Mini Clubman Purchase - What would you do?

Mini Clubman Purchase - What would you do?

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Discussion

DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
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Morning all.

Decided to get the wife a 2010'ish Mini Clubman for a new daily. Theres 3 cars that currently stand out:
- 2011 Cooper Hampton special edition (no sat nav but looks great otherwise)
- 2010 Cooper S with sat nav, HK audio, sunroof, etc - loaded spec
- the curveball, a 2008 mega low mileage Cooper with a stupidly high spec (pano roof, xenons, nav, heated leather, heated windscreen etc)

What would the collective do? The 2008 Cooper is a grand less that the other two but to be honest, I think in my head, its out of the amazing looking Cooper Hampton or the faster, if anything better specced Cooper S.

The Cooper S is the right one isn't it??

Chrismawa

553 posts

99 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
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The S will take more looking after and will proably cost you more in maintenance/upkeep. Spec has an effect on resale and desireability so I'd be leaning towards to 2 better specced models.

I believe 2010 is the changeover year for the N18 so you would need to check as I think some 2010s will still have the N14.

DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Thursday 21st November 2019
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Yeh, read about the changover. Would check what model it had although I believe it has had a recent timing chain done on it.

Zetec-S

5,832 posts

92 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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Obviously the Cooper S will be quicker and more fun option, but as everyone says, spec makes the world of difference when it comes to Mini's.

When my wife bought her Cooper SD hatch a couple of years ago we were pretty light on the options, to the point where it bugged her so much we recently swapped it for a new Clubman Cooper S with all the toys (HK, sunroof, LED's, heated seats, etc). As a daily it's so much nicer, things like heated seats make a big difference in winter.

What's your wife used to at the moment? Would a Cooper (non-S) be a big step down in power? Obviously it'll be cheaper to run so if she's doing a lot of miles that will make a difference. What does she prioritise - performance, or gadgets/luxury? If the extra power is not really an issue I'd be tempted by the well specced 2008 one.

DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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Current daily that goes tonight is a mk5 Golf GTI.

Just about the put a deposit down on the Cooper S mentioned above - HK audio, pano roof, heated half leather, xenons, sat nav, heated screen etc. Fingers crossed its as good in real life as it is in the pics!

twokcc

815 posts

176 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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^^^^
If wife doesn't need S model would go with high spec cooper model.

Previously bought a highly spec Cooper with Pano roof and lounge leather - nice place to be roof makes car lighter inside. Cooper doesn't have sport suspension and will be a better ride particularly if wheels are only 16" or 17". Not much difference in mpg between that an a cooper s but the N14 cooper engine doesn't seem to have the same problems that the turbo Cooper s engine has.

Just seen you've decided on the S sounds a good spec just make 100% certain that is it is a N14 engine that evidence is available that timing chain has been done-get invoive any decent seller will have retained it. If no invoice walk away.

Great cars recently replaced my R56 Cooper S with an DCT auto F56 cooper S, miss the r56 but got to stage of needing an auto.

Edited by twokcc on Friday 22 November 11:49

irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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one thing to be aware of is that the panoroof is 'problematic' - apparently it's not the roof itself but rather the roof 'cassette' which fails/warps. It looks like it's happened to mine - not too worried as I do love the extra light it provides.

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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The roof makes a huge difference.

The nav is way out of date, but the screen is better than the standard little display.

I'd go the S, but it needs the newer engine.

It's surprising how rare they are. Good ones are really hard to find.

watchnut

1,161 posts

128 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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I'd buy her a skoda, tell her to enjoy, and spend the money you save on yourself......

Me i don't like the clubman either....

just saying smile

DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
quotequote all
In a complete u-turn, I decided against the Cooper S. It was a late 2010 so the better engine, supposedly had the timing chain done but then I read reviews of the garage it was being sold in and decided against going to see it. Shame as it looked a decent car.

On the flip side, it led me back to a little Cooper I'd seen a week or two ago. 2008 which is older than I wanted but:
1 previous owner
36k miles
Auto (needed to be auto)
heated full leather
heated screen
sat nav
xenons
HK audio
nice colour
FSH
11 months MOT
MFSW
and pano roof which although I've read the odd dodgy comment on, mostly its been comments from people saying they're a must have - make it like a convertible during the summer. Sounds good to me!

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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The roof doesn't open that much!

The older car just isn't as nice inside either with all the silver rather than the black.

The heated windscreen isn't the best. You'll also see the heating elements within the glass. I found it a bit annoying.

irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
quotequote all
Driver101 said:
The roof doesn't open that much!

The older car just isn't as nice inside either with all the silver rather than the black.

The heated windscreen isn't the best. You'll also see the heating elements within the glass. I found it a bit annoying.
the sunroof opens (or in my case opened, past tense) enough, but I do acknowledge a little more opening would have been nice (obviously that's no longer an issue!)

Again I can see where you're coming from WRT to the silver vs black - for me it was marginal which I preferred but the extra toy count persuaded me to go for the silver wheel (I understand that they are interchangeable should you wish to do so though)

I can see why people may not like the heated screen - it is noticeable, it just depends on if it's enough to cause you an issue.

As an aside mine is also an auto and I loathe the sport button on it - it may be that on a manual it's better or that I don't really get much chance to stretch its legs (either commuting or with Mrs I in the car!) but I really don't like it.

