Mini Cooper d Vs petrol

[Roboticarm]

Idle musing over a second car, always liked the mini, would be looking at an early face lift model
Hoping for some insight please:
Seems the diesel is cheaper than the equivalent petrol, hadn't considered the diesel and don't know much about them... are they any good or are they cheap for a reason ?

[Truckosaurus]

There's several different diesels (and 'early facelift' doesn't give much of a clue which one you are looking at).

R56 has the 1.6 Ford/PSA engine or a 1.6 BMW. The Ford engine is ubiquitous but has a poor reputation.

The newer F56 model has a 2.0 or 1.5 BMW engine, both of which are decent, and the facelift versions have either 7-speed DCT or 8-speed auto available.

The 2.0 with DCT should be quite amusing as a daily driver.

They are cheaper, I suspect, because a lot of Mini owners want the performance of a petrol not the economy of a diesel.

(Edit to get the F56 and R56 names the right way round.)

Edited by Truckosaurus on Monday 25th September 14:22

[Mr Tidy]

Truckosaurus said:

There's several different diesels (and 'early facelift' doesn't give much of a clue which one you are looking at). F56 has the 1.6 Ford/PSA engine or a 1.6 BMW. The Ford engine is ubiquitous but has a poor reputation.

The newer R56 model has a 2.0 or 1.5 BMW engine, both of which are decent, and the facelift versions have either 7-speed DCT or 8-speed auto available.

The 2.0 with DCT should be quite amusing as a daily driver.

They are cheaper, I suspect, because a lot of Mini owners want the performance of a petrol not the economy of a diesel.

I don't know much about the Diesels, but I believe the R50 diesels used a Toyota 1.4 litre engine.

But I don't think petrol R56s ever got the (miserable) 3 cylinder unit - IIRC that was F56 onwards. R56s had the BMW/PSA collaboration "Prince" engine like Mrs Tidy's December 2006 Cooper.

Maybe the diesels don't appeal in cars that are supposed to be fun, and don't offer a huge economy improvement. Mrs T's Cooper is showing an average above 40mpg after 65K miles. ULEZ compliance might be a factor too.

Depending how you use the car one or other may be a better option. for lower annual mileages and/or many short trips petrol is probably a better option.

[culpz]

Diesels ultimately exist to save you money, but they only do that when you're doing the miles. So, how many do you think you will you be doing in it? Unless it's at least 15-20k PA, I wouldn't even start to entertain something running on heavy oil.

[Jag_NE]

culpz said:

Diesels ultimately exist to save you money, but they only do that when you're doing the miles. So, how many do you think you will you be doing in it? Unless it's at least 15-20k PA, I wouldn't even start to entertain something running on heavy oil.

I would prefer to throw myself into the sea that drive a steed running on heavy oil with forced induction.

[culpz]

Jag_NE said:

culpz said:

Diesels ultimately exist to save you money, but they only do that when you're doing the miles. So, how many do you think you will you be doing in it? Unless it's at least 15-20k PA, I wouldn't even start to entertain something running on heavy oil.

I would prefer to throw myself into the sea that drive a steed running on heavy oil with forced induction.

You and me both! Even with the mileage, it just won't be any good to drive, but you'll be having to fill up less and would start to see a benefit on your wallet. Depends what you care about more I guess.

[Jag_NE]

culpz said:

Jag_NE said:

culpz said:

Diesels ultimately exist to save you money, but they only do that when you're doing the miles. So, how many do you think you will you be doing in it? Unless it's at least 15-20k PA, I wouldn't even start to entertain something running on heavy oil.

I would prefer to throw myself into the sea that drive a steed running on heavy oil with forced induction.

You and me both! Even with the mileage, it just won't be any good to drive, but you'll be having to fill up less and would start to see a benefit on your wallet. Depends what you care about more I guess.

At my last car meet the women who arrived with men driving diesels all left with men driving petrols. Holly Willoughby went home with a lad in a RWD naturally aspirated V8, her squeeze brought her there in a diesel Bentayga.

[biggbn]

Truckosaurus said:

There's several different diesels (and 'early facelift' doesn't give much of a clue which one you are looking at). F56 has the 1.6 Ford/PSA engine or a 1.6 BMW. The Ford engine is ubiquitous but has a poor reputation.

The newer R56 model has a 2.0 or 1.5 BMW engine, both of which are decent, and the facelift versions have either 7-speed DCT or 8-speed auto available.

The 2.0 with DCT should be quite amusing as a daily driver.

They are cheaper, I suspect, because a lot of Mini owners want the performance of a petrol not the economy of a diesel.

You got that the wrong way round man. The f56 is the one with the BMW triples, and, to disagree with the last few posters, ive got the diesel and it's a brilliant little engine. I've put 70k on mine in last five years and it's been good as gold, still a hoot to drive, still very frugal, great little car.

Edited by biggbn on Monday 25th September 18:28

[Roboticarm]

Sorry, not sure on the R / F numbers

The ones I was looking at were around 2009 models and were Cooper / Cooper D rather than the sportier Cooper S / SD

[Truckosaurus]

biggbn said:

You got that the wrong way round man....

You're right, getting my Fs and Rs the wrong way round after a couple of refreshing cold drinks....

I blame BMW for having 2 models with '56' in the codename.

[biggbn]

Roboticarm said:

Sorry, not sure on the R / F numbers

The ones I was looking at were around 2009 models and were Cooper / Cooper D rather than the sportier Cooper S / SD

I really like all the 'new' minis but the 2014 on f56 was a massive jump up in class and refinement for me. They are a wee bit low depending on your age though

[DanQyou]

A few years ago I had a 2011 Cooper D which I think is an early BMW engine and due to short gearing they actually feel quite fun and like you are going quicker than you actually are. Don't get me wrong its no hot hatch but I enjoyed it.

Took ours from 30k to 80k and no issues just pads/disks/tyres