You’ve got it exactly right - and I should know, being the previous owner! I’ll miss that car 😢 I’d highly recommend Matt as a buyer - selling him the Mini couldn’t have been more straightforward or pleasant.
The Cooper 1.5 petrol Id recommend . I own one myself. Everyone goes for the S but trust me the Cooper 1.5 3 cylinder goes very well and its pretty quick with 220NM of torque .
Bit late replying here but I just got my 1.5 petrol and I have to say (although preference) the B38 3 cylinder just gives such a satisfying unique noise that the B48 4 cylinder in the S doesn't. Amazing to live with.
I have had one of these since 2019 & mechanically it's been faultless. Imagine a reliable car that's surprisingly roomy inside, with high quality switchgear, comfortable & fun to drive even on long journeys and with 171 HP available but yet also capable of 55+ mpg! Comes out very well if you love your street cred too! As the other Matt (Watson) would say "just go ahead & buy one!" Your review is spot on 👌
@AssumedTiger my 2015 was 3 years old when I bought it on 36k miles apart from the basic egr recall and a exhaust pressure sensor with good maintenance they're very reliable cars on the f series
Very good to hear that BMW fixed all of the reliability issues that the previous gen. models had. I actually took the Mini off my list of serious contenders for my next daily driver due to those issues. But now, I'm putting the 3rd Generation Mini back on the list. Love the looks. And thankfully it's still a reasonably small hatchback. Thanks for making this particular video, Matt. Appreciate it. 👍
Did you research the heater matrix fault? Mine broke and it was £2,000 to fix it… mini specialist said he sees a lot of it. Worth looking into before splashing out
Remember a friend in college with a second gen one and the ride quality was the worst I've ever experienced in a car ever, even to this day - you could drive over a grain of sand and it felt as if your spine was being milled into a fine powder.
I did all my driving school driving practices and exams with one SD, and it was a dream to drive: agile, easy to drive and had it's fair share of pull when you floored it. I can still hear my teacher asking me to floor it on a highway entry lane and my back getting squeezed against the seat. Lovely car, the only complain I had about it is how tiny it was on the inside. I learned the bad habit of driving with my chest at 20cm from the wheel because of that car, but it was lovely anyways.
I had a 2011 cooper S convertible as a weekend car for me and the missus now our son has grown up .... loved it, the noise it made in sports mode took me back to my younger day's... would have another in a heartbeat. Smiles per miles 😁
I bought it new in 2015 with manual gearbox and made 120.000 Km with it before selling in 2020. The most satisfying thing of this car is that it's plenty of torque, punchy and fun in twisty roads yet frugal when you need it in the highway runs (at least consumption wise, while the dealership service cost was too expensive as you can expect from BMW, in fact after the warranty exp. my mech took good care of it). I had the original Mini JCW KW suspensions and JCW big brake on it, as I felt the stock suspensions and brakes couldn't keep up well with straight line performance. Problems I had: a minor oil leak at only 8K Km from engine mounts gaskets, fixed by the dealership under warranty during the first service. A leak from coolant circuit hose @ 80K km (the hose, which is made by an oddly hard rubber, was touching a plastic part in upper part of the engine bay so, over time, vibration/attrition caused a small cut in the hose; fixed by my mechanic with a softer, higher quality hose and by distancing the hose from the infamous engine part). Interior quality is nice but nothing exceptional considering the price. I always took good care of it, changed oil 3 times more often than required by Mini and kept all the invoices, I detailed it personally too, so when I sold the car both the exterior and the interior were like new, seats and steering wheel included, the guy who bought it couldn't believe it had 120K Km. The price wasn't distant from other comparable used cars too. Sooo as per HPA's advice, when buying a used car, always seek for these additional clues of overall good maintenance and care in addition to the usual service book and past car accidents' check.
I decided to downsize my daily driver a year ago and bought a used late 2016 5 door Cooper S. I’ve done 20,000 miles in it, it’s been faultless and I’ve had excellent service from both the Mini dealer and a local specialist. I use my car in the East Midlands and London, it’s easy to live with and practical. I’ve averaged 40 mpg overall and I’ve had 1 major service, 4 tyres and rear brake pads, otherwise it’s just been a case of adding fuel.
Bought my mrs a 2017 Cooper s 5 door to replace her fiat 500c when we had our baby. 3years in and it's one of the best cars we have had, reliable, fast, well built she really likes it and has helped build her driving confidence. Great review.
I have a 2018 Cooper S Clubman and whilst it’s not nearly as small as the 3 door, I love it to bits. Best car I’ve ever owned and it has a lot of character. From the little creaky power steering to the childish noises I can occasionally get the exhaust to make in sport mode with the windows down. Yes, it’s a maybe a bit more marmite but it’s great. Oh and it does have a touch screen which I think was a slightly later option.
I love these, we’ve had 5 F series Cooper S’ and my dad actually swapped in his S class for a full spec Clubman 18 months ago. Aside from driving dynamics, the real clincher is that in 200k ish miles we’ve never had an issue save for punctures etc. Awesome cars.
We went to Gran Canaria for a few days recently and had a manual fiat 500 booked for rent, but the lady at the counter told me they have an automatic 3rd gen Mini Cooper S JCW for 60 euros more... As you can imagine, I said: of course darling... That was the best decision I made during that trip. This is just a great car to drive... Perfect on curvy roads (most of them are there) and efortlessly fast on motorways. Fantastic piece of engineering, loved every minute in it.
We had a brand new mini one in 2016, it was a fantastic little car. It was small but felt rock solid, only got shot of it because of kids coming along. The Mrs had actual tears when it went
Our R57 has been in mine as a second car - and previously my late wife's daily - hands for seven years now. Faultless and a grin factor every time (and never to be sold, as agreed to by me with her)
For all the nay sayers!! I drive a 2012 Cooper S all year in Alberta Canada. With Snow tires this thing is a beast. In 4 years of ownership I have never spent a dime other than oil changes and tires. The car sits outside in down to -40c weather and it's on a trickle charger. It fires up every time. My wife has a Paceman Cooper S All 4 and that's a real beast in the snow too. She has a none turbo cooper convertible for summer. These three cars have never cost me any additional money except for tires and oil and filter changes!!!!! All three cars I paid $65K CDN in total so around 40 K Pounds. Try buying three cars for the same price nowadays!!!!
