Anyone got (or had) the new Mini Cooper or an Elise?

[Bozza]

Views appreciated from anyone with experience of these cars in the real world, ie not the stuff in car mags.

 

[Lush]

I've got an OLD Mini Cooper (T Reg purple Paul Smith designed Limited Edition - actually) and it's brill.

We only flash our lights and wave at other OLD Minis and look down our noses at drivers of the new ones. OK, OK, up our noses - as we're only about three inches off the floor.

If you can put up with this snub I know people who drive the new Minis and they love them.

You probably need a four door car though with small child?

 

[Bozza]

We've got a sensible car for trips back to Sussex and similar outings, the second car (to replace the nicked one) does few miles and does not need much (any?) storage space really. As long as I can get a baby seat into it for when I need to go via creche then that'll do.

For that reason I want something fun.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

Friend has a new mini cooper (girl). Practically speaking she thinks its OK, she is quite a tall girl and drives it comfortably. I sat in the back once and there wasn't a great deal of room. Her biggest gripe though is that there is no decent glovebox space or nowhere to put things.

For me it has too many gizmo looking knobs and stuff but she loves it.

 

[Lush]

Don't get a new Mini. Every man - but mainly every man's wife - has got one.

Get an old Mini. The original and the best. You can park it in spaces that the new Mini has to drive past - as long as you have good arm muscles (no power steering). It's fun (like driving a go-cart). Two kids up to the age of 8 can clamber in the back (don't get me started on MPVs). Other Mini drivers will wave at you. They're cheap. You can get some of those multiple chrome headlights for the front and not look a prat - it is only a Mini after all. An extra couple of grand and the John Cooper garage here in East Preston will put a sports engine in it for you, so you can surprise people on the motorway.

 

[dwayne]

my faltmates both have the foxtons Mini, they love it, it goes like a rocket.

What specific info do u want.

 

[Bozza]

Don't get a new Mini. Every man - but mainly every man's wife - has got one.

Get an old Mini. The original and the best. You can park it in spaces that the new Mini has to drive past - as long as you have good arm muscles (no power steering). It's fun (like driving a go-cart). Two kids up to the age of 8 can clamber in the back (don't get me started on MPVs). Other Mini drivers will wave at you. They're cheap. You can get some of those multiple chrome headlights for the front and not look a prat - it is only a Mini after all. An extra couple of grand and the John Cooper garage here in East Preston will put a sports engine in it for you, so you can surprise people on the motorway.

If I was getting an 'old' car I think I would have to go for another Beetle - although the similarities sound very similar - waving, flashing lights at other Beetle drivers and you can stick a Porsche engine in the back for a bit of fun.

 

[Bozza]

my faltmates both have the foxtons Mini, they love it, it goes like a rocket.

What specific info do u want.

I can get all the technical info I can handle.

Doesn't begin to explain the 'ownership experience' though.

 

[dwayne]

I can get all the technical info I can handle.

Doesn't begin to explain the 'ownership experience' though.

thats why I asked what specific info u wanted, so I could ask them (where did I mention technical stuff!?!)

 

[Bozza]

You didn't. As I said that is around in abundance. I want to know about the 'ownership experience'.

Shall we go round again?

 

[tedebear]

Elise as in Lotus?? you're mad!! Went to Le Mans last year in convoy - one of our group has an elise - fun for a bit of a blast every now and then - but :

a) I can't get in and out very easily (and I'm not a big girl)
b) he just got quoted £340 to fix the master cylinder
c) guzzles like a chevy v8
d) when you run over a spider you can feel every leg, the suspension is that hard
e) do not even contemplate buying any groceries or even a single choclate eclair when out shopping you'll never get it in...
d) steering was better on my 1967 MG Midget

on the plus side - it is unbelievably quick, and if you're a man who fancies arses - its got one hellava arse

I'd go the mini, at least you can get a little person in the back - its quick off the mark - suspension is fun and it runs onthe smell of an oily rag...

 

[Goring Gull]

You want the Cooper S

 

[Goring Gull]

How about a Honda S2000 fantastic car, very underactyed and very few about, or if you thinking of an Elise what about a Vauxhall VX220 Turbo?

 

[Storer68]

isn't the vauxhall 220 better than the elise

I can't belive I just wrote that how the F88k is a vauxhall better than a lotus?)

 

[Bozza]

We're being a bit more 'sensible' about the choice of the second car - we were looking at another 3 series cabio but £20k is a lot of money for a second car that rarely does more than a 10 mile journey. So....budget has been set around £10-11k - don't like the old shape 3 series cabrio any more, the Volvo C70 cabrios start around £14k, can't seem to find Audi cabrio with decent enough spec (none seem to have air con) and just don't seem to take to the 9-3 cabrio.

So I thought - sod it - get something fun - hence the mini and the Elise. Because the VX220s are newer they are above the budget I am trying to stick to, the same as the Honda S2000s. Won't get either an MX-5 or new MR2 cos there is already one of each in the close I live in! Wife doesn't like the MGF. Still undecided on the Z3.

 

[Icy Gull]

Look at a Porsche 968. Around 10-15k. Cabriolet or coupe. 250hp 3 litre engine. Made between 1992 -1995 and cost around 40k at the time. Minimum depreciation at these prices, great looks and a genuine 2+2.

Much more individual than a Z3 and quicker. Much better put together than an Elise.http:

www.968.net

 

[Storer68]

classic

 

[Storer68]

Look at a Porsche 968. Around 10-15k. Cabriolet or coupe. 250hp 3 litre engine. Made between 1992 -1995 and cost around 40k at the time. Minimum depreciation, great looks and a genuine 2+2.

Much more individual than a Z3 and quicker. Much better put together than an Elise.

but they look horrible.......................................

 

[Icy Gull]

but they look horrible.....
..................................

You've obviously never seen one then Storer

 

[seagullsslimjim]

I had the original shape Elise a couple of years ago for 18months!! If you want the biggest smile on the roads at the weekend go for it and it doesn't guzzle at all. It has the 1.8 MGf engine and I used to get 40 to the gallon easily. It is half as light as a mini. The downsides however will outweigh the plusses though over time. These include getting in and out. Your Suzie will hate it I think. Then there's no sun visors so you get dazzled by the sun, plus as you sit low all oncoming cars at night dazzle you, poorish wiper, bad condensation and humidity means you have to have the window open (espec when it rains as no air con), very firm ride and no power steering make it knackering over long journeys, you prob couldn't get a baby seat into the recaro's, roof is very fiddly and takes a couple of mins to put on/take off, etc.. although for a prestigious brand it's reasonably cheap to run. I think no although depreciation wise you could get it out of your system and not lose too much over a year or so, yet say you had one.From there I went back to my Astra but put a deposit down on a Mini Cooper 's' . Was to be blue and white but poor health at that time made me cancel. Good car but test drive 'left me wanting'. although may still get one 2nd hand!
Contact me direct (Paul Haz's mate with specs!! and have met,sit next to him in S.Stand) if you want more info!!