| ausmini https://www.ausmini.com/forums/ |
|
| Thinking of buying a MINI https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=80987 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | andyinparadise [ Sat Apr 06, 2013 3:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Thinking of buying a MINI |
It is about time to start looking seriously at a first car for my son. Don't need anything for about 9 months but thought I might start looking now. I am a Subaru man (i have had 24 of them) so an old Impreza RS is on the cards. Just started looking at some R50 MINI's and they seem to be pretty good value. Any advice on good or bad models and things I should be looking out for. He thinks the budget is $20,000 but my budget is closer to $12,000. I guess it will be somewhere in between. |
|
| Author: | Harley [ Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Avoid 5 speed coopers and auto models. Earlier tritec engines (r50 and r53 cars) are a good solid unit. Check all electrics work, anything 04 onwards should be pretty solid though, they had the kinks worked out by then. |
|
| Author: | mini_fanatic [ Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Generally the newer the car, the better. However, after looking around for a while I actually ended up with a 2001 Cooper. The main thing is it's history. Mine belonged to a family friend, so I knew it had been looked after and had not long had both it's gearbox and clutch done. I just hit 113,000km yesterday and going well. Also, the newest isn't always the best. When looking for a MINI we went and had a look at a 2006 Park Lane R50 Cooper, but it had been very neglected. Trim falling off, cracked bumper, bald tyres, clutch beginning to slip, no wiper blades, etc. Also, check oil and water. Almost every MINI we looked at was very low on oil and water. $12-20,000 sounds reasonable to me for a decent car. Earlier, high km cars have been starting to drop below $10k more recently and others will soon follow I imagine. I would say anything around 100,000km or less is generally better. Just adding to Harley's comment, I think it's more earlier 5 speed gearboxes in the pre-upgrade model that people advise to avoid. The MY05 upgrade model with different bumpers had a different gearbox, although still five speed I think. Despite what some people say, MINIs are still fun to drive and own, and my family is much happier with me driving around in it rather than my old 850. In my personal experience, people still stop and look at them like the old Minis, although not always to the same extent. Perhaps it's because they're quite uncommon out in the country? Evan. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC + 10 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|