Mini Cooper 2002 Auto

[TillyBray]

Hi

My girlfriend is looking at getting a Mini Cooper 1.6 2002 model.

It looks good and has most of the bells and whistles but it also has an AUTO box, I use an auto myself but in a BMW 645 and one my old BMW 330 and love it, but have no idea what it will be like in the cooper?

Can anyone give me some good and bad points? Should it just be avoided? She isn't a speed demon and knows that it won't be as sporty as the manual but she does like the idea of an auto box.

Also is there anything I should really check when looking at a 2002 mini cooper?

Kind regards

TillyBray

[M.O.S]

It'll be very weird to drive. Its a CVT box, meaning it will not change gear (it has one gear only, which continuously changes). Basically it'll find the optimum revs for the amount of acceleration you want (if you put your foot right down it'll sit high up the range, if you put it a bit it'll go lower etc). So it will take a lot of getting used to - totally different from the auto you are used to.

There are good and bad points... Some fail, others don't. Fuel economy is reduced a bit, but insurance tends to be cheaper on an auto... She'd have to drive it because its unlike most other cars. Oh and on minis of that age, power steering fails a fair bit. If it hasn't had a pump, chances are it will have to have one in the not so distant future! I'd recommend you go for a lower specced one, facelift (54 onwards) which will be much more reliable. Although it may cost £2k to do, it'd be well worth doing in the long run.

Also don't rule out the one. If she can live without a contrast roof (or will pay to get one sprayed) a one would be better in some ways. It'd be cheaper, and if you really wanted power spend £240 on a bluefin. Its a chip which removes the throttle restrictor bmw put onto a one due to the fact it has the same engine as the cooper. The power developed by a cooper is only really noticeable after 3,800 revs, so if she's not a speed demon, a newer one would be the better car really. A manual one is about the same in terms as performance as a CVT cooper.

Hope that sort of helps!

[TillyBray]

GREAT info, I was worried about the auto and had heard about this CVT weird box thingy!

Since posting I've been trying to track down the car history and it all sounds a little dodgy so we will avoid anyway I think.

Interesting to know she can go for a ONE and get the power sorted to the same a Cooper.

Is it best to aim for a 2004/2005 model then, she has max £8000 to spend.

TillyBray

[iain cooper]

yes I would agree, good advice from M.O.S

[Drewuk]

Don't be put off the CVT if an auto is what your after, its an absolute cracker to drive. :-)

It does feel different at first (my first auto) however you soon get used to and appreciate the incredibly smooth acceleration. Plus the sports drive and step manual modes are great fun if you want to drive a little more spirited. I find mine quite economic even around town, I get around 280-300 miles to a tank.

There have been some reports of cvt failures but on this forum however much less than the problems people had with the early Midlands manual gearbox. (although it would cost an awful lot more to put right) Some members on here have 100,000 miles plus with the cvt with no major problems.

You could also consider the Cooper S auto, this has a standard auto greabox if you need to be able to feel the gearchanges.

Drew :-)

[M.O.S]

There's plenty of Ones within your budget... At the top end are the facelifts (the better buy). The bluefin is a great mod, but only really does anything when you take it above 3,800rpm - if she's not going to drive it hard it'd be a waste of money!

However, here are some at dealers which may appeal:
MINI Cherished - MINI details

MINI Cherished - MINI details

MINI Cherished - MINI details

MINI Cherished - MINI details

MINI Cherished - MINI details

MINI Cherished - MINI details

There's a variety of colours and or specs there... The facelift would be the better buy really - stronger gearbox and power steering, meaning that the long term costs are most likely to be lower. You'll get a bit off the price they've listed, but don't expect much - you'd be better pushing for accessories that you want such as rubber mats, body coloured mirrors etc - all would improve the car, and its more likely that you'll get these type of things than money off due to the fact that there is high demand for used minis

Hope they help - I've not included ones without alloys but other than that they're not narrowed down - depends on what spec you want really! Thats what a dealer will do you for 8k

Hope that helps

[Marisa]

M.O.S.

Quote:

bluefin is a great mod,

Do you really think a BLuefin would be of benefit to e Cooper?

[M.O.S]

Quote: Originally Posted by Marisa (original)

M.O.S.

Do you really think a BLuefin would be of benefit to e Cooper?

Incase you haven't read it properly I will re-explain. The original poster has read the thread, and looked at all of the advice given. As a result, the original poster is now considering a ONE facelift as opposed to the original cooper. It was also in relation to post number 3. Hence I was talking about ones and said that the bluefin is a great mod. I made no reference to coopers whatsoever. Along with this, I know some people who have a cooper with a bluefin, and although their power output hasn't changed dramatically, their fuel consumption has improved, so for £240 its probably worth having. I believe you have misread the situation

[Marisa]

I only asked a straight honest question and did not expect such a surly reply!