I'm just curious what Mini Cooper owners are going for next.

Current car: 07 R56 mini 6 speed

Looking into:
-07-14 clubman 6 speed ('11+ preferred)
-e90/92 series bmw touring 6 speed.

Reason: Bigger trunk

What would your next car be? And why?

 

I had to sell my 08 S because I was moving to Cali (and wanted to find a non-rusty California car that would last a while). There was nothing I didn't like about the MINI so I decided to get another one! a 2013 JCW. much newer, slightly nicer with more features, more power, overall an upgrade over my 08. I have the biggest trunk space (due to the hatch) of all the cars at my house right now so I consider it fairly practical. I don't have to transport people often so I don't need anything bigger.

 

Going to be needing to replace our VW TDI golf soon and can't decide what to get. I am a very low miles driver now so I don't really want a new Mini and my wife gets a new one next week. Perhaps a used JCW hardtop or Clubman.

 

Current is a 05 MCS
Next car will be a 128i or 135i
Why: I love small cars and don't like the direction of the newer minis and really want a 1 series

 

haha I kinda see what you mean. Believe it or not if I get the BMW touring or even the clubman, it will be the biggest car I've ever owned.

I came from owning a 1st gen mini, 2 first gen miatas, a 92 civic, 3 bmw e30s and a rsx.

 

I am on my third MINI and really enjoy my '15S auto. But sites like Motorinfile have totally turned me off to buying another MINI.

 

Tesla Model 3, already on the waiting list.

Nik

 

I went from an M3 to a 2007 mini in 07, that car drove terrible like a drunk sailor so I moved to a 135i in 08 that I still own.

picked up a 2000 540i for highway duty, drives soooo nice and built better than new bmws IMO.

Had a 09 R56 for a few years, wifes car

test drove a R53 and fell in love, now have a 05 R53 that will be a track car soon and a 06 R53 JCW that I autocross, still have the 540i and the 135i and I picked up a diesel X5 for the commute, doing 100 miles a day I like the diesel and the nearly 600 mile per tank range

 

I have no interest in the new mini's or bmw's for that matter, but I'm curious how the site motorinfile turned you off to them?

 

Have you recently read some of the reviews and readers' critical responses?

 

Considering:
2016+ BMW X1
2017 VW SportWagen Alltrack

Why? Because I want AWD and more utility, the front of the 3rd Gen MINIs repulse me, and BMWUSA refuses to sell the 2 series here.

 

Porsche Cayman

 

Well my current car was a 03 MCS. Needed a new car due to body damage and many small things. I found getting 250k out of a car reliable and I know how to repair.

Replaced with 2005 JCW 210 with 78k miles. Currently going thru everything. It will last me 150k miles. I love the size, the power, the semi analog feel.

I suppose if I was rich, I would enjoy an old Porsche. And an original mini.

 

135i

 

My wife jumped from an R53 Cooper S hardtop to an F54 Clubman. She was simply tired of never getting to drive her MINI on anything other than local roads thanks to having a young daughter. We just drove 5 hrs to see friends in North Carolina on Friday. Everyone was comfortable and the Clubmen ride great while still having the MINI character.

I'm also happy that the R53 no longer occupies the tiny car spot at my house. When my FR-S lease is up, I can get something truly stupid/impractical as my toy (Miata, S2000, e36 M3, MR2, etc.)

 

no, pretty bad?

 

I went from an R56S to a 135i in 2008, I still own the 135i but honestly I have more fun autocrossing the r53 than I do the 135i it's so refined compared to the rawness of the r53

 

I went from a '73 MGB-GT to a Subaru OUtback to an '03 MCS, to a Prius, to a '13 MCS. My next car? Hard to tell. I love the R56s but also miss the R53s. I don't like the F series (too soft, too big), except for maybe the clubman, there the overhang and proportions are not that bad. That only if I want to upsize. Though I might also consider the Range Rover Evoque. Or a low miles GP1. Hhhmm, not sure. Sticking to R56 for now....

 

Bad. It confuses me that they are a MINI advocate

 

My new car warranty will run out a year from this coming January. Before then I will have either the soon to be released Mazda Miata Retractable Fastback or another MINI.

 

Any good source for what are the best years to buy? Things to watch out for?

 

the 128's are bulletproof

the 135i's should have had recalled injectors and HPFP's done by now, like all direct injection cars they will need walnut blasting every 60k miles or so.

personally I would only look at 08-10 135i's they had the N54 and just a tune on those and you have more than most ever want on the street I can roll on throttle in 2nd and it lights them up, with a tune alone it's a very different car. N55 is "ok" but why settle imo I have had zero engine problems from mine.

you can get 700+ reliable out of them now, but you need lots of tire, lsd and suspension to get that to the ground

 

try a Focus ST

superb handling and tons of torque

and you can get a 'fully loaded' ST (ST-3) for under $30 .. well I did ... and fully loaded means:

the body kit (aero package)
overboost turbo (25 lb)
oversized brakes, bigger wheels and Z tires
stiffer suspension (add these 3 = aka JCW)
upgraded sound SONY (HK on MINI)
full leather with Recaro . . . (big $ on MINI)
nav, sirius, bluetooth, auto a/c
xexons .....

don't get me wrong, we just bought a new MINI last week too .... but the Focus ST is still in the barn as well . . . The Focus with all the goodies cost less than the new MINI (left over new roadster S) with many fewer goodies.

But Spousal Unit liked the roadster . . . and happy wife means happy life.

So I have direct comparison btw .. side by side, same day, same roads, nearby dealers . . .

biggest down of the ST ..... not "custom orderable" .... that's one way they keep the costs down I suppose. There is a limited number of combinations, WAY less than a MINI.

Next would be 'fraternity' I suppose. As an ST owner I feel no kinship to fellow Focus owners much less Ford owners. While in some areas there a tight groups of MINI groupies . . .

If you want to find a car to replace a GEN1 or 2 MINI and you can't bring yourself to do the new ones .... which is where I was .... try the ST, Focus and Fiesta.


BTW ... if not aware a 15 Roadster is a GEN2 . . . TG

 

budget rents the fiesta ST and focus ST in manuals, I just rented a fiesta ST in atlanta, that car was pretty fun

 

mine ill be going to a clubman if i can afford it ina few years and pay the 2010 off and try to keep it