I bought the missus a Cooper convertible and she loves it, it handles like its on rails!!

Best test drive it then.

Check out with anyone here or on MINI forums the actual real work MPG of these Automatics.

The ones i have driven were not terrible, but not very good either and they like a drink.

 

Not all have the same auto and i liked the Auto in an earlier Cooper S (Not a JCW) , and really like it in the latest Cooper S Works.

Sorry, misread.. thought it was 1.6 diesel, not a 1.6 turbo petrol

Edited 14 January, 201610 yr by mac11irl

It is not a 1.6 Turbo you are looking at is it,

 but a MINI Cooper 120bhp 1.6 NA / Automatic. ?

I think the Mini is a good compromise, gives you what you want - without higher running and fuel costs.

 

Nice place to be inside and they handle well.

It's also the right time to be buying this type of car. If you know you're going to do it, buy in Jan or Feb!

Correct it's the 1.6 naturally aspirated petrol cooper version. The Cooper S gets a turbo and 60bhp more. It's also thirstier.

 

The earlier models (I think it was about 2006 and older that I can gather) had a CVT gearbox that had some problems and needed servicing like the DSG. It had paddle shift that simulated gear ratios.

 

Later they switched to a 6 speed conventional auto box and tweaked it again with faster shifting etc around 2009. From what I can gather it's the same box used in both the Cooper and Cooper S and both have the paddles on the wheel.

 

Yes I'm not expecting amazing fuel economy but I'm sure if driven steady it will give 40+ mpg on a run (extra urban figure is 54.3 so could even get better). The Octavia also takes so long to warm up that a short run across town for a work visit means the engine hasn't warmed up and it does anything from 35mpg to as low as 27mpg... all the time I'm sat there freezing my a** off!

 

I think we will talk it over and maybe pop over on the weekend to have a look and see what we think.

 

And Steve that is exactly the reason why we hesitated to buy before... I wanted to wait till it started snowing (which it has today)... might be able to drive them down on price a bit.

 

Phil

Edited 14 January, 201610 yr by Phil-E

We had  Mini Cooper S and I have to say that it was the most uncomfortable car I have driven for a very log time.  It was not a convertible so not the same but you could feel every bump in the road.  I swear if you ran over a 10p piece you would tell if it was heads or tails!  Yes it handled brilliantly and was great fun to chuck around the bends but how often in your daily driving do you actually do that?  Most of the time you are driving from A to B on our shocking roads and for that it was truly dreadful.

 

I would say don't get too hung up about DPF issues.  Yes they can be a problem but some cars are better than others and it should not be the be all and end all of a search.  Diesel cars aren't anywhere as noisy as they used to be and our Golf convertible is fine with the roof down.  I doubt you would actually tell in most conditions what you were driving.

 

You mention that cost of the petrols is too high on fuel and Insurance and the Diesel is too noisy or has a DPF and yes both of those can be a concern but take the time to work out costs properly and if it is going to be a second car then fuel won't be a major issue if the mileage is low. 

 

Whatever you do make sure you have a good test drive on normal roads before you go for a MIni.  Fun they are but not for long.

I think it'll be spot on for what you're after Phil and my experience is that the Mini petrol engines work well and deliver decent economy.

 

A friend of mine had a 2008 MCS manual and I was always amazed at the economy, for the performance on offer.

 

Yep - if you do go looking, go in hard on price and I'd do the walk away trick at least once  

We had  Mini Cooper S and I have to say that it was the most uncomfortable car I have driven for a very log time.  It was not a convertible so not the same but you could feel every bump in the road.  I swear if you ran over a 10p piece you would tell if it was heads or tails!  Yes it handled brilliantly and was great fun to chuck around the bends but how often in your daily driving do you actually do that?  Most of the time you are driving from A to B on our shocking roads and for that it was truly dreadful.

 

I'm guessing you ran it on the standard runflats? A lot of enthusiast owners ditch these and the difference on ride quality was night and day. More progressive on the limit or when making progress as well.

Indeed it was on the standard run flats.  They were dreadful and don't run flat if you side swipe them up a kerb as my wife found out early one Sunday morning.  Had to have the car recovered to her work place and because there was no tyre place open in the small market town on a Sunday and we had no other car the car was stuck there until Monday.  £21000 plus and you can't drive it.

