Hi Citroen DS3 Owner looking for advice on Mini Cooper D

[shavedsporty]

Hello, please go easy on me as I am a newbie to this site and just visiting
I currently have a Citroen DS3 Hdi 90 horse power. I like my ds3 but it is time for a change and I never buy the same car twice in row. Anyway I have always liked the mini, I am looking at the mini Dand the Audi A1 Sport D. I would like a Cooper diesel as I cant afford the Cooper S diesel. Can you give me any advice on this car please. I know they handle like a dream, but is the payoff a hard ride as I do over 20k mileage a year and suffer neck problems, so i dont want a rock hard ride. Also, the dealer told me I must have the Chilli pack to help residuals? is this true? Are there any deals on the mini at the moment? Can you get discount on them? BTW had a poor experience of Bristol mini when i tried to sort out a test drive.

Hope this question has not been asked a million times! Cheers and thanks
paul

[ChrisH1987]

Hi Paul

Thought i'd give you a couple of words of wisdom. I have owned my Cooper D for nearly 2 years now and i have had NO ISSUES. Admittedly it does help that im a technician for MINI and i look after it on a regular basis! With regard to your worry about the ride and mileage; i was travelling a 120 mile round trip everyday for the last year and i never had any issues the seats are comfy and the ride is great. As for the selection of a chili pack: it helps reduce the monthly payments as it increases the risidual/ resale value. Any additional extras will have the same effect! Many dealers have deals on at the moment but the main deals are around new registation time when you have "pre reg" cars. These are cars that they register before the new registration. i.e buying a '61 plate car after the release of the new '12 reg. BTW the newer cooper and one D's have a smaller version of the BMW 1,3 and 5 series engine so plenty of power!!

Hope this Helps

Any questions dont hesitate to ask!!!

[mab01uk]

If ride is important to you it may be worth avoiding any of the larger 17" alloy wheel options fitted with low profile tyres and also try to avoid runflat tyres which have much stiffer sidewalls. The 16" wheel options and normal tyres are a good compromise between ride and sporting looks. The Cooper D can also be ordered with an optional factory fitted spacesaver spare wheel.

[Angib]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChrisH1987 (original)

As for the selection of a chili pack: it helps reduce the monthly payments as it increases the risidual/ resale value. Any additional extras will have the same effect!

Chris, do you have any hard evidence of this?

I've heard it said/written many times on Mini forums and I've always treated it as salesman's spiel - the buyer is happy to hear that loading extras on will help them sell the car, so they don't ask if it's actually true. A sucker and his money are easily parted.....

All the used value guides I've seen say that a Chili-pack car is worth exactly the same percentage of its original cost as a non-Chili-pack car - so having the Chili pack increases the depreciation in £s.

As for any additional extras having the same effect - dream on. Sure, if you spend £1000 on some extras, it may (only may) add £100 to the resale value, but losing the other £900 isn't a good deal, is it?

[Spacer]

I can prove it, but with the media pack. My quotes for the car with the media pack were less than it without! I have seen it in writing :-)

[shavedsporty]

thanks for the replies much appreciated.
Chris, what is included in the chilli pack? Is it worth £2200 extra? I would like 16inch wheels, 3 spoke steering wheel. nicer seats and the rear spoiler are all those part of the chilli pack? wouldnt they be cheaper getting them separately? Over 18k list price for the cooper D + chilli pack is rather expensive!

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by shavedsporty (original)

thanks for the replies much appreciated.
Chris, what is included in the chilli pack? Is it worth £2200 extra? I would like 16inch wheels, 3 spoke steering wheel. nicer seats and the rear spoiler are all those part of the chilli pack? wouldnt they be cheaper getting them separately? Over 18k list price for the cooper D + chilli pack is rather expensive!

If you actually want those extras then do go for the CHILLI pack.

Check out the mini cherished list on the mini UK website. There are some pre-reg cars available. I just got a Cooper with CHILLI and saved ~£2k.