Mini (Cooper S Sport) adventure
Discussion
It was time to bid farewell to the Skoda Fabia. After about 7 years and 70k miles it had served us well ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...) but the onset of some niggles brought forward its move. It had been a great little car, reasonably solid, reliable and most of all quite fun to drive – in a thrash it everywhere kind of way.
I was looking for something compact, reliable and enjoyable, but ideally with a bit more go and a little less roll. I have been idly perusing Autotrader etc. for over a year - to see what was out there. I looked at pretty much everything small or smallish, ideally with a bit of pep and ultimately came to rest on a Mini. I fancied something a bit more ‘grown up’ than the hot hatches I used to own - I may not have grown up myself, but I am older… The 1.5 Cooper wasn’t ‘enough’, the 3dr too small. The Clubman Cooper S too much so my search settled on a Cooper S 5 door. Just right? A JCW would be just too much in terms of performance and its harsh ride and I don’t think was available in 5 door form anyway.
With the JCW bodykit I think the 5dr looks quite decent with its extended overhangs and sills. The 5 door has an extended wheelbase/floorpan giving a bigger boot and more rear seat space. Important as I needed something reasonably practical/useable and we have just taken on a third dog so even more so now! Definitely a manual for a small hot hatch, and all of this generation have manual handbrakes...
Off to Autotrader/PH I went with my new search criteria. And pulled out, not very much really. Too many miles, too far away for a search for an everyday car, too old (I wanted something newer than 2018/the LCI update). There was always something.
So, my searching moved closer to home – as many local garages in North Wales don’t advertise nationally, I searched the ‘old fashioned’ way – direct on garage websites and immediately up popped a Mini Cooper S at a decent price nearby (well, 40 miles away but that is nearby in N. Wales) at a Vauxhall/Alfa main dealer.
It was a 2019 Cooper S with the JCW Sport trim. Under 31 k miles and seemed in good condition from the photos. In what I thought was grey but turns out to be ‘White Silver’ metallic. Still looks grey to me... Black wheels, black roof/mirrors, tints and Cooper S stickers, which would not normally be my thing, but on this car I ‘secretly’ like the overall effect.
The car had only been on sale for a couple of weeks but I thought worth a look and a drive to see what I thought. It was due a service and MOT but had a clear MOT history and no advisories.
I had never been in a Mini before (at least not a modern one) let alone driven one, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. On arrival it had been cleaned and looked suitably smart. It is the LCI update being a 2019, which means auto LED lights as standard (and yes those Union Jack taillights…), the updated B48C engine (and a GPF therefore toned down on the pops and bangs but as a daily car that is fine for me, as I am old). The LCI also saw Mini dropping the old pepper/chilli etc packs and streamlining the trim levels to Classic, Executive and Sport then added a choice of ‘packs’ on top.
We got the keys and the sales chap said to go drive around for half an hour, see what you think, which was nice. We had a good run through town, along country lanes and the A55 to get a feel for things and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a nice cabin for a compact car (if dark with the black seats, anthracite headlining and the rear tints), and you feel cocooned in a surprisingly low seating position after the Skoda! To drive it was certainly an improvement. Responsive firmly weighted steering, with little body roll and solid braking. The gearbox is good and quick if a bit notchy and the engine has a surprising amount of torque from low in the rev range – very turbine like. On the ‘motorway’ it felt well put together and pretty quiet for a hot hatch. Firm ride but not jiggly or harsh. The seats were nice and supportive and the driving position comfortable. Overall, a nice place to be.
It ‘felt’ to be a well looked after car. It had new front Falken tyres, which whilst not premium are still decent mid-range tyres, and the wheels were in excellent condition. A quick look underneath showed it to be clean and free from even any surface rust (though a 2019 car shouldn’t really be rusting!) and the bodywork was immaculate with no dents, scrapes or chips in evidence. The interior was likewise with no wear or damage or even any marks anywhere (the metal kickplates still had their protective plastic film on). Enough to make me reasonably confident it was a straight car.
Back in the showroom we sat down to have a chat and discuss figures – and after a bit of to and fro we agreed a very decent trade-in value on the Skoda and a further discount on the Mini - times are obviously hard! They also agreed to do a full service (with genuine Mini parts), brake fluid and spark plugs, MOT plus a 12mth Stellantis warranty. All of which I was pleased with.
It has the Sport trim that I was keen to have, which on the Cooper S means:
• JCW interior – wheel, seats, headlining, pedals, kickplates etc
• Excitement package – puddle lights and interior ambient led lights!
• Cruise control/braking.
• JCW bodykit – bumpers, skirts, spoiler, diffuser
• Contrasting roof/mirrors
• JCW 17” alloys
• JCW Suspension – springs and dampers
• LED headlights
It has very few options, (presumably times were hard and once the Sport trim was chosen there was little left in the kitty) namely:
• White Silver metallic paint
• JCW Sports seats - in suede/alcantara-ish highback/bucket seats
• That’s it. Apart from a surprisingly decent Thinkware front/rear dashcam that was fitted.
