Rate this Mini Cooper please!

[Bonefish Blues]

The Prince motor is DMF equipped, and that also requires replacing at clutch time. You're looking at £900ish to £1200is depending upon the quality of the parts and the ability of the garage staff to read English, for a full clutch and DMF job.

£1200 at mate's rates for the ole Panda 4x4 - with me supplying the parts. In other money, about 50% of the value of the car!

 

[CentralCommuter]

Next thread “The a*se just fell out my car and the garage want £3,000 to fix, what should I do?”

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Is the answer 'more lube'?

 

[Exlaser2]

Accy needs an Alvis

View attachment 791410

Spot on 😀, I know I am I little late to this thread, but I drive past the Alvis dealer most days.
Do you think I should pop in and ask , on Accy’s behalf, how much a new one would be ?

 

[gbb]

I always appreciate advice and opinions, even if not always following it/them, but how can a car's engine go kaput these days, unless you let the oil level go dangerously low? I'm asking, not saying, as I know feck all about engines.

Sadly the motoring world is now fairly saturated with modern cars that can be a liability
The JLR Ingenium engine that has bad chain issues.
Lots of Stellantis models, Citroën Peugeot now Vauxhall as they have Stellantis engines in them,
Mazda diesel engines can be awful (intakes, turbo, EGR faults...as can be other manufacturers as well)
Ford wet belts on Fiestas, Focus even Transits failing far too early or at least requiring expensive preventative maintenance to the tune of around £1500 every few years.
They're just the ones I can remember offhand, they're not premium models where you'd expect premium bills, they're just ordinary cars with a wealth of dodgy reliability.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I really don't know how any of you mocking that Mini Roadster think you know more than the highly qualified BMW and AUDI specialist I asked about the car, it's engine and its parts yesterday. As I said, he said they are ok, quite expensive to run compared to a Fiat 500, but then most cars are he added. I could understand if it was him selling the car and he had obvious interests in it, but he doesn't know anything about the car, where it is, who's selling it etc, so no way did he comment on it, trying to encourage me to buy something that isn't right.

 

[fossyant]

Unless you actually told him the engine that's in it and age etc, then he would have been making a guess. The problem you have is you'll be buying a 10 year old vehicle with known reliability issues on certain engines, and you just don't really know how a vehicle has been treated previously. Better the devil you know.

I kept my previous car for 20 years, as the engine had been so reliable, and the car's were often seen as Taxis. Changed to my van with lots of research and went for the most reliable engine - dry belt, engine has been around in various versions a long time, but as with all modern diesels, there can be ad-blue issues - so I paid for a longer warranty and I put an additive in the ad-blue to stop it crystalising and blocking the injector/pump. On a positive note, there are tonnes of the commercials about, and the people carrier versions seem to be doing well on the continent as taxis (loads of the basic ones in Italy).

I researched the reliability because I was spending a big chunk and planned to keep the vehicle at least 15 years. If people are telling you the engines can go bang, you buy very carefully - one that's been main dealer serviced on the dot and has had the jobs done for a car that age. You'll be needing to see the receipts. If not, avoid. My sister had a Mini and it wasn't that great and a colleague had a Cooper that went pop.

You are only looking at a car on looks, you haven't researched it's reliability. I spent ages checking on my new van and which engine was the best, and gearbox. The most powerful engine in auto came out by far the most reliable.

 

[Drago]

I really don't know how any of you mocking that Mini Roadster think you know more than the highly qualified BMW and AUDI specialist I asked about the car, it's engine and its parts yesterday. As I said, he said they are ok, quite expensive to run compared to a Fiat 500, but then most cars are he added. I could understand if it was him selling the car and he had obvious interests in it, but he doesn't know anything about the car, where it is, who's selling it etc, so no way did he comment on it, trying to encourage me to buy something that isn't right.

Me ans Mrs D have owned several between us, including one Prince engined JCW ragtop for Mrs D, so we've first hand experience.

Im not a BMW specialist, but I am the son of an aviation engineer and was taught to hold a spanner before I could wipe my own arriss.

