I have mixed feelings on this car. I bought it new in March 2007 (new shape R56) with loads of options like the glass sun roof, pepper pack and bigger alloys. It looked fantastic in Pepper white with the black roof and stripes up the bonnet, a car to be really proud off!

I was very greatful that I bought this car new becuase for the first two years it lived in the BMW garage, what with the engine seizing, the front suspension breaking, the glass roof mechanism breaking... the list is endless. The BMW warranty was brilliant and I never paid for a thing, but I did find out that my car cost BMW in the first two years nearly £8,000 in new parts, not what you call a well made car!

In the Mini's defence though I was driving 20,000 miles a year which is why I bought a BMW, but maybe I raised my expectations to high. I do belive the car was a Friday built car becuase after two years the car was eventually sorted and was brilliant from then onwards, but the first two years always left me waiting for the next part to break.

I have now traded my Mini in for an Seat as I wanted cheaper servicing and running costs, but I will miss the way the Mini handled and drove becuase it was the bet on the market for cornering! It's a great car, my only advice would be never run it out of warrant and don't drive 78,000 miles in it in four years becuase it probably will go wrong. It's a good car but not as brilliantly well made as the dealers will tell you, it's no better than a VW but will make you smile a lot more.

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Mini Cooper

reviewed by bearmina on 24 February 2011