Short story - in 2014 while my truck was in the shop and I got a Chevy Sonic RS "hot hatch" as a joke of a loaner car. It was hands down the most fun I had ever had on the streets and I had to buy the smallest rowdiest car available, immediately!! I ended up buying a 2013 Mini Cooper "GP" that had been sitting on the lot for $35k...funny to think at the time how people said it was outrageously priced...but that car was so special, 6 pot Brembos, real aero and a short wheelbase made the thing feel as close to a sportbike as any car I've ever driven - traffic seemed to stand still as I flew through like the only vehicle moving. The seats were absolutely spectacular, it would do 155mph and nearly a G on the lateral skidpad...but most importantly, I never felt a sense of shame about the car, I neither felt like a porsche driver nor a shitbox fanboy. In hindsight the Fiesta ST ended up getting all the praise for the era and the class of vehicle, but there is something about a Mini that is just cool without falling victim to the absolute shittiness or doucheyness of the other cars - I think its some small sense of timelessness in the style.
I did something similar. Had a 2004 cobra (which Mark and Jack used for their vid). Moved out of the city and bought a Fiesta ST as a daily driver. Woke up one morning last spring to take the mustang for a Sunday drive, stared at both of them in the garage, ended up taking the Fiesta. Cobra went up for sale the next day. James May was right. Its more fun to drive a small, lightweight car on the street at 8/10ths all the time, without breaking too many laws, than it is to drive something you will never safely take to even 4/10ths without doing jail time speeds or risk a serious wreck.
I got my S when my wife was 5 months pregnant. She loved to look at it and the interior quirks, but the suspension became an issue once the belly grew.
Lovely story. It happened to me in 2013: I go through cars like candy, mostly new. That year we decided to turn our finances around and sold both financed cars and bought “beaters” for cash to pay off debt etc. That process lasted 3 years. The car I bought for $3200 was a 1989 BMW 325i. It was in excellent shape and I still have it and actually daily drive it. I put about 10-12k miles per year on average. I love driving it to work every day with its manual transmission and analog nature. It’s not how fast it can go as it’s slow for today’s standards but more about how it handles on twisty roads, highway ramps, etc. A pure joy to drive. To this day, it’s the car I ever held on the longest by far and just can’t seem to get tired of it.
I drive my moms Mini every single day and I absolutely agree with you, these cars just drive in a way that no other car drives. It doesn’t even matter that much which engine, all of them are fun. The Mini One Cabrio my sister has with 107HP is almost as fun as my moms Cooper S Cabrio with 192HP, they sound great, have good infotainments, the dual clutch in the S is seriously amazing and these cars just have character.
I always remember looking at a brand new Mitsubishi evo x was so expensive at $37k new… seeing a Mini Cooper at $45k makes my eyes water… these cars should be max $25k with the special editions going for no more than $33k. It’s minis fault for pushing into the 40s for no reason.
@@dragospahontu so is a nissan cube and vw beetle but. theres better cars for the money The only thing unique about the mini is the fact it's British, and perhaps it's shape. I know that means something so small crowd but when you think practical it's nothing in that regard
@@dragospahontu audi tt He's pretty much close, the hatchback quality is the only thing challenging and it's not like the cubic ft of space is significantly different... It's a hard bargain
@@JDMHaze also the Volkswagen T Roc convertible in Europe ( although it's an SUV). You're definitely right about the Audi. I'd probably go for that instead of the Mini because of the better build quality.
My dad has one of these and you are the only people on YT who accurately describe the driving characteristics instead of saying „it has a harsh ride“ (you are right, it actually doesn’t) and calling it a day. Great job!!!
You are so right. I would suggest that once the supply chain issues resolve themselves, that people go after these in the used market. I bought a certified pre-owned Cooper S several years ago, and it was already down 50% from its MSRP after 2 years of it being new, and has been a blast to own as a second car.
You can get older used Cooper S models of the F56 generation for pretty good value. Though I gotta say, the second facelift that came with the 2021 models with the new front facia and new interior screens really add a lot to the car.
One of the problems with retro, and this applies to the entire Mini lineup, is that it's very hard to evolve over time. Pity the American market doesn't have enough demand to support a wide variety of small cars. "Light on its feet" only works if the car actually is light. Were it my money, I'd be looking at the GTI or Civic hatch. Not as small, but more practical and still not huge.
I dunno about not huge, the new Civic borders on Accord-size. It's significantly larger than an A3! For what it is, it's too big for me if I want a small, sporty car.
@@vomErsten Well, it (the Civic) is certainly no Escalade. But yes, like all cars, including the Mini, it's grown over the years. I recall the '76 Civic having 12" wheels and being a hoot to drive.
The American market does have enough demand. The problem is the price point on all the supposedly 'disposable' second/fun cars is fucking ridiculous. North of 40 grand for this? Piss off BMW. Yes, I do realize that a large chunk of that is r-tarded regulations on safety, emissions and economy.
This is an extremely fair review which some auto journalists are incapable of when it comes to Mini. I own a Mini Countryman JCW, yes its expensive for a Mini, but it is the only car I drove that truly put a smile on my face. It is so quirky and irrational in so many ways, but I love the damn thing and I’ve yet to see another moron driving one which makes me like it even more. Reliability TBD but if that’s your main focus, you were never considering a Mini in the first place.
They summed it up very well. Let's be honest. If you are buying a Cooper S, you are probably at least a mild enthusiast. You can probably do basic maintenance, fix minor issues, and don't mind doing so. A car doesn't need to be dead nuts reliable if it makes up for it in driving pleasure/personality.
I've had 2 MINI'S. Both were a BLAST. The non-lockout for reverse is a non issue. Never a problem in 200k+ miles. Loads of fun. Loads of character. Great at autocross. A car to fall deeply in love with. A cult following with endless possible modifications (but stock is GREAT). And very reliable too...go figure (non turbo). And great mpg's. Plus...I've had THREE HIGHSCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS in my hardtop for 1-hour drives to games with little problem. My convertible was a NON-STOP smile. With the back seat down I can haul stuff from Costco or go on a trip with plenty of gear/luggage. It's a great car. Buy it. You'll never look back or regret it. Motor on.
I took advantage of the chip shortage to trade in my ‘19 Mazda3 (at a profit with 20k miles added onto it) and leased a ‘22 new Cooper S hardtop. This car is such a perfect lease machine, and the ‘21 facelift and new tech make it actually pretty nice. Owning one new would be a tougher pill to swallow mentally, but I guess I’m paying the depreciation anyway.
One of the few cars that you can still buy that doesn't feel like an appliance on wheels. My wife and I got one after driving civic si, wrx, jetta gli and as soon as you whip this around a corner it all makes sense. It has some of the sharpest handling on the road and has character unlike anything else.
We love our MINI convertible! Manual, turbocharged 3-cylinder, and a few aftermarket goodies 😉 and I can honestly say I’ve never had a car that’s more fun to own or drive, despite owning 20+ cars, several of which are far, far more performance oriented. There’s something about MINI’s that no other brand can offer. And can we talk about the MINI owners, the MINI family?? Honestly the best car family I’ve ever been a part of.
@@supraJZA80s The next best thing for around that money with that much flare would be an Abarth 595 Biposto, and they're not really much more than what you listed.
I’m a true MINI fan…I’ve owned 5 modern MINIs and one classic Mini. Of all of them, the supercharged R53 (2002-06…08 for the cabrio) cars were the best in terms of driving fun. Reliability?…none of them were good….but part of the joy of ownership for me was the modding, upgrades, repair, etc. I sold my last car two years ago (an 06 Cooper S)…rust was beginning to eat it and it was just a matter of time before it was a problem. I have ZERO desire for the current generation. For me, It has lost all of the character it once had.
Right on, bodies got inflated with massive wheel arch moldings and gobs of plasti-chrome, not to mention overly proportioned lighting all the way around…
I caught a bug for a Mini once. In 2016 I went to a dealer with full intentions of buying a new JCW in manual, red with white stripes. While there I decided I'd test drive a new 2016 S (F56) and 2013 S (R56) they had on the lot. I was blown away by how much more I enjoyed the older less powerful R56. It felt much smaller (it was), more raw and exciting to drive. I abandoned the idea of the new Mini and shopped for my dream speck 2013 JCW. I ended up finding a 2013 S with the JCW tuning kit and just about every single upgrade one could throw at it from the Mini catalog including GP aero package and interior with the rear seat delete. It was a brilliant car, an autocross weapon that embarrassed many high performance cars. I ultimately enjoyed it for two years when the turbo fun and maintenance wore thin on me. I replaced with the a naturally aspirated 1999 BMW M3 and couldn't be happier. It's addicting to drive, always, and I don't forsee a reason to sell it. The Mini was excellent, but I saw the writing on the wall that is was going to be very expensive out of warranty to own. The M3 was a good choice, has been very reliable and inexpensive to service.
This car is begging for electrification, and from the ground up, not the cobbled together one that was reviewed a little while ago, although even that power train suited the car okay. I wouldn't be surprised if the buyers were mostly city dwellers and tech heavy. Electrifying this car will appeal to them and pull in some cross-shoppers too.
My first car was a 2004 (I think) Mini S manual, back when they still supercharged them. I was really young and not as involved in cars as I am now, but man it was so much fun. At one point I had 3 other 6'+ guys stuffed in it to get around town and it was hysterical. I have lots of memories in that thing, but I don't think I'd ever consider a new one.
I was thinking the same while watching this. If I wanted a car solely because it’s fun to drive but didn’t want to spend a lot I would look at a Miata before I would a Mini any day.
Hello. I’m reaching out to ask how are you liking your Mini so far? Did you have any concerns about its long term reliability before purchasing? Has it been reliable so far? What are your pros and cons? Are the breaks good? Does the A/C work well? Las Vegas is home. Do you have any buyers remorse ? I saw a 2023 Mini Cooper S on Autotrader and deeply considering getting it. It’s my dream car, but there are some nay sayers due to its past models.
