Mini Cooper or Mini One?

Ah_Yeah

Looking to get opinions on the Mini. Have wanted one for a long time and will be in a position financially to own one in the next few months, all going well. I currently drive a 03 1.3 Ford Fiesta Lx, which is great on petrol, tax and insurance are reasonable, and parts cheap.

I am not ignorant to the cost of running a Mini - everything from fuel, tax, parts and runflat tyres will be pricey, so I'm trying to weigh everything up before I make a decision.

I'm hoping to jump up at least 2 years in the next car I buy, so anything 05 upwards, and budgeting max 7k spend - however I am looking to trade in my car so I'll add whatever trade in value (which wont be much I imagine) I get to the overall spend.

Commute to work is about 7km from home, and usually in traffic as it's through town. I do the a long distance drive home every month, which is a 400km round trip, and I will do a few long(ish) drives some weekends (circa 100km round trip max).

I have been looking at the Cooper and the One, and have already exluded the Cooper S - even though it's more fun to drive I'd imagine, it will kill my pocket!

Anyone have any advice on a Cooper vs One? I dont think I should look at Diesels given my weekly driving consists mostly of short city trips, but open to being told I'm incorrect!

Any advice appreciated.

colm_mcm

You might find something useful in this thread from 2007

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=52696026

Don't remember when the 1.4 engine came to Ireland

Ah_Yeah

colm_mcm wrote: »

You might find something useful in this thread from 2007

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=52696026

Don't remember when the 1.4 engine came to Ireland

Should have looked harder for that thread! Thanks

Seems like the Cooper (and even more so the S, if you can afford it) is the one to go for, but that the One is fuel efficient and good if you want the MINI package but not necessarily the power? I think I'd be happy enough with the One in that case!

Does anyone here own a Mini Cooper or One that could shed some light on owning one for me? Things to look out for, etc?

Scortho

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

Should have looked harder for that thread! Thanks

Seems like the Cooper (and even more so the S, if you can afford it) is the one to go for, but that the One is fuel efficient and good if you want the MINI package but not necessarily the power? I think I'd be happy enough with the One in that case!

Does anyone here own a Mini Cooper or One that could shed some light on owning one for me? Things to look out for, etc?

Would you consider one of these instead?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/2000-austin-rover-mini-mpi-1275/5229362

I know it's older than your current car but put the savings into running it and you have fun times!:)
theyre funner than the newer minis, unless you were looking for a cooper s or jcw.
Oh and lads look good in these ones too!:)

Ah_Yeah

Scortho wrote: »

Would you consider one of these instead?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/2000-austin-rover-mini-mpi-1275/5229362

I know it's older than your current car but put the savings into running it and you have fun times!:)
theyre funner than the newer minis, unless you were looking for a cooper s or jcw.
Oh and lads look good in these ones too!:)

I've heard great things about the older minis, but I do have my heart set on the newer one Thanks for the link though!

Donnelly117

I bought an 07 R56 Cooper S about 2 months ago. Aside from the fact that it will be going into the garage for the 4th time on Tuesday its a little beast of a car. Luckily the seller is covering the work under warranty as the first two visits (one for diagnostics and the second for a new wastage and turbo pressure sensor) has cost about 700 euro in a main dealer. The third visit was for some of the turbo pipework which blew off leaving all the boost air blowing into the footwell among other places! And the 4th visit is for the same issue again plus a leaking boot and broken release button.

As for a regular cooper, my mother has had 2 in a row an R53 & now an R56 so I have a good knowledge of them!

Firstly in the MCS, the ride is bone shaking on 17 inch runflats and the road noise is quite loud (probably a result of the doors having no window frames). Mine is quite well equipped with bluetooth, cruise control, MFSW, AC and leather. I paid 10k for an 07 s so with 7 grand you should be getting an R56 (07 onwards) I would think.

The issue, as I have unfortunatly discovered with the 07's is that they are the first lot of the new model and therefore have a few kinks, such as:
- Leaking boot seal liked to the bit release button (mine does not work)
- Timing chain tensioner issues (not sure if this is exclusively an S issue)
- Awful stock sound system (mine is the Boost sound system and its terrible)
- The windows squeak so loud when you put them down its embarrassing in a carpark etc...

There probably more I'll add as I remember them. As for my mothers cooper (2010), It spat out a clutch spring at about 25,000km leaving it limping to the garage without reverse and first. It had both window regulators and motors replaced under warranty as the drivers window dropped off the rails and got stuck.

Sorry for the super long answer, but you did ask

Im summary, to live with everyday, its a bit harsh on the road, as a few rattles and squeaks, tiny inside the back seat and boot(although there is a good lot of room for the driver and front passenger). My MCS does 33 MPG indicated. Its quite expensive to fix (BMW prices) and from between mine and my mothers...not particularly reliable. Forgot to mention the 07 R53 never had and issues/problems in 4 years of ownership

But...I love it!!!:D

Ah_Yeah

I test drove a few cars over the last few days, and came across a 08 Mini Cooper D, 1.6 with 43,000km. 2 Year MINI Warranty and NCT until July 2014. €12k with my own car as a trade in (a banged up 03 Fiesta with a dent in the rear bumper). What are people's opinions on the Cooper D vs a Cooper or Cooper S? Is the fuel efficiency much better, or is it even worth buying one? I do mostly city driving (20mins each way to work), and would do a bit more motorway driving at weekend, and a 400km round trip home once a month.

Is this a lot of money for that particular car, and do they hold their value well over time? They seem to be making that much privately as it is. Or would I be better to continue looking at the petrol model given I don't do a lot of motorway driving during the week?

cpoh1

Clutches
Power steering pumps
Engine mounts
thermostats, coolant leaking issues
Gearbox horrific pre getrag in late 2004

All the above are common problems on the R52/R53 generation minis which is what you'll end up looking aty with €7k budget.

Dont buy on year buy on condition and make sure the above have been dealt with or are at least solid.

Donnelly117

I had a lend of a diesel cooper and a diesel clubman for a week each. To be honest I thought it was awful. The clutch is terrible and had some unnecessary anti stall thing that is really annoying. The diesel engine is very loud and runs out of power quite quickly making it difficult to drive quickly.

The price is about average I would think. Maybe a bit expensive. I think you would get a cooper s for that money for an 08