Looking at Buying.

[SpamCan]

Hello all,
Hopefully my current car (2006 Mustang GT) will soon be sold which is going to leave me looking for a replacement vehicle. My budget is up to £3000 and the MINI seems to fit into that category amongst others like the Alfa 147 (posted a thread in the Alfa forum a while back).

I’d be looking at a 2006 car as the stereo can be replaced (one of the key factors for a replacement is that I can use a USB stick with MP3’s on it which means replacing the stereo on most pre-2010 cars on the market (I’m unwilling to compromise with cradles for phones and mp3 players), sounds daft I know but I have become acustomed to the ease of the USB stick and its something I can sort in 30 minutes and with £50 with a replacement stereo. I know the slightly later cars had an AUX in but no USB.

Anyway, £3000 seems to get me a reasonable condition 1.4 or 1.6 MINI, I have heard that the timing chain tensioners are an issue on the earlier cars (Cooper and Cooper S) is there anything else I need to be mindful of and look out for.

It’s a huge step down in performance from the Mustang but I have a far more fun toy tucked away in an aircraft hangar so I am looking for something cheap and reliable to run around in, but can still have a bit of fun with on a twisty road (the PH in me isn't willing to roll over and die yet).

[SpamCan]

Thanks for the input so far.

Is the diesel worth looking at (trying to keep my options open)?

[SpamCan]

wlondoner said:

The MINI Diesel engine is very popular, especially in the new F series.
Autoexpress gave a MINI diesel 5 out of 5

The newer ones are very impressive

Definitely worth considering a diesel R56 too

I guess I will have to have a look around, though mostly it means travelling, which is a pain becuase I won't be in a position to buy until the Mustang is sold, which means I won't have a car.

Petrols seem more numerous and there are a few locally.

[SpamCan]

Thanks for the responses.

However nice the free tax is on a 2014 diesel I don't think I'll get one of those for £3k. To be honest my main concern with the diesels is DPF issues, so it will probably be a petrol MINI One or Cooper that I buy.

That said I have to get rid of my current car (Mustang) first and as I have had two potential buyers cancel on me the MINI is going to have to wait a little bit longer

Edited by SpamCan on Sunday 18th February 14:04

[SpamCan]

Thanks. So far I have only seen 08 and older cars in my price range, I'd rather have an 07 onwards if I can as the VED is half that of the older cars

Sadly at the moment it's all moot as I am having zero luck selling my Mustang

I can always put an aftermarket MP3 player in an 07 car as there is space under the HVAC to make a nice neat instal!

[SpamCan]

MrC986 said:

A plug in Bluetooth into the aux socket will stream your music for a much more affordable price although it'll depend on how much you spend as to what the functionality is. Alternatively put a hands free kit in which can stream music.

I don't stream. I buy CDs and rip to MP3 and currently put them on a USB thumb nail drive and play that through the stereo like any other CD

[SpamCan]

Gunk said:

Easiest solution is to burn a load of MP3 tracks onto a recordable CD and create a playlist. the standard stereo even displays the track names.

I can only get around 1/2 my Iron Maiden collection on one CD let alone my entire metal collection!

I know how I can sort the issue on the 07-12 cars though so its not an issue any more

[SpamCan]

Quick update, last weekend I collected a Manual R56 MINI Cooper Chilli Pack, its a late 2007 car (£115 VEL).

I was expecting to find myself frustrated coming from a car with ~300hp and 320lb/ft but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by it. The engine is lovely and it seems to pull well (that being said its also 500kg lighter than the Mustang), it also appears to run on fresh air. One thing it has reminded me is what a gearbox is for

The first thing I did was go to Halfords and replace the stock framed windscreen wipers with the air blade type and a small MP3 player which will tuck away in the centre cubby hole will solve the lack of USB issue (for now - I may get the module that allows bluetooth and USB and fit it myself).

Great car thus far.