Absolute bang on abt the cooper having the right power. I went from a r50 to an r53 thinking it would be more enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong the r53 was an absolute rocket but it was simply too fast to enjoy on the road within the speed limit. Plus as I found out, a 20yo performance car costs an arm and leg to maintain (2k in repairs over 1.5years ☠️). Superchargers sound incredible, but the throttle response on a NA is unmatched

Bought one of these myself: 2006 Cooper. Pretty much identical to what you're driving here spec wise. 91k miles, new clutch at 80k miles and full service history. In the first 3 months: - Tracking went out quite badly. Common in these cars as the suspension is stiff and the large wheels means that the tyres don't take a lot of the impact. So go over a nasty pothole or heaven forbid kerb it (if you're a new driver like me), expect to pay around £50-£75 for a full allignment (Any more and you're being scammed.) - Lambda sensor failed. Roughly £100 for a NGK replacement fitted. Likely more elsewhere as my mechanic is quite inexpensive. - Classic R50 oil leak, unsure where as I haven't had it looked at yet. But it's most likely an oil seal which is the most common cause on these, probably another £100-£150 to get fixed. Overall, I'm about £1600 in, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I love my mini. But take this as a warning if you buy them. they can get expensive quick. Always look at it (either yourself or take someone who knows what they're talking about with you) and look after it. It'll treat you right.

Cheeky sod, I am 41 and just bought a Cooper S R53 and love it. Admittedly she is now in a garage due to coolant leak and oil leak. Plus my steering pump also needs fixing because leak 😂😂. Love the car regardless.

I've a 2006 R50 mini Park Lane and it's got cruise control. Loved the vlog and thanks for sharing buddy!

I have an 04' Cooper S pre facelift, which actually has some face lift parts as its the end of the pre facelift production. As far as interior extras it does have cruise control and multi function steering buttons, automatic climate control and some optional jcw carbon bits. Nice video!

I love this review mate, no bullshit and straight to the point. Honest and genuine. Nice one. Well done

Informative video thank you. Came here hoping for information on common faults and you covered it well!

Best series of videos, never knew I'd be so interested in knowing about cars lol

Hi dude, I can confirm that a cooper from 2004 can have cruise control - I have one myself. BTW very balanced review. Thumbs up.

I'm addicted to your videos now hahaha. lovely review mate.

I have r50 mini cooper 53 plate, my first car. I've had it for a month now and love it!

Great video, some of them actually were fitted with cruise control in this era

I have an amazing 2002 yellow Mini Cooper with black as the secondary colour. And 9:18 my clock is just above the interior mirror!!! :D Great video!!

Thanks for the video mate. Very useful.

You do a great job mate.

You should do a Golf volkswagen review I really want to see that. Your videos and reviews are top tier btw!

Yes, definitely cruise control was an option (my 2002 Mini Cooper has it). You say there is no clock. It should have one on the roof just above the mirror. However, great review and I agree the Cooper is the best! The power just seems in keeping with the car. My partner has a later Mini Cooper S but I prefer the plain Cooper. Reminds me of my first car which was a 1962 Mini. You are absolutely right as regards value for money. Mine was £2000 plus a few hundred for post-purchase service and fixes but 7000 miles later nothing has failed. A new electric Mini is £28,500-plus. Is it 14 times better than my Cooper? No way!

I really love the steering feeling in mini cars. I driving actually my mini r56 cooper d 112hp 2007 model. When people say is feels as gokart, it's because the steering is responsive as gokart. Like it goes right where you want to go with not any delays or hesitation. feels like the car is really light weight and it's because the drive trains is right in the corners on the car. All the way forward and all way back.

I have just bought a 2001 Model, my 5th Mini. Love these cars (but only 1st Gens)

Love this series of videos :D

You remind me of Jonny Lee Miller for some reason. Good video!

I love the idea of a 'communicative' bite point

Very nice review. Keep it up....

They do fit cruise control to the r50 mini my 2003 r50 cooper built Jan 03 has cruise control with buttons on the steering wheel to activate/deactivate, raise/lower speed

Cracking design that looks better every time they issue a new model

I also have a R50 and it has cruise control and heated seats and I found the road noise quiet compared to cars from its years

Love your personality mate

I may be buying my first car this Saturday from Londonish area. It's a Mini Cooper 2005 1.6 - great on insurance for my age at 21... It's £173 a month with £22 tax a month. I know people hate the mini for the fact that they have a lot of issues but when I sat in a mini from 2007 (so slightly different of course) I fell in love and knew I wanted a mini as a first time car. It's got a whole years MOT... only thing we're worried about and will have a look at is it's the first time on this MOT it's mentioned anything about underside corrosion. If it's surface rust, it's fixable to an extent with continuous maintenance - sand it back, use some rust stuff (boyfriend knows how to fix and repair car parts so he'll know more than me), undercoat it and keep an eye on it. The other two things it has is worn/pitted break pads but we can fix them for £40. £17 for the front and £23ish for the rear. We can jack the jar, take the wheels off ourself and do it at home as we have all the tools. But if needs be we do have someone who works at the garage so can help us with that for less money. The mini I'm possibly getting does have dirty rear seats as well, not that I'd actually have anyone in the back - I'd most likely keep the seats down all the time but we do have a close friend that does car valeting so can use a wet-dry washer for free which is nice!

From Kentucky USA: My R50 from 03 has cruise control. But sadly it has the rover gearbox. So I’m going to now have to change that up. But I love my mini like nothing else

The oil leaks aren’t even that bad, at least on my own 2004 facelift R50. It’s like any car if you look after it and maintain it you won’t have these problems

Thanks for sharing it

Nice work... Keep going 👍

Yep oil leaks are an issue, also the clutch is a huge job to change so make sure its good.

