Mini Cooper

[maccboy]

Need a second car and thinking about a Mini Cooper. It'll probably be between 5 and 10 years old. Is there anything I need to consider when looking at them? Any nuggets of information I should know about? Thanks all!

[ZX10R NIN]

maccboy said:

Need a second car and thinking about a Mini Cooper. It'll probably be between 5 and 10 years old. Is there anything I need to consider when looking at them? Any nuggets of information I should know about? Thanks all!

Get a 208 GTI it's the better car & will cost around the same money.

[maccboy]

Interesting response. I'll have to start looking all over again! Thanks.

[stevemcs]

What’s your budget ?

[maccboy]

£5k-£6k. I could spend more but don't really want to. Could be tempted if there was something a bit special.

[Canon_Fodder]

Similar thread here OP

There are a few gotchas on the specs as base was very very basic and had to be augmented via expensive 'packs'

Avoid the huge wheels seems to be general advice as more rubber doesn't detract from the handling but makes the ride more bearable

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[biggbn]

ZX10R NIN said:

maccboy said:

Need a second car and thinking about a Mini Cooper. It'll probably be between 5 and 10 years old. Is there anything I need to consider when looking at them? Any nuggets of information I should know about? Thanks all!

Get a 208 GTI it's the better car & will cost around the same money.

It probably is, but the Mini will really get under your skin. Super build quality, brilliant handling, one of the family vibe.

[georgeyboy12345]

maccboy said:

Need a second car and thinking about a Mini Cooper. It'll probably be between 5 and 10 years old. Is there anything I need to consider when looking at them? Any nuggets of information I should know about? Thanks all!

Avoid any with the 1.6 engines, these are the Prince engines that were developed jointly with Peugeot/Citroen and were prone to timing chain failure that results in catstrophic engine damage.

Go for one of the newer models that have the 1.5 or 2.0 B series 3 or 4 cylinder BMW engines, which are much more reliable.

[Deerfoot]

maccboy said:

Is there anything I need to consider when looking at them?

A Suzuki Swift Sport instead?

[georgeyboy12345]

maccboy said:

£5k-£6k. I could spend more but don't really want to. Could be tempted if there was something a bit special.

I'd spend a little more so you can afford one of the newer more reliable engined cars as I mentioned in my previous post. Like this

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Saturday 18th December 11:13

[ZX10R NIN]

With that kind of budget the 208 & DS3 (you'll be around half the mileage of the equivalent Mini) are well worth a look they're well built reliable & the GTI is the pick.

GTI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...

Or there's the XY/Feline which are nicely spec'd & come in 120/150 spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111169...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

DS3 DSport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112150...

DSport Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111139...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...

[Skyedriver]

3 cylinder turbo in my wife's convertible seems OK. Car drives nicely.

[Mr Tidy]

Mrs Tidy bought a new R50 Mini One in 2003 followed by an R56 Cooper when she got an invite to the launch event.

My sister then bought an R50 Cooper 5 or 6 years ago.

I loved driving them all, but didnt really like the F56 Cooper with the 3 cylinder turbo engine I had as a courtesy car a while ago. Sounded like a diesel, had bugger all performance until you revved the nuts off it and stupidly tall gearing.

I much preferred Mrs Tidy's R56 Cooper - even if it did have the Prince engine!