Mini, first thoughts.

[biggbn]

OK so we took delivery of our 'new to us' f56 Mini One 1.5d on Thursday and I must admit to being fairly smitten. It's a 2014 plate with 40k miles and what subsequently was shown to be a full service history from John Clark BMW/Mini group.

I have covered about 250 miles since then and averaged 66mpg. It will show 80mpg on long runs at 60mph!! Car 'feels' special. I have owned quite a few BMW and this feels like a small BMW, perfect driving position, high quality interior plastics, loads of space behind wheel. It pulls off a strange feat of feeling 'old' and modern. Actually reminds me of older Saab c900 or 99, big vertical dash, big kinda wrap around screen, you sit in car not on it. Beautiful steering, flat cornering and feels very surefooted.


Complaints...minor but wee bit of road/tyre noise. Stupid placement of light switches down by right knee and my HTC is not recognised by USB tether although links via Bluetooth for phone calls only..no music.

This wee car is the most expensive car I have owned and will have to cover another 100k miles over next five years so am gonna get it serviced at 8-10k mile intervals rather than observe BMW 'when the car tells you' protocol. It's basic spec means less to go wrong hopefully. Pics to come

[S60D5-185]

Pleased you're happy with it. It seems to have been enthusiastically greeted by the press.


https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...t-drive-review



Who supplies the engine in that car George?

[biggbn]

It is now the same BMW triple used in various states of tune in various BMW Darryl. My experience of newer cars is relatively sparse but it is incredibly refined, makes dads Kia sound like a tractor!!

[S60D5-185]

A triple is one of my favourite engine sounds, even better than a five pot to my ears even in Diesel guise.

It also looks like the fuel economy figures quoted are achievable and I think your proposed servicing regime makes sense for longevity although I have no doubt some will strongly disagree.

[biggbn]

I have actually had a few of triples, various daihatsus and smarts immediately spring to mind. It's a very smooth wee unit in a low (94hp I think) state of tune. Same engine goes to 150hp and beyond in other applications and reputedly Maps to just over 200hp!! Am happy with my meagre output being a captain slow!!

[ITSv40]

Glad you are pleased with it

Yours is much newer than our Cooper and a different chassis, but the first impression of ours was: it is modern in an old fashioned way. The aspect of the windscreen took some getting used to, but the handling is just pure go-kart in a good way. Hope you continue to enjoy many smiles per mile.

[phil1968]

Triples sound not too dissimilar to sixes because they have the same crank phasing (120 degrees).

[biggbn]

I usually describe a triple as a manic buzzsaw, but this one is really refined.

[Stu B]

Interesting, I didn't realise these were 3 cyl now? I had a 2009 R56 Cooper D (1.6D) as a company car for three years when new, did 21k miles in it and averaged mid 50s mpg over the period as I recall even with some very enthusiastic driving as I didn't pay to replace the tyres...

My wife's had a 2004 R53 petrol Cooper S (supercharged) for the last 5 years and absolutely loves it. Not as economical but goes well, makes a great noise and corners like a go kart. I've attempted to keep up with her in various T5s over the years and you need a long straight road to catch a Cooper S, any corners and Volvos are left for dead as the speed a MINI can carry through bends is another league (where safe to do so).

Both of ours felt special in the way that small cars often don't as you say, really like them.

[biggbn]

Originally Posted by Stu B

Interesting, I didn't realise these were 3 cyl now? I had a 2009 R56 Cooper D (1.6D) as a company car for three years when new, did 21k miles in it and averaged mid 50s mpg over the period as I recall even with some very enthusiastic driving as I didn't pay to replace the tyres...

My wife's had a 2004 R53 petrol Cooper S (supercharged) for the last 5 years and absolutely loves it. Not as economical but goes well, makes a great noise and corners like a go kart. I've attempted to keep up with her in various T5s over the years and you need a long straight road to catch a Cooper S, any corners and Volvos are left for dead as the speed a MINI can carry through bends is another league (where safe to do so).

Both of ours felt special in the way that small cars often don't as you say, really like them.

Even the new cooper is a petrol triple as used in one series BMW, many prefer it to the brawny, lairy 2.0 turbo cooper s. It's wee blown engine is good for sixty in less than 8 secs and decent mpg. Looks like mini is all grown up , although some criticise it for being too BMW, too grown up.