Need a small car for my wife - is the MINI too obvious?
Discussion
Hi All,
I previously posted about my plans for a 2 car garage. I now have a '15 CLS Shooting Brake for weekend work and long trips. However my wife, who is fairly new to driving, is not too happy about taking our 2 1/2 year old to nursery to school in a nearly 5 meter long estate....
Our budget is up to 20k, and I would intend to keep the car for a few years, unless we decide to chop both cars in for a Tesla when we move into our new house in July...
She is in love with the MINI, so I suspect this is what she will end up getting, but I have a few questions:
1. Practicality - there are more options in 3 door guise, as well as the looks element being better (if you like MINIs) but does anyone regularly put small kids in the back of their MINI? We have a smaller car seat we can use (Urban Kanga*) which means he will fit once he is in, I am thinking more about he practicality of him getting in and out. He was ok in my old Mazda 3 in terms of being able to climb into the seat himself, but that was a 5 door.
2. Are there any particular reliability or maintenance issues with any of the models between '15-'18? Would I be better off buying an approved car vs going independent or private?
3. Any other alternatives - I have shown her the 208, Clio and Yaris, but she was not impressed.
Note that the car has to be an Auto, and something reliable. Must haves are heated seats, parking sensors and ideally a reversing camera.
I previously posted about my plans for a 2 car garage. I now have a '15 CLS Shooting Brake for weekend work and long trips. However my wife, who is fairly new to driving, is not too happy about taking our 2 1/2 year old to nursery to school in a nearly 5 meter long estate....
Our budget is up to 20k, and I would intend to keep the car for a few years, unless we decide to chop both cars in for a Tesla when we move into our new house in July...
She is in love with the MINI, so I suspect this is what she will end up getting, but I have a few questions:
1. Practicality - there are more options in 3 door guise, as well as the looks element being better (if you like MINIs) but does anyone regularly put small kids in the back of their MINI? We have a smaller car seat we can use (Urban Kanga*) which means he will fit once he is in, I am thinking more about he practicality of him getting in and out. He was ok in my old Mazda 3 in terms of being able to climb into the seat himself, but that was a 5 door.
2. Are there any particular reliability or maintenance issues with any of the models between '15-'18? Would I be better off buying an approved car vs going independent or private?
3. Any other alternatives - I have shown her the 208, Clio and Yaris, but she was not impressed.
Note that the car has to be an Auto, and something reliable. Must haves are heated seats, parking sensors and ideally a reversing camera.
- I have the full size car seat for longer trips in the Merc
A few thoughts:
1. The smallest Teslas aren't much smaller than your CLS, so I wonder whether your wife would be happy driving one?
2. The automatic gearbox in Minis went from being a torque converter one to a dual-clutch - I think this coincided with a facelift.
3. If you are thinking about an electric car, what about a Renault Zoe or similar which is about the same size as the Mini, but has 5 doors and more space inside and is probably happier with a diet of short journeys than a petrol or diesel-engined car?
1. The smallest Teslas aren't much smaller than your CLS, so I wonder whether your wife would be happy driving one?
2. The automatic gearbox in Minis went from being a torque converter one to a dual-clutch - I think this coincided with a facelift.
3. If you are thinking about an electric car, what about a Renault Zoe or similar which is about the same size as the Mini, but has 5 doors and more space inside and is probably happier with a diet of short journeys than a petrol or diesel-engined car?
Zstar said:
2. Are there any particular reliability or maintenance issues with any of the models between '15-'18? Would I be better off buying an approved car vs going independent or private?
No real reliability issues touch wood. We have three in the family, a 14 plate, a 15 owned since new and an 18 plate. There was a recall early on for crankshaft bearings on the 14 and 15 . I've serviced two of them since coming off the TLC servicing package, oil, plugs cabin filters etc no dramas. Great little cars in my opinion, finding the options you want will push the price up obviously, you'll be amazed at the amount of poverty spec out there for the price.
Clubman Cooper S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...
Countryman Cooper Works:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...
If you want a more spacious 3 door then there's the Paceman:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112090...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112050...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...
Countryman Cooper Works:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...
If you want a more spacious 3 door then there's the Paceman:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112090...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112050...
My wife's on her second Mini Countryman, current one being a 68 plate Cooper S manual.
In the end if your wife wants a Mini she won't be happy with anything else. I doubt my wife will own anything but Mini's now.
Reliability wise its been solid so far in the 18 months she has owned the current one. Nothing has failed and just routine servicing.
