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Buying a new Mini for my dog?

5 replies

Bupster · 11/03/2025 14:24

Hi everyone,

I've finally accepted that I need to get rid of my current rattly, noisy, ancient Mini Cooper three door hatchback, as the dog hates travelling in it, and it's a monumental pain in the backside to get him in and out, plus the aircon is broken and not worth fixing, so I need to replace the car before the weather properly heats up.

I'd quite like to get another second-hand Mini, as they're fun to drive and easy to park on the street - I don't have a driveway or garage. But I am wondering if it's a slightly insane thing to do. For reference, the dog is half Cocker, half Lab, so not huge, but not tiny either - like a smallish Lab with shorter legs.

Does anyone with dogs drive a Mini? Which model, and how have you found it? I think I'd like a Clubman as they seem to have more space on the back seat and a functioning boot, but they're quite hard to find compared to four-door Coopers and Countrymans (Countrymen?) so prepared to be talked out of this.

All advice welcome! Just as further background he travels fine in other people's cars, and I'm not certain it's the car rather rather than my driving, but I need to replace the car before summer anyway due to the aircon thing (the price of replacing that alone is probably more than the value of the car).

OP posts:
Justkeepingplatesspinning · 12/03/2025 20:54

I used to have a mini. DDog travelled on the back seat as he refused to go in the boot. He fitted but he couldn't see over the seats well enough / it was too big a drop as the boot floor was a lot lower than the boot lip. Five doors is essential! A floating boot floor which mini do might have made a difference, not sure. My friend had one and it brought the boot floor level with the boot lip.
Honestly though, I would look for a clubman or countryman so there's more boot room for your dog.

Jamfirstest · 12/03/2025 20:59

I bought a new car for my dog. Yanbu!

Dearg · 12/03/2025 21:00

Yes. I have a Mini Cooper S h3 door hatch and now , sadly 1 lab. I can get said lab either in the back seat on a hammock, or fold down the seats and she can lie in the back. ( I had 2 labs and never tried it with both of them)

She doesn’t love it, she likes to sit up, and would rather be in the bigger estate car, but if I need to, I can do it.

My older lab couldn’t bend himself to get in the back seat so only came in via the rear hatch. He was happy enough there as he lay down and I put bedding in to cushion it.

BruceLeTerror · 12/03/2025 21:40

@Jamfirstest Me too 😂😂

Rattai · 12/03/2025 21:42

I have a mini clubman. I think the rear doors would be great for your dog but also the extra little door would make it easier to get him in and out too

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