MINI with auto gearbox
Discussion
Anyone got one? Anyone driven one? Are they any good?
Complications with my order for a Beetle Cabriolet for my girlfriend have meant I'm looking for something else now. It has to be an auto though (she has an auto-only license).
I've been to a couple of MINI dealerships recently and none have an auto for me to test-drive. They both said they could 'order one in' but that'll put me under extra pressure to buy, which I don't want.
Complications with my order for a Beetle Cabriolet for my girlfriend have meant I'm looking for something else now. It has to be an auto though (she has an auto-only license).
I've been to a couple of MINI dealerships recently and none have an auto for me to test-drive. They both said they could 'order one in' but that'll put me under extra pressure to buy, which I don't want.
The CVT auto box is not good at doing high mileages, the 6 speed geared auto box in the Cooper S is better on that front. I assume you're going for a cabrio? If you're not going to keep it forever and do loads of miles in it they're fine really, and marginally less camp than a Beetle cabrio too 
Edited by jamiebae on Sunday 8th October 12:59
In terms of ownership and mileage we'll probably keep the car for three years (until the MOT runs out) and do 10k-15k miles a year in it. The car will primarily be my girlfriend's (it's a suprise pressie for her) but I wouldn't mind using it every now and then too, hence my preference for a MINI over a Beetle.
The idea was to get her a smallish convertible of some description. However should we go the MINI route I'd perhaps be tempted to get a normal version with the panoramic roof (I used to have a Cooper S JCW with pan roof myself). The fact that the new generation MINI will be available in the coming months only goes to strengthen that option, and I would be willing to wait until after Xmas for a nice 2nd Generation Cooper - I imagine 2nd Gen convertibles are at least a year away, so that rules them out.
The option of getting a Cooper S is certainly there although I'm not so sure if it'd be 'worth it'. My girlfriend is a relatively sedate driver at the best of times and would get no extra benefit from the supercharged (or future turbocharged) model. Added to which she has only been driving for a year and, whilst she's 25 years old now, I expect the insurance will be a lot extra per year.
So really it's a choice between buying a 1st Generation Cooper cabrio and a 2nd Generation Cooper hatch.
The idea was to get her a smallish convertible of some description. However should we go the MINI route I'd perhaps be tempted to get a normal version with the panoramic roof (I used to have a Cooper S JCW with pan roof myself). The fact that the new generation MINI will be available in the coming months only goes to strengthen that option, and I would be willing to wait until after Xmas for a nice 2nd Generation Cooper - I imagine 2nd Gen convertibles are at least a year away, so that rules them out.
The option of getting a Cooper S is certainly there although I'm not so sure if it'd be 'worth it'. My girlfriend is a relatively sedate driver at the best of times and would get no extra benefit from the supercharged (or future turbocharged) model. Added to which she has only been driving for a year and, whilst she's 25 years old now, I expect the insurance will be a lot extra per year.
So really it's a choice between buying a 1st Generation Cooper cabrio and a 2nd Generation Cooper hatch.
If you go for the cabrio I'd be tempted to go for the One over the Cooper, you get slightly softer suspension which is better suited to the convertible IMO, add the crome like exterior and delete the 'One' badge and it looks the same but the insurance is cheaper, as is the car and it's otherwise pretty much identical other than a little less power which can be sorted by a remap if that's an issue.
The new model is more economical and the looks are growing on me, I work next to the factory and see them every day. I assume there'll be a bit of a waiting list for the new Cooper but it shouldn't be too bad.
The new model is more economical and the looks are growing on me, I work next to the factory and see them every day. I assume there'll be a bit of a waiting list for the new Cooper but it shouldn't be too bad.
Okay cheers for the info Jamie. 
I suppose I'm just worried about depreciation on the 1st generation convertibles, it really depends on how long MINI take to release the 2nd Gen editions. However if I decide to buy a standard model I would definately wait for the 2nd Gen, even if I had to wait until the spring to get it.
I take onboard what you say about the One convertible though, the power difference is nothing that a £300 AMD One-Click won't sort out. I seem to remember being told that the One Cabrio wasn't available as an automatic though, I'll have to try and look it up.
