Should I buy - BMW Cooper s ??

[mistralblue]

Hi - I have an option to purchase a BMW mini cooper s, '52' plate with 33,500m. It is a basic model with no extras (except the standard sports seats, ATS etc).
Price is £9,500 from a 'mini cherished' dealer, incl. remaining TLC pack.
I would like to have views on:-

1. Is this a good price?

2. Is lack of air con a real problem?- it is a long time since I had a car without air con!
if anyone has any experience of driving the mini without air con that would be really helpful.

3. Anything else you think I should consider.

Thanks for any advice.

[baskey]

if you don't mind it having no spec and intend to run it in to the ground i say go for it!

BUT if you want it to be a 'liquid asset' then it still sounds a good price but it will be *way* harder to shift.

also what colour is it... that could make the difference!

[mistralblue]

Hi - thanks - it's electric blue.

I think I might struggle without air con during the summer.

Thanks - Julia

[Marki]

Air con is becoming if it is not already a standard feature ,,, i know you dont really use it much but on the days when you need it you realy need it .

Sorry what year is it ?

[mistralblue]

The cooper s is a '52' plate - July 2002.

[Marki]

OK i dont know how relevent this is as i live in Germany but i got mine in December it is a Dec 02 28,000 km and who ever specet it from new must have been mad , i have the trip computer ,leather, BMW sat nav , climate control, Panorama sunroof, and even Parktronic why you want that on a Mini i do not know i paid around 12,000 pounds for mine ... it sounds cheapish

I do not know how they are in the summer as i have not had mine long enough but you know on the hot days when you are going some place while dressed up you will want aircon
(or even better climate control) , its almost standard now on some very basic cars so why its not standard on a Min i dont know ,, good luck any way

[trackdemon]

£9.5 is cheap as decent Cooper S' get, but the spec will be hard to shift should you resell any time soon; the lack of AC prob the killer. Good colour though.

[900T-R]

Must say that this is *exactly* the car I'd go for if I was in the market! I just don't get the horribly overspecced contraptions out there - you pay through the nose and the car will only be dynamically worse for all the tat you had the factory stick on. Cooper S is vastly better on the standard 16" wheels and tyres than on the bigger wheel options with those horrible runflats, and it's already porky enough not to want to weigh it down further with air con.

On a more serious note - higher specced cars are only easier to sell on because you are getting f-all for the accessories/upgrades in the first place! Last time I looked in the accessory brochure retrofitting air con to a MINI isn't hideously expensive - if you sell it on and the punter wants it, even putting the cost of retrofitting on top of the purchase price would still keep your car in a very reasonable price band.

Bottom line - if the price is right, it'll sell regardless. And given that this car is keenly priced in the first place...

>> Edited by 900T-R on Thursday 16th February 10:55

[rosso rebel]

i think you should check that it definately doesn't have aircon as i have an 03 S and it comes as standard - you pay extra for climate control.

also the S has most of the extras you have to pay for if you buy a one or cooper as standard.

I've had my S for a year now and I love it. it's great fun and i'd definately recommend getting one. Good luck with your search

[rosso rebel]

i think you should check that it definately doesn't have aircon as i have an 03 S and it comes as standard - you pay extra for climate control.

also the S has most of the extras you have to pay for if you buy a one or cooper as standard.

I've had my S for a year now and I love it. it's great fun and i'd definately recommend getting one. Good luck with your search

[eanna]

Hi,
Electric blue is a good colour, but with no air con you may find it hard to sell when you want to upgrade down the line. Air con only comes as an option or as part of the "S" chilli pack.
It`s a great car to own and drive but you may find the ride a bit harsh, espically if you live in an area with a lot of speed bumps! ( believe me I know! or did when I had mine )
Good luck and many happy miles when you get your car

[baskey]

just to second that - ac only comes as option or with chilli pack. climate is option or upgrade to ac.

[mistralblue]

Hi - thanks for all your comments.
I decided not to buy it - it sold immediately I took my deposit off!
I am going to get a high spec mini one with sports seats etc and then have the engine chipped!

[Cooperman]

Why not get a different modern car for £4k less and have enough left over to buy a 'proper' Mini Cooper.

[mistralblue]

Hi- cooperman - I kind of agree with you but I already have a 43yr old MGA and I need a car that will sit out on the street and not rust.
I assumed the 'not rust' bit would be a problem with the 'proper mini'?

[fwdracer]

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=243291&f=90&h=0

See thread.

New MINI ownership isn't without rust pitfalls it would appear....

[clairey]

mistralblue said:

Hi - thanks for all your comments. I decided not to buy it - it sold immediately I took my deposit off! I am going to get a high spec mini one with sports seats etc and then have the engine chipped!

Just be careful as if you by a car with the TLC pack, it becomes void if you get it chipped. I have a Cooper S and want a BBR chip in it (to make it up to 210BHP) but i have got to wait 18 months till my TLC pack runs out.