No Comfort/Plus, Navigation/Plus, or Driving Assistant pack. Meaning that it doesn’t have:
• ADAS - which I am rather pleased about
• Radar cruise – which I could take or leave
• Apple CarPlay – which would be nice, but I use my phone for navigation anyway so not a big deal
• Climate control or heated seats – it has air-con which is all I really need and I rarely use heated seats so not a problem for me.
• Rear camera/sensors – would have been nice, but I have since fitted an aftermarket reversing camera so that is covered.
• Mini Driving Modes (switchable Sport/Mid/Eco) – which I thought was standard, but it turns out is an option! Mini are as bad as Porsche at this options lark. This means that the car is defaulted to Standard/mid-mode and there are no buttons to change to sport or green. Until you plug it into Bimmercode at any rate… It now is permanently in Sport mode which gives a more sensitive throttle response, firms up the steering, and adds the pops and bangs/turbo flutter (though on the LCI they are more wuffles and parps). The sport mode feels much more progressive overall on the throttle and weights the steering to something closer to what I am used to in the Cayman and 370z so I am happy for it to reside there permanently.
I have had the car nearly two months now and done about 1500 miles with no problems - as you would hope. As mentioned, I fitted a reversing camera and have just fitted an OEM Mini dog guard. This led to more irritation with Mini options as it turns out that to fit the OEM dog guard the car had to have been specced with the Storage pack which means a dual height adjustable boot floor and adjustable seat back angle. It is the latter part that is needed for the guard to attach to. A quick trip to ebay found a couple of ‘refurbed’ upgraded seat catches that took only a few minutes to fit after removing some panel trim. We now have a working dog guard! Thankfully the dog seems happy to spend time in the back and peer out of the rear window!
And that is pretty much it. On a recent trip down to Surrey its relative comfort and cruise control were much appreciated. As a bonus it averaged around 47/48mpg for the journey which is a pleasant surprise as we struggled to get close to that in the Skoda with its 69hp 1.2. It is also cheaper to insure than the Skoda (and not much more to tax).
No real plans for anything to be done on the car. It is a daily and I want it to be a comfortable, reliable place to be with the ability to have a bit of fun when needed. In that regard it certainly has hit the mark. The more I drive it, the more impressed I am by it. It has been a while since I have had a daily that you drive for enjoyment and not just to get from A to B. I have even taken it (and the dog) to a couple of local cars and coffee meets. I could get used to this!
For reference - my only other Mini:
(dog added for scale)
I was looking for something compact, reliable and enjoyable, but ideally with a bit more go and a little less roll. I have been idly perusing Autotrader etc. for over a year - to see what was out there. I looked at pretty much everything small or smallish, ideally with a bit of pep and ultimately came to rest on a Mini. I fancied something a bit more ‘grown up’ than the hot hatches I used to own - I may not have grown up myself, but I am older… The 1.5 Cooper wasn’t ‘enough’, the 3dr too small. The Clubman Cooper S too much so my search settled on a Cooper S 5 door. Just right? A JCW would be just too much in terms of performance and its harsh ride and I don’t think was available in 5 door form anyway.
With the JCW bodykit I think the 5dr looks quite decent with its extended overhangs and sills. The 5 door has an extended wheelbase/floorpan giving a bigger boot and more rear seat space. Important as I needed something reasonably practical/useable and we have just taken on a third dog so even more so now! Definitely a manual for a small hot hatch, and all of this generation have manual handbrakes...
Off to Autotrader/PH I went with my new search criteria. And pulled out, not very much really. Too many miles, too far away for a search for an everyday car, too old (I wanted something newer than 2018/the LCI update). There was always something.
So, my searching moved closer to home – as many local garages in North Wales don’t advertise nationally, I searched the ‘old fashioned’ way – direct on garage websites and immediately up popped a Mini Cooper S at a decent price nearby (well, 40 miles away but that is nearby in N. Wales) at a Vauxhall/Alfa main dealer.
It was a 2019 Cooper S with the JCW Sport trim. Under 31 k miles and seemed in good condition from the photos. In what I thought was grey but turns out to be ‘White Silver’ metallic. Still looks grey to me... Black wheels, black roof/mirrors, tints and Cooper S stickers, which would not normally be my thing, but on this car I ‘secretly’ like the overall effect.
The car had only been on sale for a couple of weeks but I thought worth a look and a drive to see what I thought. It was due a service and MOT but had a clear MOT history and no advisories.
I had never been in a Mini before (at least not a modern one) let alone driven one, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. On arrival it had been cleaned and looked suitably smart. It is the LCI update being a 2019, which means auto LED lights as standard (and yes those Union Jack taillights…), the updated B48C engine (and a GPF therefore toned down on the pops and bangs but as a daily car that is fine for me, as I am old). The LCI also saw Mini dropping the old pepper/chilli etc packs and streamlining the trim levels to Classic, Executive and Sport then added a choice of ‘packs’ on top.
