F56 Mini questions

[Olivera]

As others have stated, if you're looking for a ~5 year old Cooper S or JCW then buy on condition - i.e. bodywork, paint, interior, and see if the service history/mileage stacks up.

I have a 2018 pre-LCI JCW without many options, but as mentioned the standard spec is pretty good. IMO infotainment options from then will be pretty crap, and you can just stick in an Alexa Auto for good phone connectivity. Perhaps the only nice to have option would be the JCW Pro exhaust, but this is pretty rare.

[nickfrog]

That seems decent value even for a red car. Some kind of warranty with it too.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023033057...

[ChrisH72]

Thanks for that Nick.

I like red, and think it suits the Mini well. I'm leaning more towards the 17 inch black track spoke wheels with non run flats.

The warranty thing does bother me having been caught out by BMW in the past. Having said that I'm not sure a warranty would have helped all that much with the issues I had.

Is it wise to stay with approved used or just find one with a full history? I was planning to have it serviced and maintained by a local indy anyway so that may not make a difference.

I can take my time with this, no rush to buy any old car. I still find it really annoying that so few have heated seats. I'd have thought it was a must when speccing the car from new unless it was a really expensive option?

[ChrisH72]

I like this one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023021743...

But it's absolutely top of budget and an awfully long way away from me.

[Olivera]

ChrisH72 said:

I like this one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023021743...

But it's absolutely top of budget and an awfully long way away from me.

Nice spec on that one with the heated seats, front windscreen, and upgraded audio.

[nickfrog]

Olivera said:

ChrisH72 said:

I like this one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023021743...

But it's absolutely top of budget and an awfully long way away from me.

Nice spec on that one with the heated seats, front windscreen, and upgraded audio.

I agree - really well priced in this market for the year/spec/market/LCI/mileage. Better value than the one I posted if Chris likes a red car. Shame about the distance but perhaps that's also why it's a bit cheaper.

Although not sure why they advertise it at 27k miles as it's 31k on the dash.

[Olivera]

Nickfrog, you've had various other hot hatches - how do you find your JCW in comparison?

[stevemcs]

https://www.ukisudbury.com/used/mini/sudbury/

These normally have some good spec cars

[cerb4.5lee]

nickfrog said:

Olivera said:

ChrisH72 said:

I like this one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023021743...

But it's absolutely top of budget and an awfully long way away from me.

Nice spec on that one with the heated seats, front windscreen, and upgraded audio.

I agree - really well priced in this market for the year/spec/market/LCI/mileage. Better value than the one I posted if Chris likes a red car. Shame about the distance but perhaps that's also why it's a bit cheaper.

Although not sure why they advertise it at 27k miles as it's 31k on the dash.

That does look really nice I also agree. I had the upgraded audio(HK) in mine, however it isn't anywhere near as good as it is in the BMWs though for me. I liked the heated front screen because it took me back to the Ford's I had years ago. Heated seats are always a must for me as well(because I'm nesh!).

Red really suits the shape I reckon.

[bencollins4]

Wife absolutely loves her JCW. It’s a lovely thing to drive but the ride is very hard on the 18’s. Interior is lovely but compared to my GR Yaris, it’s not particularly focused, but it is much more comfortable on a long journey (engine noise, vibration etc) and pretty punchy when required. Delivers all its torque and power down low. I’ve also had 55 mpg on a long journey at sensible motorway speeds!

All in all, a nice little nimble hot hatch with plenty of power and decent comfort, hard ride aside.

[12TS]

ChrisH72 said:

Thanks for that Nick.

I like red, and think it suits the Mini well. I'm leaning more towards the 17 inch black track spoke wheels with non run flats.

The warranty thing does bother me having been caught out by BMW in the past. Having said that I'm not sure a warranty would have helped all that much with the issues I had.

Is it wise to stay with approved used or just find one with a full history? I was planning to have it serviced and maintained by a local indy anyway so that may not make a difference.

I can take my time with this, no rush to buy any old car. I still find it really annoying that so few have heated seats. I'd have thought it was a must when speccing the car from new unless it was a really expensive option?

