R32 to an S.....upgrade/down or neither

[bengascoyne]

hey guys,

been long since i used to post here often when I owned my '51 reg Cooper and now I am very seriously considering a return..... I currently own an R32 golf (mk4) and love the car to bits BUT it is getting more n more expensive to own/run and with differing financial constraints I'm thinking its time for a change. I loved my cooper lots and enjoyed owning the car and meeting the folks....... (heres a couple of pics to remind you guys...)




Now primarily I'm wanting to know, as I've heard differing reports on the reliabilty of a used S and am wary of any costs that I may be likely to incur or things to look for in a used S to steer away from any potential banana skins! Main reasons I'm looking at changing are for insurance,tax and consumption but there also other reasons too.

What should I look for and what should I expect to get from between 11 - 14k?? Do cherished mini's come with 12 months warranty still??

thank you always folks,

ben.

[ALD0]

I think you will have 6/12 months if the MINI is "Out" of warranty, thats a lovely Pure silver Cooper, do you know who it went to?

[bengascoyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Interceptor (original)

I think you will have 6/12 months if the MINI is "Out" of warranty, thats a lovely Pure silver Cooper, do you know who it went to?

Hiya mate, no not sure who would be the owner of it now, I sold the wheels to a fellow member from here before she went but the new lucky owner does have the seats in it as I didn't have time to replace them before she was sold (unfortunately I made the mistake of selling the standard seats at the time of getting the JCW's)

So you had a nice S last time we met, what you driving now fella??

ben

[Deutsch]

Buy a facelifted model and you should be good. Overall, this car should be very cheap to own.

[bengascoyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deutsch (original)

Buy a facelifted model and you should be good. Overall, this car should be very cheap to own.

just to ask, when was there a facelift?? never noticed a difference, so what were they?? and was it a decent imrpovement on anything other than cosmetics??

cheers all...

[thepharcyde]

Quote: Originally Posted by bengascoyne (original)

just to ask, when was there a facelift?? never noticed a difference, so what were they?? and was it a decent imrpovement on anything other than cosmetics??

cheers all...

163bhp to 170bhp other than that cosmectic. 2005+ also had option of LSD

Also a BIG DOWNGRADE dont do it, I love the R32

[bengascoyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by thepharcyde (original)

163bhp to 170bhp other than that cosmectic. 2005+ also had option of LSD

Also a BIG DOWNGRADE dont do it, I love the R32

When was the 163 to 170 facelift then?? and what were the cosmetic facelifts as I can't see any diff!!

I really really love the car too, but it gets very difficult to keep running a 3.2 litre V6 4 wheel drive motor on short journeys etc.......... highest tax bracket and it ain't right cheap on insurance either.

hence why i was thinking of returning to a mini, nimble, quick better suited to the sort of journeys i do than the R32 and I also enjoyed my cooper so much, so can see myself loving an S........

still not 100% but am getting quite set on the idea.

[marklar]

Quite simply, I found the Mini to be much more fun to drive than the VW group of cars (Golf, Jetta, TT, S3, S4, S6.) I also adore the supercharger!!!

m.

[04indiblueMCS]

Quote: Originally Posted by bengascoyne (original)

When was the 163 to 170 facelift then?? and what were the cosmetic facelifts as I can't see any diff!!

The "facelift" began in July of 2004, they were dubbed as 2005 models. It involved, not only the slight bump in horsepower, but also a slightly different headlight and taillight design. Along with about 30 other minor interior and exterior "tweaks."

[Paul]

What are first generation, second generation, r53, r56 etc?

See above for "facelift" information etc.

[bengascoyne]

I love this site!!! remembering it was partly why I loved my mini so much!! everyones so helpful and the advice is spot on!!

cheers guys......

so primarily am I best looking for a good deal on a late 2004 / early 05 model then??

[Will_'S']

Quote: Originally Posted by bengascoyne (original)

I love this site!!! remembering it was partly why I loved my mini so much!! everyones so helpful and the advice is spot on!!

cheers guys......

so primarily am I best looking for a good deal on a late 2004 / early 05 model then??

yes indeed 54 plates on, go for one with a chilli pack as well as that includes the lsd, leather seats and the 17" s-spokes. Most dealers are tryin to push used minis at the moments so there is prob some good deals to be had at the moment.

[bengascoyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Will_'S' (original)

yes indeed 54 plates on, go for one with a chilli pack as well as that includes the lsd, leather seats and the 17" s-spokes. Most dealers are tryin to push used minis at the moments so there is prob some good deals to be had at the moment.

noticed your lancashire based yourself, which are the best dealers locally round here, i bought my cooper from Benham Mini in Stockport, but they ain't there anymore, can they get stock from any other mini dealerships if there are some cherished ones on the web??

thanks folks

[bengascoyne]

Also can I ask, if anyone happens to stumble across a chilli red MCS with black roof in the cherished mini's can you point me in that direction, always wanted a red S with black roof.....

also anyone own a red MCS with black roof etc could be kind enough to share a few pics for me......

[Will_'S']

Quote: Originally Posted by bengascoyne (original)

noticed your lancashire based yourself, which are the best dealers locally round here, i bought my cooper from Benham Mini in Stockport, but they ain't there anymore, can they get stock from any other mini dealerships if there are some cherished ones on the web??

thanks folks

I got mine from bowker in preston i was happy with the sales team but there service team are hit and miss. Woodmans at blackpool is supposed to be good andstheres a new one opended up in stockport you can see it from the m60. As for getting dealers to get cherished minis from other dealers i'm sure if you ask nicely it would be possible