No love for the r58 coupe?

[BEN99W]

In the hunt for a new car for my wife, I have been researching the Mini Coupe. I've gone back over the past 18 months of posts on this forum and there's scarcely a single reference to the coupe model. I knowthey only made them for 3 years or so, but I would have thought a more aerodynamic, lighter, more rear weight balanced mini would have been appreciated by Pistonheaders. What am I missing?

Anyway, we've picked up a 2012 Cooper in red and I have to say I love it. We both used to turn our noses up at the BMW-era Minis out of respect for the original Minis we both ran when we first started driving years ago. However I can see a new passion looming and find myself itching to break out the cleaning and servicing products and give it a good going over as soon as the wife will leave it around long enough.

Ben

[NeilAndHisMini]

I've always loved the marmite looks of the Coupe, and came very close to buying a JCW version a couple of years back. The opportunity to acquire a very low mileage GP2 put paid to that, but next year will be looking to add a Cooper Coupe as a daily driver. If you like the looks, they're such great value now.

And yes, modern MINIs do become a passion. Organising MINI fun and events has become kind of my second job now. That and keeping it clean in between being out driving and enjoying it.

[GaryF]

I've had a JCW Coupe for five + years now and it is good fun.

Not done much to it so far bar alcantara refurb/upgrade to sterring wheel (full grey + red stitching), LED sidelights and AEM induction kit. If you see the other thread I'm thinking about some more radical power upgrades, but a little concerned that it may do more harm than good.

I like the big boot and we only need space for two upfront so it suits us well.

I hope you enjoy yours!

[DapperDanMan]

My wife got 1 in May this year, a Cooper S with JCW bodykit. Loved it so much she stopped using her R53 JCW.



Boot size is really useful, went to Cornwall in September and packed everything in which was fortunate as the accommodation was down a lane so narrow it made the coupe feel like an SUV.

It does high 30's mpg unlike the R53 and is loads of fun to drive. No issues so far and it only has 20k miles on the clock.

[IMac]

I think they are great cars that never received the positive press cover they deserve. I bought a 2013 JCW and used it alongside Cayman GTS and then 911 GTS, both excellent cars. Yet the Coupe never felt like a disappointment, it is great fun to drive and to my eyes, looks good and is aging well. It does suffer from an enormous blind spot on the passenger side, this takes a bit of getting used to.

Otherwise I enjoyed 30k of miles with no problems.

Main drawback is when trying to sell one.... not a huge market, to put it mildly!

[MrC986]

As has been said before, they're a niche car and if you are 6ft plus in height & looking to do a track day as an example, you might find it tight on head room. As they say, there's a bum for every seat & if that's the model you like, great. The downside to a niche model is that they'll be fewer to choose from when buying & it might take longer to sell when you want something else.

[MKnight702]

Good God no, they are the Mini equivalent of the Vitara X90, the answer to a question that should never have been asked.