Used Mini Cooper - Buying A Used Mini Cooper S

In this article I will look at some of the key issues regarding buying a used mini cooper. Careful reading of this material could make a big difference in what you do and think if your considering buying a used BMW mini.

When I considered a used Mini cooper, I would have to say that my first impressions were that the car feels slightly underpowered, with a fairly crude unrefined engine and very limited rear seat and boot space. There were also a few reliability issues to consider on the early cars.

Now on the plus side, even the new mini cooper has inherited a lot from the original classic mini such as its handling, an air of panache and of course the fun factor. It is already on its way to classic status and has a large following of dedicated owners and fan clubs. If you do choose to buy a used mini cooper, you may find that your not just buying another car, you are buying into a very select niche.

Used Mini Coopers Performance

For outright speed the 116bhp Mini Cooper is not as fast as testers and car magazines like to make out. The car needs plenty off revs to make full use of the power, and below 3000rpm the engine lacks some flexibility and can feel pretty average.

The later turbocharged 163bhp Mini Cooper S with a six-speed gearbox, that replaces the five-speed fitted to the other models is a better choice and power was tweaked up to 170bhp in 2004 for the launch of the cooper s convertible. Surprisingly, even with all this power, the mini is most at home on A and B roads, where it never feels unbalanced and you can throw it into bends, leaving most other cars on the road behind,

Mini Coopers Running costs

Having the image of a performance car, most used mini coopers will usually be driven hard, so fuel consumption averages around 32-40mpg but that is with some enthusiastic driving and a fair bit of town driving too. It is fairly reliable too, although there were some minor electrical problems on early cars usually fixed under warranty, and the tyre pressure monitors sometimes seem to go on the blink. Most previous owners will have taken up the BMW TLC option of five years/80,000 miles servicing for an extra £150 so one of these would have to be my best buy used mini cooper. Service intervals a quite long, although main dealer servicing, for such a small car can be expensive.

Mini Cooper Summary

Overall with every used mini cooper you will get a high performance car with good fuel economy and excellent handling and ride comfort. Inside the mini is fine fine for two adults in the front but back seat passengers will find it very cramped, and boot space for just for a few shopping bags.Also the standard equipment is a bit sparse and some switches feel fragile and can be fiddly. If you can live with that a used mini cooper is a great car to own and drive, which can always brings a smile to your face. If you want a car that is fun, has an excellent image, is entertaining and still gets noticed when you drive it, so why not consider buying a used Mini Cooper as nothing else comes close.

Want more power and speed, what about a used Mini Cooper S. The turbocharged Mini Cooper S has to be at top of the class when it comes to fast, small hot hatches.

Also by having the John Cooper Works pack, which is an option, fitted to your Mini Cooper will transform it a real flying machine. Upgrade to the optional sports suspension pack that really beefs up the springs and dampers, and also a sports button option that sharpens the steering and makes the throttle more responsive.With these optional extras, the john cooper mini becomes virtually untouchable on any country road and can even be taken on the race track.