When I worked at (Mini) I took one of these out and went from Oxford up to Edinburgh and back again in the weekend and it was just as comfortable as driving a bigger car what do. I also managed to get a John Cooper Works version and take it up into the Welsh valleys 😎😍
Well that has just focussed my mind a little. We have a 2nd gen R57 convertible as our second car and its been a great car and brilliant value for money but now ready for a replacement. 3rd Gen mini now back on the top of our search list... thanks Mat.
Fantastic video always watch your TH-cam videos love my F56 mini cooper S owned it 4 years now no issues whatsoever sounds great fun to drive brilliant daily I’m on my 5th mini and have to say F56 3rd generation my favourite too great cars :)
Had one few years ago it will do 60mpg on a long run. A remap will send this thing flying about 220-240bhp the torque will wheel spin 2nd gear even sometimes in 3rd which can become dangerous in wet. Never had much problem except egr valve failure which were later recall after 2 years or so. Make sure the egr valve recall is done before getting one.
Loved my 2015 Cooper SD. Cheap tax, great fun to drive and got 50+ mpg even when you drive it round town like a go-kart which was all the time! Spot on with your review as always!
Had a 2014 SD 5 door. Drove it from our home in the Scottish highlands to lake Como and didn’t miss a beat. Sat on the autobahn at 130mph until the wife told me to slow down. Overall returned 61 mog which for two people and a lot of luggage was bloody good. I’d definitely get another
Nice one Matt - as always. I own a 2015 Mini Cooper SD 5 door manual and over the 3 years since i picked up the keys (on a whim) the car has been a joy to own. Never let me down and even nudged 60 mpg on a 500 mile round trip. Never, ever dipped below 40mpg however it's driven. 30 quid a year tax is another bonus. With 80,000 miles on the clock my car is worth about 8-8.5 grand which is cheap money for such a great little car. You mentioned the car weighing 1,600kg which made me laugh - what have you got in the boot? a load of gold bars? as the actual weight is at least 300kg less than that especially for the 3 door you were driving. Cheap, entertaining and reliable motoring - what more do you want? Keep up the good work Matt. When the time comes to sell my little black Mini Cooper SD 5 door (which could be soon) I'll let you know.
Yea the older ones I’ve found to be really unreliable but the newer ones like you’ve got here are decent. Good review but I’d go for a 1 series over a mini.
I have a 2018 LCi Cooper S petrol (5-door). It goes like absolute stink (the 2.0 b48 is pure torque, and just eats midrange for fun). Sadly due to being an LCI, it has the GPF, meaning it's a bit less vocal than the 2014-2017 models, and pops and bangs are hard to achieve) you've really got to warm that exhaust up! It gets 44mpg mixed driving and 55 on a motorway. Superb handling that, I personally, don't find stiff like some reviewers (including you, Matt!), if anything I'd say it was quite supple for a Hot Hatch, which makes it a great long distance cruiser. I recently did a 4 hour drive to Pembrokeshire with one stop, and got out as fresh as a daisy! It's been faultless in the 6000 miles I've owned it. Not a creak or rattle!
It’s a shame mini is longer “mini” they’re bloody huge!!! Although a great and amiable car it isn’t what it once was, i fell in love with the mini after watching the Italian job which also coincidentally was aired on channel 4 on Friday night
FINALLY, A Mini I too would consider. Early ones were dreadful but BMW have learned from previous mistakes and come out with a winner. Great rteview Matt, I really enjoyed it. It would be the cheap tax diesel I would go for though!!
Currently own an R56, friend recently got an F56 Cooper S, the new minis are well built and extremely fun to drive. It practically encourages you to drive the nuts of it but it's also very relaxing to drive it leisurely. If you're gonna get one, just has to be a petrol manual one for me since they are just drivers cars and you compromise on space with a mini over the other cars for the driving experience. Also my R56 has the lightest, easiest, most direct steering I have ever had in any car I've owned and it goes lock to lock without much turning of the wheel, so not sure what you are referring to about the heavy steering and difficult to do 3 point turns? The gearbox does require a strong arm to change gear, with some extra force to get it into reverse so that is true if you aren't used to it 😂
I currently owning a 2017 Mini One(1.2 turbo) as my first car and I really love it. I am doing about 50-50 motorway/city driving and I am doing 48-49 mpg which is amazing. Really glad that I chose this car instead of a slightly newer Fiesta Polo i20 etc. And yes, the clutch steering etc is quite heavy and I did sometimes suffer from it during traffic(rush hour in Bham city center). But these also make me feel safe on motorway in such a small car. I would say it is one of the best first cars in the market rn.
Got my wife a 2016 F57 Cooper S a few months ago as she wanted a full convertible. It hasn’t disappointed and she loves it. I even like driving it too as it’s a different load of fun from my 335d. Not as quick as my BMW but it shifts and is agile and comfortable. Bought it from a Mini main dealer and got a very good deal. Better time to buy a convertible is in the winter months, just need to wait a few months for the top to be properly down though 😅
I had a 2016 Mini Clubman Cooper with Chilli pack and I loved it. Great looking car and quirky with the twin back doors. Practical car with good luggage space.
My Daughter had a 2nd generation BMW Mini with stop-start (which she hated). A couple of times when overtaking, the car would bog down and stall after changing down to overtake and then changing up again. Not every time but often enough for it to be dangerous rather than just annoying. A lorry driver had to slam its brakes on and swerve when the car stalled in front of him. She took it into a main dealer who said they had had many complaints about it happening but did not know why. Therefore, no fix was available. If a problem is dangerous and a fix is not available, then the feature should be taken off their cars until the problem is identified.
I have that car too😊 i get 3.5-5.6L/100km mostly city driving. But mine is manual. Great winter car to here in Sweden. Tons of grip and confidence in the winter.
I had the JCW petrol version of this car with a manual box & apart from a water leak in the boot that was fixed under warranty first time. In 4 years it was faultless. Brilliant car and I am not sure why I sold it. I really do I swapped it for an i-Pace.
