Possible New Recruit!!

[Iceman82]

Hi guys,

I am seriously considering re-entering the MINI market for my next car and I was hoping for some advice. I used to have a Cooper and had a lot of fun in it but am now thinking about going for a Cooper S.

It's going to be my only car, so I need reliability but would also like the fun aspect as well!! I had both of those in the Cooper and I hope that the S will be the same. I have a budget of around 10k, prefer to buy trade, so it looks like a 52 plate is within the budget. Found a couple of examples that I like the look of, seem to have low miles as well; one with 17,000 and the other with 32,000. I was just wondering if there is anything I should be looking out for with cars that age, also if anyone can recommend any decent dealers in the South that I may have overlooked. So far I have only checker Autotrader Online and Snows Portsmouth, however, at the moment I travel up and down to Law School in Guildford so can pop to dealers near there as well.

Any help and advice will be very welcome!!!

p.s. Found a Cooper Works at Snows within budget but not sure as to whether or not this would be as good as the S, any thoughts?

[james f]

depened what year the works is anything face lift (august 04 onwards) will only have the sound pack that makes no diff to the power and just makes it sound nicer but having driven one on loner it was a nice sound tbh

[Iceman82]

Thanks James, am hoping to pop along tomorrow and check a few Coopers and Cooper Ss out so we will have to see how it all goes!!

[james f]

one drive and im sure you will be hooked ive not got bored yet after 3 and a half years and my cooper is as basic as they come theres a lot of bargins to be had atm due to the new model being out and price for the older gen is good imo

[Loui]

I can recomend a decent dealer in the Midlands, On that sort of age S look for clicking steering column, clutches with poor operation as there not the most robust, Kerbed wheels, Low tyre tread depths as the standard fit runflats are epxensive to replace, Engine mounts as the oil filled one on the left hand side of the engine bay can start leaking, other than that the usual stuff like pannel damage, worn seats an steering wheels, not in keeping with the mileage of the car, dont think much else to be warry of.

[Iceman82]

Well I have gone and done it now!! Bought a beautiful Black Cooper S yesterday from Scotthall Mini in Chandler's Ford!! Looks sooo good, all in black and drove fantastically!! I couldn't get over the engine note on startup, not a TVR V8 rumble certainly but glorious in its own right nonetheless!! Taking delivery next Wednesday and can't wait!! Will try and post some photos up when I have collected it!!

[james f]

i just noticed your down south check out our club if you whant www.scnm.net

[wibbly]

Loui said:

I can recomend a decent dealer in the Midlands

I'll bet you can