@@therealsnoop7497 it wasn’t just a John Cooper works. It was the GP model which is super rare, and that car even with it being older would probably sell for almost 20k right now (edit), yup just looked it up, and found this same model going for $33,000
Lol, my first car was a Mini, and he's right, but I had heard about the potential problems and wanted it anyway, so I budgeted generously just in case and, sure enough, used it. It was a 2009 hatchback. Still loved it and am now looking for a 2014+. I considered and test drove the electric, but it's out of my budget and has a limited range. One can dream though.
“They are really small” if you have ever seen an original mini you’ll see the irony in that statement. Mini’s today should be called giants cuz they massive.
Today's MINI's are actually surprisingly spacious, my 6 foot 6 inch uncle bought a MINI Countryman after several test drives in various suvs and utes, because it was the only car he fit in.
I mean you shouldn’t compare the MINIs from today to the ones from the 50s. For example, cars similar to the newest Avalons are as big as flagships from early 2000s. Can’t be called massive, as modern cars are getting bigger and bigger for safety issues
@Jack K very little with safety? Imagine a MINI from the 50s, or not even that old. A normal car from the 90s with modern engines. The car would be way too light and would be flying off because modern engines are much more advanced. Since car engines are getting more advanced, its easier to get to higher speeds, and to prevent deaths, the car must be bigger to protect the passengers. There are also so many electronic safety features, like adaptive cruise control or blind spot monitors in modern cars that requires more physical space for radars and wires to be mounted. Larger and heavier cars are much safer for everyone. Imagine what would happen to someone who has a light car and someone with a heavier car crashes. Car sizes have to do with safety 95%.
Brother, I have a 2006 base model with 214k miles, runs smooth easy to fix, hell of a drive, and a beauty to park. I recommend them 20/10 anytime.. drive it from and to WA-CA multiple times, vegas, and within the city of LA. Not bad AT ALL. Forgot to mention is my camping ride, hills and turns no problem. 👌
@@brandonfoley7519 brother, its too reliable I just got myself an S. I still have the base model 2006, and I got a 2002 S. Great rides, highly recommended.
Don't knock it till you try it... The Grand Cherokee was my first car and for a high school kid it didn't get any better. The back seat fitted a double bed for "activities" and had a hidden compartment underneath the center console to hide... Stuff. The iron 4.0 also took a beating every single time I drove it and it took it in stride
If only it was that simple. Your high pressure fuel pump WILL go bad. So will the thermostat housing. Coils will burn up, you'll need a new valve cover at some point too.
@@llebecna1 Overall I think this guy doesn't know much about cars. He just knows Mini is owned by BMW so he makes a video pointing out its flaws. Most car people already know buying a BMW will have heavy maintenance costs.
@@benjaminpont220 Him reccomending a really unreliable car like a jeep grand cherokee to non car people doesn't make it seem like he knows a whole lot about cars. Yea sure, not everyone knows that most used German cars are not a good idea, but for the people that get reccommended his videos, they most likely know that already.
The problem is that in America people do a lot of miles (some MINIs have already clocked over 120,000 miles) and people drive them hard and don’t look after them properly (thus causing major problems later in their life). If you own any MINI, look after it properly and get quality parts for them, because in the long run, they’ll reward you back.
Yes yes yes. We've had a 2012 Countryman S in our family since the day it rolled off the production line. Always took it for service when it was due, always used genuine parts, and maintained it well. Never once had a problem with it, ever. Minis are great cars as long as you take care of them, and buy a used one with good maintenance records.
@@rustbloodeclipse 100% true, unfortunately people don’t want to pay for quality parts and repair them on the cheap. I saw a 2010 MINI Cooper S hatch for sale in the UK with 113,000 miles on it. It was perfectly sound and was fully kitted out with leather and Sat Nav. The original owner used the car for fun and was only selling it because he’d now got 2 kids and needed more space. It just shows how they keep going if you fix them properly
I agree with this right here. I owned a R56 Cooper S as the second owner and maintained the car as well upgrading a few things as well. The Cooper clocked at 154k miles but still ran and functioned as if nothing was broken. There were a few flaws in between but most of them didn’t change the functionality of the car overall. Loved the Mini Cooper and still do. Somewhat regretting selling it now since I’m reminiscing about owning one back then 😅
And don’t pay attention to the manufacturer recommended 12,000 mile oil change interval. Do it twice as often. Also, replace the belt tensioner with a newer one ASAP as in many early R56s they were too short which can lead to all sorts of issues.
I have a 2004 Cooper S (when they still had superchargers) and it was my first car. It was literally perfect; easy to drive, fast, safe, affordable, and reliable. All the things you need. The only problem I had was a coolant leak that was fixed with a new radiator hose. A JCW wouldn't be the best because of its cost, but if you get an old S, you'll have a blast.
@@gusl9000 so get a hyundai. Coz let's face it, EVERYONE crashes their first car badly at some point.... might as well destroy something that is cheap.
@@gusl9000 doesn't really matter if it has a ton of miles, just get something that wasn't originally a luxury car with unnecessary electricals, they will go wrong
If you really bought it for 4,000, then it is understandable that everything is in trouble, that car has not been maintained, that's why it is at that price. People who maintain their car and it is in good condition will be twice as much as 4000. There are services that maintain cars if you didn't know. Greeting.
They're not cheap at all. They cost like a new BMW basically. Terrible value for what you get and they're awfully unreliable. I don't know who buys these.
HIPSTER RETARDS. All about being hip with zero brains behind their decisions. My mechanic has one come in often enough and tells me that the water pump is ran from a roller which sits on the side of the serpentine belt. There's NO SPRING TENSIONER and the minute the serpentine belt gets ONE MILLIMETER of slack, it only occasionally spins the pump and then overheats. I FULLY expected it to be an electric water pump like OTHER bmws have. But it's a bizarre wheel running on the belt also running on the water pump wheel arrangement.
Ok people. Minis are amazing when they are fully constructed by BMW. All the older versions were constructed by Peugeot and they had a lot of mechanical issues up until 2014. Then BMW took their place and they became more reliable. So, it depends.
I had a 2010 jcw too and almost had no problems I mean other then with custom parts (don't buy the cheap shit), did have a oxygen sensor go out which was annoying.
