Mini Coopers (The New Ones)

[Shell]

A friend is looking to buy one (second hand).

I don't know a lot about them but apparently there's a Cooper and a Cooper S and she's wondering if the difference is worth the $3k or so price difference.

She is not a revhead.... but she doesn't want something that struggles on hills. Will be mainly Sydney driving and the highway up to Port Macquarie.

thanks for any help or info

[N1GTR]

Call Amy, she's got one

[Shell]

lol really.. I had no idea... will get in touch with her!

[xALmoN]

isnt the S supercharged and the non-s NA?

[Converge]

isnt the S supercharged and the non-s NA?

S = Turbocharged

Non S = Standard 4Cyl

[10 4]

And the "new" ones are turbo - renault engines IIRC

Go the supercharged one, worth the price difference. Its not like they are quick but the non supercharged one has 85kw.. lol

[Shell]

I was just reading that... seems like about 90kw as opposed to 135kw... probably worth it!

[xALmoN]

turbo renault engines are nice...

[mr 32]

r53 or r56?

[iseekool]

I don't know much about them personally.

My mate's family had one. Copper S 2001 model when it just came out.

- All I know is the trans (manual) had to be changed 3 times - apparently it had a design flaw. Auto trans I'm not sure how they were.

- Build quality is pretty avg, for the high price you pay.

Basically they said "never again".

However I'm sure the newer models are better and niggles resolved.

[Amy33]

JCW: 155kw

whats her budget?

[Shell]

Norm I think she's looking at 2004 or higher... apparently earlier models had issues with pulleys and belts??

Amy around 20K I think but she does want to find the right one so it's not set in stone

EG. http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=10510715&keywords=10250478&tsrc=allcarhome&__Ntk=CarAll&__Nne=15&__Dx=mode%20matchany&__D=10250478&silo=1011&seot=1&__sid=12F3A22385E7&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__Qpb=true&__Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Cr=0&__Ntt=10250478&trecs=1

What year etc is yours? Piccy?

[GTR-N1]

Know anyone in the finance dept of a BMW dealership to access a "Repo"?

More likely for someone in NSW to be in financial difficulty than the ACT methinks.

Outside of that, one would be wise to locate a nice one and have it inspected by a BMW specialist workshop like BMWise at Artarmon (ie George) or BMV Engineering at Taren Pt (ie Massimo) > pull down any fault codes eh?

[Shell]

She's in Sydney Terry, thanks, I will tell her about those places to take it to

[Amy33]

Its also happens to be for sale...and doesnt struggle up hills...and a smidgen out of the above stated price range

[GTR-N1]

Get a Chinese friend to bargain for you (-I'm allowed to say that)

These do have good resale value still don't they? I believe so...

[warps]

Regardless of what the specs say, Cooper S's are an absolute hoot! I've never has as much fun driving anything else (except on a race track / closed stage).

My daily is a 09 WRX and the Cooper S are much more involving and rewarding to drive. They bring back the old school mini feel without sacrificing modern comfort / convenience.

the later turbo ones are surprisingly quick, and won't struggle on hills / overtaking etc. I've managed some big overtaking moves on b doubles etc on relatively short straights. I don't own one, but have hired several for drives from Sydney to the hunter valley / Mudgee (always through the twisty back roads of course). They handle extremely well (although torque steer can be violent on uneven roads)

I say go for it. They are a fun, all round package, and despite what others might think, are well put together.