I am thinking about getting a used Mini S. I would appreciate some input from you folks. How is the room in the back seat(I got kids)? ETC...
Thanks for your input.
Bill Morgan

 

i have two kids (10 & 8) and bought a pepper white mcs (xenon,cloth heated seats, checkered flag roof with sunroof) and my kids LOVE the car. wife and I are both 5'9" we all have plenty of room. wifes minivan and my porsche rarely leave the driveway if the mini is available. the reason i say NEW is the retained value of the used ones make them as pricey as a new one. happy motoring!!!!

 

There's room for your two kids, depending how comfortable you want to be. I'm 6'2", wife is 5'3". I have to pull the seat up a bit for my 6yo daughter to sit behind me and our son, 10yo, has plenty of room behind mom.

My only concern when I have the kiddies in the car is that there isn't a lot of room behind them in the event one of the local "urban assault vehicles", SUVs, rear ends my nimble, quick stopping MINI. My stategy has been to avoid being in front of them,(SUVs), at all costs, problem is they seem to multiply like locust.

 

I drove my little brother and sister around with my girlfriend in my MCS, sort of a simulated family experience. We decided that 1 kid would be fine in a MINI but two kids with two car seats was a bit too much. I'd say that if you have another car to use incase you ever have to go to the grocery store with two kids in the back, then you'll be fine, otherwise things could be a bit tight. Of course, the only convincing you'll ever need is to go test drive the MCS you want to buy on a very twisty road at high speeds

 

Oh and here's a picture of the kids in the back of it:

 

What age kids do you have?
I have a 13 and a 17 year old and they fit but not for super long trips.
Overall it's OK, just don't haul around too many other things since the boot isn't the most massive thing for luggage. For day to day use it is OK.

 

So then I guess it's good you live on O'ahu and really can't take any super long road trips! Other than circling the island a few hundred times!

 

I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 with the quad cab and the rear seats have almost no leg room at all. It is also like driving a bus with about 10 mpg and the sporty feeling of a milk truck. I need a bit of sports car in my life. Has the Cooper been reliable? I would like to be a part of some of the club type events that I have read about. It seems to be alot of fun. I live in Winston Salem, N.C. and the mountains are close.

 

Around here, used Mini's cost almost as much as a new one. I saw a nice 2003 MCS with 13,000 miles, and the dealer wanted 24,900 for it! I bought a new 2005 with exactly what I wanted for $25,174. I get 13,000 miles more of warranty and free maintenance, plus a two year younger car if I ever trade or sell it. Seems like a no-brainer.

 

That is a great picture!!

You may not want that reflective window screen on the rear parcel tray as it glares out your back window a bit.

 

MINIs are a complete blast....about as much fun you can have in a car which offers at least some practical space. I have 4 kids, but only two are still teens. We use the back seat all the time for multiple passengers......and book bags......and musical instruments.......and luggage when the college kids come home. Its awesome!! Many times, though...it's just me and I do have fun. IMO, its completely worth any slight re-adjustment to drive a MINI.

 

For more guidance just repeat to yourself - MUST BUY MINI, MUST BUY MINI.....

 

The "Hypno-toad"!!! Man I love that show!

 

Yeah, that got moved rather quickly. I stuck it up there because I had to put my little brother and sister in the back, as seen by the picture

 

Welcome to NAM, UN4GIVN! Seeing that you live in NC, you MUST buy a MINI and join us at MINIs On The Dragon - 2005, May 5-9th! It will be the third annual MINI event centered on driving 129, aka "The Dragon," in the Smoky Mountains near Fontana Dam. I drive all the way from Los Angeles to attend this meet! It's on the border of NC/TN, near Robbinsville, NC. Check out the National Events Forum here on NAM to read more about it!

Anyone who describes their Dodge Ram as having the "sporty feeling of a milk truck" is all right in my book! LOL! As for reliability, there are a few quirks in MINIs, but mostly they've been squeaks and rattles. The warranty is an excellent one, 36K miles/3 years, including all suggested maintenance, so that is another reason to buy new. :smile:

Cheers!

