Hello, i am totally new to the mini but i am a gearhead that likes to go lefts and rights being in shifter kart racing for over 10 years. I reside in CURACAO were i bought a 2013 Suzuki Swift Sport that has been banned from the usa. Its fast and handles great after my fine tune go kart handling.
So now i am in for a change and i like to own a cooper/jwc or cooper S /jwc.
From what i read from Motor Trend these cars have bad resale value and has many issues that costs to maintain.
what say you to a new potential mini owner?

 

Parts in the aftermarket are relatively on par with any other car. OEM are ridiculous. If you can work on your own car, I think you will be fine, if not....stick to the Asian brands. From what I have seen, resale is horrible, so you can get a pretty good deal. It is a fun car, a cool car....I got one for my son for next to nothing, Liability only...IF i get a year out of it, It paid for itself

 

Thanks for your honesty and reply. Anyone else would like to talk me out of a cooper?

 

Don't want to talk you out of it....It is one of the funnest cars I have ever driven.....But it is what it is....a BMW. Lots of overcomplication, and designs that make you say WTF were they thinking? Some things very easy to work on, others, not so much....it seems simple things are a real pain. Lots of special tools and bits that I have never had or needed on any other car. I do most all of my own work with in reason...I am not a mechanic, but, you can google anything you are unsure of....It's so little, it feels like you are working on a toy. The other day I was swapping to snow tires only to find all Lug bolts were frozen. The rear wheels were spinning as I was pulling trying to brake them free....now that's a light rear end...like my son's old POWERWHEELS elec toy

Must fun I have had with so little horsepower...

 

The newer the better. Repair incidents across all models get much better 2012 and on. Mini is in the top half of Consumer Reports recent rankings.

If buying used, get records. Get an extended warranty.

If you want to have fun on every drive, feel excited every time you see your car and live your best life?

Get a Mini.

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Just remember, it's a European sports car. Fun to drive, but stupid expensive to maintain and repair compared to a Honda/Toyota. Think, BMW, Porsche, MB, etc.

 

Thanks for posting fellas. Planning travels to Miami to purchase used a jcw package hatch back S. Years 2009-2013. My driving style is some what aggressive and feel besides my current swift sport the mini would be faster with the turbo. Now the down side. I am exporting the car to Curacao were i reside were there is no extra warranty purchase and would have to buy my parts from the states. We currently have a few cooper running here on the island.
Ok, that said, buying a used mini S.
What is on the list to look for buying a used S?

 

 

well said mini cpa. if you want to play you got pay as they say. waiting 3 weeks for parts is a real hassle. even for the *** cars here some parts are not in stock so you wait 3 plus weeks. I wonder why the suzuki swift sport is not imported to the US. 1000kg with 135hp. Itching for new .