[mgarvey]

As I posted a while back, my childcare costs have gone sky-high since my inlaws retired and my free childcare has been replaced by expensive third party nursery fees.

So, the E93 unfortunately has to go, and after looking at a number of options I decided to get a Mini Cooper D, which I reckon should save me something like £400 per month taking into account finance, fuel, tax, servicing, insurance and tyres.

The Mini dealer (Wood Mini, where I got my E93) were great. They let me take out a Cooper D back-to-back with a petrol Cooper - basically handing me the keys and saying 'bring it back in a couple of hours'. They also offered me book price for my car, which isn't bad in the current climate, and I got £400 off the Mini and free bonnet stripes (worth about another £80).

The only amusing thing is that they claim they'll have to replace my 4 brand new tyres with OEM runflats - what a waste!

The spec of my Mini is:

Brand new Cooper D
Pepper white with black roof and stripes
16" alloys (much better ride than the 17" wheels a lot of Minis seem to have)
Chilli pack (part leather sports seats, lighting, climate, storage etc)
Chromeline interior and exterior
Piano black trim
Multi-function wheel
Bluetooth and USB
Visibility pack (heated screens etc)
Auto wipers and lights
White indicator lenses
TLC servicing

Running costs should be low, with £35 tax and claimed 72mpg combined economy.

I will, of course, continue to frequent this forum, and I suspect I'll end up back in a 3-series again at some point, possibly when the replacement for the E9x comes out

[Dr Dave]

I'll buy the non RFT's off you/them when they come off!

[peterg1965]

We did a similar thing, the wife loves her Mini Cooper and it is cheap to run.

[prt71]

I loved our mini, but the lack of boot space can get irritating and you'd only put people in the back if you didn't like them.

[mgarvey]

Originally Posted by prt71

I loved our mini, but the lack of boot space can get irritating and you'd only put people in the back if you didn't like them.

That would be my only criticism of the Mini. As it stands I rarely carry more than my laptop bag and a coat (we have a Renault Scenic as our main family car). Time will tell though.

[mgarvey]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

I'll buy the non RFT's off you/them when they come off!

I'll see if they let me have them without affecting the trade-in value - not that they'd fit on yours if your sig pic is your actual car (mine are 19" wheels) - but I could get a fair price on ebay for them probably.

If they've got any sense they'll either give the new buyer the option (most people who actually know E9x's will jump at the idea of getting non-RFT's and a spare without having to fork out for them), or ebay them.

[mgarvey]

Well, the E93 has gone!

Got a call from the Mini dealers today basically offering me the use of a new Cooper S, fuelled and insured by the dealer, if I hand my E93 in early (i.e. before they've sorted out the new car). Seems they have a buyer for my E93 already!

So, as I was expecting to change my car in the next few days anyway I've let them do it. The S is great, but if I'm honest a little manic to drive, with a ride that makes my M-Sport seem forgiving and mental throttle response that makes the car feel like it is on steriods.

Methinks my choice of a Cooper D with 16" wheels was probably spot on, as my own car (when it arrives) should be a touch less mental but still great fun.

Damn I'm gonna miss my 3-series though

[jvowles]

Other half has a cooper S -coming from a civic type r, and she loves it! Much much better MPG, more fun to drive, great car.

[WingZeroX5]

y didn't u get the e90 instead?

[BLU_GTR]

Still a great car

[mgarvey]

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

y didn't u get the e90 instead?

If I'm honest, I've had two E9x's in a row and I fancied a change - going from a 325i to a 318d or similar would probably feel like a real let-down, whereas the Mini is very different, good fun and probably marginally cheaper.

I've taken delivery of the Dooper now and I was right, I do prefer it to the S, it is more comfortable, a bit less manic yet still great fun.

I enjoyed my week with the S, including a little bit of fun with an E46 M3 where he blasted away from traffic lights expecting to leave me for dead, and the S very nearly kept up with him.

The wife took loads of pics today so when she uploads them I'll start a thread on the new car.