@@enfantterrible4868 they’re only unreliable if not maintained well, they burn loads of oil so most owners always run them low on oil, people don’t let the oil temps warm up before they thrash the shit out of them, if they’re kept well, they actually are good reliable engines, but, most people don’t care about them :/
My first car is a mini cooper hatchback 2005, 130k came with her on the clock when I bought her in November 2022. I'm a learner driver and she's the best car I could ever ask for. I've had to fix her and hasn't been expensive at all with all parts sitting at about £160ish total. Car never had a thermostat from when I bought it (lol??), then I bought new wheels and rims cause previous owner didn't tell us they were buckled, wheel bearing, indicator stalk (was damaged as well), control arm ball joint and intake pipe. But then again, I'm able to fix her at home without paying labour and extra charges on top of the needed items as buy the parts from eurocarparts myself and whatnot. The only fault I've noticed on my car is the intake pipe - they tend to split in the same section on old minis and I've had to get a used one from a breaker car from a scrap yard for my girl. And the new one already had a few splits in the rubber so if you can get that new I'd recommend doing so or finding a precautional method (I've just put shit tons of hard activator superglue on mine before it's too far gone. They're only little splits on the "new" one I got. As long as you keep servicing them like with any car every 10k miles or when needed then you'll have no problem with them. I bought my car for £925. Servicing your car will prevent headgasket issues and all that pa-jazz. My car has only failed 4 out of 17/18 times and that's for having a bulb out. She's been well looked after! No rust either and has never had a timing chain issue, no oil leaks ever in her span either. Keep them happy and they'll keep you happy!
Some of these I do agree so, I am looking at a Mini Cooper 2020 s rn and I will say it is a small car but for myself and that’s it. It checks all the boxes
Thats why i am a firm believer that a 2001-2009 2.4 Volvo S60 is the perfect first car. Super cheap, its old Volvo and non-turbo so extremely reliable, comes factory with leather interior, abundant, and safe.
@Brian F my mom and i both drive S60’s, mine is a 2002, hers is 2004. Both are the N/A 2.4 5 cylinder. Mine is at 301k miles. Hers 227k. Look it up. Volvo 5 cylinders are some of the most reliable engines out there
I'm gunna say the perfect first car is an oldsmobile intrigue with the 3.8L v6, they are indestructible have great economy are relatively fast with a roughly 7 sec 0-60 and hold 4 people very comfortably.
With the same TERRIBLE WIRING that all European cars have. FFS you might as well say that A BMW is a best first car. The OLD 1980s volvos were good but..... 2009? They're a TINY bit better than other European cars BUT NOT MUCH.
As someone who owns a mini, He's right, this is a terrible first car. It is a fun car, but the maintenance is super expensive, and it has left me stranded on the side of the road a few times.
@@shepherdrm8486 if you treat it like it only has two seats, then the space is decent. But the back seats are so ridiculously small they might as well not be there.
I can confirm this. My dad has a mini I think it’s a 2009. He intended for it to be me and my brothers first car and to get a new one for himself once we got our licenses. But In 2017 the engine completely broke. I don’t know exactly what it was, but I know that the dealership said that they had only seen a break like this one other time. Luckily they gave my dad a big discount on the repair bill which was the only way my dad would have been able to afford it. After this my dad decided it would be a bad idea to have it be our first car.
My first car was a mini. My 2nd and current car.. is a mini I’ve had literally zero issues to talk about I fix it myself I maintain it well My JCW is completely modified and makes 280whp and has literally been turnkey reliable Sure, for the normal person that never even checks their oil.. not a good car As long as you can literally do basic mechanics works I think it’s great
2005-06 MINIs with manual transmissions are the only ones to get, and you need to know how to work on them yourself. They are very reliable when maintained properly (like most cars are).
I don't really know, why everyone says BMWs tend to have a lot of problems, because that's simply not true. Of course there are some exceptions like the LCI E46 316i/318i, but the majority of especially BMWs before 2007 will literally last forever.
Pretty true, had a Camry with the 5sfe and it had knock but still ran strong with my lack of maintenance and know nothing wannabe car guy skills at the time, it taught me though
@@eVerProductions1 the older ones had no electronics to tell you what it thinks is wrong, so you just have to know the car. With any car, just buy a Haynes or Chilton manual, you'll have everything you need to know about your car.
@@cesarurzua8234 you don't even have to be rich to afford to maintain a mini. It's a budget, economy hatchback. I just bought a 2016 cooper S after owning a 2008 mini one for 3 years, which never let me down. It basically only ever needed oil, coolant and filters, brakes, and rear ARB bushings. I maybe spent a little over £500 on maintenance in 3 years which is about average, and that's on the most unreliable engine they ever put in a Mini (a dumpy 1.4L Peugeot engine). For reference, the guy that made this video also has one saying that a 4.0L Jeep grand Cherokee from the early 2000s is a good first car, as opposed to a small, reliable hatchback that costs almost nothing to run and maintain 😂😂 he's a grade A clown 🤡
@@JamesBalazs most used minis are usually beaten up,it costs a shit ton of money to get it working smoothly again,i hvnt seen properly maintained mini in years!
We bought a Mini Cooper used about 2 years ago for 8000$ and it died recently with just over 60‘000 miles (100‘000km). It was a manual and the coupling started making weird noises so we replaced it for I think 2000$. Low and behold a month later the transmission dies and it was an economic total loss (car was worth less than the repair would‘ve cost). Our mechanic said he has another Mini in the shop with exactly the same issue. I think that says a lot about Minis.
My first car is a 2002 mini cooper, and I couldn't be any happier with it. Few problems now and then but nothing major. Just keep up with oil changes and other fluids and you're good to go on an awesome car!
As a Mechanic Apprentice i can confirm these prices.... because they are "Mini". They're compact. With a very high tech engine. This means that to change almost any engine part. The entire front end has to be disassembled. Labour cost's the most with any car
He pointed to the air intake and said "fuel pump issues" Also they aren't "more fun to drive then any car on the road" This man has clearly never driven an NA miata
@@TFLEV Just like the N54 engines... Remedied with the N55, but the N54 is still an enthusiast choice. I'm sticking with the tried and true M54, for now. Probably the best engine BMW made and I have 228,000 miles one that bad boi.
