bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

She wants me to sell my Clio 172 that's kind of track ready (my fun toy for hooning around) to replace with a mini so she can use it

Now I don't know much about minis but I know they have a good chasis for some fun driving and the superchargers go reasonably well.

Now the Clio is a very well capable car for doing track days, weekend blasts and the b road driving and does them all well, even practical for the little one, so a good cheap and capable car (good bang for buck)

Now I'm considering it tbh as I know when I drive it, it can be capable for the above sinarios.

My quuestion is, how reliable are these, I know of the steering pump failures but what else goes wrong with them and what's the common issues that I should know about? Or is it just the usual 2nd hand car issues that happens with any car?

Once I've made my mind up then I'll have a look to see if a pram can go in the boot 'somehow'.

I'm actually thinking of getting a dc5 or a RA later on (will still have an estate family car)

Should I or shouldn't I? What shall I do.

thenewgalaxy

I've driven a few, not my cup of tea.

The JCW is a nice car though and capable on road and track too.

fpan

iTrader: (11)

I've driven a 1.6 N/A one and the handling and steering feel are great.

The supercharged ones go well, the only downside is the fuel consumption; being supercharged means you can't run off boost like in a turbo car when cruising on the motorway.

Get a turbocharged one if you can afford.

The lateral support the seats offer is pants, you'll need a good reclinable bucket if you plan on doing any sort of trackdays.

Steve's Sti

iTrader: (2)

If your used to the clio it will be horrid, i had a 182 same time my mum had supercharged mini and the pops and bangs were fun but... just didnt like it clio was much more fun, top end felt lacking but the later turbos changed that, felt more heavy just lacking what the original mini was, those 500 abarths are meant to be good?

Steve's Sti

iTrader: (2)

Just to ad she wont get much shopping boot is useless

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Thanks that's informative, the boot is a concern hence me thinking if I can get a pram in but not holding my hopes up, just need to decide before I check one, don't want to spend a lot, say £3k tops.

May just blagg her out of the idea if I'm honest

Swift sport is ok but maybe out of price range.

Steve's Sti

iTrader: (2)

The boot is half the clios two brief cases fills it add to the fact only 4 seats, also a clio will pass you lol

daviee

Car or Skirt if it the latter, I think the one on the right is a winner

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

They rattle, they have a tiny boot, most second hand ones are very well used and abused by ladies who treat them like a throw away white good appliance; mileage is often NOT reflective of condition.

Old ones have Rover gearboxes; They break, especially if driven with the wrong shoes (sorry, thats the only sexist excuse I can give for the fairer sex not pushing the clutch to the floor and ramming it into the next gear ).

Getrag equipped models (Cooper S...anything with a 6speed etc) are more reliable.

Chrysler engined ones blow head gaskets if the coolant level/condition has been neglected...and they are prone to leaking, so regular fluid checks need to be done. Usually leak from the thermostat housing or the radiator.

Tailgate eletrics often fail (numberplate lamps, boot release etc): Usually due to moisture on the connectors which requires some re-wiring to rectify. The bootlid glass trim tends to rain in which doesn't help.

If its had bodywork on the doors, chances are the door locks won't work right or be intermittant.

Peugeot engined ones have thermostat/sensor issues. There is a revised thermostat housing which now has the sensor separate to the thermostat.

Peugeot/Ford Diesel (DV6) engined ones MUST have full invoiced service history using manufacturer's spec oil (LL-04 I think). If not, they die very early.

BUT...thats the bad stuff: they are far far far far better than some of the alternatives, like Citroen C2, C3, Pug 208, 108, Fiat 500 etc.

smiffywhu

I second that, the enemy has a Mini (giggity) but she's insured on the scoob as its pointless for when she does the shopping.

Have you ever considered switching wives instead of cars?

Donnie Brasco 46

iTrader: (2)

Avoid minis. My mrs had a 2007 Cooper S - was nothing but trouble.

Yes they handle well, but head gasket went (luckily under warranty) and various recalls. The boot is next to useless, it's style over substance.

BMW should be ashamed of themselves

Mouser

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Think it's time I took my pants off her and wore them myself, keeping the 172 for now?
Thanks guys, you've scared me enough not to bother looking

scoobyman223

iTrader: (7)

Great little cars mrs has had one for a year now and loves it. Yes they have niggles but what car doesn't. Ie Subaru chocolate engines . Ours is a R53 cooper s very well looked after and had new rear wiper and motor both door straps and chain tensioner all from BMW. Driving them is fun and we manage to get a weeks shop in boot and back seat. Way better on fuel then my scoob 75.000 on the clock and mrs is second owner and due to her getting company car in near future ours could be up for sale.
Kev

Skoobie Dhu

iTrader: (3)

We bought a 55 plate 1.4 turbo diesel mini one for my daughter to learn to drive in, it's got 96k on the clock and the condition is amazing, the build quality is much better than the 206 we have, and probably better than our subaru and Mazda. Very impressed with the car.

thenewgalaxy

I've spent a lot of time in a 500 Abarth Essesse, my friend had one.

