Anyone want to buy a MINI? Too Late! - Page 7

Mondo · 15-01-2010, 21:10

I am looking for a car and would LOVE a mini, your mini, but £12.5k is more than double my budget

Kitten · 15-01-2010, 21:23

Then how about Belmit's?

Mondo · 15-01-2010, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

Then how about Belmit's?

If he could wait a few months.....its complicated, my dad is paying for half (long story, its not as cushy as it sounds lol), basically he is thinking getting a car from a dealer and he will contribute half the repayment.

Piggymon · 15-01-2010, 22:30

How about a CRV? Jamie's sister has one... looks quite nice, nice inside and carries the kids and the dog around with no trouble

Darrin · 16-01-2010, 09:24

I was going to make a suggestion of the SRT-8 Grand Cherokee, but I think the petrol cost would be the big killer...

Matblack · 16-01-2010, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrin

I was going to make a suggestion of the SRT-8 Grand Cherokee, but I think the petrol cost would be the big killer...

My Dad had a 4l Jeep for a while and although it was a good car the fact when you kicked it down on a hill it did 4mpg or less kind of puts me off

MB

Darrin · 17-01-2010, 06:07

Then there was something drastically wrong with it. Did it look somewhat like this :

or did it look like this :

If it was the first one, there was a horrific problem with the fuel management system. If it was the second one, it needed a tuneup. The green one I could get down to 4-6mpg if I tromped on it (5.2L V8), but the purple one I've never seen below 8mpg. And that was with my right foot about 1/2" away from the front bumper getting on the freeway (0-75mph in around 200 yards).

Of course, if it was a Wrangler I'd have to say I didn't believe you. You'd have to drag another car on a tow dolly behind it and drive up the side of the cliffs of Dover to get one of them below 10mpg.

Then again, none of them will reliably get better than 20mpg. Have you looked at the newer Cherokee (it's called the Liberty over here). 3.7L V-6. Bulletproof time tested 4WD system. Aftermarket support like no other.

I know American vehicles aren't popular over there, but as much as I personally don't like the Liberty/Cherokee for personal reasons (IFS, so anti-Jeep

), I have to admit they're a hell of an SUV. Enough power to get out of its own way, Jeep Trail Rated offroad capability, and if you want some real world crash results I can have links in second for you. They're built like a tank.

And at roughly 14K brand new...

Darrin · 17-01-2010, 06:26

Oh, and by the way. Something I'd like to point out about the CX-7/QQ. Take a look at their spare tyres some time.

If you ever get a flat, hope you like sitting at the side of the dual carriageway for an hour or so waiting on the tiny little air pump inflating the stupid full size tire. They come purposely flat so they shrink around the wheel to save space. I've had to do a couple of them doing roadside assistance. Thankfully I have on board air in my Jeep so it only takes me about 10-15 minutes to inflate them. BIG PITA. Big turn off for me with those vehicles. The Infinity QX7 and the Mercedes SUV are the same way.

Oh, and half the time while the tyre is sitting in the back of the vehicle it dismounts from the bead. So even with the air compressor you cannot inflate it. So, in all reality you don't HAVE a spare tyre...

Matblack · 17-01-2010, 16:15

Jeeps are out Darrin, they are just too thirsty for the UK, the QQ uses a thin emergency spare tyre so no waiting. I can see how massive increadably reliable engines are important in the US but in the UK where you aren't regularly more than a few miles from the nearest town they aren't such an issue

MB

Matblack · 17-01-2010, 16:47

Today we have been to see

Toyota Rav4 (also Urban Cruiser and Prius), Audi A3 and A4 and a brief visit to VW to see the Passat and Golf Estate.

First stop was Audi, I had an idea that the A3 might be suitable and to be honest size wise we could probably get away with it, I think people understimate the amount of stuff you need when you have a small child. A travel system like the Stokke Xplory which we like the look of will take up a lot of space even when collapsed, you then have changing bags and other stuff which needs to be included. If we are going to go to my parents 3/4 times a year for 3-7 days at a time we'll also need a lot of clothes and things for ourselves and we won't want to be packing as if we are going by air, we'll just want to chuck things in and go. This means we need a big boot and one we can pile relatively high rather than be fishing about for stuff which is 6ft away in a low boot space like a BMW 5 series for example. Anyway back to cars.