Bought my son a 95 na miata for his first car, your not laying. Probably the most fun I have ever had driving a car, has to say a lot coming from a 44 year old Mustang fan boy (and no I've never driven a Mustang through a crowd of people) still love banging gears. KMFNB
Only issue my step father had with his mini in the 2 years he owned his 2019 Mini Cooper S (which is his 2nd mini) is when he wrecked it on the high way recently...
not necessarily true; after 2015 BMW fixed the major engine issues. Just because BMW owns the brand doesn't mean they make all the engines, mini makes the majority of their engines excluding 2017-2023 countryman. Mini have majorly improved reliability issues they used to have; considering i also own a 2016 countryman bought used and driven 22'000 km since. prior owner had no issues im over 100k km and still no issues. fuel economy is great, AWD is so good in snow, and added practicality is very handy. it all depends on how you maintain your vehicle, and for God sakes *CHANGE YOUR TRANSMISSION FLUID AT PROPER INTERVALS* the main reason people have issues is because BMW will tell you to ignore having certain things changed on your vehicle. so that when it does fail it would be most likely out of your warranty and up to 10'000$ to repair. be smart!
I have a 2013 Mini R55 JCW, a year and a half of ownership, change engine oil every 2500 miles, no problems. It's not expensive maintenance, it's about changing the oil regularly and keeping an eye on the water and engine oil once a week, it's not for everyone who drives a lot of miles or doesn't care about the car, this is a special car, if you treat it well, it brings back a lot of fun without breaking your wallet
They might cost as much to maintain as a BMW but they weren't using BMW engines right? Here in the Netherlands it is quite easy to find it reasonably priced but it is the cost of ownership that is holding me back from owning one (as a first car😜)
@@doingyamom it was developed by Citroen,Peugeot and BMW, neon may of borrowed it from them but it’s definitely not theirs, it was a new version of the TU Engine that was made by Peugeot/Citroen
A minivan is a pretty underrated first car. They are really freaking practical, and most are pretty strong, for example an oddesy or Siena. I might be getting our family minivan which is a 2013 Chrysler town and country, those can last a long time, just don’t buy one used. If you want to go fast, you actually could. There is a lot of weight reduction you can do because minivans come with a lot of unnecessary crap, and some you could even put superchargers on. With the supercharger thing, they don’t build them for the minivans, but for the engines. For example you could find a trd supercharger, and you might be able to put it on the 3.5 v6 that is used in a lot of Toyotas. Ripp also makes a supercharger for the pentastar v6. However they make it for specific vehicles like the Dodge Challenger, charger, and Jeep Wrangler. So I don’t know if it would work for a caravan or town and country
If you're getting the BOXY looking town and country, FORGET IT. Thry have serious electric issues at 6 MONTHS OLD. Wiring shorting out against the roof in between the headliner at 6 months old. Now THAT'S a reason to make sure fire was included in your car insurance. I have heard of mechanics seeing ones 6 months old with blown head gaskets, wondering if they EVER put the gasket on correctly at the factory. And the odessey??? Skip the early 2000s ones because they had REAL transmission issues. And they've NEVER BEEN good on transmissions since 2000. I got a hyundai trajet van that has done very few miles (like 6500 a year) and it's BRILLIANT. Former company vehicle with more latte spills than you could imagine but even the crash test on them was BETTER than a Mercedes-Benz sedan of the same age. Not a lot of power but it's a 2 ton vehicle. Surprisingly good on fuel if you drive it gently. I get just under 2.5 gal per 60 miles. Yes it's an automatic. Seperate airconditioning for the back too and a heater made for below freezing temperatures.
Your talking bs when it comes to reliability and maintenance. There not expensive to maintain. I've had mini's most of my life and never had the issues you state. Show your facts please
@@bigballs7350 when you look at the power to weight ratio it’s pretty quick. And they are pretty easy to tune so you can easily get 220hp with a tune out of a R60 turbo S and probably 250hp out of a JCW on just a tune.
@@maybeh8671 280bhp out of a 2.0L JCW on just a tune afaik. The standard cooper S will go straight to 250hp with a tune and spark plugs, and stage 2 can take them to 310hp for
Wrong actually, While you are correct about beetles you are entirely wrong about mini’s. If you’ve never been in a Mini Cooper your missing out. It’s like a street legal go-kart. These Mini Coopers can beat most of those American boats around the track (I love American cars but honestly you can’t deny how much better German vehicles handle) and with a 6spd manual, exhaust and tune you’ve got yourself a pretty fun car
@@OffGridInvestor mate if all you need to do is commute, use the metro/bus. Why the hell would you buy a car,(unless you live in a village and don't have any decent public transport ig)
I’m starting to hope he’s just doing this for jokes….. I can’t believe he actually has said the things he does, like how the 4.7 L v8 is a good motor 🤒
actually, the reason the engine is so shit is because its a Peugeot engine. yeah. BMW for some reason had PEUGEOT of all companies let them use their engine in the mini.
Dude keep up on your maintenance and its not a problem...not to mention mini has a factory warranty that transfers to the new owner..i got a mini at a dealership that had a few problems but was still under warranty i took it to mini and drove away with it running like new all for free on the repairs...PS your puttin down opinions without telling the whole story...id buy your gp but i know you've prob beat the crap out of it :(
I have a mini one as my first Pros: - so easy to park and handle - not that heavy on fuel - safe - fun - affordable Cons: - Service is expensive at dealerships, but any 3rd party service provider is managable - parts are expensive, especially that 70 000+ clutch But, 1. What today isnt expensive? 2. Resale value is amazing 3. Quality car, really amazing
As someone who got my first car as a 2001 mini cooper for £400 can confirm they are cheap to buy. Not spent much on it in maintaining it though. Not a lot of space but it is a "mini" and not built for the American Market and their size requirements for large cup holders.
This is a gp2 with the reliable n18 engine. Pre lci came with the unreliable N14 engine. If you are interested in these cars then definitely get one with an n18. Engine is solid
Had one for my first car and I stand by it. Mine was an R53 (the model before this one) and I loved that car to bits. The supercharger whine was super addictive and the panoramic sunroof felt like I was driving a convertible that looked way cooler than
I’ve had a pair of r56 cars. A base and a JCW…the one I’m currently driving. 100k miles on the clock with no significant problems. Preventative maintenance is a must to keep them in top shape, and it’s a fantastic 1st car IF you are willing to learn how to take care of your car instead of just driving it into the ground.