Morning Matt, I have been waiting for you to do one of these, because I've just recently bought one off my neighbour it was such a bargain I couldn't not say yes and I'm very pleased that you like them. I paid £13,000 for a 2018 Cooper with 11000 miles on the clock and he's got the JCW works pack on it in dark blue. It's the 1.5 turbo and I've got to say it's pretty rapid.cheers Phil form Newark
Ive only been thinking today about trading my 3 door Cooper D with a 1.5 turbo up for an SD. Mine has been and still is absolutely fantastic.its so good that it has caused my 335i coupe to sit unused for weeks on end.The previous owner of mine had a bit of trouble with carbon build up and had the nutshell blasting done,which itself caused problems.I suspect that she had pottered around in it as she was averaging 54mpg.Ive decided to keep the drive errrr...Spritely!!! Im averaging 44.5 mpg so im tempted by the extra power and probably a more relaxed drive of the bigger engine which may mean better mpg.I do like that mine is free VEL and Euro 6 so no ULEZ. It truly is one of those cars that make you wonder why everybody doesnt have one!!
I've had a 2017 F56 John Cooper Works for 3 weeks and loving it, also some of the newer models do have touch screens, I had a 69 plate cooper on lease for a bit that was touch screen
My wife has a 2020 hybrid Countryman S. In the city, it feels almost as agile as my 1994 b18c6 vtec mini, despite the HUGE weight difference. Its a great towncar that new Mini. Plus i can actually move my knees like in an old mini unlike most modern cars. Great dash too.
One thing, if you’re looking at getting any extras onto the mini Cooper S, have a look at the price of a John Cooper works because I think you’ll find it turns out cheaper, how’s everything built-in already more or less
Great review, but I had to keep turning the tv down due to the road noise. Then I realised I couldn’t drown out that hoodie! I test drove a three door Mini a few years ago, but my wife couldn’t work out how to get in the back. She ended up climbing in backwards!
Great review as always.. was hoping you'd review one of these. Love my SD, such a good blend of performance/economy. And quite a rare model, very underrated imo. Also thanks for clarifying that the 3rd gen F56 is more reliable than the previous two. I watched one of your videos the other day where you claimed they were all trash haha
Very cool to see you drive one of these! I've been following you for a while and actually bought a 2015 Cooper SD a week ago. The SD is the perfect match between quick, quirky and quality for me. I have owned and driven Saabs for the past 10 year, with the last one being a 2011 Saab 9-5 Aero. A great car to own, I just fancied something newer and more economical. Furthermore getting a newer Saab was impossible. Apart from that I still own 4 classics Saabs, so it was time to move on to a different brand for a daily driver. I have to say coming from such a big car and changing it to a Mini, I'm damn impressed with how the Mini feels. The diesel might me a bit loud on cold starts, during driving you just don't notice you're driving around on the Devil's Juice. It's quick but yet ridiculously economics. I've averaged 4.8L per 100km (59 mpg). Unfortunately the dutch tax system hates cars (I'm paying 115 euro's a month in road tax) but the lower sales price compared to a petrol one still made it worth wile. Btw, if you're ever in the Netherlands and fancy driving some old Saabs, hit me up!
I had one of these 2016 Cooper SD. Run for cover if the flywheel and clutch need changing and kiss goodbye to 2.5-3k. Only done 35k...never again! Barring that....quick!
We had the cooper SD and I agree it’s a fantastic car , I thought it was better to drive than the previous petrol cooper we had . Currently we have the Cooper S countryman ,petrol , auto probably not Matt’s cup of tea but we like it and the extra space .
6:50 theres a trick to selecting reverse in manual bmw and minis. If you slowly move the gearstick until it stops moving and then try to push through into reverse its incredibly hard to get the gearstick to go over into reverse but if you fully commit and push it to the left fast from neutral then it easily slides right over the resistive block.
BMW's B engine range has got to be one of the best current options out there. Been around since 2014 or so now and I've heard of no major common issues like the N54 or the timing chains on their older 2.0 diesels. B48 and B58 are perfectly reliable, apparently tune rather well, have plenty of grunt and even sound decent for what they are. I've never experienced the B38 but never heard anything bad about that either. I've had a petrol Cooper S (B48) since new in late 2018 and I still love it. Never faulted me once - 18,000 miles in and I've only had a couple of annoyances with bits of interior trim.
Great video and car Matt! I recently done some research on buying a 2nd Generation Mini, but it looked like heart and wallet ache,so I scraped that idea. As Cars Go, they look fantastic and unique. But with so much choice out there I look for reliability in a car.
I have the 1.5 petrol engine with a manual gearbox, in British Racing Green, with 17" black cosmos wheels. Love it! I was thinking of going for the diesel version, but decided against it as I only do short journeys. I would definitely have problems with the dpf, and all the other associated problems. The 1.5 petrol engine is a peach! I get around 38 mpg around town and probably 45-50 mpg on a longer journey. The only thing to watch out for is if your tyres are runflats. Luckily my car has standard tyres so the ride is a lot better. Yes, I have to think about what happens if I get a puncture, but that can easily be remedied by carrying a temporary repair kit. My Girlfriend has a space saver for her Countryman (2017), and the spare wheel fits my car too. So if we go on a long journey in my car, I'll pop the wheel behind my drivers seat, with a jack and wheel brace. The ride with standard tyres is so much better . I stupidly sold a previous Mini 1.5 auto, because the ride was sooooooo bad. In hindsight, I could of just swapped out the tyres, and saved myself a fortune . I hope that might help someone in the same predictiment.
Why bother getting a manual there terrible it ruins the car nobody wants them anymore so you can't sell it and manual gearboxes ruin every vehicle there put into it kills the fun
One of my neighbour's has a Mini John Cooper Works. It sounds so sweet. I asked him what he had to cough up for the car, but then he quick changed the conversation. PS! The promocode to Carvertical work just fine.
Agreed with everything you said in this review! Particularly the old mini being hard going! I’d actually consider one again now after watching your review!
That’s a really great example you got there. It’s got every option and an auto too. Anyone with sense will snap that up quickly as getting the perfect spec on a used mini is almost impossible. Each one is practically unique and built to order. Deep pockets would’ve been needed when that one was built new. I had a manual 2014 petrol Cooper S F56 launch model (was even in orange with black stripes that you saw in all the posters) was previously the dealer’s demo car and not sure if it had been driven hard or was common at the time but it needed a new engine after it kept jumping out of gear and they found metal shavings in the oil. Was all fixed under warranty thankfully. It was that car you’d go out for a drive just for the fun of it. Like you said you can’t help but smile driving it.
