Should I buy a mini?

[PyroUK]

Personally I think they are an abomination and all should be destroyed, but that's just because they aren't actually a Mini!

Anyway, don't go anything lower than a cooper, the one and standard have no guts at all. Had to red line 1st to 3rd just to get up to 50 to joint dual carriageway on the test drive of a standard mini, the one has less power than that.

The hard suspension is not limited to the cooper s. the mini and countryman cooper's ride is pretty firm and I find the seats aren't very good either.

It can return good mpg if driven sensibly but as soon as you start to have a bit of fun or decide you amt to get along the motorway at a reasonable pace it starts to drink the fuel like water. Maybe a bigger engine will be better, don't know if they have bigger ones, this was based on a 1.6.

Also find that on both the mini amd countryman coopers, 1st to 2nd is quite snatchy as it is very happy to rev up a lot and not go fast in 1st and then trying to get into a more reasonably geared 2nd.

This is all personal experience from test driving and using my parents mini and subsequent countryman.

Can't say about service costs or anything as its a mobility aid car so everything apart from fuel is included.

The only car worse than the mini is the fiat 500 especially in auto, so don't get one of them and all good!

[PyroUK]

Oh and depending on what dog you have you may find it quite tight in there, there isn't much of a boot and the rear seats are laughable.

[Paul the 6th]

http://www.carsurvey.org written by real owners

My elder sister bought a brand new Cooper S in late 2003, she chopped it in for an Audi TTS earlier this year.

She loved the Mini and in the 9 1/2 years she had it all she had to do was drive and service it, nothing ever went wrong.

I liked the mini i did my lessons in back in 2009, but 4 seats?? Not practical for me.

[NTECUK]

We have sold 3 second hand ones from our site.
Only issue was a sun roof .that was expensive.but had a used wt that coverd cost for owner 58 plate.
It was a n/a.
I did have the fun element all beit a bit dulled of my 1974 cooper.
Still my nissan is cheaper,more fun. Bigger and still brittish

[G]

Although the MINI is built by BMW... the build quality, comfort and ride... is sadly no where near. Which is inevitable with them being so much cheaper.

What sort of journeys do you do? Anything other than bumbling around town and I would not bother.

My fiancé has had 3 MINIs and I've hated every single one. They are bumpy and harsh at the best of times. The steering is horrible.

The worst thing about them though is the ergonomics. Everything is in the wrong place and its not quirky... just frustrating. The window button should be to the right of the driver, you shouldn't have to search for it on the centre console.

Have you had a go in one yet to see how it compares for you. I guess it also depends on the age of your 118d as the first generation were not the best.

Hold up..

Ignoring the fasion statement and obvious abuse you will recieve from all other road users for being in a puufs car,

What is the actuall cost?

I.e

What are you loosing by givig the one series in as a deposit

How long is the finance over

Is it cheaper a month because it goes on for 5 years?

What will it be worth when you decide to get a proper car again?

Shiny numbers by a dealership are all very well but when the keys are in your hands you need to be happy with what you are paying out.

Personally i have driven 2 mini's and disliked them all but they were basic and had the horrible 1.6 engine with no poke and a lot of noise,

But I had a 3 series at the time and it felt a billion times better built and looked better too.

just dont ffs buy a white one, they just looked primed.

See I'm going to be very biased here... As I work for BMW MINI in Oxford, for that price your laughing. Yeh build quality isn't brilliant compared to a BMW but why compare them? BMW is a much higher class car, where as MINI is more for the mid range. Test drive it and see what you think, everyone has different preferences. So only you can decide whether you like it or not

dont forget, whatever the deal they first offer they are still making money on it, push them harder till they squeak like more extra,s road tax, full tank of fuel this kind of stuff untill they so no more... then you can accept the deal.