Problems only arise because most people don't understand the power of these cars. All vehicles with a high performance turbo engines require premium gasoline. And not to mention high quality full synthetic oil changes every 2500 miles. Period.
My dad's 2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper works had a clutch that started slipping at 4,500 miles. Apparently, that was a super common issue with those cars.
Room for “activities”. LOL
This 🤣🤣🤣
Never understood why people couldn't just wait to get home?
@@houssamalucad753 first car implies 16, most 16 year olds live with parents they would like to avoid
@@user-white007 well in my country it's rare for even 19 year olds to have a car so...
Fuck I'm 5 days too late
"Super cheap" where are you finding these $4,000 mini's? The Junk Yard?
I bet that John cooper works is not 4000, but base modes coopers and even cooper s’ can be found for cheap
Autotrader. I saw one listed as 4300
In Florida there like 2-8k or one
@@therealsnoop7497 it wasn’t just a John Cooper works. It was the GP model which is super rare, and that car even with it being older would probably sell for almost 20k right now (edit), yup just looked it up, and found this same model going for $33,000
This guy is obviously out of touch
This guy - Don't buy a Mini!
Also this guy - I've had 3 Mini's.
as a first car
As a FIRST car. Learn to read
@@Toyota4Life Ha, I did read it, but wanted to see how many losers say 'First' car, and/or tell me to learn to read. You are Loser 2. Nice work! 👍🏻
@@tangosucka8526Right... Of course.
Lol, my first car was a Mini, and he's right, but I had heard about the potential problems and wanted it anyway, so I budgeted generously just in case and, sure enough, used it. It was a 2009 hatchback. Still loved it and am now looking for a 2014+. I considered and test drove the electric, but it's out of my budget and has a limited range. One can dream though.
"Not a lot of room for activities" also this guy "I have owned three of them" it all makes sense now
LMFAO
It's basically a MINI in the right ways.
And a BMW in the wrong ways.
Former owner, can confirm.
@@SausageFingers420 current owner can definitely confirm
Current owner: I rarely drive this car, and out of all my other cars this is the most costly to repair, even a challenger is cheaper
Can’t ever have a bmw in the right ways 🤭😉
actually, the reason the engine is so shit is because its a Peugeot engine.
“They are really small” if you have ever seen an original mini you’ll see the irony in that statement. Mini’s today should be called giants cuz they massive.
Same goes for smart phones, drink sizes and food portions lol. 🤷🏽♂️
Today's MINI's are actually surprisingly spacious, my 6 foot 6 inch uncle bought a MINI Countryman after several test drives in various suvs and utes, because it was the only car he fit in.
I mean you shouldn’t compare the MINIs from today to the ones from the 50s. For example, cars similar to the newest Avalons are as big as flagships from early 2000s. Can’t be called massive, as modern cars are getting bigger and bigger for safety issues
No bro. He was talking about older models...Which I could fit in the bed of my truck 😆
@Jack K very little with safety? Imagine a MINI from the 50s, or not even that old. A normal car from the 90s with modern engines. The car would be way too light and would be flying off because modern engines are much more advanced. Since car engines are getting more advanced, its easier to get to higher speeds, and to prevent deaths, the car must be bigger to protect the passengers. There are also so many electronic safety features, like adaptive cruise control or blind spot monitors in modern cars that requires more physical space for radars and wires to be mounted. Larger and heavier cars are much safer for everyone. Imagine what would happen to someone who has a light car and someone with a heavier car crashes. Car sizes have to do with safety 95%.
Brother, I have a 2006 base model with 214k miles, runs smooth easy to fix, hell of a drive, and a beauty to park. I recommend them 20/10 anytime.. drive it from and to WA-CA multiple times, vegas, and within the city of LA. Not bad AT ALL.
Forgot to mention is my camping ride, hills and turns no problem. 👌
Not reliable tho
What do you think jj is the mini reliable
@@brandonfoley7519 brother, its too reliable I just got myself an S. I still have the base model 2006, and I got a 2002 S. Great rides, highly recommended.
He did say 2007-2013
How many water pumps?
My best advice as a mini owner. Get the supercharged engines only! Not only is it way more reliable than the turbos, but it sounds WAY better!
Thanks dude, I'm thinking of getting a Mini Cooper as my first car
Which models got a supercharged engine?
@@gbharatiyar53
@@gbharatiyafirst Gen I believe
He said that a 2nd gen jeep Cherokee was a good first car, now he's saying mini's are cheap? Dude needs to go learn a thing or two.
Don't knock it till you try it... The Grand Cherokee was my first car and for a high school kid it didn't get any better. The back seat fitted a double bed for "activities" and had a hidden compartment underneath the center console to hide... Stuff. The iron 4.0 also took a beating every single time I drove it and it took it in stride
Well he also complained about the blazer not being safe yet a 2nd gen Cherokee isn’t much better
Nice to see the greatest pioneer of rap history on your pfp 😤
@@supaortix8618 it is an amazing pfp, yes
Get a golf 4 TDI, 400.000km at least with normal maintenance, good mpg and it's even better than a lot of newer cheap cars
He's saying finding a cheap mini for like 4k and proceeds to use a GP as the example car😂
Lmao. Only car guys know that this car is so expensive. 💀
@@jcyohanofficial1443 fr otherwise it just looks like a mini with a wrap on it to most people 😂
@@jcyohanofficial1443 how much is it? And you know any power numbers from this thing?
exactly, calls minis cheap and proceeds to use a gp2 as an example🤣 they're 15k all day in the uk🤣
Maybe a r53 lol I got my r56 S for 10k 👌
Just do regularly oil level check, oil service between 5000-7000 milles and you will have no issues with the car.
If only it was that simple. Your high pressure fuel pump WILL go bad. So will the thermostat housing. Coils will burn up, you'll need a new valve cover at some point too.
My dad bought a used 2006 Mini Cooper S years ago it was the best car he ever had
If you don't want expensive problems don't buy a JCW. I don't trust this guy after he recommended a 2nd gen Grand Cherokee as an "excellent first car"
Same lol
Lmao right, this guys clueless.
