Hi,
Just wanted to say hi. Intrested in purchasing a new mini cooper, dont know if i want the hard top or coupe. I will using it as a dd then within a year my daughter will be getting her license and will be past down to her. Just wanted to know your opinons on the car....good or bad. And just things to watch out for overall. Also dont know if i should go with a non s or s...i drove the non S and it was alright with acceleration just wondering if the S is any better. thanks! Also would like to attend meets just to see what i can do with it!

 

Wow, I wish my first car was a year old MINI. Yes, the S will give you a bit more oomph, but since you are giving it to a teenager, you might be better off with a Justa. It's been awhile since I worked in insurance, but the turbo may have an insurance surcharge tied to it for young drivers.

 

Oh yea, shes real good girl, straight A's, accel in her activities and dance club. Plus the whole family owns british car so why not the daughter...we all can go to meets together...lol! Is their a proper white though..so far their is a pepper white which looks tan and the silver white looks silver. thanks

 

There is no (that I know of) absolute white. They use pepper white, which I don't really like.

The S is definitely going to give you a lot more oomph, but I've driven a justa, and it was adequate. 0-60 for the justa is around 8.5 seconds, and the S is about 6.5, so it does make a different.

I highly encourage you to look at MINIs if you are wanting to go into the "clubs". There are a ton of local MINI clubs around, and some great people in them.

I recommend a test drive with both the S and non S, and you can decide for yourself. Warning, though- once you drive it, you won't be able to say no!

 

If I was going to give it to my daughter in a year, I would definitely go with the non-S and the coupe. With the coupe she can't cram extra people in there so it would be safer. The S simply cannot be driven slowly...period. It begs to go fast. Not good for a new young driver.

 

LOL i know what you are talking about; i was gonna drive the S but it started to rain so i wont be able to test it to its fullest potential. I was like that with the exige i tested a non s version and a S and had to get the S. Also with the coupe i dont want any other passengars with ther.

 

Hello exigejoe and welcome to NAM and the MINI family!

The MINI is a car that seems to run the gauntlet of issues both good and bad and there are those members here on NAM that have spoken out on the issues both positive and negative. Check out the responses and you will find that our members are most knowledgeable and pass on very sage advice.

I can only comment on my own experiences with my MINI and 2 years into ownership, I can gladly say that I have experienced nothing bad only motoring bliss!

As to what type of MINI you should get... Well thats subjective and your decision should be tailored to you and your daughter's likes and dislikes. You and your daughter need to hop on down to your dealer and take a JustaCooper, an "S", and a JCW for a spin. Only after experiencing each version of the MINI can you make an informed decision as to what MINI is for you.

Is there a difference in acceleration between the various models... Sure! But as stated in Brisby's reply perhaps she might feel uncomfortable with the power of the "S". Then again the power of the "S" or for that matter the JCW is exhilarating... Your call.

I'm afraid that if you are looking for a "proper" white (e.g. Alpine White) you will be dissapointed... Pepper White has been around for a long time and is quite popular and the newer Silver White are the only "whites" on the MINI colour palette.

No matter which MINI you choose and what colour it is you will be happy! Owning a MINI is owning a car that delivers pure fun, mile after mile. As I said earlier, 2 years into ownership and I still step out of my JCW with a big grin after motoring!

Good luck to you and your daughter... May you enjoy many miles and smiles as you and your MINI motor down the road of life!

 

Thanks for the welcome; im tempted to go with the S in jcw trim it looks so beautiful. Too bad about the white though; i would love it to been in proper white color to match the other family members vechiles. She loves the laser blue color also. i dont we will do more testing with the car also. I also heard though later down the road the engine will be ravamped....is this true should i hold out til that happends.

 

I would be very carful no matter what model you decide on. After driving it for a year you may not want to hand it down to your daughter, and may end up giving her the Lotus . Welcome and best of luck.

 

LOL very funny! The Exige is the most fun car I have ever driven. My daughter actually want the Exige or an elise..im like no way!

