Any Mini owners out there can give me advice please??

Littleblue123

I currently have a Hyundai I10 as I wanted a small cheap car, its now 6 years old and has been brilliant. Low fuel comsumption, cheap to service and insure etc. I commute 30 miles a day mainly on main A roads

However I have always wanted a Mini as I think they look fantastic. They were always out on my price range but I think I could get a decent one now for £8k. 2012 plate

I'm trying to be frugal still so my question is are they expensive to run / maintain. I realise being a larger engine I'll use more fuel. Any opinions on which model to get?? It seems the Mini One is one of the cheaper ones? I'm used to a 1.2 litre engine so don't need one for speed!

Any Mini owners out there with any advice please??

scooby088

I wouldn't recommend a mini at all service and repair costs are high, i have driven quite a few in my line of work and they dont impress me at all. Onmthe upside though they do hold their price reasonably well. All the cost associated with running the car are highish. I would say stick with hyundai they impress with what they are.

Johno100

Never owned one, but having driven a couple of BMW Minis my recurring memory is how bloody heavy/stiff the clutch pedals were. These were mid 00's cars so I don't know if that is still the case.

pd52

I agree my sister has a 13 plate one she want rid, she had issues with the power steering and oil leaks .

jimmy_cricket

I've a 58 plate clubman. I still get it serviced at the main deal as it came with the 'free' five year servicing and when it hit the five years, extended it for a furthe three years for something like £250. So, I don't agree with it being expensive to service, if on the servicing contract, so look for one with that included. I don't think you can add it later and has to have been done from new,

Mine has run flats and would never buy a car with them on again, too harsh a ride.
Overall I love it. Feels solid, has lots of bells and whistles on it and good to drive.
Oh, and avoid park lane mini I had terrible service from them when I originally bought the car.

Iceweasel

It doesn't necessarily follow that a car with a bigger engine will use more fuel.

The Service Inclusive can be added on purchase of a used Mini if bought from a BMW Mini dealer.

As for run-flats they are brilliant - except for the Bridgestone ones - they are truly the worst 'big brand name' tyre I've ever had - noisy, bumpy, and they wore quickly. Good grip though.

The Continental runflats are no problem at all.

And despite what some tyre dealers will tell you they can be repaired just like normal tyres, assuming they satisfy all the usual criteria.

If you drive them flat for the full 50 miles possible then you'll need a new tyre.

But for the convenience and safety of them especially if Mrs Iceweasel had a puncture late at night on a motorway or deserted country road the downside they are well worth it.

forgotmyname

A small engine maybe better in the city traffic but on a run a larger engine maybe barely ticking over at motorway speeds.

With a fully loaded Mondeo estate i did a 300 mile round trip with an average of 57mpg. Not bad for 1.5 tons of estate car, loaded up. I could probably have nudged the 60 mark if i had not hit the traffic at the other end, then a slow crawl across to the next town.

clayton16749

If you're happy with it and it works I'd stick with what you've got.


No personal experience of Minis. I've heard others mention servicing and repairs can be pricey.

arcon5

Minis = expensive when things go wrong.

Little room under the bonet, more dismantling to replace/test components.

zagubov

We had a mini; trust me, they're overrated.

Now bought an i10. Brilliant by comparison.

I very much worry you're switching in the wrong direction. Think carefully if you want to proceed, and at the very least do some more research before committing yourself to a possibly expensive mistake.

chelseablue

My uncle had a mini and he said 1 tyre cost about £200 :-O


He only had it just over a year before he sold it on