Who here owns a Mini?

Berger said:
Preference on colour. Private dealer sale detracts rather than adds imo.

Think I posted before my friend had a clubman cooper S and they were getting low 30s also.

Personally I’d be going for a much newer facelift car in exclusive trim (possibly get some options ontop) with the 1.5 petrol and the auto box, however appreciate that isn’t what you think you want. It seems a lot of money on a 7 year old car.

I’ve not spent a lot of time looking but something like this (which is the cooper S):

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Appreciate you taking the time to look, but the auto is definitely a dealbreaker for me.


I don’t have the words to describe how much I detest torque converter automatics.

I much prefer having full control and engagement with the gears. Even the PDK in my Porsche, as good as it is, isn’t as good as a manual.



Manuals are quite rare and I think they’ve canned them altogether now as well.
 
Dangerous Dave said:
My friend has a manual JCW Clubman that does a fair amount of short trips and his long term average is 31-32mpg. It does low to mid 40s on a run the auto should be better than this as it has a tailer top gear.
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I get 30.6 MPG on mine (Face lift, so auto only). My commute is a 40-mile round trip. Roughly 25 of those miles is motorway, the rest city driving, which is probably killing my MPG. That and a slightly heavy right foot when I can.
:p


MrRockliffe said:
Appreciate you taking the time to look, but the auto is definitely a dealbreaker for me.


I don’t have the words to describe how much I detest torque converter automatics.

I much prefer having full control and engagement with the gears. Even the PDK in my Porsche, as good as it is, isn’t as good as a manual.



Manuals are quite rare and I think they’ve canned them altogether now as well.
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Yeah, I do agree. Sometimes when I take the car for a drive, I do think it would be better with a manual. Not only that, but although I feel like the auto is pretty spot on most of the time, there are occasions it gets caught out and becomes sluggish to respond.
 
Manuals are great until you get stuck in heavy traffic, then they are a complete pain in the arse IMO. Depends how you use a car though really. Nice open road with little traffic and sweeping bends, great. Crawling through central London, nope.
 
MrRockliffe said:
I don’t have the words to describe how much I detest torque converter automatics.
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It sounds like you've just never experienced a good torque converter automatic. I also disliked them but now I refuse to buy anything else. The gearbox in my car is excellent - it has none of the things you describe as a problem and is never in the wrong gear, there is never a delay and even though I have manual control over it I have not yet found a single occasion where I needed to use it. It is better than any other type of gearbox I have ever used.

Unfortunately, it isn't fitted to the Mini and the gearbox that is fitted to the Mini is everything you describe you don't like, I wouldn't personally want an automatic Mini either so on this occasion I think you are right to stay with a manual gearbox.

Just not with a diesel engine :D

MrRockliffe said:
Manuals are quite rare and I think they’ve canned them altogether now as well.
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This was the case recently but for the years you are looking at the manual was much more popular than the automatic so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one.
 
[TW]Fox said:
It sounds like you've just never experienced a good torque converter automatic. I also disliked them but now I refuse to buy anything else. The gearbox in my car is excellent - it has none of the things you describe as a problem and is never in the wrong gear, there is never a delay and even though I have manual control over it I have not yet found a single occasion where I needed to use it. It is better than any other type of gearbox I have ever used.

Unfortunately, it isn't fitted to the Mini and the gearbox that is fitted to the Mini is everything you describe you don't like, I wouldn't personally want an automatic Mini either so on this occasion I think you are right to stay with a manual gearbox.

Just not with a diesel engine :D
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I’ve used 2 generations of the ZF 8 Speed, in my 320d and S5, the ZF 6 speed, whichever one they use in the Cayenne and then the unit used in the mini.

I find all of them to turn the pedal into a soggy mess, especially at higher speeds when cruising.

I also find they always change gear mid roundabout.


They just don’t operate how I want them to unless I drive in sport all the time, but then they hang on to gears too long.

[TW]Fox said:
This was the case recently but for the years you are looking at the manual was much more popular than the automatic so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one.
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I’m really struggling to find them with the spec I want. The diesel I posted has gone already

But having driven the 2L petrol I am set on the petrol now. Though I noted that the All4 version only managed 35 on a run at 65. Not great to be honest - my Boxster manages 38 at 70! :P


The grey one was/is really nice. I think it’s priced too high though for the mileage. Also doesn’t have a panoramic roof which we’re really keen on having.
 
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Uther said:
Manuals are great until you get stuck in heavy traffic, then they are a complete pain in the arse IMO. Depends how you use a car though really. Nice open road with little traffic and sweeping bends, great. Crawling through central London, nope.
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Thankfully we both work from home and rarely drive in traffic. Even then, I quite like driving a manual in traffic - I’m weird like that :P


It’s all about control for me - I much prefer having proper control over the gear, clutch and revs.
 
MrRockliffe said:
I’m really struggling to find them with the spec I want.
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What is the specification you want? Some of it is worth having, some of it isn't.

Personally, as a minimum I'd want the larger navigation system, the head up display, reversing camera and the LED headlights. Anything more than that I'd put into the nice to have category rather than essential. Finding a used Mini with exactly the specification you want is incredibly difficult - I spent half a year trying to do the same thing in 2017 (so cars of similar age to these) and then gave up and ordered a new one. Not seen another since in exactly the same specification. Obviously this isn't possible now so the only option really is to compromise on specification for the right car I think.

