Help me choose a used Contryman please.

Help me choose a used Contryman please.

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Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
I'm having trouble deciding on a used countryman .

Spec I want is a Cooper SD and it must have cruise control which I understand cannot be retrofitted . Therefore I believe that I need to have one with the Chilli Pack.

Budget is up to max 15k, it will be a second car until we change the main car in a year or two but until then it will be the main bus.

We normally buy cars nearly new and keep them for 7 years or more so this one will be no different, a long termer.

I've seen a few advertised so if you could advise on which you think is the Best Buy I'd be grateful ...

All Chilli pack and similar in other spec ....

1, 2104 , 64 plate 24k miles 4wd for £13.5k ..... Local garage

2, 2014 , 14 plate 21k miles 4wd for £15k .... Approved used.

3, 2014 , 14 plate 7k miles 4wd for £14.7 k .... Approved used.

4, 2012 , 62 plate 54k miles 2wd for £10.5 k ....... Approvedused

5, 2013 , 63 plate 32k miles 2wd for £11.6k ... Approved used.

Don't mind spending up to the 15k, but I'd like to buy the best deal and I just can't decide if x amount of less miles is worth y amount more 🤔

sad61t

1,100 posts

209 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Cruise control comes with the 'multi-function steering wheel' and can be independent of the Chili pack. If you look at the interior pictures, you will be able to see the buttons on the steering wheel (some of which, notably the phone controls, are reliant on other options, but CC is always enabled with the MFSW).

Running costs on the 4WD are a little higher than the 2WD version. Is 4WD essential for your travels? Otherwise a nice set of winter wheels/tyres on 2WD will be fine.

A few long-term reviews have reported MINIs get interior rattles after about 50K, so you may want to go for lower mileage.

Approved used gives a year's warranty.

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
How many miles do you cover per year

Do you really need a diesel

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

Will be doing about 10k a year , I realise that this almost justifies a diesel , tried a 1,6 petrol and found it rather gutless, the 2.0 petrol was so much better, a real rocket ship but I'm not sure I can suffer mid 30s mpg whereas in the diesel it'll be nearer 50 I'd imagine.

Are there hidden servicing costs with the All wheel drive or is it just mpg that is affected ?


steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
For me 10k is nowhere near diesel territory, my cooper s clubman averaged 38mpg on a 15 mile trip to work, on a run it would be nearer to 45mpg.

I don't think there is any additional service requirements for the All4 over the 2wd car.

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Tuesday 15th August 2017
quotequote all
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

although i would be trying to get something like this down to 15k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Have a look on Pistonheads and Mini direct as not everyone advertises on Autotrader. I would want Panroof and media and chilli packs. Oh and you can check to see if they have service packs at mini tlc

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Thanks again for all of your help and suggestions.

Steve, thanks in particular for pointing out the one from Stratstone, put a deposit on it today beer

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Which one did you go for ( a couple of them were stratstone) did you get a good deal ? Pictures when you get it biggrin

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
I went for the one you said to try and get down to 15 , think it was the last one.

Given that I'll prob have it for a good few years is the TLC service pack worthwhile ?

It's a 66 plate so not quite a year old , will or should it have benn freshly serviced ?

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
Nice choice, did you get them down to 15k ? TLC is usually 50k or 5 Years, TLC XL extends on this.

The dealer won't service it beforehand if its on TLC, you can check by going into the idrive, then vehicle information then into servicing, i'm not 100% sure if it covers MOT's, i don't think it does though ... servicing is around 20k or 2 years, mileage dependent you will normally get 2-3 serivces out of the 5 year plan. It might be worth asking if they can switch it to the annual service rather than CBS condition based servicng.

sad61t

1,100 posts

209 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
TLC pack servicing is demand driven, and can only be used when the car reports the work is needed (either by time or mileage). So it may not necessarily be recently serviced when you pick up the car, but will have been through the MINI Approved point check. You can ask the dealer to check when the next items are scheduled (they pop the key into a card reader and can see it), or there's a (rather obscure) page on the dash display.

When launched, TLC was good value for money; less so these days with the (F56's, etc.) longer service intervals. This year MINI nerfed the time from 5 to 3 years on new TLCs; this means it only covers one oil and filters service making it marginal value (unless you can get it bundled). However it binds the service into the PCP payments thereby avoiding a lump sum at some point in the future.

The TLC XL that extended the servicing to eight years is, as far as I'm aware, no longer available.

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Thursday 17th August 2017
quotequote all
5 down to 3 ... the sneaky little ...... i could never work out why on some BMWs it was 5 years or 50k or 5 years and 60k. Its pretty easy to check what services are due next on the idrive

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
Apologies for late reply. 600 mile round trip to pickup the car yesterday, it's immaculate, will post pics when I get back home tomorrow.
Not sure how to program radio etc as it is the newest gen countryman handbook that was on the globe compartment.
Trying to work out how to operate the boot release, mainly out of curiosity.
Boot unlocks when I press the car unlock button along with all of the doors, but if car is locked and I press the boot button nothing happens , tried holding my finger on button but nothing. When car is unlocked and I press the boot ( tailgate ) button then I hear it clicking as though unlocking but only clicks / does something when rest of car is unlocked, not when car is locked. May never use the button but it has me perplexed 🤔

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
I only use dab on mine and it just updates so it don't bother to save anything, however pushing in the joystick usually brings up save menu or you can push the joystick to the right.

Boot release, on the clubman you just hold your finger on the button until it pops open

JonnyVTEC

3,001 posts

174 months

Saturday 19th August 2017
quotequote all
Boot release button on fob is pretty much pointless.

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all
Apologies for late reply. 600 mile round trip to pickup the car yesterday, it's immaculate, will post pics when I get back home tomorrow.
Not sure how to program radio etc as it is the newest gen countryman handbook that was on the globe compartment.
Trying to work out how to operate the boot release, mainly out of curiosity.
Boot unlocks when I press the car unlock button along with all of the doors, but if car is locked and I press the boot button nothing happens , tried holding my finger on button but nothing. When car is unlocked and I press the boot ( tailgate ) button then I hear it clicking as though unlocking but only clicks / does something when rest of car is unlocked, not when car is locked. May never use the button but it has me perplexed 🤔

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all
Not sure how that post duplicated !

Anyway , here's some pics .....[url]


Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all

Waitforme

Original Poster:

1,182 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all
That looks nice, whats it like to drive ?