Problem is I wouldn’t trust any auto Mini or any of the kit on it, Mini’s are notoriously horrendously unreliable. I wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole!
Great video again as usual. I was expecting you to say the same thing as when your talking about Range Rovers, keep a couple of thousand for the inevitable repairs. Maybe these newer marks are better, best not be the first to use the wall mounted defibrillator kit in the service department. Still you will get to be on first names with the service tech guys.
Do a road test review on the original classic Mini, in fact, do a variety of classic car reviews to help those make a decision as to what is good and what to avoid at all costs if considering getting into the classic car scene, regardless of how good they look. You'd be welcome to take a drive in my mk1 Fiesta.
@@HighPeakAutos The right stuff sells. I have always looked for highly essential a fantastic spares supply, i.e. Mini, MGB, Moggy, (Woody's can be a bit of a nightmare) Escort etc. All well and good having something flash and rare, but hopeless if that essential electrical or mechanical part is no longer available. Even my humble Fiesta is quite tricky to find body parts for for nstance. All things have to be considered carefully before purchase, but can give immense and a unique pleasure that no modern car can.
I have a Cooper since 3 years now and still really like it. Great town car and does well on the Autobahn, too. Nice looks and the tech is really impressive. Btw. the iDrive became touch sensitive with the Facelift.
I have the LCI facelift and mine isn't touch sensitive. I think it's the professional media pack that brought that until the LCI2 released - which then they all became touchscreen.
Great review. My girlfriend used to have a 2019 Cooper Hatch Sport (basically looks like a cooper S but isn’t) with the 1.5l 3 cylinder petrol from the BMW family. She loved it, especially the super sporty JCW seats. The steering was so direct and it was great on a back road plus very refined on the motorway however it was a little harsh over bumps, but that’s to be expected!
Had this same model for few years and loved it. Did over 100k without any issues. But had to sell as London ULEZ means a euro 5 diesel will be charged. Apparently there is a newer SD which has euro 6 and only £20 road tax but decided to buy cooper s petrol 5 door but find it much more cramped in the front than the 3 door hatch like this one.
I'm really glad they have managed to make the new ones smoother and easier to drive. There's no way I'd recommend a BMW Mini older than Gen 3. The R50 is a pain to live with as a daily. As you mentioned, everything about it is heavy, heavy, heavy. It feels like a giant lumbering limo to manoeuvre but is cramped and backbreaking to sit in. Tax is crippling. Fuel economy is poor. Genuine spare parts cost the earth. Why do I live with it? Mainly because it looks 100x better than a Fiesta, Corsa, Clio etc of the same era. You hardly ever see those thankfully, but the first gen new Mini still looks cool after 20+ years. Also the handling above 20mph is a joy.
Advocating a diesel auto mini as a good drive...you have lost your way Matt. Get a petrol cooper s with a manual box and see if the diesel auto any good
I saw C30 in the video for few seconds and I would pick facelift C30 R-Design T5. It’s expensive to live with (tax, maintenance, fuel - has to be E5 etc.) However it’s more unique, quicker and refined car.
What is the world coming to? To hear you actually saying you like a mini when you slagged it off whenever you made a recommendation video. Nice to see you turn around on this one. It's a good looking car in my humble opinion
You’ve got it exactly right - and I should know, being the previous owner! I’ll miss that car 😢
I’d highly recommend Matt as a buyer - selling him the Mini couldn’t have been more straightforward or pleasant.
How much did he give for it?
The Cooper 1.5 petrol Id recommend . I own one myself. Everyone goes for the S but trust me the Cooper 1.5 3 cylinder goes very well and its pretty quick with 220NM of torque .
Bit late replying here but I just got my 1.5 petrol and I have to say (although preference) the B38 3 cylinder just gives such a satisfying unique noise that the B48 4 cylinder in the S doesn't. Amazing to live with.
I have had one of these since 2019 & mechanically it's been faultless. Imagine a reliable car that's surprisingly roomy inside, with high quality switchgear, comfortable & fun to drive even on long journeys and with 171 HP available but yet also capable of 55+ mpg! Comes out very well if you love your street cred too! As the other Matt (Watson) would say "just go ahead & buy one!" Your review is spot on 👌
How much did Mini pay you to write this 🤣 Had the opposite happen to me lol
Automotive unicorns do exist!
A few reliable examples don't reflect the ownership experience of a overwhelming majority of people who own them.
@AssumedTiger my 2015 was 3 years old when I bought it on 36k miles apart from the basic egr recall and a exhaust pressure sensor with good maintenance they're very reliable cars on the f series
New since 2019?
@All Things Adventurous No, it's a 2014 reg car so 5 years old & 23,000 when I bought it.
I have had all three generations of the new Mini and I totally agree with everything you say.
Very good to hear that BMW fixed all of the reliability issues that the previous gen. models had. I actually took the Mini off my list of serious contenders for my next daily driver due to those issues. But now, I'm putting the 3rd Generation Mini back on the list. Love the looks. And thankfully it's still a reasonably small hatchback. Thanks for making this particular video, Matt. Appreciate it. 👍
Did you research the heater matrix fault?
Mine broke and it was £2,000 to fix it… mini specialist said he sees a lot of it.
Worth looking into before splashing out
@@xRoRox
Thank you for the heads-up.
Remember a friend in college with a second gen one and the ride quality was the worst I've ever experienced in a car ever, even to this day - you could drive over a grain of sand and it felt as if your spine was being milled into a fine powder.
I did all my driving school driving practices and exams with one SD, and it was a dream to drive: agile, easy to drive and had it's fair share of pull when you floored it. I can still hear my teacher asking me to floor it on a highway entry lane and my back getting squeezed against the seat.
Lovely car, the only complain I had about it is how tiny it was on the inside. I learned the bad habit of driving with my chest at 20cm from the wheel because of that car, but it was lovely anyways.
I went from an M140i to a Mini JCW. The Mini obviously wasn’t as quick, but was easily a much fun. The only thing I missed from the 140 was the noise.
Yes that straight 6, 3 litre lump is lovely. When time comes to swap my 335d I’ll be going to an M340i.