I'd personally look to avoid adaptive suspension on a car of this age - if you're going to keep it a while you may find replacing it when it wears out to be quite expensive and I'm not sure how much benefit it really gives you.
 
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Isn't the adaptive suspension seen as more important if you go for the bigger wheels? That's going off youtube videos though. We've just got a 'Classic' on order with standard 14s.
Obviously on older models though, just potential problems/extra expense.
 
[TW]Fox said:
What is the specification you want? Some of it is worth having, some of it isn't.

Personally, as a minimum I'd want the larger navigation system, the head up display, reversing camera and the LED headlights. Anything more than that I'd put into the nice to have category rather than essential. Finding a used Mini with exactly the specification you want is incredibly difficult - I spent half a year trying to do the same thing in 2017 (so cars of similar age to these) and then gave up and ordered a new one. Not seen another since in exactly the same specification. Obviously this isn't possible now so the only option really is to compromise on specification for the right car I think.

I'd personally look to avoid adaptive suspension on a car of this age - if you're going to keep it a while you may find replacing it when it wears out to be quite expensive and I'm not sure how much benefit it really gives you.
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The mini I drove today has 17 inch wheels on non-run flat and the ride was really good. So I now don’t feel I need the adaptive dampers.

Min spec for me is: Harman Kardon, LED lights, XL Nav, HUD (as the rev counter is a little too basic), manual, reversing camera.

Other half is pretty set on having a panoramic roof, having checked out a car which does and doesn’t have one - it is ultimately her car.



Have written off the 1.5L - the 2L is just about potent enough for me. Wouldn’t want anything slower.



Edit: are all XL nav screens touchscreen? If not, that’s a must for me.
 
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I think you need to increase your budget if it’s currently 15k, as that is pretty much every option, or have a very small pool of cars to choose from.

Fox will know. HUD might not have been an option on a facelift car (it wasn’t an option when I bought a Countryman), so you’ll be looking at the older models only. It was only available if you got the JCW, so maybe filter that way rather than searching for HUD.

Is your wife bothered about the performance?

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Berger said:
I think you need to increase your budget if it’s currently 15k, as that is pretty much every option, or have a very small pool of cars to choose from.

Fox will know. HUD might not have been an option on a facelift car (it wasn’t an option when I bought a Countryman), so you’ll be looking at the older models only. It was only available if you got the JCW, so maybe filter that way rather than searching for HUD.

Is your wife bothered about the performance?

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The only cars I’ve seen above £15K are JCW editions - the power & insurance is too much, as it’s insured in her name, and she’s still too new of a driver. Getting quotes of >2k on them.

Cooper S isn’t really any more than the Fiesta, by comparison.


More than that though, there’s 0 value for me to sink an extra £3k into the JCW. The first one you linked doesn’t offer anything more to me/other half than the black one I’m looking at, other than better spec preference. But don’t think it’s worth the extra money.



It makes it tricky, as we’re pretty much only looking at 16-18 cars with the spec we want. But the cars are out there, just far and few between.


Manuals seem to be very rare.



Think I’ll have to wait for something to come up. Spoke to local mini garage and they were saying the clubmans are still in high demand. Most of the used ones they shift don’t even make it to online/autotrader.

Whether thats true or not I don’t know.
 
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There are more than 700 of them on Autotrader registered between 2016 and 2020 and the split between manual and automatic is 50% each.

There are many over £15k though so not sure why you are not seeing any? They only stopped producing them last year, there are some for as much as £40k.

It should be pretty easy to find a car with the larger navigation screen and the headlights. I think the stereo is quite a lot more difficult to find so its probably this which is causing you issues.
 
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[TW]Fox said:
There are more than 700 of them on Autotrader registered between 2016 and 2020 and the split between manual and automatic is 50% each.

There are many over £15k though so not sure why you are not seeing any? They only stopped producing them last year, there are some for as much as £40k.

It should be pretty easy to find a car with the larger navigation screen and the headlights. I think the stereo is quite a lot more difficult to find so its probably this which is causing you issues.
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Yeah pretty sure it’s the Harman Kardon which is making things tricky.

Seeing 79 results for manual, 2L, petrol, 60k miles

That goes to 11 with Harman Kardon. Only a handful have the panoramic roof.

If I change to automatic, there are 115 with Harman Kardon
 
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This might be because it was one of those options that only really ended up being fitted to cars ordered with every option, often as demonstrators, so every option would also have included the automatic gearbox.

I think your best option here is to give up with the stereo.

You'd think I'd be able to tell you exactly how good the stereo is in the Mini, as I have the upgraded one in my M340i (and had it in my F10) and the standard one in the Mini but I don't think I've ever listened to anything other than the radio at regular volume on it :D
 
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[TW]Fox said:
I think your best option here is to give up with the stereo.
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Most definitely can’t - the stock one is terrible and I can’t be hassled with buying speakers/amp etc

I’ll wait till one shows up. Might take a while but I know if I buy one with the stock stereo it’ll annoy me endlessly.


I couldn’t even tolerate the B&O system in my S5 :P
 
Hi. Potential new mini owner here. Despite there being, perhaps, better alternatives I like the look of the mini countryman and having never owned a mini fancy giving it try. I am looking at second hand and possibly a phev as I can charge at home and gives me access to cheaper tariffs to use with my solar. Is this a really daft decision? If not anything I should be looking for or wary of. I suspect I will be looking at a 19/20 model with around 30k on the clock as this will come in under £20K.

Thanks for any pointers.
 
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