot hatch, and for what's now only around £80-100 saving per month in fuel, I'm going to let go of the MINI. Several main dealers will buy it back for £1,500 less than I paid and I've done 7,000 miles in it during that time, so can't moan.

This'll probably be my last shot at a hatch before I'm forced down the EV route in a few years. I don't want to spend more than £17,500 ideally. I just don't know what to go for. I'm really tempted to spend a wedge on a very low mile Fiesta ST-200. They're special cars and well equipped, if a little over-priced compared so a regular ST-3 but that's the price of the fast Ford scene.

I tested a Cooper S with the JCW Pro bluetooth exhaust at the weekend - same setup as the Cooper S Works 210 I had - and forgot how brilliant it was! They're pretty rare so I'm potentially looking at sourcing a 2017 Cooper S (pre GPF) and having it fitted retrospectively.

Where would your money go?

I do 15-17k miles a year so need to be reasonably comfortable and equipped
It has to be entertaining
£17,500 budget
Ideally hasn't already done over 35,000 miles
I don't have kids or the need to cart lots about, so a 2 seater is OK
40+ mpg is achievable without
Running costs / reliability is fair

[CG2020UK]

I’d maybe go up a size at that budget and get the better drive and more comfort.

My picks are the Peugeot 308GTI or a Seat Leon Cupra for daily driving.

Also worth mentioning the GTC VXR or Megane RS but they be on the slightly more raw side vs the above.

You’d get them all under budget and the can soak up the miles without any real issue while they can all be good fun on a B road or track.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Astra GTC VXR is the pick, with it's adjustable dampers you can run in comfort when schleping up & down the motorways & then choose Sport or VXR for when you want to enjoy an A/B road. Most will have under 25k or less on the clock, the only real downside is the badge

The first one comes with a 24 month AUC Warranty too, the sexond one has the standard 1 year AUC warranty:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301052...

As above the PS 308 GTI is the other option they're a cracking steer & as long as you suit the looking over the steering wheel driving position they're a nice place to be too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211181...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212052...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207238...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211101...

[georgeyboy12345]

Change your D to a JCW
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...


Ford Fiesta ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...


Ford Focus ST if you want a bit more space
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211262...


Peugeot 208 GTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212102...


Peugeot 308 GTi if you want a bit more space
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211181...


One more Frenchy - DS3 Performance
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208108...

[Carguy44]

I would go for something comfy and fairy cheap, then get a proper fun weekend car.

[blue al]

You should really try an SD mini, again
They go Even better with a re-map

[fflump]

Carguy44 said:

I would go for something comfy and fairy cheap, then get a proper fun weekend car.

I'd agree. Something French for motorway mile cruising like a Citroen C5. Then the balance on something really fun. There is no do-it-all car if you are doing 17k miles a year.

[Pent]

I used to have an F56 Cooper S and put 20k a year on it. Auto of course. Regret selling it tbh was fun and can cruise comfortably. I modified mine with upgraded suspension and wheels and brakes and it was a freest all rounder

[cerb4.5lee]

Pent said:

I used to have an F56 Cooper S and put 20k a year on it. Auto of course. Regret selling it tbh was fun and can cruise comfortably. I modified mine with upgraded suspension and wheels and brakes and it was a freest all rounder

That was similar to me and I did 19k miles in my manual F56 Cooper S. I enjoyed every drive that I had in it to be honest. My missus and daughters used to moan about it/couldn't understand why I bought it, but I loved it though!

[GreatGranny]

thenortherner said:

This'll probably be my last shot at a hatch before I'm forced down the EV route in a few years.

I see this a lot on what car threads.

No one is forcing you to buy an EV even when NEW ICE cars aren't available.

There will still be plenty of ICE cars available years after the ban.

Sorry rant over

[fflump]

GreatGranny said:

thenortherner said:

This'll probably be my last shot at a hatch before I'm forced down the EV route in a few years.

