Hi All,

I am new here but have always like the looks of the Mini. I am interested in possibly getting a Cooper S as my daily commute car. Right now I drive a 95 m3 but the mileage is getting pretty high and I would like to find a new commuter. I drive about 35 miles each way to work over a fairly windy road so I thought this may be a good fun car to commute in that will also get me good mpg. Is there anything I should look for when buying a pre-owned version? Are certain years better than others? Thanks again, and I would love to hear all opinions.

 

Welcome to NAM!

I drive an 05 MCS (JB is the best color and 05 is the ast year for it) to work everyday, morning is a mainly highway route (before dawn so very empty roads) 40 miles long the afternoon is about half highway depend upon which traffic avoiding twisty I decide to use that day. all told I average over 100 miles a day have a total of 60k on the clock and am a week and month short of 2 years.

I'd try looking for something still well within warranty in the 05-06 block so you'll have that extra bit of insurance and that many more miles and years you'll get to drive your baby to work. Nothing wrong with the older ones, just make sure they were well maintained and any applicable updates (software for ECU as well as anti-sqeuaking measures on the 02-03 models) have been properly completed.

 

Welcome!

I think they are great commute cars, thats mainly what I do with mine (that and family trips). I commute about 140 miles (total) each day and after 4 1/2 years of doing it in this car I still look forward to that part of my day.

It would be a great car for a windy road commute, but with the S it may be hard to keep your foot out of it, thus not the best gas milage . I get 30-33 with my S, but pretty much just driving at 70ish. Windy road, having fun I'll quickly be in the 20s. That being said, I would still pick the S.

As for years, basically anything after 02 is good, with the 05 and 06's being the best of the bunch.

Good luck,

Nik

 

I drive an 04 Cooper S (DS/B all the way) I use it as a daily commuter and its great, for me at least. Depending on your set up some people might think it a bit rough. But like i said, it depends. Things like run-flat tires make the ride worse, but they have their benefits as well.

I would say go as new as you can afford...for example if you were to buy a car as equipped as mine (fully loaded except park distance control), you would expect to pay $25,780( i paid 27,100, gotta love the depreciation value of this car) according to www.kbb.com, but mine is apparently low mileage for its age...38K as opposed to 51K.

A comparible 2005 with the same options will cost you 26,100. So, i say go as new as you can afford. MINIs arent cheap, but if you want to sell it down the road you will get most of your money back.

Hope this helps, and good lick with your choice.

 

MCS or MC for commuting is fine.

2005 or 2006 have less problems even if higher mileage.

Stock suspension is fine but if there was sport suspension then that offers better handling and slightly stiffer ride.

Runflats are OK but better handling and ride comes with changing to non runflats. Buy and store (in a bag) a compact spare tire in the trunk (boot) area when commuting, MCS doesn't come with a spare.

Power is ample in an MCS so coming from an M3 that would be better. Power is adequate given the lower weight in an MC. Mpg is better in the MC. Auto transmission will work but manual transmission is more fun and unless you have lots of urban driving the manual would offer better mpg.

LSD is a factory option on Manual MCS so look for that.
Sunroof is popular option. Leather seats were popular. Harmon Kardon stereo is a factory upgrade.

16" wheels offer the best compromise in handling comfort and looks. 17" stock wheels tend to be very heavy. For the MC, stock 15" wheels are also good and stock 175/65-15 tires can be replaced with 205/55-15 tires for better handling without compromising on comfort.

 

200 miles round trip to work here in my '06 Mini Cooper. I love the car and the commute to work is no longer boring.

 

mine's a daily driver. And boy do I look forward to getting behind the wheel before and after work.

 

If you're buying a MINI specifically as a daily commuter and the MPGs, get the Cooper !

We commute in both of ours and they have plenty of zippiness for merging onto interstates (and to pass the slow pokes). And at 31 MPGs and nearly 400 miles per tank, we're not only stylish, but smart.

 

2005 MCS here and just turned 59k miles last week, awesome daily commuter. I'm about the same distance as you, 30 miles each way. Some days our Mini is what makes going to and from work worth it! hehe.