 

I still say it was great fun to blast along your fave country road chucking it into the corners but everyday driving consists of far more than that and for us it had to go.

What year was your car?

 

I'm pretty sure the one we're looking at doesn't have the run flats fitted as it's on the standard 16" wheels.

 

Like I say we'll take a look and a test drive and see what we think. We're in no rush so quite happy to just walk away if we're not happy with the car or the deal on offer.

 

Like I say the intended use will be some short town trips then some weekend top-down runs on country roads. We do a run over to Bridlington quite regularly to see family and it's quite a fun drive to do the scenic route. Properly even more fun with the roof down and with the Minis go kart handling.

Edited 14 January, 201610 yr by Phil-E

Thought all the Mini range used runflats, but don't know the specs in enough detail. Something to check anyway Phil

Phil I 'think' it was a 59 plate.

Yeah just been looking into it. Put the reg into national tyres and none of the tyres it shows are run flat. If I change the rim size to 205 width and 17" (as per the Cooper S) then suddenly they're all runflats that show up so pretty sure this one doesn't have them.

Another thought I've had is that I don't think this car will have a DMF to worry about either unlike a diesel. As it has a torque converter I don't think it has one. Whereas a DSG will always have one. One less thing to worry about.

When the Octavia needs replacing in a few years I won't be getting another diesel. Don't get me wrong I love the lazy torque you get with a diesel but our mileage and journey types are borderline for owning a diesel and new ones add more to the mix of things to go wrong. What with sticky turbo veins, clogged EGRs, DMF and now DPF.

The one I'm looking at is a 59. But definitely no runflats on it so hopefully the ride is better!

Just looked at some mini service manuals. The auto does have a flywheel but its single mass. The manual get a DMF.

The engine is also chain driven so that's one less thing to worry about.

All sounding good

so my suggestion of a smart cabrio wasn't too far off the mark then

Edited 15 January, 201610 yr by Wet Kipper

The engine is also chain driven so that's one less thing to worry about.

 

Don't assume chain = Ok! I know the Cooper-S had a tendency for chain tensioner failures before the facelift (60 plate + iirc) and oil burning (same issues on the Pug Gti that used the same engine).

Yep, bit like cambelts. It's often not the belt or chain itself, but the tensioners that are the weak point.

Don't get me wrong I love the lazy torque you get with a diesel but our mileage and journey types are borderline for owning a diesel.

I know you've mentioned it as a no, Phil, on cost grounds, but the 2.0Tfsi produces similar torque figures as a similar sized diesel engine.

 

In my A4 you can go around Islands in 3rd gear (manual) easily, and even in 4th if you are feeling really lazy. It is nice when you do not have to change down and it never struggles or even stutters. I'm assuming the Skoda Tfsi is the similar engine?

 

It really is a beautiful drive, and maybe one to reconsider as you have realised you do not really need diesel, especially as a second car. On a good run you should get around 40mpg (I think).

 

It is a bit expensive on the road fund licence (to be politically correct) as you say, but probably only one or two quid a week more.

 

You are unlikely to regret buying (a sound) one.  .

Edited 15 January, 201610 yr by Tilt

So this is still ongoing!

 

Feel like I'm going round in circles.

 

We went to look at a Smart Roadster Brabus at the weekend. It was a lovely little car and it's great fun... but it's just too small! I'm around 6'6"/7" and I could just get in but was comfortable enough once in it. We also could not see ourselves doing a long drive in it which is what we would like to do next year- drive down to Italy in a convertible.

 

We now have our hearts set on a 9-3 convertible after looking at a couple. As we want an automatic the petrol is out of the question as the tax is stupid and the fuel economy is just unforgivable! The seats in the ones we looked at were the comfiest I have ever sat in!

 

The only problem that leaves then is that the 1.9 TiD is fitted with a DPF! But the plan is that although it's not going to be doing many miles over the year the runs it will do will be long runs away for the weekend etc so I think we should be ok.

 

We've found a 2007 1.9 TiD 150 automatic (6 speed torque converter). It's got 68,000 on the clock. Light blue paint, matching blue hood, climate control, leather etc etc.

 

Has a nice interior and sat-nav.

 

Hopefully going to see it soon and see what we think.

That sounds like it ticks all the boxes then mate. Crack on...

Should be nice that Phil. Nice comfy Saab seats and a well put together interior.

 

And for the DPF, you could always have the internals removed....