Whether you buy one or not is complete up to you - I myself can be a real "heart rules head" sort of chap when the mood takes me, but as your friends its our duty to at least let you know what youre getting yourself into.

 

[Illaveago]

It does, but I tired of it really quickly - I really wanted to like it, but just didn't. I used to be a much keener driver than today and when I got a new car I used to do a journey I called 'popping to the bookshop' The bookshop in question is in Machynlleth and I lived near Bicester, so it was a fair drive.
The S2000 was the least satisfying, most tiring car I ever did it in because on the twisty bits I'd have to be holding it in second at c5k rpm around a corner in the hope that on the next straight there was an overtaking opportunity, just because power came in so late. I know some people love that, but it wasn't for me. I actually sold it after about 4 months - but on the bright side I got back what I'd paid for it, and I bought a 996 next

Incidentally, the best on the bookshop run was a Clio Trophy, which was all sorts of brilliant.

Here's the bookshop, just in case anyone wants a drive: https://www.anglebooks.com/

Yes I heard that they can bog down if you are in the wrong gear.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Me ans Mrs D have owned several between us, including one Prince engined JCW ragtop for Mrs D, so we've first hand experience.

Im not a BMW specialist, but I am the son of an aviation engineer and was taught to hold a spanner before I could wipe my own arriss.

Whether you buy one or not is complete up to you - I myself can be a real "heart rules head" sort of chap when the mood takes me, but as your friends its our duty to at least let you know what youre getting yourself into.

I know you have my best interest at heart Drago, but I still kind of fancy that car.🙄 In reality, I would slightly prefer another Fiat 500 cabriolet, but maybe an Abarth one. I've looked and looked online, but all I can find are Abarths with hard tops. If any of you can spot an Abarth cabriolet, around the 5, 6 grand price and near to where I live, please post it, but preferably not in battleship, or 'primer coat' grey! 😉👍

 

[Drago]

If you really want one then go for it. Nevertheless, be prepared thst efen when the going is good its going tk be a far more expensive vehicle to keep on the road than your Fiat.

If you want a ragtop id look for an Mx5. They're a bit more raffish than a 500 ragtop so you wont get men blowing kisses at you. They're mechanically robust and straightforward to work on, the biggest enemy being tinworm but that should be readily apparent it you eyeballmkne very thoroughly underneath.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Not too kind of far away, but chucking 8 grand on a car that will do 2,500 to 3,000 miles a year and with a high mileage, is it worth it?🤔




https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/lis...HH37ZzZvYZZxo7O5aB6dNJvg0uwDQg_IaAsiREALw_wcB

 

[Drago]

A small very highly tuned engine with 70k miles on it - what could possibly go wrong?

The MOT history suggests the owner hasn't lavished care on it in recent years, and its starting to show its age.

Its a little tired and would make a good project for an enthusiast, but not something I'd countenance as a daily driver for the sort of chap who puts fuel in it and little else.

Also that small highly strung motor wont like the sort of motoring you do.

This would be a much safer bet...

https://www.perrys.co.uk/vehicle-se...gcFBMisiMHuVObhb2brSyQBx5m3JPqIEaAnZJEALw_wcB

 

[Accy cyclist]

A small very highly tuned engine with 70k miles on it - what could possibly go wrong?

The MOT history suggests the owner hasn't lavished care on it in recent years, and its starting to show its age.

Its a little tired and would make a good project for an enthusiast, but not something I'd countenance as a daily driver for the sort of chap who puts fuel in it and little else.

Also that small highly strung motor wont like the sort of motoring you do.

This would be a much safer bet...

https://www.perrys.co.uk/vehicle-se...gcFBMisiMHuVObhb2brSyQBx5m3JPqIEaAnZJEALw_wcB

Does the hard top come off to make it into a soft top though?🤔 I knew a bloke who had one, keeping the hard top on till the warmer months, then back on it went come around now, as in November.

 

[Drago]

I believe its a folding hard top. One instructs ones footman, who in turn beats the driver with a riding crop until he presses the button on the dash and the top then unfolds and stashes itself away.