Mini Petrol vs diesel - if priced the same?

[Andehh]

My mum is about to buy a new Mini2. Due to my dad being in the Military he gets quite a discount (well, all the taxes) off the purchase price of the car.

My Mum is after a Mini Cooper Chilly pack, 3 door. The question currently is the 1.6 petrol or 2.0 diesel. For reasons I dont quite understand the dealership they have to go for has quoted £15,825 for the 2.0 Diesel Chilly Cooper and £15,048 for the 1.6 Petrol Chilly Cooper.

She wants auto, leather and a few toys and has specc'd accordingly. From looking at the quotes the diesel has the auto standard (petrol does not) which seems to be a chunk of the cost difference.

All the same, for the sake of £700 is the diesel the one to go for? She does want a 'nippy' car, but will only be doing average mileage, on average roads (motorway to town).

Any advice guys? Cheers

[Madpig]

Unless you are going to do serious mileage I wouldn't choose the diesel as you won't get any major benefits.

Personally I would go petrol......much much more fun!!!

[iain cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Madpig (original)

Unless you are going to do serious mileage I wouldn't choose the diesel as you won't get any major benefits.

Personally I would go petrol......much much more fun!!!

I would agree, for someone doing average mileage petrol is the way to go in a mini.

Iain

[andyandrews@btintern]

Petrol. No contest. Unless the car does over 15k a year the petrol will be cheaper overall and a better drive

[Mattstorm]

I would personally go diesel, the petrol is quicker off the line but the mid range torque in the diesel makes the diesel pull alot harder, look at the figures from 50 to 70 mph on the mini website. My new One D is quicker mid range than my old Cooper petrol and when it comes to overtaking I was surprised how easy it was with the One D (and mines the bigger Clubman) where my Cooper needed a good thrashing. Everybody says buy the diesel if you do big mileage but for me the mileage is only a small part of it, the increase cost for the diesel virtually stays with the car in its risidual value, the engines are far more robust and last a lot longer, mid range they wipe the floor with petrol and I've had plenty of both, they cruise better on the motorway, the new N47 block diesel from the BMW's sounds better in the Mini than the piezo electric fuel injectors on the petrol engines which just sound tappety. Yeah the Cooper S and especially the JCW are awesome don't get me wrong but on a car doing low mileage there are many reports of the high powered petrol engines getting coked up behind the injectors and people had to have their engines rebuilt, in the states people use sea foam to clean them (check it out on youtube).

To be honest all Mini's are awesome and you will love which ever you get and maybe in general I just prefer the way diesel engines drive but after having a Cooper Petrol and now owning a One Petrol and One Diesel (both brand new) my vote gets the diesel!

[eatcustard]

Get your old girl to drive both and get the one she likes best.
Both have pros and cons.

[Andehh]

This will be a car she keeps for a very long time, so will be sold after fairly high value/it becomes un-economical to run.

Usually I agree with the principle of petrol unless very high mileage, but when they are only £800 a part, diesel seems quicker on paper and more expensive brand new (before Dad's military discount) I find myself hesitating.


Can anyone comment on what the price of servicing is for the 1.6 and 2.0diesel? What about the different MPG - real world that is!

Thanks for the help guys

[Cooper S Jon]

if you answer NO to all the criteria questions in my sig then petrol is the fuel type that is needed..

all modern diesels DON'T like short trips or being driven like miss daisy,if short/urban journeys is all this car will be doing it will more than likely clog up the emmission systems requiring dealer visits to force a regen on the dpf..

[Andehh]

Thanks guys, I will pass this on!

[Paul1982]

OMG guys, have you even thought of the residual value the Diesel will give you!!

I'm a car trader and let me tell you, FACT the diesel is ALWAYS the better seller these days.

If your mother was to change her mind one day they I can guarantee the diesel after 3-5 years will be worth 20% more.

I remap ALL dfp (Particulate Filters) off my diesel cars as they are POINTLESS and problematic.
So a remapped Mini is A) Better on Fuel by far than the Petrol Model & B) Faster through ALL gears.

If your parents can get a discount that put both cars at the same value then Diesel is a no brainer!!! (The winner, for u yanks )

[eatcustard]

Wife drive Focus diesel (short journeys) and gets 37mpg)
I drive it (longer journeys) 52 MPG

Diesels dont like short journeys, the need to warm up to best best out of them.

[Angib]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul1982 (original)

OMG guys, have you even thought of the residual value the Diesel will give you!!

Indeed - there are quite a few cars where it makes financial sense to buy the diesel version even if they used more fuel, not less. As one forum member has indicated a Cooper S Countryman is a bad choice compared to a SD Countryman if you ever want to trade it in.

[minicore]

Diesel for me too.

I much prefer the newer BMW-engined Dooper over the comparable petrol Cooper... much better drive, feels more gutsy and capable (and that's based on the 1.6, not the 2.0).

[Mattstorm]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul1982 (original)

OMG guys, have you even thought of the residual value the Diesel will give you!!

Errrrm, I did!

[Mattstorm]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mattstorm (original)

the increase cost for the diesel virtually stays with the car in its risidual value,

see