I like he pointed at the engine when he said fuel pump
Same lmao. He look so lost
@@tadasgame i think he is someone who makes his vids sound factual but instead its just his opinion, which is wrong 99.9% of the time
Isn’t this the same guy who recommended a 2nd gen Cherokee as the perfect first car?
Oh yeah. Granted, he makes some good points in this one, but that video was garbage advice.
@@llebecna1 Overall I think this guy doesn't know much about cars. He just knows Mini is owned by BMW so he makes a video pointing out its flaws. Most car people already know buying a BMW will have heavy maintenance costs.
Unfortunately is
@@speedier6307
Well not really, I think this video is made for people who aren’t car guys already and don’t know this kind of thing.
@@benjaminpont220 Him reccomending a really unreliable car like a jeep grand cherokee to non car people doesn't make it seem like he knows a whole lot about cars. Yea sure, not everyone knows that most used German cars are not a good idea, but for the people that get reccommended his videos, they most likely know that already.
i have an 04’ mini. its my first car and i love it so much! (:
Hows it going ?
Update?
when did you buy one and do you think it’s worth it?
This is the same dude that recommends a used Jeep for the first car lmao
The problem is that in America people do a lot of miles (some MINIs have already clocked over 120,000 miles) and people drive them hard and don’t look after them properly (thus causing major problems later in their life).
If you own any MINI, look after it properly and get quality parts for them, because in the long run, they’ll reward you back.
Yes yes yes. We've had a 2012 Countryman S in our family since the day it rolled off the production line. Always took it for service when it was due, always used genuine parts, and maintained it well. Never once had a problem with it, ever. Minis are great cars as long as you take care of them, and buy a used one with good maintenance records.
These are the people who have money for $28 kale salads every weekend but not an oil change.
@@rustbloodeclipse 100% true, unfortunately people don’t want to pay for quality parts and repair them on the cheap. I saw a 2010 MINI Cooper S hatch for sale in the UK with 113,000 miles on it. It was perfectly sound and was fully kitted out with leather and Sat Nav. The original owner used the car for fun and was only selling it because he’d now got 2 kids and needed more space. It just shows how they keep going if you fix them properly
I agree with this right here. I owned a R56 Cooper S as the second owner and maintained the car as well upgrading a few things as well. The Cooper clocked at 154k miles but still ran and functioned as if nothing was broken. There were a few flaws in between but most of them didn’t change the functionality of the car overall. Loved the Mini Cooper and still do. Somewhat regretting selling it now since I’m reminiscing about owning one back then 😅
And don’t pay attention to the manufacturer recommended 12,000 mile oil change interval. Do it twice as often. Also, replace the belt tensioner with a newer one ASAP as in many early R56s they were too short which can lead to all sorts of issues.
I have a 2004 Cooper S (when they still had superchargers) and it was my first car. It was literally perfect; easy to drive, fast, safe, affordable, and reliable. All the things you need. The only problem I had was a coolant leak that was fixed with a new radiator hose. A JCW wouldn't be the best because of its cost, but if you get an old S, you'll have a blast.
The older ones like yours were fully built by BMW, in this case including the engine and are just so cool
@@Turbo_Matic7 nope those had tritec engines
Supercharher ?
I'm looking at a 2015 or a 2012 mini used and I'm buying with cash. Do you recommend the?m
“More fun to drive than any car on the road”
Miata: am I a joke to you?
Haha your funny💀dumb fuck
@@brauliopalacios9262 he's right though
Toyota MR2
There's a lot of fun to drive cars out there. Mini is just one of them.
Up next is “why the peel p50 is the perfect rally cross car”
lmao
A little Honda or Toyota is the way to go for a first car, a second, a third, a fourth lol etc.😅😄
Here's why I think a 2004 Toyota Unser as the best first car
Yeah but most people can’t find one for 4000$ that runs good. All kinds of Honda’s in my price range of 3000$ but they all have a ton of miles
Yeah well LOGICAL people know that. But we're in the age of brainless hipsters here...
@@gusl9000 so get a hyundai. Coz let's face it, EVERYONE crashes their first car badly at some point.... might as well destroy something that is cheap.
@@gusl9000 doesn't really matter if it has a ton of miles, just get something that wasn't originally a luxury car with unnecessary electricals, they will go wrong
Ever tried to do an alignment on of those? Yea, those things can go die.
Does it drive?
Yes: A good first car
No: Not a good first car
If you really bought it for 4,000, then it is understandable that everything is in trouble, that car has not been maintained, that's why it is at that price. People who maintain their car and it is in good condition will be twice as much as 4000.
There are services that maintain cars if you didn't know.
Greeting.
They're not cheap at all. They cost like a new BMW basically. Terrible value for what you get and they're awfully unreliable. I don't know who buys these.
The used ones are dirt cheap.
People without basic car knowledge probably buy them or die hard cooper fans lol I barely ever see these on the roads anymore at least in the midwest
No? They are like 15,000 used 😂
Only dirty cheap used ones are trash
HIPSTER RETARDS. All about being hip with zero brains behind their decisions. My mechanic has one come in often enough and tells me that the water pump is ran from a roller which sits on the side of the serpentine belt. There's NO SPRING TENSIONER and the minute the serpentine belt gets ONE MILLIMETER of slack, it only occasionally spins the pump and then overheats. I FULLY expected it to be an electric water pump like OTHER bmws have. But it's a bizarre wheel running on the belt also running on the water pump wheel arrangement.
Add the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee to this one as well
Interesting that the second gen has more issues than the first. I’d love an R53 GP!
Ok people.
Minis are amazing when they are fully constructed by BMW. All the older versions were constructed by Peugeot and they had a lot of mechanical issues up until 2014. Then BMW took their place and they became more reliable. So, it depends.
I had a 2010 JCW as my first car! It was the most fun I’ve ever had driving, but I can confirm that every point in the video is 100% true
Murica moment
The engine sounds soooooo good and is sooooo unreliable
You had the N14 or N16 engine, and those were sooo much less reliable than than the N18
I had a 2010 jcw too and almost had no problems I mean other then with custom parts (don't buy the cheap shit), did have a oxygen sensor go out which was annoying.