When my wife tried to convince me we need this one, I said OK - let's go and test drive. She was a bit disappointed when her head space was obstructed by really low ceiling (she is 6ft tall - nothing special). It was relatively fun to drive though and kind of "cute", it will attract certain demographics with spare cash. Although that demographics is migrating to Teslas like crazy.
@@totoianugheorghelucian488 You can get a Tesla for about the same price and get a better powertrain and it is surprisingly more reliable, granted I think Tesla is trash overall but it's a real cream pop when you put it against this. if I used car dealer wants to sell a Tesla all they have to do is put it next to one of these and have a customer drive both
Hope minis never go away.. was really close to buying the JCW clubman, but with the prices rising so high on cars it was actually cheaper to get a lightly used M40i
my point exactly The price really kills this car this will be a good $35,000 car maybe, but 45K is near insane, you could get a Tesla model 3 or a golf R/gti And get a lot more out of those cars in every category
Never understood the obsession with large cars. Especially if you dont have a big family or dont go on long trips regularly. I have always loved small cars because for their fun factor,ease of parking and fuel economy.
Drive a 2016 4Runner and I have no kids. It's just a very practical vechile size wise and it's good for friends. I would be willing to downsize though. But not to something like this. At some point a car becomes too small to even be practical for the random BS life throws at you. Also I would argue that many subcompacts cars (mostly sedans) look ridiculous nowadays. Compare a subcompact from the past to now. New ones just dont look right and are ungraceful. Too much body for safety reasons. Also at least in NA most subcompact were are "cute" looking. Just look at what men a women drive. Look how popular the Kia Telluride is over the Palisade. Or the 4Runner to other crossovers. People like more muscular rough looking cars. Look at the Charger. Still here while other large cars are dying off. Automakers failed to make a "cool" subcompact by most peoples standards. Maybe you like it but most people dont like cute cars. It's just down to preference and I feel like automakers failed to see that. Just my opinion.
I bought a 2015 Cooper S Coupe in 2018 well speced and low miles for under $20k. It's not my only car, but it is my winter car, and my most practical car. It's amazing for bopping around town, reasonably comfortable on the highway, and while it's completely outclassed by my other cars in the twisties, it will still embarrass most cars on the road.
I absolutely love the Mini, but that's a 25k car at best, I hate these "brand" products is the same like with the iPhone, they make the phone with 50 bucks and then they sell it to you for 1000 or some of these designer clothes that have price tags 4/5 times more than what they worth.
I reluctantly bought my brother's 2015 Cooper S manual after a move got canceled, sold my M2, and had no car. I was shocked at just how much fun the Cooper S is to drive, it really gave away nothing to the M2 in that area. In fact, it was more fun on public roads given its agility and diminutive size, while also quieter, softer and far more livable. Aside from one deal breaker, that is. Its just too damn small and cramped in there for me. Its not so much the interior as it is just how bad the base sport seats are. I cant ever seem to get comfortable in them. That said, at almost 70k miles, its been dead reliable, no issues aside from a hood latch mechanism that stopped wanting to work. Definitely, now understand the appeal of these VERY fun to drive machines.
I had a 2019 hardtop and I thought the rear seats were plenty usable. Maybe a bit of a pain to get back there but once there leg and head room were no problems. Not fair to call this "basically a two seat car" imo
The convertible's rear seat is far smaller than the coupe's. Even the coupe is top small for four average-sized men. For kids the back seat will do, or adults if the people in front are small.
I wish other companies (particularly japanese manufacturers) built their small cars like the MINI in the US. I think instead of marketing them as just "THE CHEAPEST CAR MONEY CAN BUY" they could have spent more r&d on styling and driving dynamics and sold tarted up versions of their small cars that all at least had a good platform and nice designs. It seems as soon as small car sales dipped even slightly every manufacturer just gave up on them.
The problem was that the profit margins were always slim on subcompacts. They cost almost as much to make as compacts, but had to be priced lower. Most of them also sold in such small numbers that it just wasn't worth it. Mini only hangs on because of BMW. If they didn't share mechanicals there's no way they'd make sense.
Great point about the price, we did the next best thing & bought a used 2017 Mini S Carbon Edition 4 door hardtop two years ago with 35,000 miles for only 23,000..it’s a great car that handles amazing on the canyon roads. Bottom line let someone else take the depreciation:)
I know two people who have bought fully optioned minis new in the past year, they are fun to drive and the girls around where I live love them. (Mostly high school girls driving them)
😂🤣🤣🤣 right, The price point is exorbitant when the competition is steep, you have the Volkswagen golf which is a slightly bigger and more spirited version and surprisingly probably a little more reliable.. It's a no brainer, gti us sporty but yet conservative at the same time ...It's amazing that anyone buys these mini coopers besides the nostalgics
@@JDMHaze There's way too many cars even 10k less than this that are so much better. Miata, wrx, civic type r. You could probably even get a Camaro SS or Mustang GT for less.
As someone who drives a 2018 base model stick cooper, I absolutely love these cars. The turbo three is a peach of an engine, sips gas, whilst the car handles like its on rails. Truly the closest you can get to a street legal go kart. I see myself owning some form of cooper for a very long time.
To be fair a Suzuki Swift Sport would be a far better choice. Under 1000kg, 140hp. Yeah the Mini drives somewhat nice but its way too expensive and the clutch is shit imho.
@@raupenimmersatt6906 those aren’t sold in North America. Also I’m by no means saying there aren’t better options for the price, just that these specific cars are a hell of a lot of fun to me.
I ordered a poverty spec R53 MINI Cooper S when they first came out. It was 25 grand out the door. That car was a tuner's wet dream. There was so much you could modify. The sky was the limit. The supercharged engine was a rough-edged beast, and with a pulley and a tune, you could get pretty impressive power out of it. I still miss that car sometimes, but when you're single and only commute in it, the car makes sense. Add Wife and kids, and it's a different story, at least once the kids are too big for the rear seats. I used to throw the kids in the back, and haul ass through a local roundabout. We were all laughing our hearts out. That's what a MINI is best at. The problem with newer MINIs is the price. All those BMW bits aren't cheap, but the cars don't feel premium. There's also reliability to think about. MINIs have issues, at least the earlier ones did.
Glad someone mentioned the lack of reverse gear lockout. I turoed one of these and almost reversed into someone on a steep hill. I was doing a hill start and gave it some more gas only to realize in horror that I was in reverse. A screen tells you what gear you're in on the gauge cluster, but it is not intuitive-no idea how this made it past anyone in safety and compliance. It's hella dangerous.
I got my licence in the sixties and owned and drove many European manual manual trans cars with reverse left and up. I always dropped into second, and then up into first, even from rest. That was partly because all manuals back then had non-synchro first gears, so you dropped into second to line up the teeth, and then up into first. I still drive manuals that way even today. (My current car is a MT.)
@@davep8029 seconding this. Have far less driving experience but have indeed noticed that at the very least, going second then back up into first gives far less resistance via the shifter on a VW manual without synchroed first gear.
@@davep8029 Except for the Alfas, they had synchro first gears. However the synchros would wear and I usually did as you did with non-synchro cars. I got my '64 Alfa Sprint, a 101 series car, in 1967, it was my first car, a five speed in an era of four speed cars.
Miata is much less practical though. In a mini you can put a roof down and throw two long surfboards on a reclined passenger seat and sit a passenger behind driver.
Back in 2013 when I was shopping for a new car I was looking at the Mini S, GTI, and Mazda3speed. I LOVED the way the mini drove but didn't care for the interior styling. Didn't care for the Mazda body style....so I bought the GTI M/T. But the mini was the most fun of the three to drive. The Mazda was clearly the fastest...
I have a 2014 MINi Cooper S. And I adore it. Don’t care about interior, it’s a fun car to drive and modify if you are into that thing. And yes there are better cars for the price but this car has a very special styling and character which I just do not find in other vehicles.
When I got my pre LCI in 2016 It was an ex demo car off the lot for 27k starting. The bargains for these small cars are out there. Just that when its specced out they cost a metric ton. The convertible is more niche than the usual hatch and is geared for that 1%. Don't know why people buy loaded S convertibles for loaded JCW countryman/clubman prices. Those comparing a Type R, etc etc to a convertible S don't understand what the convertible F57 is geared towards. Definitely not to hardcore car enthusiasts. The motor itself is the same motor that is in the 2.0L Supra, it has tunability, can reach 280-300 crank hp reliably, 300~ torque. Anymore than that and LSPI/ ringland failure scenarios can occur As far as reliability is concerned BMW has lost money on these because they are not constantly breaking down like the 2nd gen. 82k miles on mine roughly, only thing replaced was the passenger +lower engine mounts and the fuel tank vent canister.
MINI is a luxury premium bran car similar to BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. It's not a Toyota, it's not a Honda. It's not a Kia or a Chevy. It's a premium luxury car with a vibrant community and rich history. You're trying to compare 🍎🍎to 🍊🍊
True man. The mini S is in essence the poor man’s gran tourer. It offers the enjoyment and the spirit of a gran tourer (comfortable interior + the joy of an athletic sport car) with the everyday usability of a small sedan all for a fairly affordable price tag compared to other 2+2 sport cars.
This will be n interesting AutoTempest case study -- r53 supercharged screaming first-gen Cooper S for $8000 or 2022 refresh for $38,000+ . What is the improvement over the years other than adding 8 inches of crush space for crash tests and more air bags, and softening the suspension?
The quality of the 2014+ Minis are built about 20x better than the R50/R53 cars which are built like absolute garbage. The old cars are complete rattle traps and everything breaks super quick.
