Mini convertible
Discussion
Thinking of one Mrs PR can use as a runabout.
We started this whilst watching bangers and cash, when the team did up a mk2 golf gti convertible. Ohh I'd drive that she says excitedly. I think the reality would be disappointing and rarely used.
This set me thinking, how about a mini? Should be able to find something reasonable sub £5k, but no nothing about them. No garage space so car would live on the drive, and likely do less than 2k p.a, local trips.
Performance immaterial, auto box (are these any good?), electric hood (is this common?) leather trim would be nice. As would no sporty suspension or wheels, condition and interior are crucial.
How refined are they, wind noise, scuttle shake, ride? Any pitfalls?
We started this whilst watching bangers and cash, when the team did up a mk2 golf gti convertible. Ohh I'd drive that she says excitedly. I think the reality would be disappointing and rarely used.
This set me thinking, how about a mini? Should be able to find something reasonable sub £5k, but no nothing about them. No garage space so car would live on the drive, and likely do less than 2k p.a, local trips.
Performance immaterial, auto box (are these any good?), electric hood (is this common?) leather trim would be nice. As would no sporty suspension or wheels, condition and interior are crucial.
How refined are they, wind noise, scuttle shake, ride? Any pitfalls?
Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 9th November 11:52
We bought an older 2004 car from this specialist a couple of years ago:
https://www.savillepark-halifax.co.uk/used-cars/se...
It’s been brilliant, hasn’t cost too much to run and feels quite well planted on new tyres.
I believe you need to avoid engines after circa 2008 (Peugeot?) and we do keep up to ours but have been impressed with it.
It’s probably wrong time of year for traders to be holding stock but private sales will still be out there. Good luck!
https://www.savillepark-halifax.co.uk/used-cars/se...
It’s been brilliant, hasn’t cost too much to run and feels quite well planted on new tyres.
I believe you need to avoid engines after circa 2008 (Peugeot?) and we do keep up to ours but have been impressed with it.
It’s probably wrong time of year for traders to be holding stock but private sales will still be out there. Good luck!
I had a 2004 Cooper S convertible a few years ago. It was fun as a toy, but really hard to live with as a daily driver.
Wobbly chassis, rattles and squeaks from every single piece of trim. Felt very dark inside with the roof up. Very restricted leg room in the back, so pretty much unusable.
MX5 is a better choice if you want a small convertible, or get a Cooper S hatch.
Wobbly chassis, rattles and squeaks from every single piece of trim. Felt very dark inside with the roof up. Very restricted leg room in the back, so pretty much unusable.
MX5 is a better choice if you want a small convertible, or get a Cooper S hatch.
996Type said:
We bought an older 2004 car from this specialist a couple of years ago:
https://www.savillepark-halifax.co.uk/used-cars/se...
It’s been brilliant, hasn’t cost too much to run and feels quite well planted on new tyres.
I believe you need to avoid engines after circa 2008 (Peugeot?) and we do keep up to ours but have been impressed with it.
It’s probably wrong time of year for traders to be holding stock but private sales will still be out there. Good luck!
Thank you looks smart.https://www.savillepark-halifax.co.uk/used-cars/se...
It’s been brilliant, hasn’t cost too much to run and feels quite well planted on new tyres.
I believe you need to avoid engines after circa 2008 (Peugeot?) and we do keep up to ours but have been impressed with it.
It’s probably wrong time of year for traders to be holding stock but private sales will still be out there. Good luck!
clockworks said:
I had a 2004 Cooper S convertible a few years ago. It was fun as a toy, but really hard to live with as a daily driver.
Wobbly chassis, rattles and squeaks from every single piece of trim. Felt very dark inside with the roof up. Very restricted leg room in the back, so pretty much unusable.
MX5 is a better choice if you want a small convertible, or get a Cooper S hatch.
An MX5 would be good too, I could borrow it then. Wobbly chassis, rattles and squeaks from every single piece of trim. Felt very dark inside with the roof up. Very restricted leg room in the back, so pretty much unusable.
MX5 is a better choice if you want a small convertible, or get a Cooper S hatch.
It won't be a daily, but I trying to think of a 21st c, golf gti mk2 convertible. Whatever it is it'd need to look funky.
Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 10th November 08:42
PositronicRay said:
Thinking of one Mrs PR can use as a runabout.
We started this whilst watching bangers and cash, when the team did up a mk2 golf gti convertible. Ohh I'd drive that she says excitedly. I think the reality would be disappointing and rarely used.
This set me thinking, how about a mini? Should be able to find something reasonable sub £5k, but no nothing about them. No garage space so car would live on the drive, and likely do less than 2k p.a, local trips.
Performance immaterial, auto box (are these any good?), electric hood (is this common?) leather trim would be nice. As would no sporty suspension or wheels, condition and interior are crucial.
How refined are they, wind noise, scuttle shake, ride? Any pitfalls?
No mk2 golf convertibles, only mk1 then mk3...find a good mk3 onwards if you can. Watch for rust but they are properly refined, decent little cars. Unpopular opinion here but Beetle cabrio is also cheap and decent particulalry with the 1.9tdi...yes, reallyWe started this whilst watching bangers and cash, when the team did up a mk2 golf gti convertible. Ohh I'd drive that she says excitedly. I think the reality would be disappointing and rarely used.
This set me thinking, how about a mini? Should be able to find something reasonable sub £5k, but no nothing about them. No garage space so car would live on the drive, and likely do less than 2k p.a, local trips.
Performance immaterial, auto box (are these any good?), electric hood (is this common?) leather trim would be nice. As would no sporty suspension or wheels, condition and interior are crucial.
How refined are they, wind noise, scuttle shake, ride? Any pitfalls?
Edited by PositronicRay on Thursday 9th November 11:52
I bought a 2012 convertible a month or so ago - yes it creaks a bit more than a non soft-top but very bearable - love it - cheeky little car which nips around, is easy to park and comfortable to drive
If you are buying the second generation, there are two engines - N14 and N18 - new one comes in for model year 2011 in 2010 - lots of info on here, and second version is far more reliable.
mine doesn't do a huge mileage as I work from home, but is happy sitting on the drive...
tech in the car is poor, but I can bluetooth the phone and use an aux input for music, so am pretty happy with that.
If you are buying the second generation, there are two engines - N14 and N18 - new one comes in for model year 2011 in 2010 - lots of info on here, and second version is far more reliable.
mine doesn't do a huge mileage as I work from home, but is happy sitting on the drive...
tech in the car is poor, but I can bluetooth the phone and use an aux input for music, so am pretty happy with that.
PositronicRay said:
How refined are they, wind noise, scuttle shake, ride? Any pitfalls?
A younger me ordered one in 2005 before they were available for test-drive, and sold it less than a year later.Aside from the piss-taking from my mates for buying a girls car, I ordered it with sports suspension and 17" wheels on run flats and it felt like driving Fred Flintstones car.
Went around corners like it was on rails but any road imperfection had the side windows rattling around like they might fall out at any moment. Terrible ride, terrible shake, no refinement.
3 door cooper hard top on normal sized wheels, non run-flat tyres and non-sports suspension is a much nicer drive.
Looks like the Mini thing is off for now. Casually showed her this, and got a 'what do I need another car for"?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310283...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310283...
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff