After starting quite a few "what should I do/buy" threads I've gone and bought an additional motor.

 

I love my 335d but it's not flawless and the lack of practicality coupled with a rather massive garden and a growing son has done my head in a bit.

 

I went into a local dealer to take a look at a Jimny that we well priced. It had been snapped up quick.

 

But while there spotted a Mini Clubman, older weird one with the suicide door on the wrong side.

Drove it liked it, did a bit of digging, proved the price was decent  and got a little off and a couple of niggled fixed too.

Big enough but not too big, roof bars and nice to drive

 

So next week we're a two car family.

 

This with roof bars -

We have one in Work, I actually quite like it. Which is odd as I don’t like minis.

My wife was looking at one but she decided to go for the new 5 door mini which is ugly imho

 I'd never thought about one till I saw it and realised it ticked pretty much all the needed boxes.  More expensive than I'd planned but much nicer as well. 

what Sort of money?

I bought the newer version before Christmas. It's smaller than the Octavia it replaced but actually seems bigger and is more fun to drive and it cost a lot less.

62, 48k fsh. Service &fresh mot.

 

Advertised at 7500 got it for 7250.

Edited 3 June, 20188 yr by Aspman

Good stuff.

 

we have a 13 ‘one’ with 36k for 8200.

 

 

I actually really like it to drive, seems much better than the normal mini.

 

Great choice, Aspman.  I've always liked these and considered getting one to replace my first Roomster. 

 

My sister bought one to replace her beloved ragtop Bini when she became disabled and needed to carry a mobility scooter. 

The suicide door allows her to throw her walking sticks into the back before getting into the car.

 

The only negative for me is the barn doors, which (unlike a tailgate) provide no protection from the weather when open.

Otherwise the car is practical, fun and nice to drive.

It is a shame the Clubvan never sold it good numbers meaning they are rare as used cars.

Some highly specced up with options & some real crackers about, but owners seem to be keeping them.

I wanted an Auto one but just could not have lived with the diesel.

 

At least there are enough Clubman around to have choices and some of those were very well specced when ordered.

33 minutes ago, Robjon said:

The only negative for me is the barn doors, which (unlike a tailgate) provide no protection from the weather when open.

Otherwise the car is practical, fun and nice to drive.

 

I think a more standard top hinge would be an issue anyway, the car is quite low so a top hinge would probably leave the door to hit you square in the face.

I like the barn doors tbh. The quirkyness appeals.

 

A bonus I noticed snooping around was that this mini has a wheel well. No spare but this one has a jack and brace (guess the wheel is in a shed or on Ebay). They're going to throw in a tin of tyre gunk for now but I'll be able to pick up a space saver for not a lot. It doesn't have run flats fitted so it'll need something (got a full set of nearly new Michline Cross Climates).

 

I can't remember if the rear windows have privacy glass or not so they'll need film on them if not.

 

To waste more money I think I'll get a couple of black bonnet strips and get the wheels painted black. I've seen one like that and it looked good. I'll laos pick up a plate for the boy. I've been telling him it's really his car and he'll get it when he's 17 (9yr away).

 

 

Edited 4 June, 20188 yr by Aspman

Enjoy,

Just spotted one at The Zoar, mucky and roof rails and bars.   I like.

Then a Baby Blue Clubvan out at Memus.   Love them.  Handle great.    

 

See if you can get the low down on the full spec it came with & if it was (is) the Sport Suspension. 

Edited 4 June, 20188 yr by Offski

Looked pretty basic if I'm honest. No Chili pack or pepper pack or owt like that. Actually might have had the pepper pack since that's pretty basic.

It was pretty stiff on the road, made the beemer feel soft.

Biting point on the clutch felt high but I've only driven a manual once in the last 18 months so not a surprise it felt a little weird.

 

It's got DAB radio, 'leccy windows and AC. Really not too fussed about anything else.

 

It was from Struans. It's off their site but might still be on Autotrader. [edit] No down from there too.

Edited 4 June, 20188 yr by Aspman

Seen it. 

Nice & nice to deal with. I got my Iq from them.

 

The Red & Grey Jimny was nice. 

You have a better car, but there is getting to be a bit of a demand for Jimny's now that production hasstopped.

Edited 4 June, 20188 yr by Offski

Yes no bother there at all. The salesman and me had a bit of shared history at Barnetts and knew quite a few of the same people.

 

We would have known each other ~2001 but neither remembered.

 

If the Jimny had been clean I probably would have got it. It was keenly priced so I wasn't  surprised it went quick.

Edited 5 June, 20188 yr by Aspman

I should rename this thread "So I went and bought a Mini" just to juxtaposition it against Amanda's M4 thread ;-)

Picked up the mini today.

Turns out it wasn't as advertised, in fairness both the salesman and I missed it.

It's a Cooper not a One . That'll be why it felt quite nippy.

 

Digging around it's actually quite well specced, much more than I was looking for and again more than was advertised.

It's got (none of which was in the ad)  -

 

Leather steering wheel

DAB radio

Cruise

Phone kit

Rear parking sensors.

Climate control

 

I've got my old Windows phone set up as a satnav (offline maps still get updated for free).

 

It's not blemish free. Rear bumper has had a small knock but the damage to the paint is minimal and it's on the plastic.

Few stone chips but nothing too bad for age or mileage. Service log for the last few years is there with receipts.

Arnold Clark so I'll need to get it checked properly at some point.

 

But, no sqeaks or rattles.

 

It does feel tiny compared to the 3 series. Like a toy car but it might actually have more space in the rear seats. Also a lot of glass back there so it's quite airy feeling.

Drive pretty nice feels zippy.

 

The 335d is much much faster but scarier in the corners with so much weight  to move.