Talk to me about Minis

[FOFONAR]

Got a small budget for an 04 or 05 mini. Really want one but is it practical with 2 dc in hardback booster seats. The boot space is small but I thought we could use a roof bag for weekends away. Am I being unrealistic?

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We've got a mini, with 2 dc. One with a high back booster, and the other with just a booster seat.

We do find it absolutely fine, we've got a roof box for holidays etc, and tend to get our shopping delivered, but the boot is big enough for everything we need for a day out - so picnic, football, coats. . .

Other people are usually surprised that we manage, but it really is fine!

I have a Peugeot 108 and it is fine and smaller than a mini. We don't use it for weekends away as we have another car but we have taken it for full days out and it fits everything we need. The backseat is actually quite spacious as it only has the 4 seats.

I've got a John cooper works mini and a 4 year old dd. I Adore the car so much that I don't want to give it up. She fits fine in the car and if we have another child there would be room still. The boot is tiny but I don't care about this. I honestly recommend the cars so much. Plus parts for it are pretty easy to get.

Excellent, I was expecting lots of negative comments because the boot is so tiny. I think our only issue would be trying to get a big shop in, but then we could get it delivered or fold the seats down.

We don't have much luck with cars so hoping this is the right one!!

I can get 4 big bags of shopping in at a push and that's all I can get in the boot but if needed we put the rest on the back seat.

Looking at one tonight with 96k on the clock, dealer says that's nothing for an 06 and offered a three year warranty with it. Does that seem a fair assessment?

Worst car I ever had. Electrics went over and over again.

96k isn't a problem if it's been looked after - check the condition of it, check it's got decent service history (backed up by itemised invoices, a few little stamps in a service book doesn't mean much at all).

30k can be a problem if it's been driven badly and not looked after.

I'd guess if the dealer would throw in a warranty just like that, it's probably not worth a lot (the warranty, I mean). Check for loopholes, like cover terminates at 100,000 miles, etc.

They're not the most reliable of cars I believe

My mum and I both owned Minis, a cooper and a cooper s. Look out for faulty electric windows, very common problem. I also found that when one thing goes, everything else seems to follow. Parts and tyres are also pretty expensive. All that aside, I did love my Mini so did my Mum, so much so that she is buying another, but a newer model.

Just brought my new Mini Cooper - a 57 plate and having slight issues with the brake pads and the sensor - but it only cost me £30 to fix. Minis seem like a great reliable cars (SO many air-bags lol!!) - although I personally think 96k is a little high - maybe see if you can get a lower mileage?

Minis are well built and ours has been reliable. Spares are not cheap though. You could probably get a newer Ford Focus for the money and that has more space and 4 doors!