I am the car guy of the family. I have a 1987 Monte Carlo and been restoring a 1941 Chevy Master Deluxe with my sons. My wife is interested in a MINI. As you can see my knowledge of cars in a different direction.

She would like a 2 door or a Clubman 3 door. We drove a Countryman and it just did not seem like a MINI. Also she would like an automatic. I would prefer a non turbo motor. Defiantly keep it as simple as possible. Power is not the item she is looking for it is the feel / handling and personality.

Any ideas of where to look for issues with these cars? I am in the rust belt and do not want a rot box. I can do paint and minor body work. What are the best years engine wise. I know this is allot but she is looking for one and I want it right the first time. This will be a good day no rain car.

 

Hello,

All the new ones are turbo for F56+ MINI Cooper. If you get the auto on the new ones its smooth.

If you go with a R56 MINI Cooper or R55 MINI Clubman , i would get a N16 engine with automatic 2011-2013. Its will be slow if its a countryman and paceman. If its an R56 it looses weight and will be faster. But they are slow without the turbo. R55 Clubman as a little weight.

Just a heads up.

 

We test drove a countryman and thought it lost the MINI experience. She is not looking for the speed but the handling and road feel. What is a Paceman? We have only seen them in adds. The reason we where looking towards the Clubman vs the two door is that we may on occasion need the back seat.

 

A paceman is a 2 door Countryman. If you get an R55, make sure it's a 2011-2014 which will have the N16 engine which is much more reliable. It will be slow, but fun in the corners, a friend of mine had one.