[AR-CoolC]

Hi All

I have until the end of tomorrow to select my next company car. I was pretty much set on the Skoda Octavia diesel until a curve ball in the form of the MINI clubman diesel was thrown in late yesterday.

Now the issue is, I don't have time to get a test drive in before the order needs to go in, but I drive around 40,000 miles per year.

I've driven the first generation MINI cooper when they were first launched and found it fine then. But I've no real world experience of what a MINI would be like to live with as a mile muncher.

So calling all high mileage drivers out there. What is it like to live with for a couple of hours a day (minimum) every day?

p.s. I'll do a propper newbie post later

Cheers
Ali

[Richard Crofts]

Not too bad if in stock form. long rides on sports or uprated aftermarket suspention with induction and manifold/exhaust upgrade noise can get wearing...but in stock form I have driven 8 hours virtually solid on many occasions without having an issue and regular do 5+ hour trips from Worcestershire down to Kent (via M25 in very bad traffic). I probably do around 30k a year in last 12 months. Will settle down though to less than that soon

[humph]

It is my current MINIs birthday tomorrow and she is on about 29.5k. Commute about an hour plus each way every day. Have done a number of long trips and have the Italian job coming up at the end of the month (+3000 miles). I was only thinking this morning on my drive from Bury to Whitehaven how much I love my MINI on long trips, especially those that mix motorway with twisties. I think she handles the miles really well, and has never missed a beat. As Richard says modified cars can be loud and harsh, although mine is neither. Stock cars are won't cause too many problems on that front. Have driven a hatch Cooper D and was very impressed, next car I think

The other plus point is that mine is not the current generation, and the ride in the new car is much more refined than the previous model. From reviews I've read go for the standard suspension over the sports which can be harsh. Think a diesel Clubman would be a good choice myself

[Mini-Trainer]

I did 84,000 miles in my previous Mini, and loved it.

I'm on 7,000 in four months of ownership of my new Mini.............Still loving it!

I travelled over 600 miles on Sunday last, I must say after that I was glad to leave Sharona behind.........at least for one more day!

Rams

[johnmichael]

I am just approaching 150,000 miles in 4 MCS. The first 3 were R53s and did 115,000 in total. My Nov 06 R56 has done 33,000. My office is a 1 hour 45 minute 100 mile commute on country lanes, A Roads and Motorway each way. I work from home when I can but often have 500 to 600 mile days either to Yorkshire, Essex or Kent and back. The R53s were OK but the R56 is in a different league; a very good distance car and very quick. I would have no hesitation to recommend it as well capable of the miles you suggest. We also have a Landcruiser Amazon and a Impreza STI and people are amazed that I choose the MCS as my daily driver and even more amazed that I would choose it for a day trip to Yorkshire.

[coley]

My cooper s 03 has done 50000 i woz worried that woz alot lol

[coded2112]

Regularly do 3-400 mile stints in my GP and it is fantastic, would not change it for anything! Now covered nearly 25k in a year so not as many as you but still can recommend it. Mind you mpg not great when you have your lead wellies on! But who cares you are only here once so drive it like you stole it!!

[JOHN BAGLEY]

Hello I own a little old miniD 55Plate I do over 1000miles aweek in the mini ! 145,000miles todate

[W44NE G]

Quote: Originally Posted by Humph (original)

It is my current MINIs birthday tomorrow and she is on about 29.5k. Commute about an hour plus each way every day. Have done a number of long trips and have the Italian job coming up at the end of the month (+3000 miles). I was only thinking this morning on my drive from Bury to Whitehaven how much I love my MINI on long trips, especially those that mix motorway with twisties. I think she handles the miles really well, and has never missed a beat. As Richard says modified cars can be loud and harsh, although mine is neither. Stock cars are won't cause too many problems on that front. Have driven a hatch Cooper D and was very impressed, next car I think

The other plus point is that mine is not the current generation, and the ride in the new car is much more refined than the previous model. From reviews I've read go for the standard suspension over the sports which can be harsh. Think a diesel Clubman would be a good choice myself

You must be local to me... I'm in Bury

I've done 8200 miles since I bought my Cooper D at the end of December and it's been brilliant. It's a LOT more practical than I expected, handles very well, brakes very well (have found out twice how good the brakes can be near the Trafford centre) and is surprisingly quick/economical.

I do mostly motorway miles and it never gets tiring. It soaks up the bumps very well for a short wheelbase car... better than any of the other 17 cars I've owned which have mostly been saloons.

I'm not a huge fan of the Cluban styling but after seeing it in oure silver with webspoke alloys I thought it was quite nice.

[billy.batson]

I see that you started this thread in October, your choice was between a Skoda (UGH!) and a new MINI.

So, what did you buy, I wonder, as you have not reported back?