Damn, prices made choosing between a 1.5 and 2.0 an issue

Damn, prices made choosing between a 1.5 and 2.0 an issue

Author
Discussion

cirian75

Original Poster:

4,357 posts

240 months

Wednesday 24th January
quotequote all
Looking at getting a 3 door 1.5 Cooper.

Good car, nice drive, good looks etc, goodish MPG but many are running 17/65 R15 tyres and miserable equipment levels.


Out of simple curiosity I looked at Cooper S 2.0 prices.


Ummmmm that was a mistake, prices are not that different, loads more power and better equipment levels.

Do I really need nearly 70hp more, might be a possible licence loser car.

What are they like for MPG vs the 1.5?

And I hear the 1.5 has taller gearing making a much much better motorway cruiser.

Once ever two weeks I go from Manchester to Liverpool and very often mid north Wales

un1eash

619 posts

147 months

Wednesday 24th January
quotequote all
Mpg depends on how you plan on driving it. The 1.5 will always return better mpg but i very much doubt its better as a motorway cruiser then the 2.0 that won't be pushed as hard at motorway speeds.

Around town we get 28mpg from the 306hp JCW Clubman and i got similar when i had a 231hp JCW hatch, on the motorway they'd easily get 40+ if cruising at the limit.

twokcc

881 posts

184 months

Wednesday 24th January
quotequote all
Whats your budget?
I have a 2018 Cooper S with the 7 speed DCT its geared at about 38mph/1000 revs so 76 mph at 2000revs , quite and reasonably comfortable. Mines averaging about 40mpg on normal journeys but can get close to 50mpg on motorway run. Not sure if 7speed DCT was available in standard cooper and no experience of 6 speed auto that preceded the DCT box If budget can stretch tp a DCT cooper S would highly recommend. Bought mine at 13 months old. ex mini dealer demonstrator that listed at above £30k but bought at nearly 40% discount.







nickfrog

21,941 posts

224 months

Wednesday 24th January
quotequote all
I see the small tyres as quite a plus personally, particularly if running costs are an issue.

But I agree that the Cooper is often quite basic and that the S tends to have better spec including equipped with LEDs more often than the Cooper so that might be the smart choice as the price delta hqs shrunk of late. There was a low mileage AUC orange one recently at £12k albeit without the LEDs.

Actually, still available http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023111640...

Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 24th January 12:50

wong

1,317 posts

223 months

Wednesday 24th January
quotequote all
If you read the reviews of the day, the 1.5 was the pick of the bunch. Only 1 sec or so slower to 60mph....However....

People buying the Cooper tended not to spend as much on options as those buying a Cooper S. I bought a 2nd hand 2014 Cooper S with > £8k of options in 2020. Highly optioned 1.5l Coopers are out there, but are rare. The Cooper S will have higher insurance and tax if pre 2017. The 2014-17 Cooper will be £20.

s-x-i

194 posts

56 months

Wednesday 24th January
quotequote all
We had this dilemma when looking for a MINI a few years back.

In the end we went for a high spec Cooper (£6k worth of options), which wasn't exactly easy to find. Had to travel from Glasgow to Leeds for the right car.

The 1.5 is a great engine and is plenty fast enough for day to day driving. As it is a 3 pot it also has a bit of character. No issues with motorway cruising either.

If within budget, try and get an LCI model. These come with led lights as standard as well as some other small changes



Edited by s-x-i on Wednesday 24th January 20:06

twokcc

881 posts

184 months

Thursday 25th January
quotequote all
If your still looking his looks a reasonable spec/price for a 2018 1.5 Cooper -1499Gt on M3 cutters

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/mini-1499-g...

nickfrog

21,941 posts

224 months

Friday 26th January
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
I see the small tyres as quite a plus personally, particularly if running costs are an issue.

But I agree that the Cooper is often quite basic and that the S tends to have better spec including equipped with LEDs more often than the Cooper so that might be the smart choice as the price delta hqs shrunk of late. There was a low mileage AUC orange one recently at £12k albeit without the LEDs.

Actually, still available http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023111640...
Now down to £10.5k!!?

cirian75

Original Poster:

4,357 posts

240 months

Friday 26th January
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
nickfrog said:
I see the small tyres as quite a plus personally, particularly if running costs are an issue.

But I agree that the Cooper is often quite basic and that the S tends to have better spec including equipped with LEDs more often than the Cooper so that might be the smart choice as the price delta hqs shrunk of late. There was a low mileage AUC orange one recently at £12k albeit without the LEDs.

Actually, still available http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023111640...
Now down to £10.5k!!?
See what I mean, its almost like one wants the 2.0 S but they all want the 1.5 instead!

Whistle

1,495 posts

140 months

Friday 26th January
quotequote all
We picked up a 2.0 cooper s a few weeks ago.

It’s on a 20 plate with the 7 speed auto box and the comfort plus package. Today is the 1st time I have driven it properly as it’s my wife’s car.

It’s actually quite good fun. She’s averaging 32 mpg round town.
We are thinking of doing a Euro road trip in it later in the year.


nickfrog

21,941 posts

224 months

Friday 26th January
quotequote all
cirian75 said:
See what I mean, its almost like one wants the 2.0 S but they all want the 1.5 instead!
Looking at the MOT history something doesn't add up in fairness. Perhaps that's also a factor in no one wanting this particular car...

biggbn

24,949 posts

227 months

Friday 26th January
quotequote all
twokcc said:
If your still looking his looks a reasonable spec/price for a 2018 1.5 Cooper -1499Gt on M3 cutters

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/mini-1499-g...
Was about to suggest a 1499gt, simple remap takes them to decent power, best of both worlds? I'd love one.

Pip1968

1,360 posts

211 months

Saturday 17th February
quotequote all
I bought a 1.5 Cooper 'Exclusive' , I think they call them and I think the equipment was excellent - full leather seats, Apple car play, nav, BT phone, LEDs and xenons, heated seats I am not sure what else you want. We have twice been to Scotland in it (from Kent) and got good mpg out of it on the long runs, it has plenty of pull to +100. The turbo is so good and it's easy to drive it at 60 in 3rd (as it's not noisy enough) if you don't keep an eye on the console which suggests what gear you should be in.

We actually spent a lot of time looking for one with 17"s as they are all over tyred with 18"s. I actually wanted to get one with 16"s to keep my wife's costs down - she loves a puncture.

Pip