I suppose I'm just worried about depreciation on the 1st generation convertibles, it really depends on how long MINI take to release the 2nd Gen editions. However if I decide to buy a standard model I would definately wait for the 2nd Gen, even if I had to wait until the spring to get it.
I take onboard what you say about the One convertible though, the power difference is nothing that a £300 AMD One-Click won't sort out. I seem to remember being told that the One Cabrio wasn't available as an automatic though, I'll have to try and look it up.
Ah, I just assumed the One cab was available as an auto, that might make the decision for you then!
I wouldn't worry about residuals too much, it's a hugely desirable car and as long as it has the right spec (good colour, nice alloys, xenons and leather/half leather) you won't lose much at all, it should be a lot better than the Bug as it's a decent car as well rather than just selling on fashion value alone.
I wouldn't worry about residuals too much, it's a hugely desirable car and as long as it has the right spec (good colour, nice alloys, xenons and leather/half leather) you won't lose much at all, it should be a lot better than the Bug as it's a decent car as well rather than just selling on fashion value alone.
Minnie said:
But a little look round there can take several hundred years, as recent delving into the MINI2 font of knowledge has shown.
My dilemma now is that a recent conversation has informed me that one of her favourite marques is Alfa Romeo, a totally left-field option as far as I was concerned. So it looks like an auto Brera might be an alternative to a MINI, at least until a generation 2 cabrio comes out.
I dunno what to do any more.
jamiebae said:
A Brera auto is a whole lot more cash than a Mini, the base model manual is £22k! The 147 is cheaper but I looked at one a few weeks ago, drove it and then when I got back into my Mini I immediately knew I didn't want the Alfa!
The purchase price isn't a massive issue as it'll be me who buys it (a pressie for her)...obviously within reason (or else I would have bought her a SLK as it's her favourite car). Plus whatever I buy her will be used a fair amount by me
The Beetle was coming in at about £20k with leather and special paint, and I expect a specced MINI would have been similar. A Brera at a few grand more wouldn't be so bad.
But ultimately a generation 2 Cooper Cabrio would be the ideal choice.
Gen 2 cabrio is due in 2008 so it'll be a bit of a wait...
The SLK is a more sensible buy than the Brera, if you look at depreciation while you own it as well as the initial purchase cost an SLK 200K auto with leather will hold its money waaay better than a Brera and pretty much as well as the Mini. The Brera was on my own new car shortlist but whatever anyone says the depreciation is likely to be frightening and CAP doesn't disagree with me...
The SLK is a more sensible buy than the Brera, if you look at depreciation while you own it as well as the initial purchase cost an SLK 200K auto with leather will hold its money waaay better than a Brera and pretty much as well as the Mini. The Brera was on my own new car shortlist but whatever anyone says the depreciation is likely to be frightening and CAP doesn't disagree with me...
I agree with you on the future value problems with the Brera. Hopefully whatever I buy her will last her a few years, so initial depreciation isn't vastly important. On the flip-side I don't want to buy something that is literally gonna shed £10k in its first year.
Plus insurance on the Brera is likely to be quite high, and as she'll be paying that I don't want to put her under strain.
An SLK really is more than I want to pay out to be honest. My step-mum has an SLK 350 and it as a good spec on it, psychologically it wouldn't feel right to get anything with a much lower spec so I would probably end up shelling out quite a bit. I certainly don't want to go any higher than about £26k as then her car will be worth more than mine!
I imagine my step-mum will change her car again in the next couple of years and, when she does, I might aquire it off her for my girlfriend as it would be a good buy.
Plus insurance on the Brera is likely to be quite high, and as she'll be paying that I don't want to put her under strain.
An SLK really is more than I want to pay out to be honest. My step-mum has an SLK 350 and it as a good spec on it, psychologically it wouldn't feel right to get anything with a much lower spec so I would probably end up shelling out quite a bit. I certainly don't want to go any higher than about £26k as then her car will be worth more than mine!
I imagine my step-mum will change her car again in the next couple of years and, when she does, I might aquire it off her for my girlfriend as it would be a good buy.
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