LOL! I recently bought a brand new 2023 Mini Cooper S hardtop and fucking love it! Beautiful green w/ a white top and a few unique bits resulting from the oddball supply chain impacts on the Mini production line. The 7 speed DCT is a fantastic automated manual and you can actually get it to work well in the manual mode if circumstances require it. It's a second car to our 2014 SUV and it fills the second car niche perfectly. TONS of room for front passengers (we are both 6 feet tall), best seats I've had in a car since maybe forever, and it rides comfortably on back roads or the interstate. I dunno if I will keep it for a long time, but I'm definitely having more fun in it than my 2015 228i, and it's much more capable all around than the 2014 500 Abarth I had before the BMW. I'd call the Mini Cooper S a sweet spot for small, but capable and relatively sporty-ish cars. BTW, the '23 gets a fantastic Nappa leather steering wheel (mine has heat too) and very effective bun warmers. Our daily driver Nissan seat heaters suck balls (not literally, unfortunately). I find the recycled BMW iDrive (8?) infotainment very useful and familiar and the voice command function is amazingly effective at everything I throw at it. And if I fold the rear seats down, the 3 door hatch can carry surprisingly large items. Anyway, just thought I'd put in a plug as someone who recently pulled the trigger and bought one of a "dying breed" of car. Oh, in case anyone cares, I actually got $2k off MSRP on my Mini Cooper S so the purchase price was right around $32k with quite a few options. That's less than a GTI would've cost me or any number of other sporty-ish small cars. Despite MSRP, I don't think you can get a Civic Si for $32k right now. Seemed like a decent deal to me. Warranty is way better than many competitors as well and there's something to be said, reliability wise, for buying a car that's basically the same as it was in 2014. Keep up the great videos! ;-)
Hello. I’m reaching out to ask how are you liking your Mini so far? Did you have any concerns about its long term reliability before purchasing? Has it been reliable so far? What are your pros and cons? Are the breaks good? Does the A/C work well? Las Vegas is home. Do you have any buyers remorse ? I saw a 2023 Mini Cooper S on Autotrader and deeply considering getting it. It’s my dream car, but there are some nay sayers due to its past models.
@@leom00n79 Love it! Zero reliability concerns. They've been building basically the same exact car since 2014, so the bugs are all worked out. Pro is that it is hella fun to drive and super comfortable too. Con is that it is front wheel drive, but all hatchbacks in the U.S. are FWD and it still handles very well. Brakes are fantastic. AC is probably sufficient even for your hellish Las Vegas if you tint the windows and keep the sunshade closed. Zero buyers remorse.
People are stupid These cars are amazing We deserve what we get because we don’t appreciate what is quality. EV’s are disgusting to drive- zero feedback Big Stupid looking cars that all look the same. It’s is disgrace.
I drive a 2015 base model 3 cyl turbocharged mini hardtop in Cali. And everytime i take the backroads I swear I fall in love all over again. I paid about 14k a couple years ago for it because i wanted cheap fun and man.. theres just something about these cars.. the friendly mr. Rogers face of a mini doesnt get old. But man just how connected you feel to the road and the car is just dumb fun. I will vouch for these cars forever, but its just such a damn shame how much BMW wants for one.
Mini actually has a high take rate on manual transmissions. Also, you guys shit on the size of the car and that "no-one is buying small cars", but I see tons of these daily here in Vancouver. They don't sell in sub or exurbs, but in crowded busy cities they sell pretty well. They are super fun to drive in the city and obviously they can fit into any space. Base price on these is about $30k, which isn't an amazing value, but it is definitely possible to not break the bank on one. They really don't need that many options.
My car it’s a 16’ base cooper with manual transmission, and what you say about “plastic” and the reverse issue isn’t true. To put at reverse you have to put some force hahaha and the shifter isn’t from a BMW M car but isn’t plastic, maybe you have to try more manuals than autos…
I really enjoy savagegeese, but why are they bothered by the reverse gear mechanism? It’s the same as in every BMW, including M Cars. If you into reverse by accident, you are pushing on the gear lever too much anyway
I've always been fond of the Mini, but their choice to go upmarket was ultimately their undoing. The Fiat 500, which had a similar goal to the Mini, did a better job capturing the spirit of the original design. It was small, fun and quirky as hell, but without being ridiculously expensive.
yep, all the Fiat are absolute shitBut at least the price point was fair and did it's job perfectly if the reliability wasn't horrendous they would've lasted longer.. Because they actually sold very well in the beginning back in 2012 fiat 500e seem to do well with reliability For the obvious reason
@@JDMHaze The 500L and X were proper hot garbage, but the 2-door 500 was honestly a pretty good little car. I used to work at Fiat and owners would absolutely neglect the shit out of them, but they rarely ever had an issue that made them undrivable. They are cheap, but were pretty well-executed by FCA standards.
@@dil6969 Oh I can definitely vouch for that 500L being garbage, Ex girlfriend has a jeep renegade and that thing is burning oil like a candle, And that's just ridiculous, we're lucky I caught it in time it was at the bottom of the dipstick and that was between a oil change, I need to someone that works at the Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler dealership and he told me it's a common issue
Pricing does kill the Mini Cooper in the US. It's just too expensive. That said, I used to consider them before the pandemic destroyed the used market. Now though, especially after having SO MANY problems finding shops actually willing to work on my Volkswagen Jetta, I'm just not considering anything that isn't either domestic, Japanese or Korean. European cars are just SO expensive to maintain in the US, and unless you live in or near a decently sized urban area, you're going to be ordering parts and doing the work yourself. For someone like me, who works ridiculous hours (postal worker), I just don't have enough time to properly work on cars myself. I love small cars with dynamic handling. My old MkV Jetta is even pretty fun. But not at that price and with very limited local auto part and mechanic support, it's just not worth the headaches.
I guess I'm the 1%. I'm single, plan to stay that way. I rarely have any passengers along for the ride, but if I do, probably no more than one who can sit comfortably in the front passenger seat. I wouldn't give up on small cars like this just yet. I think car companies are realizing not everyone wants an SUV, even Ford is bringing back the Taurus. The next generation MINI comes out next year as a 2025 model in the US. If it fails to sale it might be the last, but I doubt that it does. I paid in the mid 30k for my 2-door hardtop. From your review you act like the GTI is much cheaper. You need to check GTI prices. When you do you'll know that's not true.
MINI’s are overpriced unless you get one with almost no options. Cooper starts at $22,900, Cooper S at $26,900. I had an ‘08 R56 Cooper S and it was a BLAST to drive. I miss it.
We have a 19 Countryman bought used in late 2019. It's roomy, gets great mpg and handles well. Ride quality is great. It's the personality that puts it over the top. Yup, they're too expensive new. Decent deal used. And here in St Louis, absolutely top notch dealer service.
I used to hate Minis. In Europe they're known as the cars that upper middle-class dads buy their spoiled daughters for their 18th birthday. But alas, the trend of SUVs and compact cars as big as '90s/2000s sedans has truly swept over the Atlantic and into the domestic market, and I'm beginning to wonder if these miniature BMWs are as bad as I made them out to be. I certainly don't want to see them go away anymore.
The first gens after the BMW buyout are everywhere on the road where I live. I find that quirky girls, not necessarily of the gluten free variety, love them. One of my customers learned how to drive stick because she was able to get the Mini she wanted for less than 5K. Dads like picking these up too since they give the appearance of wealth while still being some of the cheapest turn-of-the-century cars out there. I had one for a while which already had over 150,000 miles, picked up for 4K. I did end up by doing a ton of preventative maintenance every month, but the motor and many of the components are high quality.
@@JDMHaze what's funny I owned all of them. Current being gp3 it's way more thrilling than those for me. Love the go-kart legal car lol. People worry about price...I say u live once enjoy all. Maintenance is not that crazy tbh just keep up on it and so t cheap out
@@RickStarzz OK let me rephrase that if you are familiar with the mini brand and have been dealing with them for a while, it's perfect because it gives you exactly what you want and you know what to expect, but trying to attract new buyers that will stay satisfied is hard at this price point... I have a Lexus IS And I'm sure a BMW or a Dodge charger or Q50 would've been a little more fun and I probably could've gotten one of those so much cheaper and they may be more fun, but down the road I know the reliability is sinple and I'm familiar with the power trains in the mechanical.. So I would be willing to spend more money for this, so I could grant that courtesy to Mini, But when I look at Lexus compared to the competition I could see why some people would choose the other vehicle when it's at a lower price point
I have a 2014 Mini Cooper s that I bought used for 14k (40k miles) from a dealer in 2018. They don’t hold their values well but used, are a bargain. The only gripe I have about it is the engine mounts fail 2-4 years in. If you don’t fix the engine mount, it will break the the other one and it will cause some big issues. The repairs are way more time consuming than most Honda products that I’ve owned. I have 110k miles on it and am stuck between replacing it with a 2 series, civic Si, jcw, and a type r. I do have 1 child, it’s not easy to get him into the back but I make it work.
In Europe, when the economy tanks, people buy smaller cars. In the USA they lease bigger, better-looking, cheaply made cars? 🤔😜 - USA might be worrying about image as much as China, haha. And you're talking like a gearbox wimp there. Reverse lockout? How do you reliably find all forward gears but not the reverse? Worst case, it'll take a bit to get used to it. My first own car was 6-speed with reverse on the extra-left top. It merely took a little more force to push it all the way there, with an audible mechanical feedback. There was a beeper to inform that you are in reverse and an added info sheet in the manual about it. Annoyed, very soon after purchase I removed the beeper module from the speedometer circuit board. (I'm not driving a garbage truck!) These days it's got a 5-speed with the original 6-speed shift knob. 😁 (In part because it is damn uniquely beautiful to the degree that only Porsche knobs can compete, and aftermarket is all the same ugly crap.) The BMW Mini is kinda like a dentist wife car, I imagine. People who love the New Beetle but got more money and want to show it would probably pick this one. (And the dentist would not give her his Porsche, because she cannot handle the size of it, and besides, he needs it to be parked in front of the office all the time.)
I am a contractor and my only car is a Mini. Call me crazy, but I do not enjoy driving a large, bulky vehicle. I wish they made more small wagons/utes to combine practicality with driving dynamics.
I sense a great deal of pumpkin spice latte energy in this car, if it had more cladding, was raised an inch, and a slapped in awd system the energy would be through the moon.
I enjoyed having my '16 Cooper S 6sp hardtop for a while, I even tracked it a number of times. A couple things really help, namely an aftermarket shifter and a beefier rear sway bar. I bought mine slightly used but even so the MSRP new was under 30k, mine had very few options, I think the options really get you and most of them seem gimmicky. After a while the lack of LSD really got to me, thought about putting one in but it just didn't seem the platform to dump money into. The tuning of the B48 is really great, it's the same engine every day all day. As something fun and agile with character, no regrets at all owning it for a bit.
