We (my wife) had a 06 plate Cooper Park lane edition from brand new. She loved it but it had to go last year when we had a baby. It was ultra low miles when we sold it (only done 11k in 6 years). It had run flats on, which you need to try on poorer roads! Tracks and torque steers all over place, even tried different brand. Ride was rock hard, you needed a pee after 5 mins from being jiggled about. Stuck to road like glue if you had a mad 10mins. Thermostat stuck few times, done under warranty. O/s engine mount went, frightened life out of me. Turns out the are full of fluid, thought engine had expired! Apparently they are very common as is t/stat. Was out of warranty then cost £70 for genuine one, fitted myself, easy job. Handbrake lever plastics fell off ans back box rusted. Engines are very revvy on that age coopers, you have to thrash them to not feel gutless. I hated driving it and always chose my old focus instead but my wife loved it and cried when it went! They don't hold there money like they did, ours was absolutely mint when we sold it, not a single stone chip, full BMW history and mileage was half that of the best park lane any dealers had and we had to lower price over and over again to a stupidly low price. You need an extended test drive on 'real' roads before deciding I think as the rock hard ride was ridiculous
