MINI2 Header Logo

MINI2

Fuel for your MINI obsession

Visit Out Motoring!
Welcome to MINI2.
You are currently viewing MINI2 as a guest.
Please register by clicking this link or login:
       
Search forums: Show: Advanced: Forums or Members or Tags
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread
Old Jan 13th, 2003, 12:18 PM   #1
jambo
MINI2 Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Glasgow
Local Time: 04:18 AM
Posts: 30
Offline
Newbie Needs Advice

Hi all,

I know my questions have probably been covered at some point but I couldn't find any answers after a short look so bare with me.

Looking at the new mini and have driven the One and the Cooper. Liked driving both but found the One better at town speeds and the Cooper better when you can open up the engine a bit. Some specific questions:

1) Is the cooper worth the extra money and insurance (am 27 but only been driving for 10 months so insurance quite high).

2) Drove the One with 15" wheels and the Cooper with 17" S spoke wheels. Love the look of the bigger tyres but found the ride quality considerably worse. Are the 16" 5-spoke alloys a good compromise of ride quality and looks?

3) What have you owners found the build quality like. I hate squeaky, rattly cars. I found the Cooper I drove to be quite rattly but the One was totally rattle free(it was a bit newer).

Cheers in advance,

Jamie.

Need a car that keeps me happy for more than 3 months!!
Scotland   Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Sponsors

Sponsored Links


Registered members do not see Google Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts.
Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum
   
Old Jan 13th, 2003, 12:29 PM   #2 (permalink)
KenL
MINI2 Master
 
KenL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Edinburgh
Local Time: 05:18 AM
Posts: 5,223
Offline
Hello & welcome to MINI2.

My answers to your questions are:

1) I have a ONE and am completely happy with it.

2) I have 15" 8 spoke wheels which I think look great. You can also get a spare with 15" wheels and those tyres are a lot cheaper than 16 or 17". The bigger wheels do look great though but over time the expense of replacing them may put you off. There are various opiniions on whether the run flats are repairable or not so you may be looking at a hefty bill even if you get a simple puncture.

As to ride quality the Cooper you drove may have had sports suspension plus which with low profile 17" tyres would make quite a bit of difference.

You need to decide if you want ultimate grip and handling or a more comfortable ride. The 16" may be the best of both worlds.

3) My MINI has had a few rattles but then just about every car I've been in has had one noise that I could hear. You get a good warranty with the MINI and the dealers should be getting better all the time at fixing things. The cars coming out of the factory are apaprantly getting better built all the time too.

The pleasure of driving the MINI is well worth the odd rattle for me though.

Go for it.

Red/Black R56 Cooper Stripes, CHILLI, ASC+T, MINI HiFi, Piano Black Dash, Red Colour Line, Heated Mirrors/Jets, Spare Wheel, Smoker Pack!
Mods - Cooper S pedals, Cheqered interior mirror, chrome side repeaters
Scotland View KenL's Chili Red & Black 2nd Gen MINI Cooper Profile   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 13th, 2003, 01:23 PM   #3 (permalink)
Hat
MINI2 Privilege Member Has met Quack Quack Jack
Wolves Did It!
 
Hat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Local Time: 05:18 AM
Posts: 15,944
Offline
if i were in your position, i'd probably go for the One & build up some insurance history. You can always spec 16" wheels if you like, but this may put your insurance up again.

You won't be dissapointed, whatever your decision - go for it!

England Male   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 10:26 AM   #4 (permalink)
jambo
MINI2 Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Glasgow
Local Time: 04:18 AM
Posts: 30
Offline
Thanks for the advice however I would like more opinions so keep them coming.

Cheers,

Jamie.

Need a car that keeps me happy for more than 3 months!!
Scotland   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 12:56 PM   #5 (permalink)
Zippy
MINI2 Regular
 
Zippy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Herts
Local Time: 04:18 AM
Posts: 67
Offline
If money isn't tight then I suggest going for the Cooper if you're a keener driver. The 16" with the standard Cooper suspension will still ride harder than the One as it is set up to be slightly softer than the Cooper anyway.
So if you want a sportier car, then go for a Cooper.
The Coopers' harder suspension may be responsible for causing more rattles due to its firmer setup jarring trim loose.