The last generation I had went to 160K before the clutch wore out. New control arm bushings aside, I didn't have to do much. Was an easy car to wrench on as long as it wasn't transmission related.
My dad got one of the first rebooted Mini’s in Dallas. I’ll always have a soft spot for these and catch myself looking at used ones from time to time. I couldn’t swing the size as an everyday car but I’d still love to get an older S or JCW as a fun car.
No shout out to your own review of the SE that's way cheaper (after tax incentive) and better in many ways (besides range)? That review was one of the reasons I bought mine, and it's great!
On the question of storage. I owned an '06 R56 while I played in a "pop punk" band called American Boyfriend. I could haul a medium sized drumset in a car that was slightly smaller than this without any issue as long as I didn't have a passenger. With the four seats, I often hauled around friends who didn't complain at all about feeling cramped owing to the novelty of the car itself, and the sheer perceived gimmickry. That R56 was one of the best driving cars I've been in relative to its comparative utility as a hauler. As long as the mechanical kinks endemic of that generation are gone, like that crappy proprietary gearbox and the premature clutch wear, I urge anyone remotely curious to drive one.
Im surprised to find anyone has accidently found reverse instead of 1st, i feel that the lockout is good enough to prevent that, it feels pretty stiff to me and you would never accidentally select reverse
Blah blkjdah upmarket if only they came down blah. You can get the Mini Oxford edition for $21k, this car doesn't need more than the 3 cyl. Even the base version (with a stick) is a total blast to drive
I own a 2021 GP and paid $45,750 which I feel was a reasonable value proposition considering a well equipped JCW is $40,000 and doesn’t have 306hp/334tq. Just took delivery of a 2022 Oxford 2 door manual for my daughter. It was $20,600 including destination. What a great little car!
@@soulmaster63 awesome stuff! GP sounds like it might rattle your teeth out though 😂 I loved test driving that simple 3 cyl Mini (easily the most fun car out of that, Mazda 3 and GTI) but ultimately needed something bigger so went with a used 535i wagon for $13k
@@papa_pt I agree. That base Mini 3 cylinder with a manual is the under appreciated sweet spot in its class. I think the 3 cylinder has the essence and purity of the original Mini. BTW…The GP isn’t as harsh and unwieldy as motor journalists have suggested. It’s got lots of personality and very fun to drive as long as you have your wits about you and don’t drive it like a complete knob 😀
Own 2, 3rd gen, 2016 Minis, a Clubman S and "Justa" convertible with the i8 3 cylinder. Purchased both off lease with low miles and both have sticks. In my close to 40 years driving, I don't know why it took me so long to try this brand. In the 3 years we'ved owned them, we have had a blast. Solid, fun, practical, if you understand the restrictions of the convertible (which has some pretty ingenious cargo area features), and so much personality. Agree with you that the stick in the F57 is a bit loose and the reverse lockout is tricky, but the Getrag on my F54 Clubman is really a joy to use with nice tight gates and a pleasant mechanical feel. Clutch on Clubby is good, light, progressive, while F57 is, as you point out, spongy. But all those are nitpicks for the amount of fun and character these great little cars offer. I was a Mazda fan for years, but their need to abandon the stick and tilt their product portfolio to SUV, had me searching for an affordable, yet fun car. My spouse always wanted a (now extinct) VW convertible, but when we drove the mini it was love at first site. I purchased the Clubby shortly after and have not looked back. I will say that these cars, like all European marques, do need to be looked after and maintained and dealer pricing is crazy high, while the recommended fluid intervals IMO can lead to issues with reliability. Thankfully maintenance is pretty straightforward for a DIYer. So I change oil and other fluids more frequently than the manual says (lifetime tranny fluid my ass). 😁 Anyway, your personal experience matches my experience to a T. Is Mini perfect, no. But damn if it isn't a blast to drive and live with. Brings a smile to my face everytime I see it or drive it. What makes me sad is that it is a quickly dying breed, but a great value used. Also it appears that Mini electric will preserve the fun to drive personality and character. So fingers crossed. Excellent content as usual.
It’s amazing how much more these cost in the USA than the U.K., you can get these for the low 20k’s in the U.K. brand new with a bit of haggling - makes hen a much more realistic. I used to have one myself, and it was a tonne of fun, but...no one else liked it 😂 so I guess I was on my own
Im gonna slightly disagree with you on this. Technically a base cooper s hatch starts at 27. But in typical bmw fashion once it gets optikns its low to mid 30s. Making it every bit as expensive as a gti, veloster n etc. thats not even a jcw
*Nobody is buying them because BMW doesn’t want to sell them!* The logic of $45k for a golf cart is absurd. Behind every Acura is a Honda; Lexus a Toyota, etc. BMW could have done the opposite and chased after the Civic/ Corolla market with the Mini. 🤷♂️
I don't know about 'gracefully'. The 2000 re-design by Frank Stephenson was brilliant. But since then the attractiveness of the Mini went downhill with each facelift. The current Mini Countryman looks more Honda Elephant than Mini Cooper.
Just make sure you have BMW money to fix this pos when it breaks. And let me tell you. They break. And you will be left with a hefty BMW bill. Trust me. I've been through it. They don't last
I almost bought a Mini in 2016 and I wish I did, but I thought it was too small and bought a Volvo V60 instead which was a huge mistake. Now I have a MX5 but I would still consider a Mini some day. Except my dumbass neighbor is ruining Mini for me. He has a first gen S model with a shitty exhaust and he insists on driving it down the street in 1st gear and it has turned into something very annoying. I hate that damn car!
No joke, I hope you guys choose to do a quick review on the Chevy Spark. The most affordable car in the USA. Manual with an naturally aspirated engine. That is THE dying breed.
You can tell from the underbody that this is not a $45k car Cowboy Bebop Ending Theme guitar ua-cam.com/video/f6M-oWsRE9Q/v-deo.html King of Fighters XV Krizalid's boss stage theme ua-cam.com/video/Hp7THmIQiXk/v-deo.html Kantai Collection 艦隊これギター KanColle Guitar ua-cam.com/video/NBz7ed2Lglo/v-deo.html
The REPAIRING COST is what killing Minis. Parts are expensive and they are not built to last like other compact cars. Unless you have to have FWD otherwise I don't see the point choose any 2 door Mini over BRZ/86 (for coupe) or MX5 (for convertible). All Mini are overpriced.
Short story - in 2014 while my truck was in the shop and I got a Chevy Sonic RS "hot hatch" as a joke of a loaner car. It was hands down the most fun I had ever had on the streets and I had to buy the smallest rowdiest car available, immediately!! I ended up buying a 2013 Mini Cooper "GP" that had been sitting on the lot for $35k...funny to think at the time how people said it was outrageously priced...but that car was so special, 6 pot Brembos, real aero and a short wheelbase made the thing feel as close to a sportbike as any car I've ever driven - traffic seemed to stand still as I flew through like the only vehicle moving. The seats were absolutely spectacular, it would do 155mph and nearly a G on the lateral skidpad...but most importantly, I never felt a sense of shame about the car, I neither felt like a porsche driver nor a shitbox fanboy. In hindsight the Fiesta ST ended up getting all the praise for the era and the class of vehicle, but there is something about a Mini that is just cool without falling victim to the absolute shittiness or doucheyness of the other cars - I think its some small sense of timelessness in the style.
I did something similar. Had a 2004 cobra (which Mark and Jack used for their vid). Moved out of the city and bought a Fiesta ST as a daily driver. Woke up one morning last spring to take the mustang for a Sunday drive, stared at both of them in the garage, ended up taking the Fiesta. Cobra went up for sale the next day.
James May was right. Its more fun to drive a small, lightweight car on the street at 8/10ths all the time, without breaking too many laws, than it is to drive something you will never safely take to even 4/10ths without doing jail time speeds or risk a serious wreck.
I got my S when my wife was 5 months pregnant. She loved to look at it and the interior quirks, but the suspension became an issue once the belly grew.
Lovely story. It happened to me in 2013: I go through cars like candy, mostly new. That year we decided to turn our finances around and sold both financed cars and bought “beaters” for cash to pay off debt etc. That process lasted 3 years. The car I bought for $3200 was a 1989 BMW 325i. It was in excellent shape and I still have it and actually daily drive it. I put about 10-12k miles per year on average. I love driving it to work every day with its manual transmission and analog nature. It’s not how fast it can go as it’s slow for today’s standards but more about how it handles on twisty roads, highway ramps, etc. A pure joy to drive. To this day, it’s the car I ever held on the longest by far and just can’t seem to get tired of it.
I absolutely agree. MINIs can hang with any crowd and fit in, while also ripping through traffic or the track.
I drive my moms Mini every single day and I absolutely agree with you, these cars just drive in a way that no other car drives. It doesn’t even matter that much which engine, all of them are fun. The Mini One Cabrio my sister has with 107HP is almost as fun as my moms Cooper S Cabrio with 192HP, they sound great, have good infotainments, the dual clutch in the S is seriously amazing and these cars just have character.
I keep coming back to SG for anecdotes about Jack's love life and Mark's matrimonial troubles.
I always remember looking at a brand new Mitsubishi evo x was so expensive at $37k new… seeing a Mini Cooper at $45k makes my eyes water… these cars should be max $25k with the special editions going for no more than $33k. It’s minis fault for pushing into the 40s for no reason.
45K? this makes CIVIC type R, GTI/GOLF R , MIATA, tesla model 3and the GR corolla(pending) looks like a steal..
The Mini is more unique, but arguably uglier.
@@dragospahontu so is a nissan cube and vw beetle but. theres better cars for the money The only thing unique about the mini is the fact it's British, and perhaps it's shape. I know that means something so small crowd but when you think practical it's nothing in that regard
@@JDMHaze it's a cool convertible hatchback. It doesn't really have any competition.