Hi Richard, my favourite car is The Mini but unfortunately I can't afford a new one in India, and an old one would be more headache as they have no service center perhaps to my nearest place. However I love it. Very expensive here. You can convert your 2000 British Pounds to INR for a 2001 car in 2020 easily.

I am looking into buying a mini one but you just pointed out a few things for me like pricing I noticed the car I wanted was quoted as 3,600 GBP yet you stated you got yours for 1500 plus 500 so about 2k, so guess I will have to shop around, great video anyhow was looking also to find one with cruise control and hopefully fit a sat nav and a phone USB socket for my note 10+

really your vedios are useful

This car has the twin dial option that most R50's don't come with as standard.

Another great review Richard! Do you buy and sell cars?

Great video thank you. I'm 39 and only just passed my test last week (lived in central London all my life so never thought it was viable enough to drive) and have had my eye on these minis for a long time. I think it might be worth paying that bit extra and buying a third generation mini, so one from 2012 onwards? I've heard they have far less issues...?

Good vid but the whole point of the positive displacement supercharger is that the throttle response is instant the cooper s (R56) would be a good choice if you could afford it and if you like the r50 but want something a bit quicker complete agree with the choice of generation :)

I loved the video however there is one thing I have to disagree with you on--I have an 06 Cooper and granted I'm in the states so the seats may be different however I'm about 250 lbs (113 kilos) 6 foot 3 inches (1.9 meters) and I fit the seats very well. Its a great car; driving is super fun and much better than the Volvo XC70 I was daily driving before it

They don't leak if you maintain them properly. My engine is completely dry and the car has 150K miles on it.

I repair these minis on the side this summer i will of completed a early example of of a mini r50 it is a September 2001 my parklane has all the options including sunroof cruise control cronos pack same as this car clock is on the right dial if it is a pre face-lift it will be on the roof 😉

How do you switch those extra lights that are by the grill, on? Where is the switch?

have a 2006, owned for 10 year. no noticeable leaks

I've got an 06 mini one convertible and I have to agree if you have no music on you can hear every single sound from road bumps to creaks from the car.

This is my first car

Mini has more grip, power and better brakes than most small cars by a long way. Wheel size is important 16 are the best. This car must have seized brakes if they don't work.

My instructor is not very good at explaining. I wish I had someone like you, the process would have been much better to understand.

i have an r50 2005 facelift like yours and have cruise control

I have an 04’ One pre facelift, and it’s fitted with cruise control. But, the cruise control only works in 3rd or 4th gear….

My 2005 Mini's Getrag Gs5 is currently in bits in the garage after it ate its bearings and reverse gear idler. Give the Midlands box any day

Is this car a good car for someone who just passed their test? I had a try in my friends Mini Cooper 2004 and couldn’t get the biting point worked out coz of the heavy clutch

at 7:25 you said this is a mid 2006 Mini. But at the beginning of the video you said it's a 2001. So which one is it now?

It’s looks still look modern

Mine is 2005 and it does have a cruise control but it does not have a rain sensor and i dont know wich gen is im so confused with the generation of my mini i just bought it and dont know any thing about it but i love the car it rides nice and strong could you give me a hint of what gen is mine is it r50 2 gen or first gen damn i dont k ow nothing

My girlfriend is learning to drive currently, and I am bloody tempted to get her one of these or even a One. But the reliability and maintenance foibles are off putting, the tritec engine is strong but everything else is abit flaky. I'm already trying to run my 2006 320d on a shoestring budget. So it looks like a C1 or 107 is more realistic.

👍

Mini Cooper was my dream car, before I got my current one (Kia)

Pre facelift Cooper S has the good gearbox to.

Hey Richard, can I invite you to Cyprus so you can give me some lessons and help me buy a car? I’ve learned a lot with your videos, keep up the good work. :)

How many miles on your car?

I'm new here, Are you a driving instructor or a trader?

Do you think the rover transmission is bad enough to not buy an otherwise good car

I'm 5 seconds in, and that is not a 2001 cooper. That's a 2005, and it's the facelift one. The back lights, chrome trim in the bumpers, and it has the 2003 cabriolet (bullet) 17" wheels on it.. I look forward to the rest of the video ..

Audi a2 as a small premium car of the same era?

Mine has cruise control 05 mini cooper

Learning to drive in a very similar car. The seats are the worst part of the interior!

How tall are you ?

MPG? No, Gallons of oil to mile:) Tried to buy one but put off by the famed oil leaks.

It’s Handles excellent it hugs every curb it’s pretty peppy not that year I’ve never driven one I don’t care I like minis although I only like the two door hatchback

I disagree, the interior panels are some of the cheapest, flimsy, junk I have ever felt. Does look nice though.

my 2002 USA Mini R50 has cruise control, CVT auto...and climate control..and...sun roof leaks..

That’s quite obviously a post facelift 2006 model and not a 2001 as stated 🤦🏻‍♂️

i dont think this is a 2001 mini , its a 2006 mini cooper

Have a dislike of these Richard as a motor trader it’s a risk to far. Who wants consumer comeback law selling old British loveable but flawed mechanically car

Why do you have to be a certain age to drive a certain car? I once saw a white haired old couple in shades driving a Smart ForTwo both grinning from ear to ear. Hope I'm like them at their age.

I had the old mini 6 of then never liked the bmw model then my mates daughter got a mini one r53 got a shot of it what fun just like old one want an r5o cooper now 😊

I also have a R50 and it has cruise control and heated seats and I found the road noise quiet compared to cars from its years