The last Mini was the same to be fair too.
In the end if your wife wants a Mini she won't be happy with anything else. I doubt my wife will own anything but Mini's now.
Reliability wise its been solid so far in the 18 months she has owned the current one. Nothing has failed and just routine servicing.
The last Mini was the same to be fair too.
A little higher than budget, but would an electric MINI tick boxes?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021041313...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021041313...
My wife previously had a 2015 Cooper. It has the 3cyl 1.5T and I'm sure it was circa 130bhp.
It was faultless, easy to drive and ran on fresh air. It actually wasn't that slow either for what it was. Brilliant car. My younger brother has a 2018 Cooper S, and he adores it. My mother in law has a 2019 Cooper S 5dr and she loves hers too.
Good cars, and popular for a reason. If you're wife likes them, there is your answer.
It was faultless, easy to drive and ran on fresh air. It actually wasn't that slow either for what it was. Brilliant car. My younger brother has a 2018 Cooper S, and he adores it. My mother in law has a 2019 Cooper S 5dr and she loves hers too.
Good cars, and popular for a reason. If you're wife likes them, there is your answer.
It's much easier to do rear facing seats from rear doors. My kids were in them until 5-6 and some keep rear facing much longer. If your kids likes bikes then you can fit a couple of 16" bikes in the boot of an F60 Countryman. We have a 1.5 and it is perfectly good. This summer it did a 4 up trip with roof box into Europe. No fuss.
As a left field answr, if you oonly really want the car for the good lady to take the kids to school and local journies, have you looked a the new Honda N super EV, £19K brand new, 5 doors , amazing space inside for the size of the car (it is only a 4 seater), and it's small so dead easy to drive and park.
I'm trying to see if I can justify one as a second car alongside my MX5 but as I live alone and also have a motorbike not sure 2 cars is really a good idea.
I'm trying to see if I can justify one as a second car alongside my MX5 but as I live alone and also have a motorbike not sure 2 cars is really a good idea.
My wife has a 69 plate Cooper S and absolutely loves it. Me, meh, prefer driving my son's beaten up 2017 Mazda 2 which is very slow.
The Mini while luxurious, fast, looks and feels like a new car, very reliable, cheap to run, has lots of toys and feels premium, it rides like crap, spins the front wheels if you use any of the performance off the line, boot is hilariously small, CarPlay on the touchscreen is not very sensitive, 2 doors in that car is a bit annoying and finally, the gear lever seems to be a bit far back so never comfortable to use.
All that is completely irrelevant though as not my car. Just get one if that is what your wife wants, the important person who will drive it will be happy.
The Mini while luxurious, fast, looks and feels like a new car, very reliable, cheap to run, has lots of toys and feels premium, it rides like crap, spins the front wheels if you use any of the performance off the line, boot is hilariously small, CarPlay on the touchscreen is not very sensitive, 2 doors in that car is a bit annoying and finally, the gear lever seems to be a bit far back so never comfortable to use.
All that is completely irrelevant though as not my car. Just get one if that is what your wife wants, the important person who will drive it will be happy.
cb31 said:
My wife has a 69 plate Cooper S and absolutely loves it. Me, meh, prefer driving my son's beaten up 2017 Mazda 2 which is very slow.
The Mini while luxurious, fast, looks and feels like a new car, very reliable, cheap to run, has lots of toys and feels premium, it rides like crap, spins the front wheels if you use any of the performance off the line, boot is hilariously small, CarPlay on the touchscreen is not very sensitive, 2 doors in that car is a bit annoying and finally, the gear lever seems to be a bit far back so never comfortable to use.
All that is completely irrelevant though as not my car. Just get one if that is what your wife wants, the important person who will drive it will be happy.
I think this best summarises hers and my position. I also note the driver aids on new models require access to sub menus which sounds tedious.The Mini while luxurious, fast, looks and feels like a new car, very reliable, cheap to run, has lots of toys and feels premium, it rides like crap, spins the front wheels if you use any of the performance off the line, boot is hilariously small, CarPlay on the touchscreen is not very sensitive, 2 doors in that car is a bit annoying and finally, the gear lever seems to be a bit far back so never comfortable to use.
All that is completely irrelevant though as not my car. Just get one if that is what your wife wants, the important person who will drive it will be happy.
Also, auto only with no padels (!!)
I’d rather put her in a 2023-5 BMW 230i Coupe tbh, but just doing due diligence before i reject the MINI idea. Yes, it “her” car but if im dropping 30k it needs to be a solid purchase.
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