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Post by Martin on Apr 9, 2023 6:17:26 GMT
After quite a lot of online research and a full day of looking / test drives yesterday, we’ve bought my eldest his first car. A white 1.5 Cooper 3 door, with Chili Pack and rear parking sensors. I’ve driven several Mk2 hatches/Clubman, but it was the first time in a Mk3. It’s quite a step up, even more of a ‘little BMW’ and really nice to drive, with 16” wheels and non run flats, this one had the nicest ride/handling balance. I’m not a huge fan of 3 pot engines, but the petrol is much nicer than the diesel and it feels quite nippy, a lot faster than my first car for sure! There is such a variety of specs out there and I had to keep telling myself it wasn’t for me…. The Pepper pack is absolutely essential, but the Chili pack lifts the interior again with much nicer seats and upholstery. We looked at quite a lot online and one in person with full leather (not lounge) and they were all baggy on the seat base and the leather didn’t feel great quality, the fabric on the part leather seats looks great. The only thing that would have been nice to have is the visual boost radio or navigation. We looked at a Cooper with Pepper pack and Media XL, but the interior wasn’t as nice and my son wasn’t bothered about the lack of screen, the look and comfort of the sports seats was much more important. Cracking little car, he’s a lucky boy.    |
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Post by bryan on Apr 9, 2023 10:54:30 GMT
Lucky boy indeed! Looks a great first car, hope the insurance isn't too painful
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Post by PG on Apr 9, 2023 15:10:24 GMT
Looks great. Personally I'd not have the black wheels, but hey I'm an old traditionalist.
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Post by cbeaks1 on Apr 9, 2023 15:18:59 GMT
I think the black white black looks great.
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Post by Martin on Apr 9, 2023 15:21:11 GMT
Looks great. Personally I'd not have the black wheels, but hey I'm an old traditionalist. He loves the black wheels and I do think they suit it, particularly as it has the black roof. It’s just missing black bonnet stripes…for now. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 9, 2023 18:29:00 GMT
Excellent choice. I agree that these feel even more grown up than previous generation Minis.
Another who would not want the black wheels, but I would add bonnet stripes.
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Post by Big Blue on Apr 9, 2023 20:27:18 GMT
Very nice and I can attest that they are superb (not so) little cars. Very grown up and very safe. Nuts to the colour of the wheels: not my choice but they look clean for longer.
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 9, 2023 21:07:37 GMT
Obviously this is an excellent choice. I am currently driving around in ours, being in Italy for the week, and I must say it took no time at all to remind myself that they are just cracking things.
136bhp is good going for a first car - mine had 59bhp!!
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Post by PG on Apr 12, 2023 7:13:17 GMT
Looks great. Personally I'd not have the black wheels, but hey I'm an old traditionalist. He loves the black wheels and I do think they suit it, particularly as it has the black roof. It’s just missing black bonnet stripes…for now. I'd forget the bonnet stripes and have spotlights instead. Not that I'm biased of course...... |
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Post by Martin on Apr 14, 2023 9:28:55 GMT
I’ve already spent nearly £200…. New carpet mats, genuine gear knob / gaiter, +200% headlight bulbs, Bosch aerotwin wipers, touch up stick…..
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Post by Martin on Apr 22, 2023 20:14:45 GMT
We collected it this morning. My eldest is really pleased with it, as he should be as it really is a cracking little car. He drove the 50 miles back from the garage, I’ll have a chance to drive it properly tomorrow. We spent just over 4 hours in it this afternoon, sorting some stone chips, polishing the roof, cleaning the exhaust pipe (which was so bad I thought it was beyond saving, but it’s not too bad now) and giving the interior a full clean. I also changed the headlight bulbs, wipers, gear Knob and gaiter.    |
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Post by Boxer6 on Apr 23, 2023 17:37:59 GMT
Very nice indeed. Did you say bonnet stripes are on the cards? I think that it needs them, but that's maybe just me.
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Post by Martin on Apr 23, 2023 18:26:54 GMT
Very nice indeed. Did you say bonnet stripes are on the cards? I think that it needs them, but that's maybe just me. Yes, he really wants them and I agree they would look good. I’ve just driven it back the 95 miles or so from Swindon (he drove there) and it’s excellent for a small car. Performance is fine on dual carriageways and it averaged 51mpg on the obc, so should manage 400 miles to a tank. |
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Post by PetrolEd on Apr 23, 2023 19:06:00 GMT
Lucky lad! That’s a very fancy first car. Hope he enjoys it.