I see this a lot on what car threads.

No one is forcing you to buy an EV even when NEW ICE cars aren't available.

There will still be plenty of ICE cars available years after the ban.

Sorry rant over

Looking at the queues of Teslas at Tebay Services this Christmas a solely EV UK is a long way off!

[cerb4.5lee]

fflump said:

GreatGranny said:

thenortherner said:

This'll probably be my last shot at a hatch before I'm forced down the EV route in a few years.

I see this a lot on what car threads.

No one is forcing you to buy an EV even when NEW ICE cars aren't available.

There will still be plenty of ICE cars available years after the ban.

Sorry rant over

Looking at the queues of Teslas at Tebay Services this Christmas a solely EV UK is a long way off!

That will definitely be a stumbling block for many I reckon. Sod that for a game of soldiers, and I just can't see them working if you have strict timescales that you have to stick to. Fine if you have all the time in the world though.

[blue al]

cerb4.5lee said:

Pent said:

I used to have an F56 Cooper S and put 20k a year on it. Auto of course. Regret selling it tbh was fun and can cruise comfortably. I modified mine with upgraded suspension and wheels and brakes and it was a freest all rounder

That was similar to me and I did 19k miles in my manual F56 Cooper S. I enjoyed every drive that I had in it to be honest. My missus and daughters used to moan about it/couldn't understand why I bought it, but I loved it though!

As Above, feb 2015 to now 98,000 miles added Jcw brakes, bbs 17 x 7.5” wheels and 215/45/17 rubber
With factory adaptive damping, full leather and sunroof it’s a comfortable car to do the mileage, and good cut and thrust acceleration once your moving at any speed.

More power is available with uprated intercooler

[keo]

fflump said:

Carguy44 said:

I would go for something comfy and fairy cheap, then get a proper fun weekend car.

I'd agree. Something French for motorway mile cruising like a Citroen C5. Then the balance on something really fun. There is no do-it-all car if you are doing 17k miles a year.

I agree with what you are both saying I do a little more miles than the op but have a work car and weekend car. However my work car bored me to tears and I spend slot of time init. The weekend car doesn’t do much.
So I understand the op wanting something fun to drive/ hit hatch as I am also planning on going down this route.

Possibly a Fiesta ST for me.

[fflump]

keo said:

fflump said:

Carguy44 said:

I would go for something comfy and fairy cheap, then get a proper fun weekend car.

I'd agree. Something French for motorway mile cruising like a Citroen C5. Then the balance on something really fun. There is no do-it-all car if you are doing 17k miles a year.

I agree with what you are both saying I do a little more miles than the op but have a work car and weekend car. However my work car bored me to tears and I spend slot of time init. The weekend car doesn’t do much.
So I understand the op wanting something fun to drive/ hit hatch as I am also planning on going down this route.

Possibly a Fiesta ST for me.

I can see what you mean-wanting car you enjoy being in when it's for hours on end.
A 6-cylinder diesel and a nice interior would be my pick. Like a Ghibli or a 435d
For something a bit nimbler a petrol M235i or M140i would be an option, though not sure how they are at mile munching.

[thenortherner]

Thanks for the replies, all. Apologies for the delayed response.

I had a deposit on a super low mile ST 200 at a reasonable price but have pulled out. Great car - I used to have a mk 7.5 ST-3 - but I was always a bit wary about break-ins and thefts. They're easily stolen and I can't be bothered with the worry, or messing about with disclocks, not that seems to stop theives.

I'd be happy with another Cooper S but anything 2018 onwards is very muted due to GPF fitment, and it really takes away from the car. I've toyed with gettng a 2017 car and having a decent after-market exhaust fitted. I had the JCW Pro exhaust and it was awesome but sadly can only be fitted to pre 2018 cars. There aren't many low mile or reasonably priced examples out there which fit this, sadly. I'd like another S Works 210 or a Challenge. I've noticed there's a big gap between forecort price and trade-in price with MINI, more so than a lot of other cars, and this puts me off a bit.

