Want to buy a MINI Cooper S - opinions please!

unkel

Must be 2003 or older for my FBD classic car insurance.

What are the good things and the bad things, do you know of a car for sale? Any thoughts welcome!

Oops!

Pros.... Handles like a go kart and plenty of power. Cons.... It will spend a lot of time at your local mechanics workshop and will be a serious drain on your bank account.

rob316

**** heaps they will drain your pockets

unkel

That's very negative, lads! If the car was owned by an enthusiast, has a long NCT and drives well on a test drive, is it really that much of a risk? And we are talking 20 year old cars here that are worth maybe €2-3k. So I guess worst case scenario, that's the max you could lose.

Oops!

Its the truth.

...Ghost...

2003....just before bmw went to shìt. You could definitely do worse. Great little big car. An ex had an S replica and it's a fun yoke to drive. Not a real mini though.

mailforkev

Was tempted myself a few years ago. Then a pal bought one and it broke his heart, repeatedly.

Buddy Bubs

I'll balance up the repsonses so far.

Not sure if it's much different to standard Cooper but I know 2 ladies running them from new. A neighbour had a 2002 that has just died this year and a ex girlfriend has a 2004 that is going strong, only problem ever was the power steering pump.

Its paint has faded and peeled, it rattles all over but it runs like a dream. She wouldn't be one to proactively look after it either. I don't think it's a nice thing to drive but I'm more used to refinement and comfort that a mini just obviously doesn't bring nor does it try to. It's a red 2004 and going by the amount of old red minis on the road that I see and think is her when I see them (trust me, im avoiding her!!) they can certainly be seen to have at least a chance of reliability.

antodeco

@unkle Assuming this is to be added to your classic policy? I know some companies are weird about adding "modern mass produced" Cara to policies, but I'm sur eyouvw done your due diligence.

My two cents, I know a few people who had them. Said they were basic, steering pump acted up, but outside of that, they were positive of them and used them as dailys.

unkel

Cheers. I double checked with my classic car insurer, FBD, and they've gone very strict on 25 years now. So that's no good to me, cancelling the policy and going back to First Ireland who I was with for many years in the past. Not a problem, fully comp for €195 per year

Deal done on car today, picking it up on Thursday. Looking forward to that! 210NM, supercharged - non of that modern turbocharged lag, just over 1100kg

pgj2015

A UK car buyer I watch on youtube listed the mini in his top 5 for most unreliable cars.

coolbeans

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120413074#Comment_120413074

Nice. Don't forget the pics 🙂

unkel

Picked it up this afternoon from Limerick / Kerry and drove it home, runs like a clock and I enjoyed the whine of the supercharger when I floored it from zero at the N7 toll hitting the red in the rev range in several consecutive gears 😁

Car needs a wash - I will put up some pics after

unkel

Well a twilight one anyway

coolbeans

Looks nice. They're lots of fun when they're running well. Good luck with it.

unkel

Bought a BMW i3 and fell in love with it, so the MINI doesn't get a look in anymore. Put it up for sale this evening. This is a good car.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mini-cooper-s-r53-1-6-supercharged-manual/33784430