@@dragospahontu audi tt He's pretty much close, the hatchback quality is the only thing challenging and it's not like the cubic ft of space is significantly different... It's a hard bargain
@@JDMHaze also the Volkswagen T Roc convertible in Europe ( although it's an SUV).
You're definitely right about the Audi. I'd probably go for that instead of the Mini because of the better build quality.
Speaking of BMW when is SavageGeese getting ahold of a 230i? Reasonably priced practical sports car.
Does this have bad rev hang? Is it a deal breaker?
Sounds like fun car to buy used.
My dad has one of these and you are the only people on YT who accurately describe the driving characteristics instead of saying „it has a harsh ride“ (you are right, it actually doesn’t) and calling it a day. Great job!!!
The pricing really kills the Mini. If they could bring the fully loaded cars down into the mid-$30s they would sell a hell of a lot more.
They have to go Mexican manufacturing in order to fulfill the price range.
You are so right. I would suggest that once the supply chain issues resolve themselves, that people go after these in the used market. I bought a certified pre-owned Cooper S several years ago, and it was already down 50% from its MSRP after 2 years of it being new, and has been a blast to own as a second car.
The normal non convertible S are sitting in the mid 30s though
You can get older used Cooper S models of the F56 generation for pretty good value. Though I gotta say, the second facelift that came with the 2021 models with the new front facia and new interior screens really add a lot to the car.
Exactly. This being in the low $40's that's getting into Golf R or Civic type R territory.
One of the problems with retro, and this applies to the entire Mini lineup, is that it's very hard to evolve over time. Pity the American market doesn't have enough demand to support a wide variety of small cars. "Light on its feet" only works if the car actually is light. Were it my money, I'd be looking at the GTI or Civic hatch. Not as small, but more practical and still not huge.
Exactly, GTI and civic SI/r For damn near $6000 less blow this thing out of the water, and it's not like mini today are building tanks
I dunno about not huge, the new Civic borders on Accord-size. It's significantly larger than an A3! For what it is, it's too big for me if I want a small, sporty car.
@@vomErsten Well, it (the Civic) is certainly no Escalade. But yes, like all cars, including the Mini, it's grown over the years. I recall the '76 Civic having 12" wheels and being a hoot to drive.
Porsche 911: hold my bier
The American market does have enough demand.
The problem is the price point on all the supposedly 'disposable' second/fun cars is fucking ridiculous. North of 40 grand for this? Piss off BMW. Yes, I do realize that a large chunk of that is r-tarded regulations on safety, emissions and economy.
This is an extremely fair review which some auto journalists are incapable of when it comes to Mini. I own a Mini Countryman JCW, yes its expensive for a Mini, but it is the only car I drove that truly put a smile on my face. It is so quirky and irrational in so many ways, but I love the damn thing and I’ve yet to see another moron driving one which makes me like it even more. Reliability TBD but if that’s your main focus, you were never considering a Mini in the first place.
They summed it up very well. Let's be honest. If you are buying a Cooper S, you are probably at least a mild enthusiast. You can probably do basic maintenance, fix minor issues, and don't mind doing so. A car doesn't need to be dead nuts reliable if it makes up for it in driving pleasure/personality.
lol damn what have you been driving lmao
I've had 2 MINI'S. Both were a BLAST. The non-lockout for reverse is a non issue. Never a problem in 200k+ miles. Loads of fun. Loads of character. Great at autocross. A car to fall deeply in love with. A cult following with endless possible modifications (but stock is GREAT). And very reliable too...go figure (non turbo). And great mpg's. Plus...I've had THREE HIGHSCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS in my hardtop for 1-hour drives to games with little problem. My convertible was a NON-STOP smile. With the back seat down I can haul stuff from Costco or go on a trip with plenty of gear/luggage. It's a great car. Buy it. You'll never look back or regret it. Motor on.
I took advantage of the chip shortage to trade in my ‘19 Mazda3 (at a profit with 20k miles added onto it) and leased a ‘22 new Cooper S hardtop. This car is such a perfect lease machine, and the ‘21 facelift and new tech make it actually pretty nice. Owning one new would be a tougher pill to swallow mentally, but I guess I’m paying the depreciation anyway.
Insanely expensive. Like everyone else has said - this would sell if it was $10k less expensive...
And they would still make a profit
Just don't get the convertible version, saves a chunk of change
40k for that? geez might as well get a Type R
right!! I literally just said that, I know a few years back that could've been focus RS money. prety much a European car lol
Or GP
Link to Type R convertible, please.
I honestly don't understand the problem with the position of the reverse gear, every bmw manual transmission is exactly the same
One of the few cars that you can still buy that doesn't feel like an appliance on wheels. My wife and I got one after driving civic si, wrx, jetta gli and as soon as you whip this around a corner it all makes sense. It has some of the sharpest handling on the road and has character unlike anything else.
We love our MINI convertible! Manual, turbocharged 3-cylinder, and a few aftermarket goodies 😉 and I can honestly say I’ve never had a car that’s more fun to own or drive, despite owning 20+ cars, several of which are far, far more performance oriented. There’s something about MINI’s that no other brand can offer. And can we talk about the MINI owners, the MINI family?? Honestly the best car family I’ve ever been a part of.
Shame the Fiesta ST is no longer sold in North America. It is a great compact sports car.
Ford really did us dirty
@@mistamaog I live in Europe and own the new MK8 ST. It’s such a brilliant drivers car. I love it.
Would love to see your take on the Mini JCW GP. That thing looks like a hoot.
I had the 2nd gen GP, it was an awesome little machine. I heard the new one is off the deep end...
@@JS-sy8mo Fake aero, fake noise through the speakers, torque converter auto...
@@supraJZA80s Yeah those are some lame parts, but a mini wheelbase and that much horsepower has to be fun either way...
@@supraJZA80s The next best thing for around that money with that much flare would be an Abarth 595 Biposto, and they're not really much more than what you listed.
Wait lol Abarths are cheap af in comparison
I’m a true MINI fan…I’ve owned 5 modern MINIs and one classic Mini. Of all of them, the supercharged R53 (2002-06…08 for the cabrio) cars were the best in terms of driving fun. Reliability?…none of them were good….but part of the joy of ownership for me was the modding, upgrades, repair, etc.
I sold my last car two years ago (an 06 Cooper S)…rust was beginning to eat it and it was just a matter of time before it was a problem. I have ZERO desire for the current generation. For me, It has lost all of the character it once had.
Ok and?
Right on, bodies got inflated with massive wheel arch moldings and gobs of plasti-chrome, not to mention overly proportioned lighting all the way around…
I caught a bug for a Mini once. In 2016 I went to a dealer with full intentions of buying a new JCW in manual, red with white stripes. While there I decided I'd test drive a new 2016 S (F56) and 2013 S (R56) they had on the lot. I was blown away by how much more I enjoyed the older less powerful R56. It felt much smaller (it was), more raw and exciting to drive. I abandoned the idea of the new Mini and shopped for my dream speck 2013 JCW. I ended up finding a 2013 S with the JCW tuning kit and just about every single upgrade one could throw at it from the Mini catalog including GP aero package and interior with the rear seat delete. It was a brilliant car, an autocross weapon that embarrassed many high performance cars. I ultimately enjoyed it for two years when the turbo fun and maintenance wore thin on me. I replaced with the a naturally aspirated 1999 BMW M3 and couldn't be happier. It's addicting to drive, always, and I don't forsee a reason to sell it. The Mini was excellent, but I saw the writing on the wall that is was going to be very expensive out of warranty to own. The M3 was a good choice, has been very reliable and inexpensive to service.
This car is begging for electrification, and from the ground up, not the cobbled together one that was reviewed a little while ago, although even that power train suited the car okay. I wouldn't be surprised if the buyers were mostly city dwellers and tech heavy. Electrifying this car will appeal to them and pull in some cross-shoppers too.
My first car was a 2004 (I think) Mini S manual, back when they still supercharged them. I was really young and not as involved in cars as I am now, but man it was so much fun. At one point I had 3 other 6'+ guys stuffed in it to get around town and it was hysterical. I have lots of memories in that thing, but I don't think I'd ever consider a new one.
Why not? Very small cars always make the best memories. Buy an suv and years later you'll have forgotten that you even owed it
A Miata is reliable, drive’s well, and about 10-15k cheaper. Why does anyone buy a convertible mini?
I was thinking the same while watching this. If I wanted a car solely because it’s fun to drive but didn’t want to spend a lot I would look at a Miata before I would a Mini any day.
My 2022 Mini Cooper S I purchased brand new for $28k USD. Not terribly more expensive than a lot of other hot hatches. And it is so much fun.
Hello. I’m reaching out to ask how are you liking your Mini so far? Did you have any concerns about its long term reliability before purchasing? Has it been reliable so far? What are your pros and cons? Are the breaks good? Does the A/C work well? Las Vegas is home. Do you have any buyers remorse ? I saw a 2023 Mini Cooper S on Autotrader and deeply considering getting it. It’s my dream car, but there are some nay sayers due to its past models.
When my wife tried to convince me we need this one, I said OK - let's go and test drive. She was a bit disappointed when her head space was obstructed by really low ceiling (she is 6ft tall - nothing special). It was relatively fun to drive though and kind of "cute", it will attract certain demographics with spare cash. Although that demographics is migrating to Teslas like crazy.
So they're migrating from one overpriced piece of junk to another, at least the tesla is way more spacious
@@totoianugheorghelucian488 You can get a Tesla for about the same price and get a better powertrain and it is surprisingly more reliable, granted I think Tesla is trash overall but it's a real cream pop when you put it against this. if I used car dealer wants to sell a Tesla all they have to do is put it next to one of these and have a customer drive both
Interesting; I'm 6'6" and fit great; perhaps the seat wasn't all the way down?
2:09 OMG stock footage of edgy hip consumer on obvious greenscreen was unexpected.