 

I've got a 2006 MCS for my 75 mile round trip daily commute. At 1 year I've got 27k miles. The 17 inch wheels and run-flats are a bit harsh when the road isn't smooth but overall it is a great commuter car.

 

I know a lady that has an 07 that does ~ 130 mile (each way) commute every day. The last time I talked to her she was loving it. We wave every morning & evening

Nik

 

Just got my car on Friday and I am babying it so far. At some point will get a ton of miles. Very fun and different to drive than what I am used to. People keep saying its so much fun to drive but you don't really understand until you get the car. As a daily commute, I'm sure it will still be fun and functional but for me and stuck in So Cal traffic, finally getting home will also be fun.

 

Welcome - and yes - they are GREAT commuter cars as you can read by all the responses so far...the MINI makes just about any commute - at least a little more tolerable..

Donna

 

I can't think of a better commuting car (60 miles round-trip for me).
It sounds corny, but I look forward to my commute in the MINI now (well, more to the commute home than the one to work) -- I really do look forward to driving my car as I sit at work (go figure, huh?) . . . I'm thinking about my drive home with the top down right now.

 

Long commute ina car =
Long commute in a MINI =
& go '05 or newer if you can

 

I drove my 05 to commute/track/fun for 57,000 miles, at which point I bought an e46 3 series to commute so I could keep the MCS for fun/track/ever. I didn't get sick of commuting in the MCS; just the opposite, I want to keep it forever, so keeping mileage down was the issue.

Since you have a twisty commute, is sounds like yours is a great plan. Good luck with it!

mb

 

Sounds like you have it right in the other thread - 04+ is good. The '04 will give you (slightly) better mileage due to slightly higher gearing. The '05+ gearing is nice though - feels a bit more natural to me.

MINI as a commute car is good - decent/good mileage, excellent handling, and certainly comfortable. It straightens out Hwy 17 nicely. You should be able to pull close to 30mpg out of it. If you're really looking to save gas $, a Justa (Cooper) will get better mileage than that.

 

If I HAVE to work, and I HAVE to commute a significant distance to do it, I might as well have as much fun as possible while in the car. That's why I think it;s a GREAT commute car. I have almost 52000 miles now and most of it is commuting miles (Long Beach CA to El Segundo, CA and back on the 405, mostly, EVERY DAY.) Never before has commuting been so fun for me.

 

I haven't communted in my car but have taken 4 very long trips and one thing I think should be considered is that the seats and cockpit are very comfortable. Here's my math: great gas mileage + fun driver + comfort + smiles = great commute (but me no rocket scientist)

 

there's probably no greater commuter car for people who love cars and driving. a miata might be close, but the mini is more comfortable. decent gas mileage, small size for great manuverability, makes commuting fun. i know this is gonna sound stupid, but just make sure you get one of those downtube cupholders and you're set

 

I drive a 04 Nissan Pathfinder Armada as a daily and a 06Zo6 Corvette as backup. To say I am looking forward to my CooperS as a "daily driver" is an understatement

 

If you're focused on gas mileage, you may want to consider a new 07 MC (I may get shot for even suggesting it on the 1st Gen forums), but it's a peppy commuter with awesome mpg. Although when your other car is an E36 M3, you may want to stick to the MCS -- in which case an 07 may or may not be in the budget for a commuter (it will give you better mileage, but the savings from an 04 or 05 used MINI over a new 07 buys a lot of extra gas).

 

Quick! Get the pitchforks and some torches!
That's a good idea, though from the OP's statements, looks like saving money overall is a goal. No financial sense in buying a new car and putting 20+K a year on it to save a few hundred on gas. Depreciation would easily offset gas savings.
Besides, given the cars he's looking at, it doesn't appear saving gas is the primary consideration.

 

I left DC for Vegas becasue I couldn't stand the commute. Cut it down frm an hour each way to 12 minutes. Then I bought "da MINI". Now I (almost) miss that commute...except it was straight, level, bumper-to-bumper, (and to quote Handsome Rob from "The Italian Job") "slit-your-wrist traffic." No car can make that enjoyable...