@@enfantterrible4868 they’re only unreliable if not maintained well, they burn loads of oil so most owners always run them low on oil, people don’t let the oil temps warm up before they thrash the shit out of them, if they’re kept well, they actually are good reliable engines, but, most people don’t care about them :/
should’ve shown off the gp instead of saying it’s just a “mini” :(
They're garbage
@@9mmshort254 are you well?
My first car is a mini cooper hatchback 2005, 130k came with her on the clock when I bought her in November 2022. I'm a learner driver and she's the best car I could ever ask for. I've had to fix her and hasn't been expensive at all with all parts sitting at about £160ish total. Car never had a thermostat from when I bought it (lol??), then I bought new wheels and rims cause previous owner didn't tell us they were buckled, wheel bearing, indicator stalk (was damaged as well), control arm ball joint and intake pipe.
But then again, I'm able to fix her at home without paying labour and extra charges on top of the needed items as buy the parts from eurocarparts myself and whatnot.
The only fault I've noticed on my car is the intake pipe - they tend to split in the same section on old minis and I've had to get a used one from a breaker car from a scrap yard for my girl. And the new one already had a few splits in the rubber so if you can get that new I'd recommend doing so or finding a precautional method (I've just put shit tons of hard activator superglue on mine before it's too far gone. They're only little splits on the "new" one I got.
As long as you keep servicing them like with any car every 10k miles or when needed then you'll have no problem with them. I bought my car for £925. Servicing your car will prevent headgasket issues and all that pa-jazz. My car has only failed 4 out of 17/18 times and that's for having a bulb out. She's been well looked after! No rust either and has never had a timing chain issue, no oil leaks ever in her span either. Keep them happy and they'll keep you happy!
Some of these I do agree so, I am looking at a Mini Cooper 2020 s rn and I will say it is a small car but for myself and that’s it. It checks all the boxes
Thats why i am a firm believer that a 2001-2009 2.4 Volvo S60 is the perfect first car. Super cheap, its old Volvo and non-turbo so extremely reliable, comes factory with leather interior, abundant, and safe.
Yeah I'm going for the 850 GLT
@Brian F my mom and i both drive S60’s, mine is a 2002, hers is 2004. Both are the N/A 2.4 5 cylinder. Mine is at 301k miles. Hers 227k. Look it up. Volvo 5 cylinders are some of the most reliable engines out there
I'm gunna say the perfect first car is an oldsmobile intrigue with the 3.8L v6, they are indestructible have great economy are relatively fast with a roughly 7 sec 0-60 and hold 4 people very comfortably.
@@Pilikestortoises anything with a rubber timing belt is a no go.
With the same TERRIBLE WIRING that all European cars have. FFS you might as well say that A BMW is a best first car. The OLD 1980s volvos were good but..... 2009? They're a TINY bit better than other European cars BUT NOT MUCH.
As someone who owns a mini, He's right, this is a terrible first car. It is a fun car, but the maintenance is super expensive, and it has left me stranded on the side of the road a few times.
He is imo wrong about the space though it's pretty open especially compared to a lot of other cars
@@shepherdrm8486 if you treat it like it only has two seats, then the space is decent. But the back seats are so ridiculously small they might as well not be there.
Oh no bruv
@@baileyharrison1030 yea normal minis don't make good passenger cars but the clubman surprisingly does!
Want to Know Something fun? My family has 2 of those Things and guess who get's to fix them every 3 weeks
"You don't have room for activities" I think y'all know what he means by that
Yes, playing poker and chess.
“Not a lot of room for activities” he knows what he is taking about
“Activities”
Tf is you gonna do in a vehicle?!🤣💀
uhh, stuff 🙏🏼
“super cheap”
proceeds to show a JCW mini
Was looking for this haha
Just seen a jcw clubman sport for £2k. Maybe its different in America but shit built cars loose half of their value every year here
I can confirm this. My dad has a mini I think it’s a 2009. He intended for it to be me and my brothers first car and to get a new one for himself once we got our licenses. But In 2017 the engine completely broke. I don’t know exactly what it was, but I know that the dealership said that they had only seen a break like this one other time. Luckily they gave my dad a big discount on the repair bill which was the only way my dad would have been able to afford it. After this my dad decided it would be a bad idea to have it be our first car.
Get a crown vic as your first car and no problems my guy, the only problem the crown vic has it is too big for a beginner.
My first car was a mini. My 2nd and current car.. is a mini
I’ve had literally zero issues to talk about
I fix it myself I maintain it well
My JCW is completely modified and makes 280whp and has literally been turnkey reliable
Sure, for the normal person that never even checks their oil.. not a good car
As long as you can literally do basic mechanics works I think it’s great
2011-2013 you can get some really nice minis. Those n18 engines rip and they don’t cause a lot of issues
2005-06 MINIs with manual transmissions are the only ones to get, and you need to know how to work on them yourself. They are very reliable when maintained properly (like most cars are).
I don't really know, why everyone says BMWs tend to have a lot of problems, because that's simply not true. Of course there are some exceptions like the LCI E46 316i/318i, but the majority of especially BMWs before 2007 will literally last forever.
Good first car is anything with a toyota 5FSE 4cyl in it. Those are literally bulletproof and are very easy to work on for even novices
Pretty true, had a Camry with the 5sfe and it had knock but still ran strong with my lack of maintenance and know nothing wannabe car guy skills at the time, it taught me though
@@eVerProductions1 the older ones had no electronics to tell you what it thinks is wrong, so you just have to know the car. With any car, just buy a Haynes or Chilton manual, you'll have everything you need to know about your car.
I feel even worse for putting a hole in the block of one 😔
@@fruitydudexD how? No oil?
Bro you have to tell this to "N golo Kante" 😅
He has one, and also it is second hand
Hes rich, he can afford the repair costs + parts are cheaper in england and mechanics know how to work on them
@@cesarurzua8234 you don't even have to be rich to afford to maintain a mini. It's a budget, economy hatchback. I just bought a 2016 cooper S after owning a 2008 mini one for 3 years, which never let me down. It basically only ever needed oil, coolant and filters, brakes, and rear ARB bushings. I maybe spent a little over £500 on maintenance in 3 years which is about average, and that's on the most unreliable engine they ever put in a Mini (a dumpy 1.4L Peugeot engine).