Bone hard ride, skipped down bumpy roads and overly weighted steering that did not reflect what was actually going on. And if you took on a proper performance car in one you'd get rinsed!

Yes it was quick for its size but it was a very small car. Good luck fitting anything bigger than a briefcase in the back of it and don't bother with passengers in the rear unless they're shorter than 5'2".

Fleetster

Well I bought the Mrs one for Xmas and she loves it!!! its the Cooper S... Yes it has a small boot .. but....never mind.
Ive driven it loads of times and its great fun!! handles really well and goes great too!... Like driving a go-kart.
no complaints here..

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I've got this peculiar desire to buy one of these and stick a big German flag on the roof and little ones on the door mirrors to point out to the idiots who put Union Jacks all over them that the car is not exactly British!

scoobyman223

iTrader: (7)

Lol i worked on these when they where prototypes when i was part of rover group/landrover..these cars where designed and built in prototype form here in england mostly at GAYDON by rover group engineer's Bmw at that time had very very little input into these cars and in the end just stole the name and brand MINI to sell cars

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

But they own the company, the car is German. You don't call a Nissan British just because it's built in Sunderland do you?

smiffywhu

[QUOTE=Fleetster;11395429]Well I bought the Mrs one for Xmas and she loves it!!! its the Cooper S... Yes it has a small boot .. but....never mind.
Ive driven it loads of times and its great fun!! handles really well and goes great too!... Like driving a go-kart.
no complaints here..

Either your Sub is set up badly and that's why you appeciate the handling of the Mini or my misses Mini is F cuked cos its dreadful compared to my Sub.It couldn't be less like a go-kart.

Matteeboy

Dad had a 53 plate Cooper S (like the one above; same colour too) with all the extras - great fun to drive and I love the supercharger whine. Handling was great but very firm and "shaky" - my Mum is usually quite into sporty cars but found this too hard and rattly.

It was also TERRIBLE on fuel - low 20s and a tiny tank meant non stop fill ups.

A fun car but the costs are just too high for something with only 165ish bhp.

Conversely our M135i has 320bhp, can do 35mpg (if you drive like a granny) and is genuinely comfy on a long journey. Cost new is comparable to a JCW.

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

just upgrade the clio for a 197

Reef

iTrader: (2)

My wife's had both the R36 and the R56 mini's.

She loves the refinements of the R56 but to me it feels overweight. The R36 is a real drivers car in my opinion and the sound from the supercharger is very addictive.

vindaloo

...and the 'tler moustache on the radiator grille?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

To be fair I usually find Minis to be utterly chuckable, even the basic bog standard Mini One.

Obivously ones wearing Linlongs or Kumhos etc, and shagged geometry/suspension may not be so good. You have to bear in mind many typical drivers (20 to 30 something women) of Minis have no clue when it comes to mechanical sympathy (potholes, bumping up curbs etc), so there are plenty about that have had a very hard life.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Ha no thanks, too many issues with them (complaints on cliosport.net) and the 172/182 is a better drivers car from what I've read. I'm not spending decent money on French unless it's cheap and disposable when it breaks which I have ATM.

I'm going to upgrade to a dc5 or a RA later on for the fun hooning around so the wife will have to make do with one of them or the b8 avant.

grey_boy

They rock...I have one as my daily that wife uses, Cooper 1.6 with Aerokit

Handles like a dream and never missed a beat in 5 years!

I traded my Mini for my WRX and they are built like a BMW funnily enough.. Usually things, condition, service history and how it drives...Oh and price!

PhilWrx100

What about one of these?..... can buy a rally ready Wrc Countryman off the shelf from Prodrive 350k

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Well Here I am again!!!

I've thought about getting a 1.6 NA (not for me, for the wife) later 04on model as revised gearbox, so just the other general second hand car issues which doesn't bother me as can do most myself if it breaks.
Gonna try find a well looked after one as there's loads about.

Told wife what I'm thinking of doing and she's over the moon (happy wife = easy life)

Now I'm selling my Clio 172 too to help toward funds I'll get another toy later at some point but for now there's no point in having a 3rd car

Shoot me now!