Hope this helps!
United Kingdom View Zippy's Cosmos Black & White 1st Gen MINI Cooper Profile   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 04:25 PM   #6 (permalink)
m1les
Mulberry Red Mini 40
 
m1les's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Essex
Local Time: 05:18 AM
Posts: 1,055
Offline
I originally had the 15" 7 hole alloys and changed them to the 16" 5 spoke. Tremendous difference in grip, you dont have to tiptoe round the bends on 16's as you would on 15's.

We also find the ride softer on the 16's for some reason. I expected it to be harder but it's not.

Plenty of discussion here about Cooper v ONE, I will make no comment other than to leave you to make your mind up about which "ONE" to get.

Was a 1, now 1 of 150 in a 40
England   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 04:32 PM   #7 (permalink)
jambo
MINI2 Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Glasgow
Local Time: 04:18 AM
Posts: 30
Offline
M1les,

did you get the 16" alloys with the standard run flat tyres as I've read a few things about them giving a stiffer ride than normal tyres?

Cheers,

Jamie.

Need a car that keeps me happy for more than 3 months!!
Scotland   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 04:35 PM   #8 (permalink)
Ginger
MINI2 Privilege Member
Lovin my iPod
 
Ginger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Back darn sarf
Local Time: 04:18 AM
Posts: 2,002
Offline
Quote:
Originally posted by Zippy
If money isn't tight then I suggest going for the Cooper if you're a keener driver. The 16" with the standard Cooper suspension will still ride harder than the One as it is set up to be slightly softer than the Cooper anyway.
So if you want a sportier car, then go for a Cooper.
The Coopers' harder suspension may be responsible for causing more rattles due to its firmer setup jarring trim loose.

Hope this helps!

Oooohhh my friend, i'm a sporty driver and like the ONE!
Like your pic did you design it?
United Kingdom   Reply With Quote
Old Jan 14th, 2003, 07:16 PM   #9 (permalink)
LeeH
Under the sky
 
LeeH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Starbucks
Local Time: 05:18 AM
Posts: 431
Offline
My two cents...

1) If you'd like more speedy driving from a standard car, then it's not a hard decision. The insurance is only 3 groups different, but you'll know yourself if you can afford the extra from getting some personalised quotes done.

2) There's three main suspensions on the MINI - standard, as in the ONE, sports as on the Cooper and Sports+ as on the Cooper S. I found the standard a little too soft and not quite as sporty (IMHO!) and this was a major factor in going for the Cooper. You can of course put sports onto a ONE now, and add the bigger wheels if you prefer.

The handling on my first test drive (17", SS+ & DSC) was amazing and was the point me & my good lady decided to get the car. In reality though, it would be too harsh day to day, so we fell into the middle with 16" and sports suspension. The 16" have wider tyres so make (again, IMHO) for better driving fun.

3) Ours is a 2003 model and seems very well screwed together, but then I've got a very long history of French cars so most things seem pretty solid to me. I think the general view is that the earlier cars have had problems, had them ironed out and the later ones have incorporated these fixes.

I honestly don't think you can go too far wrong with any MINI, it'll make you grin each morning that you leave the house and drive it.

Lee.
  Reply With Quote
Old Jan 16th, 2003, 07:29 PM   #10 (permalink)
m1les
Mulberry Red Mini 40
 
m1les's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Essex
Local Time: 05:18 AM
Posts: 1,055
Offline
Quote:
did you get the 16" alloys with the standard run flat tyres as I've read a few things about them giving a stiffer ride than normal tyres?

They are the run flat tyres and they are equally as soft a ride if not softer than the 15's

Definately recommended over the 15's.

Was a 1, now 1 of 150 in a 40
England   Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Sponsors

Sponsored Links


Registered members do not see Ads posts, they can also post messages, pictures, and classified adverts.
Register your free account today and become a member of MINI2 - MINI Forum
   
Reply
More is car insurance


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newbie asking advice the subtle modder General Discussion 19 Sep 25th, 2007 08:39 AM
Newbie, Cooper S advice. King Cooper MINI Cooper S 12 Sep 4th, 2007 09:41 AM
Newbie Advice vickietots General Discussion 17 May 12th, 2005 03:56 PM
Newbie Advice Stevie B MINI Cooper S 0 Mar 13th, 2005 01:38 PM
Newbie Needs Advice aerodragon MINI Cooper 10 Apr 9th, 2002 05:10 PM