 

But i would love this car as a dd.

 

Hey Joe, small world. I am also on babyrr, looking to get an Evoque soon.

When it comes to MINIs is there are endless ways to customize and configure them, and you will get many opinions here.

A few things to consider:

If you plan to give the car to your daughter (a first-time driver) you may want to stick with the Cooper model. If the car was for you, then you may only be happy with a JCW, given your preference for performance. A test drive is the best way for you to judge.

MINI is due for a model replacement around late 2013. Read more here.

Some must-have options (opinions will vary)
- Bi-Xenons (standard or adaptive are available)
- Heated seats
- Center armrest
- Bluetooth (keep the hands free of gadgets!)

Beyond that, there are many desireable options, but just too many to list.

Cheers!
John

 

Cool im on babyrr also; my sn is also exigejoe. the car is by far the best when it comes to performance and deisgn plus the competitors got nothing on LR terrrain response and off road capabilities. I love the RRE however its my Wife's car and she has the pleasure to drive it but i try once in awhile...lol! My current dd is a 150cc piaggio scooter..even though my work place is down the street...lol! looking to get a Mini cooper in JCW trim however i might just wait til the changes occur. Just wondering if their are gonna be exterior changes/face lift?

 

The Life Cycle Impulse (BMW/MINI speak for mid-cycle facelift) occured last year. Don't anticipate any major exterior changes for the rest of the model run, other than small updates to options and colors.

What to expect on the roadmap:

- JCW will get a performance bump later this year with variable valve timing updates
- MINI Roadster (R59) will debut this Spring
- Maybe a performance oriented MINI GP will become available next year
- All-new next generation MINI hardtop (platform codename F56) will debut probably late 2013 as a model-year 2014

Also if you want to try something new and different, and want to ensure minimum passengers when your daughter gets the car, check out the all-new R58 Coupe. It is a 2-seater. Some people are put off by the roofline, others are not. Best to judge it in person, and from behind the wheel.

I'll spend more time over at babyrr once we retire the LR3. Considering a 5-door Dynamic, black/black.

 

Yea i saw the mini coupe its nice esepcially in jcw trim...lets just say it can grow on me. I guess my daughter will decide. So no major exterior updates then.

 

It would look cool in your garage if you have an all black MINI to contrast with all of your white cars!

 

Oh i had black car in the past and it shows everything(scratches and hides the lines of the car). The signature of our car is first they are British, white and have black rims. However since their is no true white we might opt for the laser blue.

 

If you do want a proper white, you could look at the MINI Countryman (the cross-over MINI). They have a true white.

But who wants true white when Pepper White is really much more interesting and is the fastest MINI color out there! :D

 

Just want something small and not so big! If it comes to it i might just change the color to land rover fuji white or lotus aspen white.

 

Pepper white might not exactly blend with the other true white cars in the family but it is a GREAT color that looks, IMHO, outstanding on any Min modeli! Anyway, good luck with your search/choice. I've owned my 2007 S for a couple of months and somehow, it gets even better every day I own ( and modify) it!!!!

 

Im gonna test drive a S over the weekend. Is it a possible to get a MCS in JCW for under 30K$

 

Its a good lil sporty DD. I say go for it. Be sure you go for an "S" tho. I THINK. If it was my daughter.... I'd do it.

 

The Pepper White looks fairly white against anything but a "pure" or cold white. Unless you park it next to your other white cars, it probably won't stand out as something other than white.

I would consider the Justa--but then, that's what I bought for myself!

I don't think there's any reason not to get a teenager an "S", but I also don't think there's any reason to get a teenager an "S". After all, any modern car will go quite fast enough to be more than any new driver can cope with, so the power difference shouldn't really matter. The extra $5K cost would make that decision easy.

 

Im a car enthuaist, always loved the Mini but never was able to get one(growing family). I loved the styling and its customibilty, and its go fastness with good mpg; just like the other car in the garage. Plus i think it would go great in family stable of British cars.

 

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