I had a 2011 cooper S convertible as a weekend car for me and the missus now our son has grown up .... loved it, the noise it made in sports mode took me back to my younger day's... would have another in a heartbeat. Smiles per miles 😁
I bought it new in 2015 with manual gearbox and made 120.000 Km with it before selling in 2020. The most satisfying thing of this car is that it's plenty of torque, punchy and fun in twisty roads yet frugal when you need it in the highway runs (at least consumption wise, while the dealership service cost was too expensive as you can expect from BMW, in fact after the warranty exp. my mech took good care of it). I had the original Mini JCW KW suspensions and JCW big brake on it, as I felt the stock suspensions and brakes couldn't keep up well with straight line performance. Problems I had: a minor oil leak at only 8K Km from engine mounts gaskets, fixed by the dealership under warranty during the first service. A leak from coolant circuit hose @ 80K km (the hose, which is made by an oddly hard rubber, was touching a plastic part in upper part of the engine bay so, over time, vibration/attrition caused a small cut in the hose; fixed by my mechanic with a softer, higher quality hose and by distancing the hose from the infamous engine part). Interior quality is nice but nothing exceptional considering the price. I always took good care of it, changed oil 3 times more often than required by Mini and kept all the invoices, I detailed it personally too, so when I sold the car both the exterior and the interior were like new, seats and steering wheel included, the guy who bought it couldn't believe it had 120K Km. The price wasn't distant from other comparable used cars too. Sooo as per HPA's advice, when buying a used car, always seek for these additional clues of overall good maintenance and care in addition to the usual service book and past car accidents' check.
I decided to downsize my daily driver a year ago and bought a used late 2016 5 door Cooper S. I’ve done 20,000 miles in it, it’s been faultless and I’ve had excellent service from both the Mini dealer and a local specialist. I use my car in the East Midlands and London, it’s easy to live with and practical. I’ve averaged 40 mpg overall and I’ve had 1 major service, 4 tyres and rear brake pads, otherwise it’s just been a case of adding fuel.
My wife owns a 65 plate Cooper SD. She loves it. It’s a manual with three settings ....eco, sport and go kart ! Beautiful little pocket rocket! 👍
Bought my mrs a 2017 Cooper s 5 door to replace her fiat 500c when we had our baby. 3years in and it's one of the best cars we have had, reliable, fast, well built she really likes it and has helped build her driving confidence. Great review.
I have a 2018 Cooper S Clubman and whilst it’s not nearly as small as the 3 door, I love it to bits. Best car I’ve ever owned and it has a lot of character. From the little creaky power steering to the childish noises I can occasionally get the exhaust to make in sport mode with the windows down. Yes, it’s a maybe a bit more marmite but it’s great. Oh and it does have a touch screen which I think was a slightly later option.
I love these, we’ve had 5 F series Cooper S’ and my dad actually swapped in his S class for a full spec Clubman 18 months ago. Aside from driving dynamics, the real clincher is that in 200k ish miles we’ve never had an issue save for punctures etc. Awesome cars.
My wife has owned a 65 plate 1.5 t cooper from new. It’s done 60000 miles and so far no problems. Just servicing, brakes and tyres. 😊
I had one of these from new in 2016 and it was INCREDIBLE!!! So much fun to drive, looked amazing and felt really good quality inside too!
We went to Gran Canaria for a few days recently and had a manual fiat 500 booked for rent, but the lady at the counter told me they have an automatic 3rd gen Mini Cooper S JCW for 60 euros more... As you can imagine, I said: of course darling... That was the best decision I made during that trip. This is just a great car to drive... Perfect on curvy roads (most of them are there) and efortlessly fast on motorways. Fantastic piece of engineering, loved every minute in it.
We had a brand new mini one in 2016, it was a fantastic little car. It was small but felt rock solid, only got shot of it because of kids coming along. The Mrs had actual tears when it went
My wife bought a 2018 clubman and I went for a test drive thinking I would hate it but fell in love with the handling. Great car
That really is a lovely specced MINI. Nearly every option!
It would have to be spec’d like this for me to want one
@@HighPeakAutos you'd still use the is300h 😝
i had a 2015 sd average spec and theyre mega reliable and fun 100k miles in 4 years no issues
Our R57 has been in mine as a second car - and previously my late wife's daily - hands for seven years now.
Faultless and a grin factor every time (and never to be sold, as agreed to by me with her)
For all the nay sayers!! I drive a 2012 Cooper S all year in Alberta Canada. With Snow tires this thing is a beast. In 4 years of ownership I have never spent a dime other than oil changes and tires. The car sits outside in down to -40c weather and it's on a trickle charger. It fires up every time. My wife has a Paceman Cooper S All 4 and that's a real beast in the snow too. She has a none turbo cooper convertible for summer. These three cars have never cost me any additional money except for tires and oil and filter changes!!!!! All three cars I paid $65K CDN in total so around 40 K Pounds. Try buying three cars for the same price nowadays!!!!
When I worked at (Mini) I took one of these out and went from Oxford up to Edinburgh and back again in the weekend and it was just as comfortable as driving a bigger car what do. I also managed to get a John Cooper Works version and take it up into the Welsh valleys 😎😍
360nm 265ft-lb love a torque diesal Matt always in the power band for everyday diving plus complements my 330d touring perfectly 😉
I've been in the market for a new car lately and ultimately decided to just keep driving my 2017 cooper SD. It just strikes the right balance for me.😊
There are few cars that put a smile on your face when driving but those mini's are up with MX5s and they seem to be as reliable.
As nice as the Mini is ....the hoodie is definitely the best thing about this video. I genuinely love it
Well that has just focussed my mind a little. We have a 2nd gen R57 convertible as our second car and its been a great car and brilliant value for money but now ready for a replacement. 3rd Gen mini now back on the top of our search list... thanks Mat.
Apparently maintenance (because of the engine & gearbox being in a cramped space) is an absolute nightmare on these.
Your right mate they are.
It’s more of an issue on earlier generations of MINIs like the R50 and R56, less so on the F56.
@@H.K_R Fair enough, I've no experience with Minis personally but as with any model of car, you hear horror stories now and then.
@@archechme Neither have I, seems like a lot of cars with reliability issues are very high mileage, leading to their unreliability.
