Car shopping weekend with the Mrs....

DannyW · 18 May 2017 at 20:58

Hi guys I did make a previous thread about a car for my mrs. 2012 or newer for around £12k, <50k miles, well specced (nav, xenons etc),

We narrowed it down to these between us

1 series - Does this engine have any knows issues such as timing chain?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705035060166
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705145432208

Mini Cooper S - Heard they have timing chain issues
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201610229031415
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705185566272

E92 - Should this N/A engine be realiable?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705145444585
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705095253558

Leon FR TSI - seems like sensible option (newest car with the latest teck)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705135408424

[TW]Fox · 18 May 2017 at 21:10

DannyW said:
Mini Cooper S - Heard they have timing chain issues
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201610229031415
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201705185566272

These two are completely different cars, the first one is a very cheap example of the current model the second is the previous model. They might look similar but are very different.

xs2man · 18 May 2017 at 21:13

Cooper S will be the fastest out the lot. Well it has the better engine / more power. But my eyes hurt when I see them. Some people find them "quirky", I find the revolting personally.

Out the list, I'd pick the Leon. Nice looking motor that.

DannyW · 18 May 2017 at 21:16

[TW]Fox said:
These two are completely different cars, the first one is a very cheap example of the current model the second is the previous model. They might look similar but are very different.

Wow yeh they are, Tbh I know nothing about mini's - Only thing I know is it's easier to find a well specced mini then it is to mind a well specced 1 series petrol.

Ryan-3 · 18 May 2017 at 22:25

Depends what year the MINI is. The ones with the N14 (pre 2010) are worse for the coking issue and timing chain issues. Later cars with an N18 are less prone to these issues, although will suffer from coking issues, but that's the nature of direct injection.

Jamesyboyjim · 19 May 2017 at 10:53

I'd have the Leon all day

more than enough power and enough gadgets. Nice cars to drive too

I am a bit of a SEAT fan though and am eyeing up the new Ibiza.

LiE · 19 May 2017 at 10:59

The 1.4 on the Leon is surprising frugal, I've managed 50mpg on a mixed commute.

West · 19 May 2017 at 11:09

The R56 is the 13 plate and the F56 is the 14 plate.

as Fox said, 2 very different cars, the F56 is the pokier of the 2 but as you rightly say, the R56 has timing chain issues. Google the R56 'Death Rattle'

Housey · 19 May 2017 at 11:21

When I see Death Rattle, it takes me back to the early days of BM3W when we all started getting our E46 M3's and then a few started going bang, usually with a death rattle

div0 · 19 May 2017 at 11:31

LiE said:
The 1.4 on the Leon is surprising frugal, I've managed 50mpg on a mixed commute.

I recently bought the Seat Leon ST (estate) 1.4 TSI and get anywhere between 45-50 MPG on my commute without too much effort.

Would definitely recommend it in this price range.

Psycho Sonny · 19 May 2017 at 12:21

Newer Mini Cooper S. Make sure it has extended TLC package, etc. Also try and take out an official warranty if it's possible. As it's a small car everything is crammed into the engine bay. So if a certain item needs fixing they need to remove half the other parts to get to the part that is broken which means higher than usual labour fees for even the simplest of jobs.

Jamesyboyjim · 19 May 2017 at 13:57

Psycho Sonny said:
Newer Mini Cooper S. Make sure it has extended TLC package, etc. Also try and take out an official warranty if it's possible. As it's a small car everything is crammed into the engine bay. So if a certain item needs fixing they need to remove half the other parts to get to the part that is broken which means higher than usual labour fees for even the simplest of jobs.

Yes I've heard nothing good about working on newer mini's!

Meatball · 19 May 2017 at 17:30

West said:
The R56 is the 13 plate and the F56 is the 14 plate.

as Fox said, 2 very different cars, the F56 is the pokier of the 2 but as you rightly say, the R56 has timing chain issues. Google the R56 'Death Rattle'

Also the R56 Cooper S engine WILL need frequent oil top-ups, the engine burns through the stuff from experience. It's another thing to bare in mind with the engine!

I'm not sure whether this is still the case with the new engines in the F56.

johnny6 · 19 May 2017 at 22:17

My wife had an R56 works brilliant chuckable car with unforgivable engine issues

DannyW · 19 May 2017 at 22:37

Mini deffo off the list

Cheers guys

[TW]Fox · 19 May 2017 at 23:45

DannyW said:
Mini deffo off the list

Cheers guys

They are all on about the old model which would be silly for this budget anyway.

The current mini shares engines with the 1 Series.

DannyW · 20 May 2017 at 11:29

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702082108282

Fully specced and under budget seems like a great deal

nas · 20 May 2017 at 11:58

Mini's are nice to look at and drive but another thing to live with, especially considering things like boot space, and the harsh ride (test drive one). I'd pick the latest gen mini over the e92 which seem to be getting on now although it doesn't look it.

Warranty should really cover any major issues.

[TW]Fox · 20 May 2017 at 12:55

DannyW said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702082108282

Fully specced and under budget seems like a great deal

It's not fully specced, why do people always say this? It's got everything you need but it's miles from 'fully specced'.

Colour combo is fairly horrid mind.

DannyW · 20 May 2017 at 12:59

We like the colour combo it's still a decent spec I think it's missing heated seats but it's got xenons and satnav cruise etc all the things she wants

[TW]Fox said:
It's not fully specced, why do people always say this? It's got everything you need but it's miles from 'fully specced'.

Colour combo is fairly horrid mind.