I've always been into small hatches but I think I'm going to pick one up come spring time. I live in the city and never drive highways unless I'm going home during a weekend (I'm in college away from home). So first question is what is the absolute worst MPG you guys have gotten in the city. I don't want to hear about what you normally get because I can guarantee you I'll get worse. I currently get MAX. 12mpg in my '91 RX7 and it's rated at 18mpg city. So you can see why I want something more fuel efficient.

One of the most difficult things I've been trying to figure out is wheel sizing. As soon as I get any car the first mods are springs or coilovers depending on how much money I have and wheels. I notice a lot of people with 17's, but I find it makes the ride height way too high so I want to go 16's but I have been searching over and over again and can't find any good threads on 16" wheels. If anyone could link me some threads that'd be great. I also assume 16x7 +35 to +40 would be best for a mini lowered on coilovers and not rub?

What do most people do to get rid of the god-awful chrome accents (grill surround, headlight surround, trim around windows and the door handles). DO you guys just remove, sand them then paint them black or do some models come with black/painted accents and you just swap them.

I may get bitched at for this last one, but I honestly hate using search's on any forum whether it's s2ki, rx7club, clubroadster, (all of which I frequent) BUT are the first year models (02-03) less reliable than say the 04-06's since the 02-03's are what I can afford (less than 10k).

Any and all info is greatly appreciated.

 

Sticker MPG on a Cooper is 29 city 37 hwy. I have never gotten worse than the advertised amount. There are plenty of good 16" tires out there. Can't asnwer any of your other questions though. Good luck.

 

I'm talking Cooper S. I believe they were 25/32? Then bumped up a bit with the R56's turbo engine. I know their are a bunch of tires but I'm talking wheels. I'm hoping to see more Mini's with 16" aftermarket wheels since most get 17's and the tire choice for a 17" is absolute garbage with a 17x7 or 17x7.5

 

You seems to have answered your own question reliability wise...the early 02's are especially bad...but cheap, but many parts changed in 03...they were how MINI/BMW learned...new car, new design, new plant, new suppliers....some 02 parts on cars are pre-production...and do not have replacents that fit without issues..like suspension, engine mounts, etc.
I have chrome....IMO looks good on a retro car, but folks often use plasi-dip or get plastic covers or vinyl...
I get about 30 hyy...city driving is subjective, but 15 ish around town is common...depends on your foot..and the city!!

 

In a city, IMO 16's are the way to go..less blown tires....and less likly to have things like strut tower damage from potholes than with 17's, a common issues with 17's

 

Oh wow, some have gotten as low as 15mpg city in their R53's? I can't see myself buying a new car unless I can at least around 20mpg city. I'm assuming the way I drive I could most likely achieve 18-20mpg. I'm not always accelerating to redline. Maybe once a day when I feel like it. Otherwise I'm shifting around 3-4k in my RX7 which redlines at 8k.

EDIT: Just seen your other post. The streets here in Sault Ste. Marie are pretty nice TBH. I used to live in Sudbury, Ontario which is the largest city in Northern Ontario with around 200k people and because it's a mining town and everyone drives trucks with lifts and exhausts because they're rednecks the roads are beat to ****. I drove there two weeks ago to visit my parents and I couldn't drive anywhere. My RX7 with stock suspension was so harsh I got headaches every time I went out. But the roads are nice here. The reason for 16's is that there are more wheel choices 16x7's and 16x8's are common with Honda's and then the tires are cheaper and have better choices.

 

I tend to get MID to upper 20's in mixed driving....and remember, that is PREMIUM fuel...less has a good chance of burning the valves...the negative of the S is with a SC, the computer enriches the mixture to prevent detonation/preignition with hot intake temps...a common issue with the top mounted IC and stop and go traffic.

 

I rarely see 5th gear in my RX7. At 80kmph which is the fastest I ever drive I'm at 2,500rpm in 4th gear which is what I stay with because I have to downshift soon anyway considering all the lights and intersections. So I'll never see mixed driving.

 

If MPG is of such great concern, why not consider a non-S?

 

Way too slow for my liking. I'm getting 10-12mpg. 12 being the highest I've ever gotten. I have to fill my tank every 300kms and it's a 70 litre tank. ~65 liters @ 1.299$ per litre (And that's for 87 octane) and it's costing me 80$ a fill up. If I could get a car that is faster than my RX7, handles just as well and gets at least 18-20mpg in the city I'd be so happy.