We got the keys and the sales chap said to go drive around for half an hour, see what you think, which was nice. We had a good run through town, along country lanes and the A55 to get a feel for things and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a nice cabin for a compact car (if dark with the black seats, anthracite headlining and the rear tints), and you feel cocooned in a surprisingly low seating position after the Skoda! To drive it was certainly an improvement. Responsive firmly weighted steering, with little body roll and solid braking. The gearbox is good and quick if a bit notchy and the engine has a surprising amount of torque from low in the rev range – very turbine like. On the ‘motorway’ it felt well put together and pretty quiet for a hot hatch. Firm ride but not jiggly or harsh. The seats were nice and supportive and the driving position comfortable. Overall, a nice place to be.
It ‘felt’ to be a well looked after car. It had new front Falken tyres, which whilst not premium are still decent mid-range tyres, and the wheels were in excellent condition. A quick look underneath showed it to be clean and free from even any surface rust (though a 2019 car shouldn’t really be rusting!) and the bodywork was immaculate with no dents, scrapes or chips in evidence. The interior was likewise with no wear or damage or even any marks anywhere (the metal kickplates still had their protective plastic film on). Enough to make me reasonably confident it was a straight car.
Back in the showroom we sat down to have a chat and discuss figures – and after a bit of to and fro we agreed a very decent trade-in value on the Skoda and a further discount on the Mini - times are obviously hard! They also agreed to do a full service (with genuine Mini parts), brake fluid and spark plugs, MOT plus a 12mth Stellantis warranty. All of which I was pleased with.
It has the Sport trim that I was keen to have, which on the Cooper S means:
• JCW interior – wheel, seats, headlining, pedals, kickplates etc
• Excitement package – puddle lights and interior ambient led lights!
• Cruise control/braking.
• JCW bodykit – bumpers, skirts, spoiler, diffuser
• Contrasting roof/mirrors
• JCW 17” alloys
• JCW Suspension – springs and dampers
• LED headlights
It has very few options, (presumably times were hard and once the Sport trim was chosen there was little left in the kitty) namely:
• White Silver metallic paint
• JCW Sports seats - in suede/alcantara-ish highback/bucket seats
• That’s it. Apart from a surprisingly decent Thinkware front/rear dashcam that was fitted.
No Comfort/Plus, Navigation/Plus, or Driving Assistant pack. Meaning that it doesn’t have:
• ADAS - which I am rather pleased about
• Radar cruise – which I could take or leave
• Apple CarPlay – which would be nice, but I use my phone for navigation anyway so not a big deal
• Climate control or heated seats – it has air-con which is all I really need and I rarely use heated seats so not a problem for me.
• Rear camera/sensors – would have been nice, but I have since fitted an aftermarket reversing camera so that is covered.
• Mini Driving Modes (switchable Sport/Mid/Eco) – which I thought was standard, but it turns out is an option! Mini are as bad as Porsche at this options lark. This means that the car is defaulted to Standard/mid-mode and there are no buttons to change to sport or green. Until you plug it into Bimmercode at any rate… It now is permanently in Sport mode which gives a more sensitive throttle response, firms up the steering, and adds the pops and bangs/turbo flutter (though on the LCI they are more wuffles and parps). The sport mode feels much more progressive overall on the throttle and weights the steering to something closer to what I am used to in the Cayman and 370z so I am happy for it to reside there permanently.
I have had the car nearly two months now and done about 1500 miles with no problems - as you would hope. As mentioned, I fitted a reversing camera and have just fitted an OEM Mini dog guard. This led to more irritation with Mini options as it turns out that to fit the OEM dog guard the car had to have been specced with the Storage pack which means a dual height adjustable boot floor and adjustable seat back angle. It is the latter part that is needed for the guard to attach to. A quick trip to ebay found a couple of ‘refurbed’ upgraded seat catches that took only a few minutes to fit after removing some panel trim. We now have a working dog guard! Thankfully the dog seems happy to spend time in the back and peer out of the rear window!
And that is pretty much it. On a recent trip down to Surrey its relative comfort and cruise control were much appreciated. As a bonus it averaged around 47/48mpg for the journey which is a pleasant surprise as we struggled to get close to that in the Skoda with its 69hp 1.2. It is also cheaper to insure than the Skoda (and not much more to tax).
No real plans for anything to be done on the car. It is a daily and I want it to be a comfortable, reliable place to be with the ability to have a bit of fun when needed. In that regard it certainly has hit the mark. The more I drive it, the more impressed I am by it. It has been a while since I have had a daily that you drive for enjoyment and not just to get from A to B. I have even taken it (and the dog) to a couple of local cars and coffee meets. I could get used to this!
For reference - my only other Mini:
(dog added for scale)
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff