My other half’s F56 MINI Cooper
Discussion
Not hugely interesting, but I thought I’d chuck up a wee thread for my other half’s F56 MINI Cooper that I bought to replace an E90 330.
I loved the 330 but my other half wasn’t quite so keen - it drank too much fuel and the VED was too high apparently. She wanted something cheaper to run and we settled on this; 2016 MINI Cooper in volcano orange with black roof and mirrors, black bonnet stripes, chilli pack, 17 inch wheels in black, privacy glass, heated windscreen, JCW wheel, arm rest, visual boost radio (basic screen), piano black interior trim and white finishers.
We’ve had it almost three years now and it’s been very uneventful; one service, second one due soon (covered by the service pack) and a pair of front tyres. From my other half’s point of view, it’s done what was needed and cost very little to run. Servicing and tyres for three years to date total £450, VED is £20 a year and it’s averaged 40.4mpg over the last three years and 20k which is almost double that of the 330. The depreciation has been a bit eyewatering though and seems worse than my MINI’s of old.
I don’t mind it, the steering offers very in the way of feel especially compared to my previous R50/53 MINI’s but the engine is more characterful than the early cars four pots. It rides pretty well and feels much more grown up than the older cars too and is surprisingly good on long runs.
I’m pretty happy with the spec we chose, although the armrest was a waste of money. It spends most of the time in the up position (where the catch rattles) because it gets in the way when changing gear and makes it hard to use the idrive. It’s nice on a motorway run though.
The weather was nice today and I had a clear afternoon so nerded out on cleaning it. No during pictures. It was washed, dried, attacked with Iron X and Tar X, washed again, dried, clayed, machine polished, glazed and finished with two coats of wax. Wheels were sealed, black trim restored and I polished the exhaust tip. Glass cleaned inside and out, quick vac and wipe round inside. It looked nice in the early evening sun so I took a few pictures.
And the obligatory reflection shot after cleaning...
If you’ve made it through what is a pretty long and dull post, it’s been a good little car but not one that I’ll miss when it goes. I’ve not gelled with it like I did the earlier MINI’s I had despite this being better built, a bit bigger etc. My other half really likes it though which is what counts.
I loved the 330 but my other half wasn’t quite so keen - it drank too much fuel and the VED was too high apparently. She wanted something cheaper to run and we settled on this; 2016 MINI Cooper in volcano orange with black roof and mirrors, black bonnet stripes, chilli pack, 17 inch wheels in black, privacy glass, heated windscreen, JCW wheel, arm rest, visual boost radio (basic screen), piano black interior trim and white finishers.
We’ve had it almost three years now and it’s been very uneventful; one service, second one due soon (covered by the service pack) and a pair of front tyres. From my other half’s point of view, it’s done what was needed and cost very little to run. Servicing and tyres for three years to date total £450, VED is £20 a year and it’s averaged 40.4mpg over the last three years and 20k which is almost double that of the 330. The depreciation has been a bit eyewatering though and seems worse than my MINI’s of old.
I don’t mind it, the steering offers very in the way of feel especially compared to my previous R50/53 MINI’s but the engine is more characterful than the early cars four pots. It rides pretty well and feels much more grown up than the older cars too and is surprisingly good on long runs.
I’m pretty happy with the spec we chose, although the armrest was a waste of money. It spends most of the time in the up position (where the catch rattles) because it gets in the way when changing gear and makes it hard to use the idrive. It’s nice on a motorway run though.
The weather was nice today and I had a clear afternoon so nerded out on cleaning it. No during pictures. It was washed, dried, attacked with Iron X and Tar X, washed again, dried, clayed, machine polished, glazed and finished with two coats of wax. Wheels were sealed, black trim restored and I polished the exhaust tip. Glass cleaned inside and out, quick vac and wipe round inside. It looked nice in the early evening sun so I took a few pictures.
And the obligatory reflection shot after cleaning...
If you’ve made it through what is a pretty long and dull post, it’s been a good little car but not one that I’ll miss when it goes. I’ve not gelled with it like I did the earlier MINI’s I had despite this being better built, a bit bigger etc. My other half really likes it though which is what counts.
Interesting car, but I can't help thinking the F56 doesn't look quite as much a Mini as the earlier generations!
I had one as a courtesy car and although it drove really well it seemed like you had to really cane it to get some performance - and it didn't sound that good when you did.
My (ex)OH bought a new R56 Cooper in 2006 and I loved that! And last time I was in it the OBC was also showing over 40 mpg average!
Coincidentally I bought an E90 330i a few weeks ago as a daily, and I love it. Undoubtedly less economical, but who cares?
I had one as a courtesy car and although it drove really well it seemed like you had to really cane it to get some performance - and it didn't sound that good when you did.
My (ex)OH bought a new R56 Cooper in 2006 and I loved that! And last time I was in it the OBC was also showing over 40 mpg average!
Coincidentally I bought an E90 330i a few weeks ago as a daily, and I love it. Undoubtedly less economical, but who cares?
Mr Tidy said:
Interesting car, but I can't help thinking the F56 doesn't look quite as much a Mini as the earlier generations!
I had one as a courtesy car and although it drove really well it seemed like you had to really cane it to get some performance - and it didn't sound that good when you did.
My (ex)OH bought a new R56 Cooper in 2006 and I loved that! And last time I was in it the OBC was also showing over 40 mpg average!
Coincidentally I bought an E90 330i a few weeks ago as a daily, and I love it. Undoubtedly less economical, but who cares?
Yeah, the looks are getting a bit OTT, but to my eyes anyway, the Cooper is the pick on the bunch because the S has those silly nostril things on the front bumper.I had one as a courtesy car and although it drove really well it seemed like you had to really cane it to get some performance - and it didn't sound that good when you did.
My (ex)OH bought a new R56 Cooper in 2006 and I loved that! And last time I was in it the OBC was also showing over 40 mpg average!
Coincidentally I bought an E90 330i a few weeks ago as a daily, and I love it. Undoubtedly less economical, but who cares?
I don’t mind the engine note; it’s better than the four pot in the earlier cars. I was a huge fan of the R50/3 having had theee of them. The R56 didn’t really do anything for me. One thing I willsaid that the latest F generation seems to be much, much better built (or at least this one is). It’s been back for new door seals and to have the cills repainted due to sand seals being hard and rubbing the paint. My old Cooper S had a new clutch, steering rack, track rod ends and immobiliser under warranty!
This has averaged 40.4mpg and pretty much does nothing but short trips. The 330 was c.23 in the same usage.
gf15 said:
Happy wife = happy life.
Lovely colour scheme and it has polished up like new.
Yeah, that’s normally my motto too! Lovely colour scheme and it has polished up like new.
It’s scrubbed up pretty well. The main reason I broke the DA polisher was to try and improve a slight mark on the bumper where someone nicked it in a car park (not sure how you can miss a bright yellow MINI) and it’s largely disappeared.
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