@Kaiser Soze they\them looks like the type to stay on Twitter instead of joining it's comrades trying to burn down the city. But it's possible 🤔
Hope minis never go away.. was really close to buying the JCW clubman, but with the prices rising so high on cars it was actually cheaper to get a lightly used M40i
my point exactly The price really kills this car this will be a good $35,000 car maybe, but 45K is near insane, you could get a Tesla model 3 or a golf R/gti And get a lot more out of those cars in every category
@@JDMHaze even 35k is too much. The should be a mid 20s car.
@@JDMHaze yep! Though I do feel that the Golf R will need to be careful with its price since it’ll most likely be closer to 50 after MSRP :/
@@Butts0hboi inflation
@@wigletron2846 I remember when minis used to start at like $26000 (USD)
Never understood the obsession with large cars. Especially if you dont have a big family or dont go on long trips regularly. I have always loved small cars because for their fun factor,ease of parking and fuel economy.
Drive a 2016 4Runner and I have no kids. It's just a very practical vechile size wise and it's good for friends. I would be willing to downsize though. But not to something like this. At some point a car becomes too small to even be practical for the random BS life throws at you.
Also I would argue that many subcompacts cars (mostly sedans) look ridiculous nowadays. Compare a subcompact from the past to now. New ones just dont look right and are ungraceful. Too much body for safety reasons.
Also at least in NA most subcompact were are "cute" looking. Just look at what men a women drive. Look how popular the Kia Telluride is over the Palisade. Or the 4Runner to other crossovers.
People like more muscular rough looking cars. Look at the Charger. Still here while other large cars are dying off.
Automakers failed to make a "cool" subcompact by most peoples standards. Maybe you like it but most people dont like cute cars. It's just down to preference and I feel like automakers failed to see that.
Just my opinion.
I bought a 2015 Cooper S Coupe in 2018 well speced and low miles for under $20k. It's not my only car, but it is my winter car, and my most practical car. It's amazing for bopping around town, reasonably comfortable on the highway, and while it's completely outclassed by my other cars in the twisties, it will still embarrass most cars on the road.
happy new year from australia!
Mini's are fun. If you want to drive and smile and just have a great time driving, this is an excellent choice.
I absolutely love the Mini, but that's a 25k car at best, I hate these "brand" products is the same like with the iPhone, they make the phone with 50 bucks and then they sell it to you for 1000 or some of these designer clothes that have price tags 4/5 times more than what they worth.
I reluctantly bought my brother's 2015 Cooper S manual after a move got canceled, sold my M2, and had no car. I was shocked at just how much fun the Cooper S is to drive, it really gave away nothing to the M2 in that area. In fact, it was more fun on public roads given its agility and diminutive size, while also quieter, softer and far more livable. Aside from one deal breaker, that is. Its just too damn small and cramped in there for me. Its not so much the interior as it is just how bad the base sport seats are. I cant ever seem to get comfortable in them. That said, at almost 70k miles, its been dead reliable, no issues aside from a hood latch mechanism that stopped wanting to work.
Definitely, now understand the appeal of these VERY fun to drive machines.
I had a 2019 hardtop and I thought the rear seats were plenty usable. Maybe a bit of a pain to get back there but once there leg and head room were no problems. Not fair to call this "basically a two seat car" imo
The convertible's rear seat is far smaller than the coupe's. Even the coupe is top small for four average-sized men. For kids the back seat will do, or adults if the people in front are small.
I wish other companies (particularly japanese manufacturers) built their small cars like the MINI in the US. I think instead of marketing them as just "THE CHEAPEST CAR MONEY CAN BUY" they could have spent more r&d on styling and driving dynamics and sold tarted up versions of their small cars that all at least had a good platform and nice designs. It seems as soon as small car sales dipped even slightly every manufacturer just gave up on them.
The problem was that the profit margins were always slim on subcompacts. They cost almost as much to make as compacts, but had to be priced lower. Most of them also sold in such small numbers that it just wasn't worth it. Mini only hangs on because of BMW. If they didn't share mechanicals there's no way they'd make sense.
Great point about the price, we did the next best thing & bought a used 2017 Mini S Carbon Edition 4 door hardtop two years ago with 35,000 miles for only 23,000..it’s a great car that handles amazing on the canyon roads. Bottom line let someone else take the depreciation:)
Imagine seeing all the new and used cars you can buy for $45,000 and below and thinking to yourself "Yup a brand new Mini Cooper, that's the one!".
That's why you can get one for $22k
I know two people who have bought fully optioned minis new in the past year, they are fun to drive and the girls around where I live love them. (Mostly high school girls driving them)
😂🤣🤣🤣 right, The price point is exorbitant when the competition is steep, you have the Volkswagen golf which is a slightly bigger and more spirited version and surprisingly probably a little more reliable.. It's a no brainer, gti us sporty but yet conservative at the same time ...It's amazing that anyone buys these mini coopers besides the nostalgics
@@JDMHaze There's way too many cars even 10k less than this that are so much better. Miata, wrx, civic type r. You could probably even get a Camaro SS or Mustang GT for less.
Sold! 😂
As someone who drives a 2018 base model stick cooper, I absolutely love these cars. The turbo three is a peach of an engine, sips gas, whilst the car handles like its on rails. Truly the closest you can get to a street legal go kart. I see myself owning some form of cooper for a very long time.
Also, its without a doubt the greatest small car for tall people; I'm 6'2 and my dad's 6'4, and with both fit with plenty of headroom.
To be fair a Suzuki Swift Sport would be a far better choice. Under 1000kg, 140hp.
Yeah the Mini drives somewhat nice but its way too expensive and the clutch is shit imho.
@@raupenimmersatt6906 those aren’t sold in North America. Also I’m by no means saying there aren’t better options for the price, just that these specific cars are a hell of a lot of fun to me.
5:57 - Mark, that's not what she told me - you begged to get this Mini, giving up everything else, even your favorite toys!
I ordered a poverty spec R53 MINI Cooper S when they first came out. It was 25 grand out the door. That car was a tuner's wet dream. There was so much you could modify. The sky was the limit. The supercharged engine was a rough-edged beast, and with a pulley and a tune, you could get pretty impressive power out of it. I still miss that car sometimes, but when you're single and only commute in it, the car makes sense. Add Wife and kids, and it's a different story, at least once the kids are too big for the rear seats. I used to throw the kids in the back, and haul ass through a local roundabout. We were all laughing our hearts out. That's what a MINI is best at. The problem with newer MINIs is the price. All those BMW bits aren't cheap, but the cars don't feel premium. There's also reliability to think about. MINIs have issues, at least the earlier ones did.
Glad someone mentioned the lack of reverse gear lockout. I turoed one of these and almost reversed into someone on a steep hill. I was doing a hill start and gave it some more gas only to realize in horror that I was in reverse. A screen tells you what gear you're in on the gauge cluster, but it is not intuitive-no idea how this made it past anyone in safety and compliance. It's hella dangerous.
I got my licence in the sixties and owned and drove many European manual manual trans cars with reverse left and up. I always dropped into second, and then up into first, even from rest. That was partly because all manuals back then had non-synchro first gears, so you dropped into second to line up the teeth, and then up into first. I still drive manuals that way even today. (My current car is a MT.)
@@davep8029 seconding this. Have far less driving experience but have indeed noticed that at the very least, going second then back up into first gives far less resistance via the shifter on a VW manual without synchroed first gear.
it's extra weird because I'm pretty sure my older 2006 gen 1 mini had a reverse lock out...
This is why Reverse being right and down is superior to left and up. :p
@@davep8029 Except for the Alfas, they had synchro first gears. However the synchros would wear and I usually did as you did with non-synchro cars. I got my '64 Alfa Sprint, a 101 series car, in 1967, it was my first car, a five speed in an era of four speed cars.
Miata is looking pretty good right about now.
Miata is much less practical though. In a mini you can put a roof down and throw two long surfboards on a reclined passenger seat and sit a passenger behind driver.
Back in 2013 when I was shopping for a new car I was looking at the Mini S, GTI, and Mazda3speed. I LOVED the way the mini drove but didn't care for the interior styling. Didn't care for the Mazda body style....so I bought the GTI M/T. But the mini was the most fun of the three to drive. The Mazda was clearly the fastest...
Ok and?
@@whitemailprivilege2830 damn bro you got the whole squad laughing
@@fabiangonzalez-cortes8894 oh yeah???
@@whitemailprivilege2830 I advise you check your white mail privilege sir/zir or whatever.
I have a 2014 MINi Cooper S. And I adore it. Don’t care about interior, it’s a fun car to drive and modify if you are into that thing.
And yes there are better cars for the price but this car has a very special styling and character which I just do not find in other vehicles.
When I got my pre LCI in 2016 It was an ex demo car off the lot for 27k starting. The bargains for these small cars are out there. Just that when its specced out they cost a metric ton. The convertible is more niche than the usual hatch and is geared for that 1%. Don't know why people buy loaded S convertibles for loaded JCW countryman/clubman prices. Those comparing a Type R, etc etc to a convertible S don't understand what the convertible F57 is geared towards. Definitely not to hardcore car enthusiasts.
The motor itself is the same motor that is in the 2.0L Supra, it has tunability, can reach 280-300 crank hp reliably, 300~ torque. Anymore than that and LSPI/ ringland failure scenarios can occur
As far as reliability is concerned BMW has lost money on these because they are not constantly breaking down like the 2nd gen. 82k miles on mine roughly, only thing replaced was the passenger +lower engine mounts and the fuel tank vent canister.
MINI is a luxury premium bran car similar to BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. It's not a Toyota, it's not a Honda. It's not a Kia or a Chevy. It's a premium luxury car with a vibrant community and rich history. You're trying to compare 🍎🍎to 🍊🍊
True man. The mini S is in essence the poor man’s gran tourer. It offers the enjoyment and the spirit of a gran tourer (comfortable interior + the joy of an athletic sport car) with the everyday usability of a small sedan all for a fairly affordable price tag compared to other 2+2 sport cars.
