FOR SALE 2003 Mini Cooper 1.6 Automatic

[Adrian E]

diesel cooper might suit you Amar - but they're pricey compared to your Punto. How the hell have you managed to kill that so quickly?! Maybe a different thread needed for the chat.....

Cooper S is shocking on fuel, even worse if it's a Works. Generally the old supercharged ones are good if they're good and a money pit if they're not. Had 2 friends with Works which both spent far too much time being fixed for recurring faults the dealers couldn't sort, 1 electrical the other supercharger belts.

We test drove a Cooper S soft top a few years back and couldn't get on with the lack of knee room around the steering column, even though neither of us are over 6 foot!

[Singh]

It has some Chinese ling long tyres plus no traction control and a soaking wet road = crash. I took a roundabout at normal speed and it was like the front wheels had hit black ice, went over this raised pavement bit in the middle of the road, I managed to control it away from cars. No cosmetic damage, but it's mashed up underneath good and proper, the front wing is 1mm from the front tyre. That road has always been a bit slippery, my BMW used to kick it's back end out there when wet if I went quickly, but I NEVER drive the Punto quickly. No point claiming on it, going to get a tax/insurance refund and weigh the POS in. Time to get myself a decent daily, this one was tragic and people took the ****, good and proper.

[sarg]

Originally Posted by Adrian E

diesel cooper might suit you Amar - but they're pricey compared to your Punto. How the hell have you managed to kill that so quickly?! Maybe a different thread needed for the chat.....

Cooper S is shocking on fuel, even worse if it's a Works. Generally the old supercharged ones are good if they're good and a money pit if they're not. Had 2 friends with Works which both spent far too much time being fixed for recurring faults the dealers couldn't sort, 1 electrical the other supercharger belts.

We test drove a Cooper S soft top a few years back and couldn't get on with the lack of knee room around the steering column, even though neither of us are over 6 foot!

You won't find a diesel Mini for 3k I wouldn't think, but you will find a higher mileage Cooper. But yes, you won't get the fuel economy of the diesel Punto, not even close.

This one looks quite decent

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...26dy?logcode=p

Our Cooper Auto averages about 32-33mpg, don't know about the S as never had one.

As for your knees, I am 6'1 and 18 stone, have no problems at all with the size of the Mini, not sure why you found it a problem? I had the problem with the original classic Mini when I was 17 (more or less had to sit in the back seat!), but not with the new one

Amar, I agree, I think the A1 is a fine car, but it's not my decision and SWMBO loves her Mini. I would say the Mini is perhaps the most 'characterful' car in its class, and they are certainly fun to drive.

[Adrian E]

I posted my reply while Amar was doing his, so didn't see the £3k budget bit lol - no hope of a Cooper D for that.

Ref knee space - don't know if the soft top is different to the hard top, but I couldn't get the seat low enough/column far enough away that I didn't keep ****ting it with my right knee. Mrs is longer in the leg than me and found it worse. It may be a soft top thing or size of steering wheel as never noticed it as a problem in my mate's Works.

Amar - Ling Long tyres should've come off the car on day one. Any Chinese tyre is more crappy than a dog with dodgy guts!! They're not designed for our climate and generally they're not really designed at all in any European sense.

[Singh]

I always buy the best tyres for my cars, but with the Punto I didn't bother. The car doesn't need to be THAT economical. I ran the RS6 fine as my daily driver, I just want a second car to keep the miles off it/to use when the RS6 is broken and that I can leave in dodgy places, 35-40 MPG is fine, i.e a 1.4/1.6 petrol is fine by me. Thanks for your advice Adrian/Sarg.

[sarg]

Now Sold

I advertised on mini forum, pistonheads and ebay for last 3 weeks, and had one serious call, despite reducing price twice, eventually to £4,747

Put in on Autotrader yesterday afternoon, and sold less than 24 hours later, so my advice for anyone hesitating to pay the higher cost to use AT is don't hesitate.

Maybe it was luck/coincedence, but I just think AT has a much wider audience.

Now we just need to find its replacement

[Architex_mA8tey]

Congrats
Do I feel a D3 A8 coming along soon?

[sarg]

Sadly not, this is SWMBO's car, she can't decide between another Mini or an A1, so we're going shopping Sunday/Monday, again

Must admit, I'm torn too, my heart says Cooper S or 185PS A1, my head says Cooper D

[sarg]

the old Mini passed her test clean yesterday, serviced today with no advice, not even the usual 'smearing wipers', buyer collects tomorrow

New Mini being collected on Saturday, late 2010 Cooper S Auto with chili & media pack. Goes like stink, I'd say quicker than the Boxster

We did try an A1, SWMBO wasn't keen, keener on a 118d M Sport we tried, but in the end, I think she had her heart set on another Mini.

So that's that dealt with, me next

Think I'll wait for next Spring before selling the Box though