They probably have timing chain issues too like the BMWs
Fantastic video always watch your TH-cam videos love my F56 mini cooper S owned it 4 years now no issues whatsoever sounds great fun to drive brilliant daily I’m on my 5th mini and have to say F56 3rd generation my favourite too great cars :)
Had one few years ago it will do 60mpg on a long run.
A remap will send this thing flying about 220-240bhp the torque will wheel spin 2nd gear even sometimes in 3rd which can become dangerous in wet.
Never had much problem except egr valve failure which were later recall after 2 years or so. Make sure the egr valve recall is done before getting one.
Loved my 2015 Cooper SD. Cheap tax, great fun to drive and got 50+ mpg even when you drive it round town like a go-kart which was all the time! Spot on with your review as always!
We had four Minis including two Countryman and aside from punctures, no issues at all.
These reviews are fantastic, very reasonable and everything is well addressed
And soo fashionable
Looks like a Hermes hoody. I like it. Inject a bit of colour and boldness into your fashion!
Had a 2014 SD 5 door. Drove it from our home in the Scottish highlands to lake Como and didn’t miss a beat. Sat on the autobahn at 130mph until the wife told me to slow down. Overall returned 61 mog which for two people and a lot of luggage was bloody good. I’d definitely get another
That’s incredible
Nice one Matt - as always. I own a 2015 Mini Cooper SD 5 door manual and over the 3 years since i picked up the keys (on a whim) the car has been a joy to own. Never let me down and even nudged 60 mpg on a 500 mile round trip. Never, ever dipped below 40mpg however it's driven. 30 quid a year tax is another bonus. With 80,000 miles on the clock my car is worth about 8-8.5 grand which is cheap money for such a great little car. You mentioned the car weighing 1,600kg which made me laugh - what have you got in the boot? a load of gold bars? as the actual weight is at least 300kg less than that especially for the 3 door you were driving. Cheap, entertaining and reliable motoring - what more do you want? Keep up the good work Matt. When the time comes to sell my little black Mini Cooper SD 5 door (which could be soon) I'll let you know.
Ridiculous that mini stopped selling diesels. Love these.
I actually really quite like the 3rd gen Mini coopers, it’s just the interior that makes it more attractive.
Yea the older ones I’ve found to be really unreliable but the newer ones like you’ve got here are decent. Good review but I’d go for a 1 series over a mini.
Lol a one series is a mini! Same car different shell
@@louisjames1062Not in '15 they, weren't.
@@louisjames1062 the clubman is based on the 1 series, the mini hatch is it's own platform
I went the other way! Sold my 2016 120i M-Sport and bought a 2018 Cooper S. Cooper S is faster, better on fuel, and handles better - with more kit.
@@littleblackcloud86 probably much cheaper on insurance as well
I have a 2018 LCi Cooper S petrol (5-door).
It goes like absolute stink (the 2.0 b48 is pure torque, and just eats midrange for fun). Sadly due to being an LCI, it has the GPF, meaning it's a bit less vocal than the 2014-2017 models, and pops and bangs are hard to achieve) you've really got to warm that exhaust up!
It gets 44mpg mixed driving and 55 on a motorway.
Superb handling that, I personally, don't find stiff like some reviewers (including you, Matt!), if anything I'd say it was quite supple for a Hot Hatch, which makes it a great long distance cruiser. I recently did a 4 hour drive to Pembrokeshire with one stop, and got out as fresh as a daisy!
It's been faultless in the 6000 miles I've owned it. Not a creak or rattle!
It’s a shame mini is longer “mini” they’re bloody huge!!! Although a great and amiable car it isn’t what it once was, i fell in love with the mini after watching the Italian job which also coincidentally was aired on channel 4 on Friday night
FINALLY, A Mini I too would consider. Early ones were dreadful but BMW have learned from previous mistakes and come out with a winner. Great rteview Matt, I really enjoyed it. It would be the cheap tax diesel I would go for though!!
Currently own an R56, friend recently got an F56 Cooper S, the new minis are well built and extremely fun to drive. It practically encourages you to drive the nuts of it but it's also very relaxing to drive it leisurely. If you're gonna get one, just has to be a petrol manual one for me since they are just drivers cars and you compromise on space with a mini over the other cars for the driving experience. Also my R56 has the lightest, easiest, most direct steering I have ever had in any car I've owned and it goes lock to lock without much turning of the wheel, so not sure what you are referring to about the heavy steering and difficult to do 3 point turns? The gearbox does require a strong arm to change gear, with some extra force to get it into reverse so that is true if you aren't used to it 😂
A year into a diesel Cooper and I'm so glad I scratched the itch.
New vid on the channel = thumbs up, usually prior to watching it! Informative and entertaining, as usual.
Much appreciated!
@@HighPeakAutos No worries, keep up the good work and I'll happily keep doing the old thumbs up! 👍
I currently owning a 2017 Mini One(1.2 turbo) as my first car and I really love it. I am doing about 50-50 motorway/city driving and I am doing 48-49 mpg which is amazing. Really glad that I chose this car instead of a slightly newer Fiesta Polo i20 etc. And yes, the clutch steering etc is quite heavy and I did sometimes suffer from it during traffic(rush hour in Bham city center). But these also make me feel safe on motorway in such a small car. I would say it is one of the best first cars in the market rn.
Got my wife a 2016 F57 Cooper S a few months ago as she wanted a full convertible. It hasn’t disappointed and she loves it.
I even like driving it too as it’s a different load of fun from my 335d. Not as quick as my BMW but it shifts and is agile and comfortable.
Bought it from a Mini main dealer and got a very good deal. Better time to buy a convertible is in the winter months, just need to wait a few months for the top to be properly down though 😅
I had a 2016 Mini Clubman Cooper with Chilli pack and I loved it. Great looking car and quirky with the twin back doors. Practical car with good luggage space.
My Daughter had a 2nd generation BMW Mini with stop-start (which she hated). A couple of times when overtaking, the car would bog down and stall after changing down to overtake and then changing up again. Not every time but often enough for it to be dangerous rather than just annoying. A lorry driver had to slam its brakes on and swerve when the car stalled in front of him.
She took it into a main dealer who said they had had many complaints about it happening but did not know why. Therefore, no fix was available.
If a problem is dangerous and a fix is not available, then the feature should be taken off their cars until the problem is identified.
