Mini advice?

Cyrus

Afternoon folks,

Mrs Cyrus is looking for a new motor, its down to 2 maybe 3 contenders, alfa gt (scarce enough on the ground), merc c class coupe and a mini.

budget is circa 10k plus whatever she is allowed for her pug 206 as a trade in.

So im not that well up on minis, can anyone fill me in?

whats the difference between a one and a cooper? what extras does she really want and any major reliability issues with 04/05 cars?

As an aside has anyone any experience with the c class coupes, anything i need to know about them,

here is a sample of the kinda things she is looking at:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mini/One/MINI/201004196732071/advert?channel=CARS


this one is private

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mini/Cooper/201005196804868/advert?channel=CARS

c class coupe

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/C-Class/COUPE-LO/201006196854375/advert?channel=CARS

.Longshanks.

*awaits Paint Doctor to all the info you've ever need*

VolvoMan

Cramped, poor value, stingy equipment and totally goes against the values of the original. It basically is the automotive equivalent of a stylish woman's handbag.

Don't get me started on the C-Class Coupe.;)

Cyrus

VolvoMan wrote: »

Cramped, poor value, stingy equipment and totally goes against the values of the original. It basically is the automotive equivalent of a stylish woman's handbag.

Don't get me started on the C-Class Coupe.;)

hence women like them i suppose

and come to think of it she is partial to eye wateringly expensive handbags :pac:

Cosmo K

VolvoMan wrote: »

Cramped, poor value, stingy equipment and totally goes against the values of the original. It basically is the automotive equivalent of a stylish woman's handbag.

Don't get me started on the C-Class Coupe.;)

Rubbish! I'm 6"2 and I don't find the new Mini to be cramped. Yes, there is'nt a lot of space in back, but so what? One of the most fun to drive cars out there, and they don't seem to give a lot of trouble. Suspension bushings are a weak point, but thats about it.

Mr Benevolent

The Coopers are apparently good fun, but the the MINI in general is not imbued with the spirit of it's ancestor. As Volvoman said, they're really a woman's handbag on wheels. An MX-5 would handle far better and be more reliable.

Cyrus

Confab wrote: »

The Coopers are apparently good fun, but the the MINI in general is not imbued with the spirit of it's ancestor. As Volvoman said, they're really a woman's handbag on wheels. An MX-5 would handle far better and be more reliable.

she doesnt want a 2 seater or a vert so that puts it out on 2 counts

altho i hear ya, id prefer if she got an older boxster personally:D

VolvoMan

Cyrus wrote: »

she doesnt want a 2 seater or a vert so that puts it out on 2 counts

altho i hear ya, id prefer if she got an older boxster personally:D

How about a FIAT 500? Surely a nice one of them must fall within budget.

Eoin

I was looking at the GT myself but as you said, you could be looking for a while and the figures don't really add up for me.

What about something like your old 325ci?

Confab wrote:

As Volvoman said, they're really a woman's handbag on wheels

Some owners might view them as just an accessory, but I think that's a bit of a sweeping statement.

langdang

Drive one, they are great craic! I find the handling excellent, especially for the price! I have no problem driving what some people regard as a "ladies car" it's their loss...
Not great for carrying backseat passengers, but I have plenty of headroom (6 foot).

Have a look at the various forums, I think there was a minor facelift in 04 and a new model in 05 or 06?

Paintdoc will give a better run thru of the differences, but...

2002-2005(?) One and Cooper had same engine, cooper = 115bhp, one was 90ish? Pretty much same power to 4k rpm, one can be easily remapped for Cooper power.
Other than that it's mainly trim (paintdoc may confirm if the One had less sporty suspension) -
eg piddly exhaust on one, less chrome, different grille

Not sure if the choice of contrasting roof colour was confined to the Cooper.

Have a look at the various forums, no major major issues I'm aware of, some power steering pumps fail, some gearbox failures as well? A few production runs had bad connectors on underseat airbag loom. Have never seen the sparkplug issue on any other forum! yikes!

Accessories,options,packs etc? This is definitely up to her -the amount of customisation and accessorising is definitely part of the appeal to the ladies!
I'd suggest a red/blue/black Cooper with white roof + mirrors (Pepper pack I think), and the bonnet stripes. I think the minilite style wheels are the best looking of the chrome wheels (white can suit some red/blue cars). White cooper with black roof are pretty cool too, maybe avoid yellow,green,silver. (Although the cooper S came in a darker gunmetal type silver which is way better than cooper/one silver)
Chilli pack adds contrasting colours on the seats and some other stuff?
As I said, Paintdoc is the expert there..

I find the dipped beam pattern a bit crap with the halogens, (no problem on fulls with spots )maybe see if you can find HIDs? I'd reckon they are more common on the Cooper S tho.

Try and get a glove box if you can! Not standard (can see what people mean by stingy spec there alright!) very annoying not to have a proper glovebox...

Cyrus

VolvoMan wrote: »

How about a FIAT 500? Surely a nice one of them must fall within budget.

doesnt like them either apparently

MetzgerMeister

Cyrus, would she consider a Mazda RX-8?

Cyrus

einheisserschre wrote: »

Cyrus, would she consider a Mazda RX-8?

nope she wont, hates them too :rolleyes:

mjquinno

classic mini ftw?

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=3204375#

langdang

The white mini is tasty, the wheels on it are the nicest style of wheels in my opinion. That cadburies blue/purple isn't the nicest blue IMO.
My thoughts on the sunroof/double sunroof is that they ruin the contrasting roof colour. They'd be fine on a black/black car, but I suppose that's personal preference. (I realise I've said they're not ladies cars only to on to post loads of colour/style stuff - sorry!)

Her car (02 cooper) has no EBD/CBC, no Traction control etc, but to be honest the things handle so well neither of us have ever missed em.

Earlier cars only came with one real key and one mini spare key (no remote features)

MetzgerMeister

Cyrus wrote: »

nope she wont, hates them too :rolleyes:

Hmmmm Mrs Cyrus is a proper woman so....very hard to please! No offence

langdang

betafrog wrote: »

Look great with the checkerboard pattern on them...

True, you'd have to get the checkerboard done alright if you had the panoramic sunroof.

Cyrus, 15inch,16 inch wheels without runflats are accepted as being the best wheel size for first gen MINI's, 16/17 for second gen. The spare drops down from the underside of the body, but to be honest I can't picture many mini drivers changing it themselves. If ye dont go for runflats make sure she has roadside rescue, + a can of tyreweld for real emergencies.

(The cooper S has no spare at all btw)

Check the power steering fluid levels on any you test drive, altho I think the main failure is to do with brushes in the motor or something.