02 Plate Cooper S

Barks · 13 Sep 2008 at 11:44

I'm going to look at an old shape Cooper S tomorrow morning. I was wondering if anyone had any advice/experience with these cars?

It's 30,000 miles, 6 months tax, 12 months MOT and asking price is £6995. Contains the Chilli pack/full leather seats etc
I've set aside money for insurance, future road tax, servicing and am taking out a warranty policy which is in the region of £250.

Is there anything else I need to look out for?

Many Thanks,

Defcon5 · 13 Sep 2008 at 11:47

I think they have issues with the power steering?

Make sure you give the charger a work out when you test it, its only don 5000 miles a year, sounds like its just been to the shops and back every day, Has it been properly serviced?

Barks · 13 Sep 2008 at 11:50

Defcon5 said:
I think they have issues with the power steering?

Make sure you give the charger a work out when you test it, its only don 5000 miles a year, sounds like its just been to the shops and back every day, Has it been properly serviced?

She said it used to be serviced at BMW but recently was serviced at some local place. Obviously I need to clear this up with her.

Does very much sound like a housewife, shopping/school run only type of cars at that mileage. This is surely a good thing as it hasn't been driven by some bloke who has ragged the poor thing silly?

Defcon5 · 13 Sep 2008 at 11:52

Depend on your school of thought really, cant imagine never going above 3500rpm would do it much good, but then it better that bouncing off the limiter at every gearchange.

As long as it pulls well, its all good!

jongeeone · 13 Sep 2008 at 11:53

There will be nothing wrong with the S/C... i have no idea why people always bring this up.

Chances are the PAS will also be fine, its just loud - how it left the factory. However, in some cases - but vary rare the seals do go on the PAS pump.

Its on an 02 plate, so ask if the gearbox has been changed or anything - as pre 04 they had issues with them.

Its a great little car, sticks to the road like... and fun to drive.

Enjoy.

Defcon5 · 13 Sep 2008 at 12:05

jongeeone said:
There will be nothing wrong with the S/C... i have no idea why people always bring this up.

no one said there was, but its always a good idea to give any knid of forced induction a good teat as they are expensive to fix it there is any kind of problem

OP, have a read of this http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=602&

Barks · 13 Sep 2008 at 12:59

Thanks for the link. I'm not sure the harsh ride will be a problem, I won't be doing much motorway driving.

I'm going to get the AA to do a checkup and ask for the fee to be deduced from the asking price as part of my offer. Worth it?

thepharcyde · 13 Sep 2008 at 13:08

Gearbox, clutch & dash falls to pieces mine was a 04 facelift plate. Not a car I would be buying

Barks · 13 Sep 2008 at 13:12

At the end of the day you could have just been unlucky?

And if I have warranty cover then all it's going to cause me is inconvenience not a hole in the wallet.

thepharcyde · 13 Sep 2008 at 13:19

scott212 said:
At the end of the day you could have just been unlucky?

And if I have warranty cover then all it's going to cause me is inconvenience not a hole in the wallet.

I must be damn unlucky because every BMW i've had been dud!