So on to the 308 GTI. I'm a bit confused by the equipment and which models do and don't have the Torsen diff. and Alcon brakes.

This model says it has the diff. but doesn't appear to be a 'Peugeot Sport' model, just a GTI.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209139...

Is that right? How's it work?

Thanks in advance.

[keo]

fflump said:

I can see what you mean-wanting car you enjoy being in when it's for hours on end.
A 6-cylinder diesel and a nice interior would be my pick. Like a Ghibli or a 435d
For something a bit nimbler a petrol M235i or M140i would be an option, though not sure how they are at mile munching.

I also agree about having an effortless diesel and a nice place to be. This is why I go around in circles and haven’t changed my car yet fflump. One day I think I am in this car a lot so I want something I can enjoy.

The next “well I am just sitting on the motorway” it’s pointless having anything else. I know after a long shift and wanting to get home sportiness is the last thing on my mind!

Another consideration is I hate going to the petrol station so something with a big range is good to have. So this points to a big diesel I’d imagine.

[ZX10R NIN]

thenortherner said:

Thanks for the replies, all. Apologies for the delayed response.

I had a deposit on a super low mile ST 200 at a reasonable price but have pulled out. Great car - I used to have a mk 7.5 ST-3 - but I was always a bit wary about break-ins and thefts. They're easily stolen and I can't be bothered with the worry, or messing about with disclocks, not that seems to stop theives.

I'd be happy with another Cooper S but anything 2018 onwards is very muted due to GPF fitment, and it really takes away from the car. I've toyed with gettng a 2017 car and having a decent after-market exhaust fitted. I had the JCW Pro exhaust and it was awesome but sadly can only be fitted to pre 2018 cars. There aren't many low mile or reasonably priced examples out there which fit this, sadly. I'd like another S Works 210 or a Challenge. I've noticed there's a big gap between forecort price and trade-in price with MINI, more so than a lot of other cars, and this puts me off a bit.

So on to the 308 GTI. I'm a bit confused by the equipment and which models do and don't have the Torsen diff. and Alcon brakes.

This model says it has the diff. but doesn't appear to be a 'Peugeot Sport' model, just a GTI.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209139...

Is that right? How's it work?

Thanks in advance.

What happened is the Peugeot stopped making the two models (non PS & PS) of GTI & continued with the none which has all the PS parts fitted but was no longer called the PS.

[thenortherner]

ZX10R NIN said:

What happened is the Peugeot stopped making the two models (non PS & PS) of GTI & continued with the none which has all the PS parts fitted but was no longer called the PS.

Thank you.

I'm put off by them, not so much because of the car, but a quick valuation using the usual Cazoo etc shows their value at typically 25% less than forecourt prices. Much the same with MINI and Abarth.

The only one which seems to buck the trend is the Fiesta ST. Cars which are up at £19k are valued at £18k by Cazoo. I don't know if this is because the latest facelift model doesn't look too nice, and the recent announcement of the Fiesta being killed off.

Part of me wishes I'd gone ahead with the ST200 but I'd rather do without the worry of theft and break-ins.

[ZX10R NIN]

thenortherner said:

Thank you.

I'm put off by them, not so much because of the car, but a quick valuation using the usual Cazoo etc shows their value at typically 25% less than forecourt prices. Much the same with MINI and Abarth.

The only one which seems to buck the trend is the Fiesta ST. Cars which are up at £19k are valued at £18k by Cazoo. I don't know if this is because the latest facelift model doesn't look too nice, and the recent announcement of the Fiesta being killed off.

Part of me wishes I'd gone ahead with the ST200 but I'd rather do without the worry of theft and break-ins.

Those are just an indication, can you find any of those for sale at even close to 25% less than their forecourt value?

If you can't then those valuations are being made in the name of maximising profit, not giving you the best price which is exactly what they're supposed to do.