The A3 is lovely inside, very tutonic, plain and functional but good quality and solid, sitting in the front and then going to sit behind me there isn't much space for an adult, admitedly more than the MINI but not much, boot wise its OK, not amazing, boot space is high like any hatchback but not very deep and I can see putting the Xplory in it would be a faf, great for a weeks shop though. Switchgear is nice and weighy, materials are good. However even with the seat at its lowest I will have problems seeing traffic lights when I am first in a queue of traffic, if anything this was worse than in the MINI where I have to crane forward quite a lot. I also found the stearing wheel was too low for me and even at maximum adjustment, such are the perils of being tall. Coming from a 3 door I found that getting in and out I was knocking my sholder on the door frame, the doors in the MINI are very wide and this isn't an issue but here my seat was back past the pillar, I'd get used to it but it was quite obvious. Had a look at the A4 Avant, looks nice but too big for my liking.

VW pretty much the same which isn't suprising considering they are based on the same chassis. Nice places to be though, having sat in a Ford C-Max earlier in the week you can see a marked difference in quality between these German cars and the Ford.

Toyota we had a look at the Rav4 and I still like it, you get up into it and the upright seating position is more comfortable for me in a 4 door than the pseudo sporty feel of the A3 sportback where the pillar is in the way. If we went for one of these it would have to be secondhand and I would want it fully loaded to make up for the loss of speed. Probably second on my list at the moment. We had a sit in the Prius and you know what? Its quite nice, I have no idea how they drive but the car is a nice place to be admitedly its more like a spaceship than a car but its comfy. The boot however is high and shallow to accomodate the electrics, when there is less stuff to cart about I might consider one but for now its a no. Urban Cruiser despite looking like it should have more, has bugger all boot space so thats out, it was out already because of the tiny little engine but its a definate no now.

So as it was on the same estate we popped back to Nissan and had another look at the QQ. I still like it, the seating position is good, its a cross betwen upright and sporty and its comfortable for me. You step up into the cabin but your legs aren't as square as in a 4x4, the seat goes quite low so even I could get a reasonable view of traffic lights even when at the front of a queue of traffic. The boot is deep and high and the lip isn't too high which means that a good size travel system would fit and we would be able to pack to go away for a few days without having to spend all our time minimising packing or compressing things as much as possible. The more I look at this car the more I think it suits our future life style, I'm not in love with it, the inside is well put together but its a class below the MINI and two below the Audis and VWs but its not horrid like some of the cheaper Fords I sat in. They have a second hand 2.0 petrol with leather and all the extras coming in nest week and I'm going to drive it and see what I think, I drove the diesel before and it was OK but I am keen to try the petrol, will the limited miles I do petrol is probably a better option.

MB

15-01-2010, 21:10	#61
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	I am looking for a car and would LOVE a mini, your mini, but £12.5k is more than double my budget __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

15-01-2010, 21:23	#62
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	Then how about Belmit's? __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

15-01-2010, 22:30	#64
Piggymon Lara Croft Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: PigmoPad - Braintree Essex Posts: 8,604	How about a CRV? Jamie's sister has one... looks quite nice, nice inside and carries the kids and the dog around with no trouble __________________ BF% 28/08/08 - 21%

16-01-2010, 09:24	#65
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	I was going to make a suggestion of the SRT-8 Grand Cherokee, but I think the petrol cost would be the big killer... __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

17-01-2010, 06:07	#67
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Then there was something drastically wrong with it. Did it look somewhat like this : or did it look like this : If it was the first one, there was a horrific problem with the fuel management system. If it was the second one, it needed a tuneup. The green one I could get down to 4-6mpg if I tromped on it (5.2L V8), but the purple one I've never seen below 8mpg. And that was with my right foot about 1/2" away from the front bumper getting on the freeway (0-75mph in around 200 yards). Of course, if it was a Wrangler I'd have to say I didn't believe you. You'd have to drag another car on a tow dolly behind it and drive up the side of the cliffs of Dover to get one of them below 10mpg. Then again, none of them will reliably get better than 20mpg. Have you looked at the newer Cherokee (it's called the Liberty over here). 3.7L V-6. Bulletproof time tested 4WD system. Aftermarket support like no other. I know American vehicles aren't popular over there, but as much as I personally don't like the Liberty/Cherokee for personal reasons (IFS, so anti-Jeep ), I have to admit they're a hell of an SUV. Enough power to get out of its own way, Jeep Trail Rated offroad capability, and if you want some real world crash results I can have links in second for you. They're built like a tank. And at roughly 14K brand new... __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern". Last edited by Darrin; 17-01-2010 at 06:17.

