which Mini Cooper to buy?
Discussion
I am undecided which mini coper hatch to buy...
I have looked at the 2007 to 2013 model and the 2014 on... A cooper with around 136 BHP seems to fit the bill, but I am undecided which to go for...
a low miles mint 07 to 13... or a later one with perhaps a few more miles
anything I should know before going to look? any reliability problems? any "must have " options?
it has to be a petrol one...
I have looked at the 2007 to 2013 model and the 2014 on... A cooper with around 136 BHP seems to fit the bill, but I am undecided which to go for...
a low miles mint 07 to 13... or a later one with perhaps a few more miles
anything I should know before going to look? any reliability problems? any "must have " options?
it has to be a petrol one...
I have never looked at minis until recently needing a small car. I found a 2013 Cooper S that had been looked after well. It has the revised N18 engine.
For the money its been fantastic (in the 3 weeks I have had it) and feels more powerful than the listed numbers. I think with cars this old its about buying on condition. This one had a recent water pump, aircon condenser and clutch. The high pressure fuel pumps also fail I understand. I am watching the oil level like a hawk and will change the oil regularly having learned the benefits of this over 15 years of running turbocharged Subarus.
Reviews say that the R56 is not as fun as the R53, which maybe true. However, the turbo charged cars are more tunable if you want to go that route. I think the later 2.0L engines are all together better if you can get the F56. The sheer number sold means there are plenty to choose from and lots of aftermarket support. I am taking mine to a mini specialist for a check over next week to find out what I didn't spot.
For the money its been fantastic (in the 3 weeks I have had it) and feels more powerful than the listed numbers. I think with cars this old its about buying on condition. This one had a recent water pump, aircon condenser and clutch. The high pressure fuel pumps also fail I understand. I am watching the oil level like a hawk and will change the oil regularly having learned the benefits of this over 15 years of running turbocharged Subarus.
Reviews say that the R56 is not as fun as the R53, which maybe true. However, the turbo charged cars are more tunable if you want to go that route. I think the later 2.0L engines are all together better if you can get the F56. The sheer number sold means there are plenty to choose from and lots of aftermarket support. I am taking mine to a mini specialist for a check over next week to find out what I didn't spot.
Get the newer mini, it is a lot better car. Felt far better built and finished. We went from a Mini One d in the old shape (face lift) to a cooper in the current, interior big jump forward, better quality although it ate rear brake pads. After Clubman and Countryman Coopers, picked up a new Cooper S Convertible yesterday and it’s great.
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