Thinkin of a New model Mini Cooper for weekdays , any good?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Going to be doing a lot of working away etc, so thinkin of picking up a Mini Cooper (not getting rid of the 2) to do the miles in, a tad more practical.

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts about them, on paper they are around the same power as the beloved 2 around 1 sec slower I think, and handlings ment to be great, or thats what I've heard , am I wrong???

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Try sitting in one... the seats are terrible with NO support what so ever. I wouldnt even think about one unless it was the cooper S and had proper sparco seats in or something.

Even though its made by BMW, the fittings are less than up to BMW standard... very cheap to me.

[heathstimpson]

Even though its made by BMW, the fittings are less than up to BMW standard... very cheap to me.

Thats what I though. Our steroe is made by Fisher Price; the Mini switch gear is too  s:? :? s:?

[filcee]

What Kris said about the seats - I don't like them at all.

My recommendation is to stick with the '2 for a while - I do a lot of working away too, and the alleged practicality problems have never arisen - and I use the overpriced UK-spec leather bags for shifting gear (not the oh-so-good EU-spec ones that everyone here raves about).

[mrsmr2]

I had a Cooper S on my list but bought a 2.

I do 25k-30k miles a year and spend a few nights away from home each week.  The 2 is my everyday car.

A Cooper S is very capable, fast, but ulitmately unrewarding to drive, and the (sports!) seats are awful.  I drove a Cooper a couple of years ago as well.  Again, capable, not as fast as an MR2 but easier to drive fast (as with a lot of good FWD cars).

The Mini will be more refined and has a surprising amount of space up front.  But the rear is pretty small and so is the boot.

IMHO, an MR2 is so much better to drive which I why I got one.

[Anonymous]

Having driven one recently (this missus is totally obsessed by the bloody things!!!), I can say that I was thoroughly impressed with it to be honest. I take what people are saying about the seats. YOu DO feel like you are high up in them, but I thought that might be down to being used to the 2 and they are pretty unsupportive. I LIKE the retro look of the interior, but it is an aquired taste. But the S is a bloody quick little car and for what it is, which is a trumped up hatchback, its as sharp a drive I have had in any hatchback before. Steers well, grips a load, is small and chuckable and the brakes aren't bad either. Its refined, quite(ish) and will be reliable. I don't think you could go wrong with one personally. Don't forget, you SHOULDN'T make comparisons with this and the 2 cos they are COMPLETELY different kinds of cars and if all you are going to do is mainly M-way miles, then go for it. Good little car!

Now, the WORKS Cooper S is another beast altogether. Mate recently test drove one as replacement for a Civic Type-R and he thought it was the best thing since sliced bread!! A tad expensive for what it is though!!!  s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

[Anonymous]

i actually looked at buying one when they just came out, but they had sooo many issues that I didnt want to get it at the end. I know that ppl on boards always complain about things, but this was just way too much... from steering, brakes to electrical issues, i would seriously look at recent JD Power results before buying one...