Buying a cooper s

[covmutley]

Hi, looking at 2 early r56's and not sure which to go for.

First is an 07 (no start/stop) with 13k, chili pack, piano black trim. £9k. Independent dealer.
Second Is a 57 with 34k, chili pack. £9500 at a a mini dealer, so 12 month warranty.

Both have only had 2 services which worried me, but has been explained as due to the condition based services. Does this sound right?

Both drove well but I enjoyed driving the cheaper car more, although I drove it second so was a little more used to it and the sales guy gave me a longer test drive and encouraged me to explore the power a little more. Very impressed with the handling.

Which would you go for?? Thanks.

[si_xsi]

I'd buy on coniditon and how each drove.

After that, i might be thinking, the one with more miles and from a main dealer is better. The other one hasn't been driven much in 5 years - possibly lots of short trips. Servicing seems ok to me. I'm sure you could get £500 off advertising price.

Good luck

[rocketdogbert]

Just bought an 08 plate R56 S with Chilli from Coopers in Colchester, £9450, 27K miles one owner.
Looked at independants, trouble is most seemed to have bought their cars from main dealers that won't sell the car as cherished because it needs too much work!
John

[covmutley]

I do think the 12 month warranty may swing it, plus they are offering £150 more on my trade in than the independent. I got them down £200 (so 9250) but will try for a little more.

The mini dealer did put me off a bit though. Sales guy not aware of any recalls, seemed surprised when I wanted to see service history book, had to check with manager how comprehensive warranty was- I still not know the answer to that really. Then, after dealing with him, the 'deal closer' guy comes along with bull about mission statements on best price. Hate this so much!. He also tried it with an Asian guy next to me who said if there was no discount he wasn't buying. The dealership mission statement quickly changed!! I know it is all part of the game and I am sure it works on plenty who walk into a mini dealership but I hate it they try it on with me!

Edited by covmutley on Friday 28th December 18:22

[0llie]

Mine had £3k+ of warranty work in the 2 1/2 months and 4k miles I had it until I rejected. (Timing Chain tensioner, clutch/flywheel, turbo, de-coke etc.)

The car was perfect on test drive (I had driven 5 before I bought mine), so they won't always be immediately obvious.

As much as I would recommend the R56 as a good little car, I'd never buy one without a MINI warranty!

[MrC986]

A friend bought an 06 S privately with low miles & FMSH & took out the pucka wty as soon as it was possible....it lunched the blower on the engine 3 weeks later! The low mileage cars will only get serviced when the car's computer says so especially if they have the service pack as it made the servicing more dictated from a cost point of view though owners do sometimes forget. Try & get the dealer to do a 4 wheel alignment check as well as they can eat tyres if not properly setup as well....a full set of new tyres might indicate this.

[covmutley]

Doesn't sound promising! Perhaps I should be looking at a cheap Kia with 7 year warranty like the in laws have suggested? Surely not.

[mike9009]

I have had no problems with my R56 MCS in 18 months ownership......

Just to balance the threead up.

Mike

[Miglia 888]

Cost to change seems v.similar, so I'd choose the one with the approved used warranty.

If total reliabiity is a higher priority, perhaps consider a deathly boring Toyota Avensis or similar. If driving enjoyment is a higher priority, get the Cooper S and enjoy driving.

[TheBlondeFella]

Are R56 Cooper S minis not reliable then? I looking into getting one soon,

[ocrx8]

No. There are many issues with the engine and IMO the build quality isn't what it should be!

[mike9009]

ocrx8 said:

No. There are many issues with the engine and IMO the build quality isn't what it should be!

The engine is the same as that used in various Peugeots and Citroens.

There are some reported engine issues (timing chain rattle, excessive oil consumption) but neither are tremendously expensive to put right and only a few cases I have read of, have led to catastrophic failure.

I have never had an issue with the build quality in any of the three Minis i have owned, but maybe my expectations are lower?

Mike

[covmutley]

Thanks for the replies. I was all ready to buy the main dealer one but the wife is not keen Think I'm going for a 1 series m sport now. It wasn't as fun to drive but I do a fair few motorway miles so it just seems that little more suited to what I need. And, inevitably, budget has also increased now too!!