Clo/Wanda

 

The kids will have a hoot,buy a MINI

 

Well, you're on the right track with your comment about needing a "sports car" in your life. That's exactly what the MINI is, and if you think of it that way, you'll nearly always be pleasantly surprised. In particular, you'll be happy to find that you have a sports car that can still carry your kids in a pinch. I drive my 2 kids (6 and 3) on weekends and on the odd "pickup and drop off" during the week.

Beyond this, the MINI is not a family car...at least not in the sense that we Americans currently have come to expect. The rear seat is a pain to get into and out of. The trunk is small. With passengers, there isn't much storage space unless you have only small, well-packaged, things to stow (or spend a significant amount of time choosing and sizing items that fit in the limited space available). Point is, when there's just you (the driver) and perhaps one front seat passenger, the MINI is all of that carefree motoring thing that the ads proclaim. Try to use it as a family hauler, and it's a whole other story.

But I'm guessing that you care more about the need for a sports car than anything else. If that's so, get the MINI. And trade the Dodge for something practical like a Subaru/Volvo/etc. wagon. That's the best of both worlds! :smile:

 

I am 6'4" with long legs and I need to put my seat back nearly all the way to be cummfy. My wife can push her seat up about half way to give the kid, he's 4, some good space. If it was my only car and I did not have an Accorrd I would not get the mini with the kids. The back seat is OK for short trips but I would not want to put a family of 4 into it for anykinda long trip.

 

I have two kids, daughter 8, and son 11, and they both love the MINI. We have made a few long seekend trips and have had no complaints about room. Been on a few three day trips to northern, southern california, and vegas. Latley they get bummed if we don't take the MINI on our trips We did the AMVIV last year, and loved it. I was talking about the 2005 meet the other day and my daughter got all excited , but was when she found out she had to wait so long to go.

As for reliability, it to date has been the most reliable car I have owned. Beter than any toyota or honda I've had.

Oh, if you get one (and you will, since your thinking about it already ) and you do take weekend trips, you will learn to pack less things. My wife is very proud that she only needs one small bag for a three day trip now.

Nik

 

I have a 5 yr old and a 15 yr old. I'm about 5'8" and my wife is 5' 3". The car seat is behind the passenger seat, so my wife has to scoot up a bit to give the little one a little room as her feet don't fit under the seat. When we're all in the car, I have to move up the seat just a notch from my normal driving position to make room for the 15 yr old. It's not bad. Okay for short trips (under 2 hours).

We find getting in and out of the back seat no real big problem. My 5 yr old loves to take the corners fast, and my 15 yr old probably can't wait to drive it, but he won't until he's 18.

Strategic packing is a must with the small boot, but you'll be surprised as to how much stuff you can fit in there.

 

I would like to thank everyone for the responses. My wife has a Ford Windstar that will do fine for the long trips. I just need to talk her into this, Any suggestions will be greatly apppreciated. I have heard of the Dragons tail and am only about 3 hrs from TN and it sounds like a blast.

 

We are a 2 MINI family No kids as of yet but have used both MINIs as 4 people haulers and they have been absolutely fantastic. My father in law is a big man 6'2" and 270 pounds, he rides in the back seat NO PROBLEMOS!.


Yesterday we took a bunch of left over Pergo flooring left over material from last week's installation in her 2002 Cooper CVT back to Home Depot and we fitted a bunch of things in the back with the rear seats folded (Long Quarter rounds, Carpet end modings, T-moldings). Everybody in the parking lot had to stop and stare at us and the car and were amazed to see how much can be fitted in the "Smallest car on the road" in the midst of full size pick-up trucks and SUVs


Gotta love it!

 

UN4GIVN, stress the safety features of the MINI: 6 airbags, standard; stiff, strong little body; highest safety rating in its class. People have been extremely well-served by their MINIs when involved in crashes! And I get pretty good mileage for what is really a performance car: 28-34 mpg!

I hope this helps...

Clo/Wanda

 

Here are the IIHS results for 40 MPH offset crash teat in the MINI:


http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0222.htm


"Best Pick"

 

Here's a good idea. Before you decide on the MINI, why don't you go check one out at your local dealer. There is room in the back for kids, but not lots of room.