I also did a thing! 2014 Mini Cooper S
 

Searched for a sub-$12K manual in the area for my daughter. There were GTIs, GLIs, WRXs, MX-5s (Miatas), Mazda 3s, 986s, even a few Corollas, and ended up with this.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752853738.jpg

Apparently they're called F56 by enthusiasts of the brand.

Roof and stripes are vinyl. Has Sparco wheels and spacers, aftermarket slotted discs, coilovers, strut braces, some carbon fiber interior bits, all of which have no documentation so I don't know if they're any good. It has a Race Chip, some AEM gauges and Racetek(?) shift lights.

The only let down is the all season tires that the PO put in 2023 and still has a lot of tread. 57K miles. Probably needs a major service next.

This'll be my first MINI/BMW.

My brother has a Coupe. It's a fun little car.

I would drive that! That leads to my question. Did you buy it for her or did you buy it for you? lol

No, its your daughter's first MINI.
That is a cool car (& a decent price if the miles and condition are right). Did you get a PPI done?
What is the red thing that looks like it is hanging off the front bumper on the passenger side?

SCHWING!!

Too cool! Doing things is fun!

water pump, clutch. I had one in the day

The tow strap for track days would have me nervous. Hopefully just a bit of theater and it is well taken care of.

Yes, I guess it is my daughter's first MINI.

For under 12K I took a gamble and inspected it myself. Seems to check out. Clutch is probably on its last legs.

That red thing is an "all for show" tow strap. PO didn't have the original cover so I may leave it for now.

That is a neat little car!

They used to be little.

F56 is the model designation.

I hope its a solid car for your daughter.

Not the most forgiving of rides on poor pavement.
We never got past the test drive.hopefully your daughter is somewhere that doesn’t resemble a rift valley…

You are absolutely right, Mini Coopers do not like potholes or big bumps in the road. This is true of most sporty cars with low profile tires but it's very pronounced on the Mini. It's that much worse on a modified car like my R53 with full Ohlins suspension and other goodies, I've gotten good at looking at the pavement more closely as I drive. :cool:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752911462.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752911462.jpg

Looks like a cool little car! Good luck with it!

I learned that early in R53 ownership, especially with the original run flat tires.

You are all correct. Yesterday on the freeway there were two or three dips or uneven pavement and it was jarring. But other than that, seems to run fine. I feel the clutch is going to give out soon, especially since my daughter just learned stick and is still getting used to modulating the clutch.

That may explain why my brother doesn't drive his more often. The roads around his place aren't the best. He didn't have any buyers for his so he decided to get the wheels painted to his liking.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1752940438.jpg

That’s a lot of fun for not much money.

Oddly my 996 4S - back in 03 when I was in NYC - did great on the crappy pavement in both Manhattan and the Bronx on the way in and out.

The suspension was memorable as one of the most compliant out of anything I’d driven before and since. As an aside - the seats sending my then GF, now wife, to sleep so she stopped looking at the speedo were also a fond memory. “Wow we got here quick” is so much better than “slow down you maniac”…

I don't now the F series technical foibles, it is a good looking car though..

the R series, I had 3 of, because I'm stupid apparently (and they are fun). Horrible cars to work on, same stupid issues over a decade never rectified by bmw, I sincerely hope the F series is more reliable overall... I did the same as you as I wanted a manual for my kid, came with a dodgy clutch which he rightfully "finished" by learning on it, then I was quoted $4000+ for a new clutch by the dealer for my kid's R56. Only one who would touch it, independents refused to (said it was too much of a pain in the butt and too expensive and generated zero good will towards them)... since then, it's been one code after another, one dash light after another, and don't get me started on passing smog if you disconnect the battery ;-) (never disconnect it)

Not to end on a bad note: fun cars for sure... Next kid is eyeing Miatas, I think that may be vastly easier to work on.

Mini battery change = NA timing belt change.

You gon learn son! . Every time I drive one, I want one, but I decided to quit cocaine and BMW products some time ago .\
Congrats on a super fun car !

had a 2024 john cooper works. traded it 1 year later. of about 15 cars i’ve owned i kept this the shortest amount of time. loved the car but the ride quality was brutal. wife hated the ride and so did I. even a slightly depressed man hole cover hit like a bang so i spent all my time watching for and avoiding the smallest road imperfections. not a relaxing experience.

oh and any, and i mean any wheel hit that caused a shudder through the cabin meant the alignment was now off again

the other thing I hated most was that it seemed to wander at high way speeds so I was always making micro adjustments to steering…i’m guessing short wheel base was the issue

too bad because i enjoyed the car otherwise. felt solid as a rock build quality wise.

traded a 2021 GTI Mk 7.5 manual for it. bad move by me. very bad. but the rev hang in that thing was absolutely terrible. couldn’t live with that any longer so maybe it wasn’t a mistake. i actually really hated that GTI in some ways

Isn't a MK7 GTI a similar car but much more reliable?

having had several GTI and a MK7.5 GTI and new MINI back to back, I would say there is nothing similar at all in how they drive, feel or what they do except they are both zippy FWD turbo hatch backs that have their own fun personality

With the GTI, (I have had 5 golf style bodies since the 90s) I could haul almost anything. I once put a new grill from home depot fully assembled in the back.

With the Mini, in order to bring a large pizza home, I had to put the back seats down. Space was an issue. Wasnt a deal breaker but the GTI is far more practical. I have photos of a medium pizza just barely fit in the trunk..

Don't know about the GTI reliability first hand, only the sad stories online (Reddit mostly).

But all of the GTIs that were available locally either had wheel curb rash, scratches on the bumper covers, or driver's side seat bolster fraying. I wasn't planning on spending on cosmetic items the first go round.

So far, the things on my list are all regular service items in November/December: oil and filter service, brake fluid flush, coolant flush, and spark plugs.