It’s personal preference. For me one with a MINI backed warranty is worthwhile as these are complicated things that need experience to sort if they go wrong. YMMV.

[ChrisH72]

Great info thanks guys.

I'm hoping the ride with 17s and normal tyres will be fine especially when compared with my mk7 ST. Might miss some of the ST fun factor but I think I'm ready for a change. I'll need to get my head around prices as to me it still feels like 20k should be getting a brand new car! But the Mini is actually no worse than the competition with comparable mk8 ST3's being similarly priced anyway.

[nickfrog]

Olivera said:

Nickfrog, you've had various other hot hatches - how do you find your JCW in comparison?

That's a tricky one. Mostly as I have to compare to the Megs (275 Cup and 280 Cup) which are more focused (as Ben quite rightly calls it) because of both their more sophisticated front kinematic hardware, diff and aggressive set up (read neutral to frankly oversteery on a big lift).

I haven't tracked it yet either so that will helps gauging it. In the meantime it's probably a slightly better all rounder on 17'. But its main advantage over the Renaults is its format, more line options, better on A roads and also lighter by around 200kg.

Now I am planning a Quaife, a bit more front camber, ADO8 or 09 and some M1155 pads to hopefully make it more focused.

[cerb4.5lee]

They do seem to have gone up in value. My old August 2017 model Cooper S went up for sale for £13,750 with 19k miles on the clock back in March 2021 for example.

[nickfrog]

ChrisH72 said:

Great info thanks guys.

I'll need to get my head around prices as to me it still feels like 20k should be getting a brand new car!

I found it difficult to accept to pay £18k for a 5 year old MINI, albeit with 20k miles and AUC but we probably need to recalibrate...
On the other hand the red one at £20k is a bit more palatable because of the generous spec and younger age.

Edited by nickfrog on Friday 31st March 16:45

[cerb4.5lee]

ChrisH72 said:

I'm hoping the ride with 17s and normal tyres will be fine especially when compared with my mk7 ST.

My Cooper S on 17s on normal tyres was genuinely brilliant ride wise down a nice B road, and it just soaked everything up really well I thought. It was just a bit choppy/jiggly at slower speeds in town though. But when you were pushing on in it...it was really good.

All this MINI chat is making me really miss it!

[stevemcs]

On 17's it better than the ST, the F56 is more BMW than Mini.

[Nelka]

ChrisH72 said:

Great info thanks guys.

I'm hoping the ride with 17s and normal tyres will be fine especially when compared with my mk7 ST. Might miss some of the ST fun factor but I think I'm ready for a change. I'll need to get my head around prices as to me it still feels like 20k should be getting a brand new car! But the Mini is actually no worse than the competition with comparable mk8 ST3's being similarly priced anyway.

Hopefully I can help here as I have both

The JCW on 17s rides like a Rolls Royce compared to the Mk7 ST.

The ST is definitely more raw, more of a hooligan & therefore more fun when you are in the mood.

Mini miles better inside & on the motorway. Still a laugh, don’t get me wrong. If the ST was a 9, the Mini would be a 7.

Although they are both hot hatches, they are very different interpretations. Not sure which I prefer. Both great wee cars.

[ChrisH72]

Sounds okay to me really. I do love my ST but things I would change are the ride and interior quality. A mini would provide enough fun I'm sure, and with 230bhp I'd guess the JCW feels a bit quicker in a straight line.

I'm away from tomorrow so will look when back. There's a place nearby which has quite a few nice minis although there not franchise approved. I'll find a link to their site.

[ChrisH72]

https://www.macsonscars.co.uk/page/used/cars/0/66/...

There we go.

Cars seem maybe a bit overpriced? Hard to tell.

What's good is that its only 20 mins away from me and they have a few different ones to look at. So it may be possible to try a jcw on 17's and 18's as well as maybe just a cooper s. The one I like most is the black 69 plate but at 22k it really is getting a bit much. Low miles though. Trouble is 22k is getting a bit close to a brand new i20N and I'm sure I can get a decent mini for under 20k.