For reference, the guy that made this video also has one saying that a 4.0L Jeep grand Cherokee from the early 2000s is a good first car, as opposed to a small, reliable hatchback that costs almost nothing to run and maintain 😂😂 he's a grade A clown 🤡
@@JamesBalazs most used minis are usually beaten up,it costs a shit ton of money to get it working smoothly again,i hvnt seen properly maintained mini in years!
We bought a Mini Cooper used about 2 years ago for 8000$ and it died recently with just over 60‘000 miles (100‘000km).
It was a manual and the coupling started making weird noises so we replaced it for I think 2000$.
Low and behold a month later the transmission dies and it was an economic total loss (car was worth less than the repair would‘ve cost).
Our mechanic said he has another Mini in the shop with exactly the same issue.
I think that says a lot about Minis.
"Super cheap" *continues to talk about how expensive the parts are*
Meanwhile the POS Cherokee is a better first car according to you
My first car is a 2002 mini cooper, and I couldn't be any happier with it. Few problems now and then but nothing major. Just keep up with oil changes and other fluids and you're good to go on an awesome car!
We can all agree fixing your car at an official car dealership versus a local mechanic will make you go broke
remble in the background😭😭
"More fun to drive than any car on the road" yeah that's a lie
Didn't say powerful. He said fun.
@@OffGridInvestor Yeah it’s nowhere close to the most fun car on the road
@@oslodapig5239 and what is that? An Elise?
I think a Miata or s2000 would be more enjoyqvow
That is definitely true. My r53 is amazing to drive
They are more fun to drive then any car on the road.
Miata: hold my hard top
Miata heavy
Me drive kei car
Even ford fiesta is more fun than mini
Toyota MR2 is better than Miata .
As a Mechanic Apprentice i can confirm these prices.... because they are "Mini". They're compact. With a very high tech engine. This means that to change almost any engine part. The entire front end has to be disassembled. Labour cost's the most with any car
Goddammmit, I just buyd my first Mini Cooper😂
He pointed to the air intake and said "fuel pump issues"
Also they aren't "more fun to drive then any car on the road"
This man has clearly never driven an NA miata
High pressure fuel pump is a common failure. Lives under the hood
@@TFLEV Just like the N54 engines... Remedied with the N55, but the N54 is still an enthusiast choice. I'm sticking with the tried and true M54, for now. Probably the best engine BMW made and I have 228,000 miles one that bad boi.
@@JoiceVaderd I got a 2000 740i with an M62 and the car’s at 317k miles and running strong! Old BMW motors were the best!
Bought my son a 95 na miata for his first car, your not laying. Probably the most fun I have ever had driving a car, has to say a lot coming from a 44 year old Mustang fan boy (and no I've never driven a Mustang through a crowd of people) still love banging gears. KMFNB
Ironic saying $4000 when it’s a GP😂
Only issue my step father had with his mini in the 2 years he owned his 2019 Mini Cooper S (which is his 2nd mini) is when he wrecked it on the high way recently...
“More fun to drive than any car on the road.”
Yea okay, let’s just chalk that up to opinion lol
Funny how he’s using a gp2 as an example 😂
Ight, I want to get one even more now lol
But there’s not a lot of room for ACTIVITIES remember?
They just have a charm lol
Fold the seats
@@alfiephillips9944 or do it somewhere else
Says this to a car still worth 25k due to it being a GP. Plus 12 and 13 coopers got a redesigned engine that is actually far more reliable.
not necessarily true;
after 2015 BMW fixed the major engine issues.
Just because BMW owns the brand doesn't mean they make all the engines, mini makes the majority of their engines excluding 2017-2023 countryman.
Mini have majorly improved reliability issues they used to have; considering i also own a 2016 countryman bought used and driven 22'000 km since.
prior owner had no issues im over 100k km and still no issues.
fuel economy is great, AWD is so good in snow, and added practicality is very handy.
it all depends on how you maintain your vehicle, and for God sakes *CHANGE YOUR TRANSMISSION FLUID AT PROPER INTERVALS*
the main reason people have issues is because BMW will tell you to ignore having certain things changed on your vehicle.
so that when it does fail it would be most likely out of your warranty and up to 10'000$ to repair.
be smart!
I hope my exes breaks down😂
Lmao I think everyone’s ex drives one of these….
@@franktank9573 for realll lmfao. Always the crazy ones too
Activities? 😉
Playing poker and chess, ofcourse.
Miata is the answer
I have a 2013 Mini R55 JCW, a year and a half of ownership, change engine oil every 2500 miles, no problems. It's not expensive maintenance, it's about changing the oil regularly and keeping an eye on the water and engine oil once a week, it's not for everyone who drives a lot of miles or doesn't care about the car, this is a special car, if you treat it well, it brings back a lot of fun without breaking your wallet
I work at a MINI dealer and can confirm that the R56 era of MINI are quite unreliable. That’s a really nice GP though!
They might cost as much to maintain as a BMW but they weren't using BMW engines right? Here in the Netherlands it is quite easy to find it reasonably priced but it is the cost of ownership that is holding me back from owning one (as a first car😜)
@@TrustedHealer58 The R56 engines were based on the Dodge Neon engines, however they were changed a lot by MINI/BMW before they were put into the cars
@@doingyamom it was developed by Citroen,Peugeot and BMW, neon may of borrowed it from them but it’s definitely not theirs, it was a new version of the TU Engine that was made by Peugeot/Citroen
are the 2023 versions reliable?