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 23, 2023 19:33:23 GMT
I’ve just driven it back the 95 miles or so from Swindon (he drove there) and it’s excellent for a small car. Performance is fine on dual carriageways and it averaged 51mpg on the obc, so should manage 400 miles to a tank. So whose car is it going to be, then ?? |
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Post by Martin on Apr 23, 2023 19:38:30 GMT
I’ve just driven it back the 95 miles or so from Swindon (he drove there) and it’s excellent for a small car. Performance is fine on dual carriageways and it averaged 51mpg on the obc, so should manage 400 miles to a tank. So whose car is it going to be, then ?? I’m not taking your lead here, Chris!  When he passes his test, he’ll keep it with him at home. Until then we’ll use the journeys to/from Swindon as really good longer distance / dual carriageway experience. |
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Post by ChrisM on Apr 23, 2023 21:20:46 GMT
Ah, so he's not passed his test yet. I thought that the car was a "reward" for passing! You may find that a small car is really useful for those trips into the town centre etc
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Post by Martin on Apr 23, 2023 21:29:24 GMT
Ah, so he's not passed his test yet. I thought that the car was a "reward" for passing! You may find that a small car is really useful for those trips into the town centre etc No, he hasn’t passed yet. I’m not going to use it and we’ve already got a small car we can use if we’re going somewhere space might be an issue. |
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Post by Big Blue on Apr 24, 2023 11:14:05 GMT
They’re great. Is it a three pedal car? Can’t tell from pics.
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Post by Martin on Apr 24, 2023 11:38:31 GMT
They’re great. Is it a three pedal car? Can’t tell from pics. Yes, 3 pedals. |
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Post by Martin on Apr 24, 2023 12:27:30 GMT
They’re great. Is it a three pedal car? Can’t tell from pics. Yes, 3 pedals. Which is fun for a while, but overrated!  It’s been nearly 5 years since I’ve driven a manual, the last time was the Boxster. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Apr 24, 2023 13:27:13 GMT
Which is fun for a while, but overrated! It’s been nearly 5 years since I’ve driven a manual, the last time was the Boxster. Auto for the daily and manual for the weekend fun car is how I like it. |
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Post by PG on Apr 24, 2023 19:55:20 GMT
Which is fun for a while, but overrated! This. Absolutely. I kind of put up with the manual in our truck as it's, well, a truck. But even then, the novelty wears off pretty quickly. Mini looks even better, now it's been cleaned to Martin standard. |
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Post by Andy C on Apr 24, 2023 21:39:23 GMT
Which is fun for a while, but overrated! It’s been nearly 5 years since I’ve driven a manual, the last time was the Boxster. Auto for the daily and manual for the weekend fun car is how I like it. Same. Great first car . Is he a petrolhead? |
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Post by Martin on Apr 25, 2023 6:15:04 GMT
I’m not sure I’d class him as a petrolhead, but he’s got a genuine interest in cars and how they drive is more important than how they look. Within reason of course!
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Apr 25, 2023 9:44:29 GMT
I love MINIs!
Have I mentioned I love MINIs?
White was my second choice after black when I had one - it does need the black stripes on the bonnet though.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2023 10:47:21 GMT
I am eligible for the forces motability scheme apparently. Best I could find was the mini classic five door in 1.5 or 2.0 petrol.
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Post by PetrolEd on Apr 25, 2023 11:34:20 GMT
God old manual vs auto debate. I'd never have an Auto MX5 or Civic Type R. I'd never have a PDK Gt4 but can see the benefits in a GT3 given the extra power. I think anything much over 400hp is probably too quick for a manual. Of course its now become easier as we have auto blip on a lot of high powered manuals.
Obviously there's no point in driving a white good as a manual as there is little benefit from driving it as an item of fun. Given most manufacturers have given up with the manual shift anyway I'm sure we'll all have to adopt it at some point.
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Post by johnc on Apr 25, 2023 12:12:49 GMT
Doesn't seem like 2 and a half years ago that we bought an all black version (same wheels but only a Mini One) for our daughter. She has now clocked up nearly 25,000 miles!
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Post by racingteatray on Apr 26, 2023 14:46:21 GMT
I am eligible for the forces motability scheme apparently. Best I could find was the mini classic five door in 1.5 or 2.0 petrol. The 1.5 is great. That’s what we have. I really like it. |
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