SatNav is ok - but (like the earlier Merc units) doesn't allow for the full postcode, normally it's not really an issue especially since the central dial looks a lot better with it than without (though I appreciate that this is a matter of taste).

The heated seats are just great - heat up quickly, get properly war and don't turn off after about 4 nanoseconds (a la Mercedes!)m

twokcc

815 posts

176 months

Friday 22nd November 2019
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The Cooper auto is only about 115bhp and in auto form does 0-60 in about 11secs. Going to be a fair bit slower than the Golf GTi, with about same mpg. Has other half driven one - may not be what she is expecting

DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Friday 29th November 2019
quotequote all
Well we bought the 08 Cooper. Absolutely mint in every way. Not a mark on it inside or out.

Drove it back from the dark side of the Pennines to Yorkshire on Tuesday and diverted off the M62 early to give it a bit of a drive on some A roads and it was great. Not as fast as the Golf obviously but more fun. Felt much more planted on the road (probably as it had only done 36k miles vs the 132k my Golf had!) but with the paddle shift, getting out of corners was quick(ish). Cruised along at motorway speeds with ease too.

Properly pleased with the purchase and a pleasurable buying experience. Anyone after a Mini, try Minis 4 U in Stockport. Decent owner, not pushy at all, gave the kids a Capri Sun each whilst we were on the test drive and only had top notch condition cars in stock. Even picked me up from the station and shoved some fuel in it.

mh125

79 posts

73 months

Friday 29th November 2019
quotequote all
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Well we bought the 08 Cooper. Absolutely mint in every way. Not a mark on it inside or out.

Drove it back from the dark side of the Pennines to Yorkshire on Tuesday and diverted off the M62 early to give it a bit of a drive on some A roads and it was great. Not as fast as the Golf obviously but more fun. Felt much more planted on the road (probably as it had only done 36k miles vs the 132k my Golf had!) but with the paddle shift, getting out of corners was quick(ish). Cruised along at motorway speeds with ease too.

Properly pleased with the purchase and a pleasurable buying experience. Anyone after a Mini, try Minis 4 U in Stockport. Decent owner, not pushy at all, gave the kids a Capri Sun each whilst we were on the test drive and only had top notch condition cars in stock. Even picked me up from the station and shoved some fuel in it.
Enjoy your new purchase I had a 11 plate Cooper d for a few years I remember it very fondly. A really underrated car.

Driver101

14,376 posts

120 months

Friday 29th November 2019
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mh125 said:
Enjoy your new purchase I had a 11 plate Cooper d for a few years I remember it very fondly. A really underrated car.
People don't realise how versatile the Clubman is.

More space than the hatch and the boot is very good for dog owners. It's a compact little estate.


DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
quotequote all
Driver101 said:
People don't realise how versatile the Clubman is.

More space than the hatch and the boot is very good for dog owners. It's a compact little estate.
Exactly why we bought it - didn't want anything big but wanted something more useful than a hatchback for popping the dog in.

Challo

10,043 posts

154 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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DaveyBoyWonder said:
Well we bought the 08 Cooper. Absolutely mint in every way. Not a mark on it inside or out.

Drove it back from the dark side of the Pennines to Yorkshire on Tuesday and diverted off the M62 early to give it a bit of a drive on some A roads and it was great. Not as fast as the Golf obviously but more fun. Felt much more planted on the road (probably as it had only done 36k miles vs the 132k my Golf had!) but with the paddle shift, getting out of corners was quick(ish). Cruised along at motorway speeds with ease too.

Properly pleased with the purchase and a pleasurable buying experience. Anyone after a Mini, try Minis 4 U in Stockport. Decent owner, not pushy at all, gave the kids a Capri Sun each whilst we were on the test drive and only had top notch condition cars in stock. Even picked me up from the station and shoved some fuel in it.
I know the auto is slower than the manual but how you finding the non turbo petrol model performance wise?

I looked for a Clubman earlier this year and overlooked that engine. Wanted the turbo but out of price range. I have a new commute next year of only a few miles and might chop the C30 in for one.

DaveyBoyWonder

Original Poster:

2,466 posts

173 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
quotequote all
To be honest, a combination of the auto box in D and the 1.6 engine isn't going to set the world on fire.

But... 99% of the time the car is used by my wife to take kids to school and do a 3m commute so it rarely does more than 30mph! And for that, the auto is ideal.

When I've driven it and I want to get a bit of a shuffle on, I find myself using the paddles a LOT. Think I used them about 5 times in 3 years of owning the Golf because the 2.0T engine and DSG box had power almost instantly. The Mini isn't like that but thats not to say its bad. I'm really enjoying being in charge of gear changes again, dropping down a few before a tight corner etc. Its fun! The Golf never really was what I'd call fun in comparison. I've had a few mk1 MX5s and 6N2 Polo GTIs so I must have a thing for rev happy 1.6 engines that don't actually go very fast. But its a great drive. Much less nose heavy and more balanced than the Golf was.

I'm chuffed to bits with it to be honest...

E-bmw

9,105 posts

151 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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DaveyBoyWonder said:
99% of the time the car is used by my wife to take kids to school and do a 3m commute so it rarely does more than 30mph! And for that, the auto is ideal.
However the fact that it is a diesel that will rule that one out for such a short daily drive.