This will be n interesting AutoTempest case study -- r53 supercharged screaming first-gen Cooper S for $8000 or 2022 refresh for $38,000+ . What is the improvement over the years other than adding 8 inches of crush space for crash tests and more air bags, and softening the suspension?
well the 2022 car should be driving for at least 24 months, not something you can say about the 8k cooper S
The quality of the 2014+ Minis are built about 20x better than the R50/R53 cars which are built like absolute garbage. The old cars are complete rattle traps and everything breaks super quick.
LOL! I recently bought a brand new 2023 Mini Cooper S hardtop and fucking love it! Beautiful green w/ a white top and a few unique bits resulting from the oddball supply chain impacts on the Mini production line. The 7 speed DCT is a fantastic automated manual and you can actually get it to work well in the manual mode if circumstances require it. It's a second car to our 2014 SUV and it fills the second car niche perfectly. TONS of room for front passengers (we are both 6 feet tall), best seats I've had in a car since maybe forever, and it rides comfortably on back roads or the interstate. I dunno if I will keep it for a long time, but I'm definitely having more fun in it than my 2015 228i, and it's much more capable all around than the 2014 500 Abarth I had before the BMW. I'd call the Mini Cooper S a sweet spot for small, but capable and relatively sporty-ish cars. BTW, the '23 gets a fantastic Nappa leather steering wheel (mine has heat too) and very effective bun warmers. Our daily driver Nissan seat heaters suck balls (not literally, unfortunately). I find the recycled BMW iDrive (8?) infotainment very useful and familiar and the voice command function is amazingly effective at everything I throw at it. And if I fold the rear seats down, the 3 door hatch can carry surprisingly large items. Anyway, just thought I'd put in a plug as someone who recently pulled the trigger and bought one of a "dying breed" of car. Oh, in case anyone cares, I actually got $2k off MSRP on my Mini Cooper S so the purchase price was right around $32k with quite a few options. That's less than a GTI would've cost me or any number of other sporty-ish small cars. Despite MSRP, I don't think you can get a Civic Si for $32k right now. Seemed like a decent deal to me. Warranty is way better than many competitors as well and there's something to be said, reliability wise, for buying a car that's basically the same as it was in 2014. Keep up the great videos! ;-)
Hello. I’m reaching out to ask how are you liking your Mini so far? Did you have any concerns about its long term reliability before purchasing? Has it been reliable so far? What are your pros and cons? Are the breaks good? Does the A/C work well? Las Vegas is home. Do you have any buyers remorse ? I saw a 2023 Mini Cooper S on Autotrader and deeply considering getting it. It’s my dream car, but there are some nay sayers due to its past models.
@@leom00n79 Love it! Zero reliability concerns. They've been building basically the same exact car since 2014, so the bugs are all worked out. Pro is that it is hella fun to drive and super comfortable too. Con is that it is front wheel drive, but all hatchbacks in the U.S. are FWD and it still handles very well. Brakes are fantastic. AC is probably sufficient even for your hellish Las Vegas if you tint the windows and keep the sunshade closed. Zero buyers remorse.
People are stupid
These cars are amazing
We deserve what we get because we don’t appreciate what is quality.
EV’s are disgusting to drive- zero feedback
Big Stupid looking cars that all look the same.
It’s is disgrace.
I drive a 2015 base model 3 cyl turbocharged mini hardtop in Cali. And everytime i take the backroads I swear I fall in love all over again. I paid about 14k a couple years ago for it because i wanted cheap fun and man.. theres just something about these cars.. the friendly mr. Rogers face of a mini doesnt get old. But man just how connected you feel to the road and the car is just dumb fun. I will vouch for these cars forever, but its just such a damn shame how much BMW wants for one.
Mini actually has a high take rate on manual transmissions. Also, you guys shit on the size of the car and that "no-one is buying small cars", but I see tons of these daily here in Vancouver. They don't sell in sub or exurbs, but in crowded busy cities they sell pretty well. They are super fun to drive in the city and obviously they can fit into any space.
Base price on these is about $30k, which isn't an amazing value, but it is definitely possible to not break the bank on one. They really don't need that many options.
My car it’s a 16’ base cooper with manual transmission, and what you say about “plastic” and the reverse issue isn’t true. To put at reverse you have to put some force hahaha and the shifter isn’t from a BMW M car but isn’t plastic, maybe you have to try more manuals than autos…
I really enjoy savagegeese, but why are they bothered by the reverse gear mechanism? It’s the same as in every BMW, including M Cars. If you into reverse by accident, you are pushing on the gear lever too much anyway
Almost tears after talking about ex wife.. Love from Sweden!
Mini Cooper JCW in blue metallic and bronze wheels is perfection
I've always been fond of the Mini, but their choice to go upmarket was ultimately their undoing. The Fiat 500, which had a similar goal to the Mini, did a better job capturing the spirit of the original design. It was small, fun and quirky as hell, but without being ridiculously expensive.
Exactly! BMW decided it also had to be a premium car, which ruined the whole point of it. Just let it be fun and affordable like the fiat or miata.
@@caglioso unfortunately new miatas aren't cheap anymore
yep, all the Fiat are absolute shitBut at least the price point was fair and did it's job perfectly if the reliability wasn't horrendous they would've lasted longer.. Because they actually sold very well in the beginning back in 2012 fiat 500e seem to do well with reliability For the obvious reason
@@JDMHaze The 500L and X were proper hot garbage, but the 2-door 500 was honestly a pretty good little car. I used to work at Fiat and owners would absolutely neglect the shit out of them, but they rarely ever had an issue that made them undrivable. They are cheap, but were pretty well-executed by FCA standards.
@@dil6969 Oh I can definitely vouch for that 500L being garbage, Ex girlfriend has a jeep renegade and that thing is burning oil like a candle, And that's just ridiculous, we're lucky I caught it in time it was at the bottom of the dipstick and that was between a oil change, I need to someone that works at the Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler dealership and he told me it's a common issue
Pricing does kill the Mini Cooper in the US. It's just too expensive. That said, I used to consider them before the pandemic destroyed the used market. Now though, especially after having SO MANY problems finding shops actually willing to work on my Volkswagen Jetta, I'm just not considering anything that isn't either domestic, Japanese or Korean. European cars are just SO expensive to maintain in the US, and unless you live in or near a decently sized urban area, you're going to be ordering parts and doing the work yourself. For someone like me, who works ridiculous hours (postal worker), I just don't have enough time to properly work on cars myself. I love small cars with dynamic handling. My old MkV Jetta is even pretty fun. But not at that price and with very limited local auto part and mechanic support, it's just not worth the headaches.
I guess I'm the 1%. I'm single, plan to stay that way. I rarely have any passengers along for the ride, but if I do, probably no more than one who can sit comfortably in the front passenger seat. I wouldn't give up on small cars like this just yet. I think car companies are realizing not everyone wants an SUV, even Ford is bringing back the Taurus. The next generation MINI comes out next year as a 2025 model in the US. If it fails to sale it might be the last, but I doubt that it does. I paid in the mid 30k for my 2-door hardtop. From your review you act like the GTI is much cheaper. You need to check GTI prices. When you do you'll know that's not true.
MINI’s are overpriced unless you get one with almost no options. Cooper starts at $22,900, Cooper S at $26,900. I had an ‘08 R56 Cooper S and it was a BLAST to drive. I miss it.
We have a 19 Countryman bought used in late 2019. It's roomy, gets great mpg and handles well. Ride quality is great. It's the personality that puts it over the top. Yup, they're too expensive new. Decent deal used. And here in St Louis, absolutely top notch dealer service.
I used to hate Minis. In Europe they're known as the cars that upper middle-class dads buy their spoiled daughters for their 18th birthday. But alas, the trend of SUVs and compact cars as big as '90s/2000s sedans has truly swept over the Atlantic and into the domestic market, and I'm beginning to wonder if these miniature BMWs are as bad as I made them out to be. I certainly don't want to see them go away anymore.
The first gens after the BMW buyout are everywhere on the road where I live. I find that quirky girls, not necessarily of the gluten free variety, love them. One of my customers learned how to drive stick because she was able to get the Mini she wanted for less than 5K. Dads like picking these up too since they give the appearance of wealth while still being some of the cheapest turn-of-the-century cars out there. I had one for a while which already had over 150,000 miles, picked up for 4K. I did end up by doing a ton of preventative maintenance every month, but the motor and many of the components are high quality.
IMAGINE paying $45,000 for a Mini Cooper?!?! 🤣💀
scatpack/RT money or civic type r,,,
Better off with a GP. Can have a standard S for 32. Don't know why people buy loaded Minis up to those prices
I saw a dude in front of me pay 65K for a GP.
@@JDMHaze what's funny I owned all of them. Current being gp3 it's way more thrilling than those for me. Love the go-kart legal car lol. People worry about price...I say u live once enjoy all. Maintenance is not that crazy tbh just keep up on it and so t cheap out
@@RickStarzz OK let me rephrase that if you are familiar with the mini brand and have been dealing with them for a while, it's perfect because it gives you exactly what you want and you know what to expect, but trying to attract new buyers that will stay satisfied is hard at this price point... I have a Lexus IS And I'm sure a BMW or a Dodge charger or Q50 would've been a little more fun and I probably could've gotten one of those so much cheaper and they may be more fun, but down the road I know the reliability is sinple and I'm familiar with the power trains in the mechanical.. So I would be willing to spend more money for this, so I could grant that courtesy to Mini, But when I look at Lexus compared to the competition I could see why some people would choose the other vehicle when it's at a lower price point
That was the funniest intro to the drive segment, not sure how you guys kept a straight face lmao
You know the only reason it's priced as it is isn't because that's its price, but because BMW says that's the price.
I have a 2014 Mini Cooper s that I bought used for 14k (40k miles) from a dealer in 2018. They don’t hold their values well but used, are a bargain. The only gripe I have about it is the engine mounts fail 2-4 years in. If you don’t fix the engine mount, it will break the the other one and it will cause some big issues. The repairs are way more time consuming than most Honda products that I’ve owned. I have 110k miles on it and am stuck between replacing it with a 2 series, civic Si, jcw, and a type r. I do have 1 child, it’s not easy to get him into the back but I make it work.