17-01-2010, 06:26	#68
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Oh, and by the way. Something I'd like to point out about the CX-7/QQ. Take a look at their spare tyres some time. If you ever get a flat, hope you like sitting at the side of the dual carriageway for an hour or so waiting on the tiny little air pump inflating the stupid full size tire. They come purposely flat so they shrink around the wheel to save space. I've had to do a couple of them doing roadside assistance. Thankfully I have on board air in my Jeep so it only takes me about 10-15 minutes to inflate them. BIG PITA. Big turn off for me with those vehicles. The Infinity QX7 and the Mercedes SUV are the same way. Oh, and half the time while the tyre is sitting in the back of the vehicle it dismounts from the bead. So even with the air compressor you cannot inflate it. So, in all reality you don't HAVE a spare tyre... __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

17-01-2010, 16:15	#69
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Jeeps are out Darrin, they are just too thirsty for the UK, the QQ uses a thin emergency spare tyre so no waiting. I can see how massive increadably reliable engines are important in the US but in the UK where you aren't regularly more than a few miles from the nearest town they aren't such an issue MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

17-01-2010, 16:47	#70
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	Today we have been to see Toyota Rav4 (also Urban Cruiser and Prius), Audi A3 and A4 and a brief visit to VW to see the Passat and Golf Estate. First stop was Audi, I had an idea that the A3 might be suitable and to be honest size wise we could probably get away with it, I think people understimate the amount of stuff you need when you have a small child. A travel system like the Stokke Xplory which we like the look of will take up a lot of space even when collapsed, you then have changing bags and other stuff which needs to be included. If we are going to go to my parents 3/4 times a year for 3-7 days at a time we'll also need a lot of clothes and things for ourselves and we won't want to be packing as if we are going by air, we'll just want to chuck things in and go. This means we need a big boot and one we can pile relatively high rather than be fishing about for stuff which is 6ft away in a low boot space like a BMW 5 series for example. Anyway back to cars. The A3 is lovely inside, very tutonic, plain and functional but good quality and solid, sitting in the front and then going to sit behind me there isn't much space for an adult, admitedly more than the MINI but not much, boot wise its OK, not amazing, boot space is high like any hatchback but not very deep and I can see putting the Xplory in it would be a faf, great for a weeks shop though. Switchgear is nice and weighy, materials are good. However even with the seat at its lowest I will have problems seeing traffic lights when I am first in a queue of traffic, if anything this was worse than in the MINI where I have to crane forward quite a lot. I also found the stearing wheel was too low for me and even at maximum adjustment, such are the perils of being tall. Coming from a 3 door I found that getting in and out I was knocking my sholder on the door frame, the doors in the MINI are very wide and this isn't an issue but here my seat was back past the pillar, I'd get used to it but it was quite obvious. Had a look at the A4 Avant, looks nice but too big for my liking. VW pretty much the same which isn't suprising considering they are based on the same chassis. Nice places to be though, having sat in a Ford C-Max earlier in the week you can see a marked difference in quality between these German cars and the Ford. Toyota we had a look at the Rav4 and I still like it, you get up into it and the upright seating position is more comfortable for me in a 4 door than the pseudo sporty feel of the A3 sportback where the pillar is in the way. If we went for one of these it would have to be secondhand and I would want it fully loaded to make up for the loss of speed. Probably second on my list at the moment. We had a sit in the Prius and you know what? Its quite nice, I have no idea how they drive but the car is a nice place to be admitedly its more like a spaceship than a car but its comfy. The boot however is high and shallow to accomodate the electrics, when there is less stuff to cart about I might consider one but for now its a no. Urban Cruiser despite looking like it should have more, has bugger all boot space so thats out, it was out already because of the tiny little engine but its a definate no now. So as it was on the same estate we popped back to Nissan and had another look at the QQ. I still like it, the seating position is good, its a cross betwen upright and sporty and its comfortable for me. You step up into the cabin but your legs aren't as square as in a 4x4, the seat goes quite low so even I could get a reasonable view of traffic lights even when at the front of a queue of traffic. The boot is deep and high and the lip isn't too high which means that a good size travel system would fit and we would be able to pack to go away for a few days without having to spend all our time minimising packing or compressing things as much as possible. The more I look at this car the more I think it suits our future life style, I'm not in love with it, the inside is well put together but its a class below the MINI and two below the Audis and VWs but its not horrid like some of the cheaper Fords I sat in. They have a second hand 2.0 petrol with leather and all the extras coming in nest week and I'm going to drive it and see what I think, I drove the diesel before and it was OK but I am keen to try the petrol, will the limited miles I do petrol is probably a better option. MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"