R50/53 Mini Cooper auto as first car for 16 year old girl. Reliable?
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Talk about making someone sad. I was thinking of getting a mini but not after a mini only forum has, no, never get one of these cars, ever. What do I do now I was wanting something with great looks, good gas mpg, and somthing fun to drive. I thought that was the mini. How could they screw up as good looking car like this that bad (electric power steering pump are they stupid who does that). What do i do now there are no other cars that I would want to be seen in that fits this discription.
I wouldn't count it out yet just for the power steering pump. Power steering pumps are covered under warranty for 13 years/150k miles now. And for what it's worth I'm still on my original pump at 11 years and 141k miles. Lots of cars use electric power steering pumps...
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...n-test-feature
http://www.caranddriver.com/features...n-test-feature
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Keep the good news coming. The only other car i was looking at was the vw gti. Power steering would not be a deal breaker, (has anbody tried going manual steering on these cars). I would do all the work myself on the car but i do not want to work on it all the time, what is going to go out on it. And what would be the price if I did all the work myself, worst case. I really want this to be my next car.
Keep the good news coming. The only other car i was looking at was the vw gti. Power steering would not be a deal breaker, (has anbody tried going manual steering on these cars). I would do all the work myself on the car but i do not want to work on it all the time, what is going to go out on it. And what would be the price if I did all the work myself, worst case. I really want this to be my next car.
Get an '05 or '06 so you get the getrag 5-speed instead of the midlands. On a higher mileage one, expect to have to replace at some point, if it hasn't already been done:
1. Strut mounts (rubber tears)
2. Control arm bushings
3. Thermostat gasket
Front crank sensor seal tends to seep oil a little, you could replace and use RTV if wanted, but it's really not a big deal. Those three items seem to happen to just about every MINI. Of course, other stuff could come up, but I'd say in '05 or '06 base Cooper, you'll have a decently reliable car.
Just get used to popping the hood regularly to check the oil, coolant, and power steering fluid levels to catch any possible issues/leaks early.
1. Strut mounts (rubber tears)
2. Control arm bushings
3. Thermostat gasket
Front crank sensor seal tends to seep oil a little, you could replace and use RTV if wanted, but it's really not a big deal. Those three items seem to happen to just about every MINI. Of course, other stuff could come up, but I'd say in '05 or '06 base Cooper, you'll have a decently reliable car.
Just get used to popping the hood regularly to check the oil, coolant, and power steering fluid levels to catch any possible issues/leaks early.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 26
From: Kanuckistan
I agree a base mini with a standard from 2005 or 2006 is a good car. It may need a few things but so will any other 8 or 9 year old car. Just stay away from the CVT or the auto in the S. You will also need to check for oil leak before you buy.
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
As a first car for any teenager you want one that doesn't fuss and breakdown.
Best bet is a late model Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 or Honda Civic.
However I would suggest that you also consider safety ratings as the early model year Civics were not as good as the 2006 Civic and beyond.
Chances are there will be no big accidents but teens often are in them so a safer car would go a long way. I know, since one year after buying a new Honda Fit my high school aged son was hit by a drunk driver and the Fit was totaled. My son and his passenger were OK but the car took the hit.
The only way I would consider a used MINI is-
2005 or later
Manual getrag transmission, both CVT and automatics have been used in the MINI.
As low miles as possible.
But if you have ever owned an older used car you have to worry about wear and failure of many of the various car systems-
A/C
Power windows
Xenon headlights
Power sunroof
Fuel Pump
Brake pads, tires
Timing chain or belt
Clutch wear or transmission
Best bet is a late model Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 or Honda Civic.
However I would suggest that you also consider safety ratings as the early model year Civics were not as good as the 2006 Civic and beyond.
Chances are there will be no big accidents but teens often are in them so a safer car would go a long way. I know, since one year after buying a new Honda Fit my high school aged son was hit by a drunk driver and the Fit was totaled. My son and his passenger were OK but the car took the hit.
The only way I would consider a used MINI is-
2005 or later
Manual getrag transmission, both CVT and automatics have been used in the MINI.
As low miles as possible.
But if you have ever owned an older used car you have to worry about wear and failure of many of the various car systems-
A/C
Power windows
Xenon headlights
Power sunroof
Fuel Pump
Brake pads, tires
Timing chain or belt
Clutch wear or transmission
As for the mini , I would not buy 1 for a 16 year old
I agree it's probably not the best choice for a 16 year old, but I'm glad my wife's father bought one for her 11 years ago as her first car! For what it's worth she was 17...
Shoot, I was driving around in a 91 Ford Escort with reverse that only worked some of the time back then...
Shoot, I was driving around in a 91 Ford Escort with reverse that only worked some of the time back then...
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: Jersey City, NJ
Buy a used car from a Rich neighborhood (Dr's & Lawyers)...they keep excellent maintenance records on their cars...they don't have the time to do the work themselves because of their work schedules.
Personally, I would stay away from Civics, Corollas, Accords, and Camry's that are older than six years old...lot of the older ones are dogged out...
The new F56s (Third Generation) will be out in another couple of months and that means a lot of people will be trying to dump their R53s and you should get a great price on these, even with low miles...
The R53 is the most Modified MINI and fun to drive of the MINIs.
Personally, I would stay away from Civics, Corollas, Accords, and Camry's that are older than six years old...lot of the older ones are dogged out...
The new F56s (Third Generation) will be out in another couple of months and that means a lot of people will be trying to dump their R53s and you should get a great price on these, even with low miles...
The R53 is the most Modified MINI and fun to drive of the MINIs.
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