In Europe, when the economy tanks, people buy smaller cars. In the USA they lease bigger, better-looking, cheaply made cars? 🤔😜 - USA might be worrying about image as much as China, haha.
And you're talking like a gearbox wimp there. Reverse lockout? How do you reliably find all forward gears but not the reverse? Worst case, it'll take a bit to get used to it.
My first own car was 6-speed with reverse on the extra-left top. It merely took a little more force to push it all the way there, with an audible mechanical feedback. There was a beeper to inform that you are in reverse and an added info sheet in the manual about it. Annoyed, very soon after purchase I removed the beeper module from the speedometer circuit board. (I'm not driving a garbage truck!)
These days it's got a 5-speed with the original 6-speed shift knob. 😁 (In part because it is damn uniquely beautiful to the degree that only Porsche knobs can compete, and aftermarket is all the same ugly crap.)
The BMW Mini is kinda like a dentist wife car, I imagine. People who love the New Beetle but got more money and want to show it would probably pick this one. (And the dentist would not give her his Porsche, because she cannot handle the size of it, and besides, he needs it to be parked in front of the office all the time.)
I am a contractor and my only car is a Mini. Call me crazy, but I do not enjoy driving a large, bulky vehicle. I wish they made more small wagons/utes to combine practicality with driving dynamics.
Had one of the early ones with the supercharger. My Dad custom ordered it when they came out and went only for performance. A fun driver.
It’s not as P R E M I U M as my Nissan Murano Cabrio
Just makes me wish more that the CRZ had gotten the K treatment it so rightfully deserved.
I sense a great deal of pumpkin spice latte energy in this car, if it had more cladding, was raised an inch, and a slapped in awd system the energy would be through the moon.
Call it a Moke
Orange Subaru crosstrek vibes lol
45k for a mini cooper? What in the actual fcck?
5:45 😂 bodyworks bubble gum body lotion
this is such a great car.....10k overpriced. seriously.
A luxury. Overpriced. Street legal. Go kart. I’m surprised it’s not a big seller But I want one. 😆
I enjoyed having my '16 Cooper S 6sp hardtop for a while, I even tracked it a number of times. A couple things really help, namely an aftermarket shifter and a beefier rear sway bar. I bought mine slightly used but even so the MSRP new was under 30k, mine had very few options, I think the options really get you and most of them seem gimmicky. After a while the lack of LSD really got to me, thought about putting one in but it just didn't seem the platform to dump money into. The tuning of the B48 is really great, it's the same engine every day all day. As something fun and agile with character, no regrets at all owning it for a bit.
I was had at "as someone who wants to be left alone"
Aging gracefully up until about 75,000 miles, then they rattle themselves apart.
The last generation I had went to 160K before the clutch wore out. New control arm bushings aside, I didn't have to do much. Was an easy car to wrench on as long as it wasn't transmission related.
My 2016 S doesn't have any rattles, 82k atm no issues
Bullshit not true with this newest gen
@@papa_pt do you own one?
Cars built after 2016 are put together extremely well and have no rattles.
My dad got one of the first rebooted Mini’s in Dallas. I’ll always have a soft spot for these and catch myself looking at used ones from time to time. I couldn’t swing the size as an everyday car but I’d still love to get an older S or JCW as a fun car.
I come for the car review, I stay for the Larry David dry humor.
No shout out to your own review of the SE that's way cheaper (after tax incentive) and better in many ways (besides range)? That review was one of the reasons I bought mine, and it's great!
The SE makes way more sense.
On the question of storage. I owned an '06 R56 while I played in a "pop punk" band called American Boyfriend. I could haul a medium sized drumset in a car that was slightly smaller than this without any issue as long as I didn't have a passenger. With the four seats, I often hauled around friends who didn't complain at all about feeling cramped owing to the novelty of the car itself, and the sheer perceived gimmickry. That R56 was one of the best driving cars I've been in relative to its comparative utility as a hauler. As long as the mechanical kinks endemic of that generation are gone, like that crappy proprietary gearbox and the premature clutch wear, I urge anyone remotely curious to drive one.
Im surprised to find anyone has accidently found reverse instead of 1st, i feel that the lockout is good enough to prevent that, it feels pretty stiff to me and you would never accidentally select reverse
Patagonia Boyz in the house
The type of car that you best walk away from after 5 years from new.
@G M97 Ah, German engineering. My 2009 Hyundai still drives like new with 70k miles.
@G M97 R series?
Blah blkjdah upmarket if only they came down blah.
You can get the Mini Oxford edition for $21k, this car doesn't need more than the 3 cyl. Even the base version (with a stick) is a total blast to drive
I own a 2021 GP and paid $45,750 which I feel was a reasonable value proposition considering a well equipped JCW is $40,000 and doesn’t have 306hp/334tq. Just took delivery of a 2022 Oxford 2 door manual for my daughter. It was $20,600 including destination. What a great little car!
@@soulmaster63 awesome stuff! GP sounds like it might rattle your teeth out though 😂 I loved test driving that simple 3 cyl Mini (easily the most fun car out of that, Mazda 3 and GTI) but ultimately needed something bigger so went with a used 535i wagon for $13k
@@papa_pt I agree. That base Mini 3 cylinder with a manual is the under appreciated sweet spot in its class. I think the 3 cylinder has the essence and purity of the original Mini.
BTW…The GP isn’t as harsh and unwieldy as motor journalists have suggested. It’s got lots of personality and very fun to drive as long as you have your wits about you and don’t drive it like a complete knob 😀
The Mitsubishi Mirage seems to be hanging on pretty well in the market, I don't know who's buying them but they are selling.
Own 2, 3rd gen, 2016 Minis, a Clubman S and "Justa" convertible with the i8 3 cylinder. Purchased both off lease with low miles and both have sticks. In my close to 40 years driving, I don't know why it took me so long to try this brand. In the 3 years we'ved owned them, we have had a blast. Solid, fun, practical, if you understand the restrictions of the convertible (which has some pretty ingenious cargo area features), and so much personality. Agree with you that the stick in the F57 is a bit loose and the reverse lockout is tricky, but the Getrag on my F54 Clubman is really a joy to use with nice tight gates and a pleasant mechanical feel. Clutch on Clubby is good, light, progressive, while F57 is, as you point out, spongy.
But all those are nitpicks for the amount of fun and character these great little cars offer. I was a Mazda fan for years, but their need to abandon the stick and tilt their product portfolio to SUV, had me searching for an affordable, yet fun car. My spouse always wanted a (now extinct) VW convertible, but when we drove the mini it was love at first site. I purchased the Clubby shortly after and have not looked back. I will say that these cars, like all European marques, do need to be looked after and maintained and dealer pricing is crazy high, while the recommended fluid intervals IMO can lead to issues with reliability. Thankfully maintenance is pretty straightforward for a DIYer. So I change oil and other fluids more frequently than the manual says (lifetime tranny fluid my ass). 😁
Anyway, your personal experience matches my experience to a T. Is Mini perfect, no. But damn if it isn't a blast to drive and live with. Brings a smile to my face everytime I see it or drive it.
What makes me sad is that it is a quickly dying breed, but a great value used. Also it appears that Mini electric will preserve the fun to drive personality and character. So fingers crossed.
Excellent content as usual.
It’s amazing how much more these cost in the USA than the U.K., you can get these for the low 20k’s in the U.K. brand new with a bit of haggling - makes hen a much more realistic. I used to have one myself, and it was a tonne of fun, but...no one else liked it 😂 so I guess I was on my own
You’re looking at £35,000 gbp and mini don’t do discounts.
The Mini Cooper S hatchback is not in the high $30s. It starts at $26,900. The JCW version starts at $32,900.
Im gonna slightly disagree with you on this. Technically a base cooper s hatch starts at 27. But in typical bmw fashion once it gets optikns its low to mid 30s. Making it every bit as expensive as a gti, veloster n etc. thats not even a jcw
@@jackholmes8105 It's still not the high $30s figure that was cited in the video.
@@erikn.7540 you are right then. I think fully loaded before additional opitons a s is 35900. still a ton of money a jcw is pushing 40
*Nobody is buying them because BMW doesn’t want to sell them!* The logic of $45k for a golf cart is absurd. Behind every Acura is a Honda; Lexus a Toyota, etc. BMW could have done the opposite and chased after the Civic/ Corolla market with the Mini. 🤷♂️
Savagegeese:$40k
Me:😬😬😬
I don't know about 'gracefully'. The 2000 re-design by Frank Stephenson was brilliant. But since then the attractiveness of the Mini went downhill with each facelift. The current Mini Countryman looks more Honda Elephant than Mini Cooper.
We just bought one a week ago and it’s the most fun car we’ve ever had, we absolutely love it
Just make sure you have BMW money to fix this pos when it breaks. And let me tell you. They break. And you will be left with a hefty BMW bill. Trust me. I've been through it. They don't last
I have an ‘09 Mini S convertible with a manual gearbox. Love that car
I almost bought a Mini in 2016 and I wish I did, but I thought it was too small and bought a Volvo V60 instead which was a huge mistake. Now I have a MX5 but I would still consider a Mini some day. Except my dumbass neighbor is ruining Mini for me. He has a first gen S model with a shitty exhaust and he insists on driving it down the street in 1st gear and it has turned into something very annoying. I hate that damn car!
No joke, I hope you guys choose to do a quick review on the Chevy Spark. The most affordable car in the USA. Manual with an naturally aspirated engine. That is THE dying breed.
toyota yaris*
@@JDMHaze true to that too. I suppose a conglomerate like GM still producing this thing amazes me.
You can tell from the underbody that this is not a $45k car
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The REPAIRING COST is what killing Minis. Parts are expensive and they are not built to last like other compact cars. Unless you have to have FWD otherwise I don't see the point choose any 2 door Mini over BRZ/86 (for coupe) or MX5 (for convertible). All Mini are overpriced.
This gen has fewer issues than the last. 82k miles and the only thing tended to was the engine mounts and gas vent canister
The Mini is much roomier than the Toyobaru twins and the Miata. My 6'6 self can actually fit in the Mini. Hell, 7-foot Dirk Nowitzki fits in one.