Difficult to walk away when you've already made the decision to view and are prepared to purchase. But sounds like the right decision. I bought an r56 JCW ( n18 not n14 engine so no timing chain death rattle issues). Car was immaculate so looked and drove well. Opened the boot to see a bottle of engine oil which struck me as a bit unusual i.e. car cleaned out and the only thing in the car was a bottle of oil. I had read up and found out out that some drink a fair amount of oil but I checked the exhaust no blue smoke so I figured what is the worst that could happen... She was very thirsty: 1L of oil every 1500 miles which is within BMWs tolerance of 1l every 1000miles ( I have an old bmw that only sups 1L every 15K) got it serviced and and a health check at a independent garage and I got the they all do that sir. A bit more reading and a common culprit is the pcv ( a small rubber valve) that can split. Got a replacement part and cover for £60 and this has drastically reduced oil consumption but she still likes a drink and I keep her topped up . It's on about 50K now and I am about to replace (upgrade opportunity obviously) shocks and springs on all 4 corners ( 1 strut is spewing oil so there is no damping ). It's a fun thing whilst not being silly fast. Minis are not known for being the most reliable but you're on a ducati forum so that wont put you off. Spent about 30 hrs car cleaning last week, wheels off etc, which confirmed shock damage (scheduled for repair thursday) , a dented wheel on the bmw (currently in for a repair) and the family bus needs a major service and belt change.. It's going to be an expensive month..
The cooling fan thing is a little off track, I've had loads of cars where the cooling fans keep going after it's stopped, and my bike does it, for example. The VAG products, specifically 1.8 turbo engines had little electric water pumps to keep circulating water after the engine had stopped, so it's a well used feature. Probably to avoid fatigue and get some small amount of air circulating around the engine bay.
My daughter in law had a 2004 cooper. Absolutely shocking car, as bad as the bad old BL and Austins etc of the 70s and 80s. Have you considered a Citroen DS3 sport? A much nicer drive imo and despite being French it can't be as unreliable as the mini in my experience.
I read a review which suggested that the Germans deliberately made the rebooted Mini unreliable and fragile in order to further enhance the nostalgia trip for us Brits. But having said that, I also wouldn’t get a French car either because every one I’ve ever owned or been in was a hateful tin box with a cheap and nasty interior. Plus, Citroën sounds an awful lot like “citron” (lemon). Perhaps if I did the whole ex pat Provence thing, I’d get an old deux che veux and drive around with the dog on my lap and an old rocking chair sticking out of the deck chair roof, but, “freedom of movement” (or soon to be absence thereof) Plus, what she doesn’t know yet is that when she’s ready to upgrade The Coop, I’m having it for a track car
Because she’s got a 70 year old head on 35 year old shoulders and so she sees frivolous debt as something slightly shameful. It’s only because she’s going to be applying for a mortgage soon than she’s recently started using a credit card to build a credit record. Plus, it’s only now she’s finished studying and has a proper job that she can afford a car, hence she has a mere 7 months driving experience in the 12 years since she passed her test. And last but by no means least, judging by the way she kangarood the car down the road and basically abandoned it at a 45 degree angle to the kerb when she returned, I don’t have much confidence that she’d be able to abide by the “You must return the car in the same condition it was in....” term of a PCP contract tbh
When I retire mine from station duties that is the plan for mine. I've not had that discussion with her yet but I thought it an easier conversation to suggest keeping one for the purpose rather than buy something specifically.
Yep. Very much so. I came downstairs the other morning to find her baking bread wearing a crop top vest and a pair of hot pants gym shorts
It's funny you say that because the oven did get pressed into use, but in a manner which was not intended by the manufacturer and that probably invalidated the warranty I do wonder sometimes if it's proof we are living in a computer simulation because on the Hot/Crazy Matrix, she's definitely less than a "4" crazy while also being super hot and according to the guys who invented it, such women do not exist.
No back doors on a Mini. Unless you get the Clubman, of course. Though, according to this thread, both have issues with leakage in the rear storage compartment
