Hello all. Im currently serving in the Marine Corps, and drive a Mercedes Benz SUV. I get out at the end of the year, and wont be able to afford the upkeep of it. So, im in the process of looking for a new car. My budget is 15k$ or less...

A few questions. How much do oil change cost? And how often should they be performed on a Mini? How about brake pad cost, and general maintenance costs? Does it run off regular or premium fuel? To do general maintence like oil change or brake pad change, can i do them myself and dont require extensive knowledge?

Also, heres the big one. I have drove manual before and get the whole idea of how to drive them, but Im not proficient in driving manual. Would this be a problem? Mini's MPG is pretty amazing, and am looking for a stylish economical car.

 

ok here is the deal. An oil change your self is around $50 at the dealership it is around the same price. As for the manual you can get them in auto. I recommend manual if you enjoy bonding with your car even more. Get a Mini if you want to enjoy driving again. For $15 you can get a decent 06 or less model, but you still should look into getting a warranty for it. Before you seriously consider, go and test drive one first.

 

How well do MINIs hold up with time? Like, my Benz is a 2000 model, and it is just taking a complete ****. It has very low miles, but everything is pretty worn and fragile.

If I bought a Mini, like a 2002-2005, can I expect it to last a good while?