I have that car too😊 i get 3.5-5.6L/100km mostly city driving. But mine is manual. Great winter car to here in Sweden. Tons of grip and confidence in the winter.
I had the JCW petrol version of this car with a manual box & apart from a water leak in the boot that was fixed under warranty first time. In 4 years it was faultless. Brilliant car and I am not sure why I sold it. I really do I swapped it for an i-Pace.
Morning Matt, I have been waiting for you to do one of these, because I've just recently bought one off my neighbour it was such a bargain I couldn't not say yes and I'm very pleased that you like them. I paid £13,000 for a 2018 Cooper with 11000 miles on the clock and he's got the JCW works pack on it in dark blue. It's the 1.5 turbo and I've got to say it's pretty rapid.cheers Phil form Newark
Ive only been thinking today about trading my 3 door Cooper D with a 1.5 turbo up for an SD. Mine has been and still is absolutely fantastic.its so good that it has caused my 335i coupe to sit unused for weeks on end.The previous owner of mine had a bit of trouble with carbon build up and had the nutshell blasting done,which itself caused problems.I suspect that she had pottered around in it as she was averaging 54mpg.Ive decided to keep the drive errrr...Spritely!!! Im averaging 44.5 mpg so im tempted by the extra power and probably a more relaxed drive of the bigger engine which may mean better mpg.I do like that mine is free VEL and Euro 6 so no ULEZ. It truly is one of those cars that make you wonder why everybody doesnt have one!!
I've had a 2017 F56 John Cooper Works for 3 weeks and loving it, also some of the newer models do have touch screens, I had a 69 plate cooper on lease for a bit that was touch screen
Love my f56 JCW. 0-60 in 6 seconds, go kart handling but will get 45mpg if driving carefully, and loaded with tech
I’ve got a 2016 JCW, had it over 3 years and it’s fab! My r56 s went through a new engine and it still had issues…only had it a year
My wife has a 2020 hybrid Countryman S. In the city, it feels almost as agile as my 1994 b18c6 vtec mini, despite the HUGE weight difference. Its a great towncar that new Mini. Plus i can actually move my knees like in an old mini unlike most modern cars. Great dash too.
Bought a 1st gen new mini for £550. Couldn’t stop smiling every single time I got in it. No issues. Stupidly got rid of it. One of life’s regrets
Diesel not the best city car because of the dpf filter but I bet it flies on the open road with all that lovely torque regardless of passengers.
One thing, if you’re looking at getting any extras onto the mini Cooper S, have a look at the price of a John Cooper works because I think you’ll find it turns out cheaper, how’s everything built-in already more or less
Great review, but I had to keep turning the tv down due to the road noise. Then I realised I couldn’t drown out that hoodie! I test drove a three door Mini a few years ago, but my wife couldn’t work out how to get in the back. She ended up climbing in backwards!
😂
I love your honest opinion on all your cars. I currently have a rcz hdi and looking to change to a mini
You said buying a used mini in an earlier review that they were a “bit girlie for you” hum🤔changed your mind
Yeah I think they are but that wouldn’t really bother me
I have the 5 door 2015 hard top and I absolutely love it!
Great review as always.. was hoping you'd review one of these. Love my SD, such a good blend of performance/economy. And quite a rare model, very underrated imo.
Also thanks for clarifying that the 3rd gen F56 is more reliable than the previous two. I watched one of your videos the other day where you claimed they were all trash haha
Very cool to see you drive one of these! I've been following you for a while and actually bought a 2015 Cooper SD a week ago. The SD is the perfect match between quick, quirky and quality for me. I have owned and driven Saabs for the past 10 year, with the last one being a 2011 Saab 9-5 Aero. A great car to own, I just fancied something newer and more economical. Furthermore getting a newer Saab was impossible. Apart from that I still own 4 classics Saabs, so it was time to move on to a different brand for a daily driver.
I have to say coming from such a big car and changing it to a Mini, I'm damn impressed with how the Mini feels. The diesel might me a bit loud on cold starts, during driving you just don't notice you're driving around on the Devil's Juice. It's quick but yet ridiculously economics. I've averaged 4.8L per 100km (59 mpg). Unfortunately the dutch tax system hates cars (I'm paying 115 euro's a month in road tax) but the lower sales price compared to a petrol one still made it worth wile. Btw, if you're ever in the Netherlands and fancy driving some old Saabs, hit me up!
That tax regime is crazy. They really don't want private car ownership
I like the Mini, stylish and very very modern! They have good a really long way :D
Great video as usual Matt!
This just put a smile on my face remembering my moonwalk grey copper still miss it, best fun car I've ever owned, Great video.
I had one of these 2016 Cooper SD. Run for cover if the flywheel and clutch need changing and kiss goodbye to 2.5-3k. Only done 35k...never again! Barring that....quick!
I have a 2021 mini cooper s petrol auto 5 door, love everything but the ride!
Also the latest idrive is touch screen too.
I am not a mini fan, but the acceleration shots at 2:14 at a great addition to your already great camera work :) Can't wait for more reviews !
Honestly for a diesel, that sounds really nice
It does
We had the cooper SD and I agree it’s a fantastic car , I thought it was better to drive than the previous petrol cooper we had . Currently we have the Cooper S countryman ,petrol , auto probably not Matt’s cup of tea but we like it and the extra space .
I tried this car as a 2017 model manual, couldn't agree more with the reverse, it almost feels like you're breaking the lever or doing it wrong.
6:50 theres a trick to selecting reverse in manual bmw and minis. If you slowly move the gearstick until it stops moving and then try to push through into reverse its incredibly hard to get the gearstick to go over into reverse but if you fully commit and push it to the left fast from neutral then it easily slides right over the resistive block.
BMW's B engine range has got to be one of the best current options out there. Been around since 2014 or so now and I've heard of no major common issues like the N54 or the timing chains on their older 2.0 diesels. B48 and B58 are perfectly reliable, apparently tune rather well, have plenty of grunt and even sound decent for what they are. I've never experienced the B38 but never heard anything bad about that either.
I've had a petrol Cooper S (B48) since new in late 2018 and I still love it. Never faulted me once - 18,000 miles in and I've only had a couple of annoyances with bits of interior trim.