A minivan is a pretty underrated first car. They are really freaking practical, and most are pretty strong, for example an oddesy or Siena. I might be getting our family minivan which is a 2013 Chrysler town and country, those can last a long time, just don’t buy one used. If you want to go fast, you actually could. There is a lot of weight reduction you can do because minivans come with a lot of unnecessary crap, and some you could even put superchargers on. With the supercharger thing, they don’t build them for the minivans, but for the engines. For example you could find a trd supercharger, and you might be able to put it on the 3.5 v6 that is used in a lot of Toyotas. Ripp also makes a supercharger for the pentastar v6. However they make it for specific vehicles like the Dodge Challenger, charger, and Jeep Wrangler. So I don’t know if it would work for a caravan or town and country
If you're getting the BOXY looking town and country, FORGET IT. Thry have serious electric issues at 6 MONTHS OLD. Wiring shorting out against the roof in between the headliner at 6 months old. Now THAT'S a reason to make sure fire was included in your car insurance. I have heard of mechanics seeing ones 6 months old with blown head gaskets, wondering if they EVER put the gasket on correctly at the factory. And the odessey??? Skip the early 2000s ones because they had REAL transmission issues. And they've NEVER BEEN good on transmissions since 2000. I got a hyundai trajet van that has done very few miles (like 6500 a year) and it's BRILLIANT. Former company vehicle with more latte spills than you could imagine but even the crash test on them was BETTER than a Mercedes-Benz sedan of the same age. Not a lot of power but it's a 2 ton vehicle. Surprisingly good on fuel if you drive it gently. I get just under 2.5 gal per 60 miles. Yes it's an automatic. Seperate airconditioning for the back too and a heater made for below freezing temperatures.
HEY *coughs out of radiator*, HEY DONT SA- *engine overheat intensifies *
Get a used early 2000s Honda Civic. I managed to do plenty of "activities" in the front and back seats lol
i mean most cars probably work if it just has a passenger seat
"First car"
Pull up in a Mini jcw GP
It's a GP2, a track based car, are you well?
I own one of these as my first car. Don’t do the same. It’s a fun car, but I’ve had so much maintenance to do to it.
Your talking bs when it comes to reliability and maintenance. There not expensive to maintain. I've had mini's most of my life and never had the issues you state. Show your facts please
I wouldn’t buy one even is it was reliable 😂
facts 💀
If only yall knew how fast a mini can be even stock
@@HellBent069 my homie got one it’s got like 180hp bro wym fast
@@bigballs7350 when you look at the power to weight ratio it’s pretty quick. And they are pretty easy to tune so you can easily get 220hp with a tune out of a R60 turbo S and probably 250hp out of a JCW on just a tune.
@@maybeh8671 280bhp out of a 2.0L JCW on just a tune afaik.
The standard cooper S will go straight to 250hp with a tune and spark plugs, and stage 2 can take them to 310hp for
U bought 3 of those ? Wth is wrong wit you bettle Bugs an cooper are for teen girls
Wrong actually, While you are correct about beetles you are entirely wrong about mini’s. If you’ve never been in a Mini Cooper your missing out. It’s like a street legal go-kart. These Mini Coopers can beat most of those American boats around the track (I love American cars but honestly you can’t deny how much better German vehicles handle) and with a 6spd manual, exhaust and tune you’ve got yourself a pretty fun car
@@maybeh8671 it’s my opinion I can’t be wrong 😂 you jus disagree an that’s cool
@@maybeh8671 miata is just like mini but better and more RELIABLE, might as well just get that
I like to do 'activities' in my car too.
Very nice😍😍👌👌
Got a simple fix to all your Mini Cooper problems. Just k20 swap it. The end. Case closed.
According to my mechanic who has to fix one often enough.... just CRUSH IT. Case closed. And crusher closed... then get a toyota.
@@OffGridInvestor mate if all you need to do is commute, use the metro/bus. Why the hell would you buy a car,(unless you live in a village and don't have any decent public transport ig)
I’m starting to hope he’s just doing this for jokes….. I can’t believe he actually has said the things he does, like how the 4.7 L v8 is a good motor 🤒
actually, the reason the engine is so shit is because its a Peugeot engine.
yeah. BMW for some reason had PEUGEOT of all companies let them use their engine in the mini.
Just like all the European cars....they make mechanics rich....!
Dude keep up on your maintenance and its not a problem...not to mention mini has a factory warranty that transfers to the new owner..i got a mini at a dealership that had a few problems but was still under warranty i took it to mini and drove away with it running like new all for free on the repairs...PS your puttin down opinions without telling the whole story...id buy your gp but i know you've prob beat the crap out of it :(
Car's shit fam stop capping
Bruh...go test drive an S..the gp had more hp than an s...its a fun car
I’ve done plenty of activities in a mini…it’s doable but not comfortable
I have a mini one as my first
Pros:
- so easy to park and handle
- not that heavy on fuel
- safe
- fun
- affordable
Cons:
- Service is expensive at dealerships, but any 3rd party service provider is managable
- parts are expensive, especially that 70 000+ clutch
But,
1. What today isnt expensive?
2. Resale value is amazing
3. Quality car, really amazing
As someone who got my first car as a 2001 mini cooper for £400 can confirm they are cheap to buy. Not spent much on it in maintaining it though. Not a lot of space but it is a "mini" and not built for the American Market and their size requirements for large cup holders.
DISPOSE OF PROPERLY AFTER 50K MILES 🗑
This is a gp2 with the reliable n18 engine. Pre lci came with the unreliable N14 engine. If you are interested in these cars then definitely get one with an n18. Engine is solid
Here in Brazil a used mini cooper coasts about 70K R$ to 100000,00 R$ and a new model coasts about 200000,00 R$.
Had one for my first car and I stand by it. Mine was an R53 (the model before this one) and I loved that car to bits. The supercharger whine was super addictive and the panoramic sunroof felt like I was driving a convertible that looked way cooler than
In the UK, one of the most annoying things about minis are that they are not mini.
I’ve had a pair of r56 cars. A base and a JCW…the one I’m currently driving. 100k miles on the clock with no significant problems. Preventative maintenance is a must to keep them in top shape, and it’s a fantastic 1st car IF you are willing to learn how to take care of your car instead of just driving it into the ground.
i dont know which country you live in but a Mini gp ist fkn cheap bro
Problems only arise because most people don't understand the power of these cars. All vehicles with a high performance turbo engines require premium gasoline. And not to mention high quality full synthetic oil changes every 2500 miles. Period.
Me watching this, while having MINI Countryman 2014 with problems💀
Thats why im about to buy a 20 year old 1.9tdi Skoda Octavia.. Engine is reliable as hell, and parts are cheap as dirt .. as my first car i should add
My dad's 2009 Mini Cooper John Cooper works had a clutch that started slipping at 4,500 miles. Apparently, that was a super common issue with those cars.
That's why N'golo Kante uses cooper....