Cooper S?
 

Looking for something to go toss around up the hill on 108 every now & then considering a mini. There is a 2004 S available locally with 72k miles on it with an ask I might consider. Have researched them and they can have problems, so has anyone had one and if so, what was your experience?

Seems like a well-maintained example might not suffer from some of the documented issues per what ive read. Realizing it is 20 years old prolly needs some shocks and a few other things that need to looked into due to age. low miles though...

Maybe ask the BMW section here?

I've had the R53 and R56 MCS'. The R56 was much better in build quality. My R53 rattled horribly after it hit 10k.

I think minis are like BMW. You might get a great one that is no trouble outer you might get one that's a huge PITA.

I imagine that practicality is one of the drivers, otherwise I'd suggest looking at Miatas as a much better substitute.

I've been told a Mini is BMW expensive to repair with less people who can do it.

That looks like the one that Wayne, our founder, used to own and loaned me once. :)

I don't know as much as the people who have actually owned one but they are fun and toss-able.

No no no no no no no no no..... Stay away !
Are they cute? yes
fun to drive? also yes
BUT
Fun to maintain? I'd rather self-operate on one of my body parts with a rusty spoon.
You need to cut the car in half to do practically anything... All the convenient stuff is behind body bracing or flat inaccessible without lifting the motor out (I've had 4, I'm a slow learner OK? and most were newish)
Recently I shopped around for a clutch (my kid's car, 117K mi) and 3 independent Mini shops flat out told me "Nah we do not even do clutches on these anymore, it costs too much and pisses people off, thye thing we're stealing from them".

The dealer wanted over $4000 before taxes - for a clutch job !!! Also each model had issues, it's not like there' a bulletproof one you can point to.

So, great cars to drive, super nice design, tons of fun, but.... do yourself a favor and get literally anything else that does not require triple jointed elvish hands to maintain. Ignore this advice at your peril, I'll come back in your head and laugh when your hand is stuck somewhere.... (miata suggested above is a far better idea and RWD)

https://blog.bramanmini.com/best-used-mini-cooper/

Run from the older ones....

My buddy bought a new Honda Accord manual, and put 200,000 miles on it with the original clutch. He knows how to drive a manual, and he hates automatics.

He sold it to a friend, and bought a new Mini Cooper S. It was a fun car, he liked but after just one year, the clutch had to be replaced. The god news is it was under warranty. He drove it another year and the clutch needed to be replaced a second time. He got it fix again under warranty, and sold the Mini ASAP.

I did a fit and test drive of a Cooper S last week as I am working my way through what my next cheap sports car will be.

I thought is was a hoot...my friend who owns the foreign auto repair shop echoed Descholt's concerns.

I am going to pass.

Looking at a convertible Saab 900 (non-turbo) this week...sorta' a sports car but may meet my needs...

Good luck!

Want a super cheap tossible tiny hatchback that is reliable.......find a fiesta ST that hasn't been owned by a child.

fun cars ... terrible to work on and buy parts for.

That car should appear beside the term 'cowl shake' in the dictionary. Wow, the one I drove was bad...:eek:

I had to look it up and guess what?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/245901-cowl-shake-can-somebody-please-define-me.html

My fav:

I drove across country in a Saab 900 Turbo and it tracked perfectly...I will find out!

All part of the fun.

Sorry for the Jack!

The Mini Cooper sounds like a nightmare to own but I can attest the all wheel drive turbo S version is VERY fast in the twisties. The original 10" wheel Minis were a sure a hoot

i can't speak to older GTI's but if they are anywhere near as fun as the new one i just bought i'd put it on the list. definitely would want something with the lsd though, not sure when that became standard on them. i get next to zero torque steer in mine and honestly don't think i'd own a fwd car that suffered from it. don't know about reliability on these but frankly there isn't a fwd toyota i'd own voluntarily. would maybe check out civic si but i bet those prices are nutty used.

for rwd (would be my preference but couldn't find anything that fit my parameters) i'd for sure look at used BRZ's.

My daughter has owned a 2011 Cooper S for about 5 years. It is a very fun car to drive, but it is a nightmare to work on. There is no room in the engine compartment and everything is compact. I've done extensive work on this car and the parts are very expensive. If it is going to be a fun, canyon carving weekend car have at it. If it is going to be a daily driver, I recommend you pass due to mechanical issues.

Buy a 'lil Miata. Fun, quick, so what if it isn't German and without cool factor.

15-20 k for a good one all day long

Like all BMWs these days.