Great video and car Matt! I recently done some research on buying a 2nd Generation Mini, but it looked like heart and wallet ache,so I scraped that idea. As Cars Go, they look fantastic and unique. But with so much choice out there I look for reliability in a car.
F56 is 3 door, F55 was the 5 door. Kindest Regards from a MINI nerd.
I have the 1.5 petrol engine with a manual gearbox, in British Racing Green, with 17" black cosmos wheels. Love it! I was thinking of going for the diesel version, but decided against it as I only do short journeys. I would definitely have problems with the dpf, and all the other associated problems. The 1.5 petrol engine is a peach! I get around 38 mpg around town and probably 45-50 mpg on a longer journey. The only thing to watch out for is if your tyres are runflats. Luckily my car has standard tyres so the ride is a lot better. Yes, I have to think about what happens if I get a puncture, but that can easily be remedied by carrying a temporary repair kit. My Girlfriend has a space saver for her Countryman (2017), and the spare wheel fits my car too. So if we go on a long journey in my car, I'll pop the wheel behind my drivers seat, with a jack and wheel brace. The ride with standard tyres is so much better . I stupidly sold a previous Mini 1.5 auto, because the ride was sooooooo bad. In hindsight, I could of just swapped out the tyres, and saved myself a fortune . I hope that might help someone in the same predictiment.
Why bother getting a manual there terrible it ruins the car nobody wants them anymore so you can't sell it and manual gearboxes ruin every vehicle there put into it kills the fun
One of my neighbour's has a Mini John Cooper Works. It sounds so sweet. I asked him what he had to cough up for the car, but then he quick changed the conversation. PS! The promocode to Carvertical work just fine.
Thanks! Yes they're very expensive
Car looks ok, jumper Looks amazing
I've got a R60 countryman petrol, my mate a 1.5 cooper F56, you can definitely feel the F is better put together, his F56 has been faultless.
Like the fact that you have a stealth top on, all I can see is head and hands
Just remember Matt is in fashion too😂😂
Agreed with everything you said in this review! Particularly the old mini being hard going! I’d actually consider one again now after watching your review!
That’s a really great example you got there. It’s got every option and an auto too. Anyone with sense will snap that up quickly as getting the perfect spec on a used mini is almost impossible. Each one is practically unique and built to order. Deep pockets would’ve been needed when that one was built new. I had a manual 2014 petrol Cooper S F56 launch model (was even in orange with black stripes that you saw in all the posters) was previously the dealer’s demo car and not sure if it had been driven hard or was common at the time but it needed a new engine after it kept jumping out of gear and they found metal shavings in the oil. Was all fixed under warranty thankfully. It was that car you’d go out for a drive just for the fun of it. Like you said you can’t help but smile driving it.
Problem is I wouldn’t trust any auto Mini or any of the kit on it, Mini’s are notoriously horrendously unreliable. I wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole!
Previous models yes
@@reececollison5101 the 2014 and afterwards are known to be reliable
Great video again as usual. I was expecting you to say the same thing as when your talking about Range Rovers, keep a couple of thousand for the inevitable repairs. Maybe these newer marks are better, best not be the first to use the wall mounted defibrillator kit in the service department. Still you will get to be on first names with the service tech guys.
Just back from the gym and seen a real Mini in the car park -RSG 455V. An estate from 43 years ago
Am just switching my 1 series for a petrol Cooper S, I live out in the countryside, and it should be good fun.
Do a road test review on the original classic Mini, in fact, do a variety of classic car reviews to help those make a decision as to what is good and what to avoid at all costs if considering getting into the classic car scene, regardless of how good they look. You'd be welcome to take a drive in my mk1 Fiesta.
Good suggestion
@@HighPeakAutos The right stuff sells. I have always looked for highly essential a fantastic spares supply, i.e. Mini, MGB, Moggy, (Woody's can be a bit of a nightmare) Escort etc. All well and good having something flash and rare, but hopeless if that essential electrical or mechanical part is no longer available. Even my humble Fiesta is quite tricky to find body parts for for nstance. All things have to be considered carefully before purchase, but can give immense and a unique pleasure that no modern car can.
I have a Cooper since 3 years now and still really like it. Great town car and does well on the Autobahn, too. Nice looks and the tech is really impressive. Btw. the iDrive became touch sensitive with the Facelift.
Ah very good. Cheers
I have the LCI facelift and mine isn't touch sensitive. I think it's the professional media pack that brought that until the LCI2 released - which then they all became touchscreen.
Great review. My girlfriend used to have a 2019 Cooper Hatch Sport (basically looks like a cooper S but isn’t) with the 1.5l 3 cylinder petrol from the BMW family. She loved it, especially the super sporty JCW seats. The steering was so direct and it was great on a back road plus very refined on the motorway however it was a little harsh over bumps, but that’s to be expected!
Okay
Had this same model for few years and loved it. Did over 100k without any issues. But had to sell as London ULEZ means a euro 5 diesel will be charged. Apparently there is a newer SD which has euro 6 and only £20 road tax but decided to buy cooper s petrol 5 door but find it much more cramped in the front than the 3 door hatch like this one.
This is a euro 6
I'm really glad they have managed to make the new ones smoother and easier to drive. There's no way I'd recommend a BMW Mini older than Gen 3.
The R50 is a pain to live with as a daily. As you mentioned, everything about it is heavy, heavy, heavy. It feels like a giant lumbering limo to manoeuvre but is cramped and backbreaking to sit in. Tax is crippling. Fuel economy is poor. Genuine spare parts cost the earth.
Why do I live with it? Mainly because it looks 100x better than a Fiesta, Corsa, Clio etc of the same era. You hardly ever see those thankfully, but the first gen new Mini still looks cool after 20+ years. Also the handling above 20mph is a joy.
Advocating a diesel auto mini as a good drive...you have lost your way Matt. Get a petrol cooper s with a manual box and see if the diesel auto any good
I saw C30 in the video for few seconds and I would pick facelift C30 R-Design T5. It’s expensive to live with (tax, maintenance, fuel - has to be E5 etc.) However it’s more unique, quicker and refined car.
What is the world coming to? To hear you actually saying you like a mini when you slagged it off whenever you made a recommendation video. Nice to see you turn around on this one. It's a good looking car in my humble opinion
I stand by my opinion of the early models