unico1 Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Wife is thinking about a newer car, a mini of all things, kids older and all that. Just wondering any horror stories or are the OK? Not after a new one around a 07, diesel or petrol not really fussed. Appreciate any coments. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 IMHO the earlier ones look better and in the long run we become more desirable as a result, a mini (see what I did there) classic. They can suffer from head gasket issues so I would check if there has been any history of overheating and from what I have been told, the S can chew through front tyres if driven 'properly' I have toyed with idea of buying one, if I did I would only get an S or a JCW, I know they are both pretty juicy, but I have had it with diesels. Have a look on Honest John's site they good, bad an ugly should be there. Here is the Cooper review http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mini/cooper-r50-2001/?section=good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 As above, get an S as we have an 06 petrol cooper and it is pretty underpowered. Worth noting that the S is known to have a timing chain issue know ominously as the death rattle. Great little cars for road holding and responsiveness but unrefined and noisy inside, and if you suffer from back problems you'll need to avoid potholes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Wife's on her 4th - an 'S'; a Cooper convertible; a Countryman One petrol and now a Countryman One D and the only real issue has been the poor service by the main dealer otherwise oves the cars. The Countryman purchases were down to the need to ferry about ageing parents but this is diminishing and she is thinking of an 'S' convertible - possibly a new one fully loaded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 My Mrs had one for a while, just a basic 1.4 but made me smile every time i drove it. Cornered on rails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 Just bought a 2011 Cooper SD for the Management - nice car, lots of toys, has some real "go" to it. More powerful than the Golf GTI it replaced, everything works, good build quality, good economy. Highish mileage at 42k, but really doesn't show it. Doesn't have quite the go-kart quality of our previous Cooper (the last 1275 version with carbs instead of fuel injection), but faster, better built, better handling and actually more economical, even allowing for the fact that the new one is a diesel. Later R56 model series have a better reputation, so I am told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromwell7 Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 My wife has one and at first I said I wouldn't drive it but Its really grown on me. Theyre not like anything else in their class, nicer to drive and better built than say a corsa/fiesta. But you pay more for a mini than those equivalents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuji Shooter Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 My wife had one for a while, must say the build quality was excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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