I don't know about that vintage but the newer turbo versions have reliability issues with the (Peugeot?) engines, I know 3 people who have had pretty bad failures on low mileage 'looked after' cars.

 

I thought the newer engines were BMW units?

 

Its a press darling init?



I've never liked 'em, inside or out

 

I drove a 2002 Cooper for a couple of years with no bothers whatsoever, not a bad car really. It had the smaller 16 inch wheels with quite a big sidewall on the tyres and it was comfortable enough. The larger wheels look ok, but with the runflats it makes for a horrible ride.

 

It's a Valvetronic head on an ally block that shares its bore/stroke with the old PSA blocks as it's made in France. The marketing wonks don't mention that bit. PSA use it in their cars too.

Turns out the timing chain est fabriqué au chocolat. Encore...

I've never quite understood the antipathy for timing belts - they're far cheaper & easier to replace and make just as big a mess when they break.

Anyway Liepedia has some PHACTS:

French Prince de belle Douvrin

 

estate agents car

 

I ran a 57 plate Cooper Clubman 1.6 petrol (ought to have been a diesel but that's another story...) for three years and 85K miles.

It had 'lots' of options, amongst which were the 17" wheels and run-flat tyres. Even though my driving was mainly motorway and A-road it consumed tyres at a prodigious rate.

The rear anti-roll bar mounts failed at 40K miles. The MMI joystick failed too.

Overall, it was a reasonably inexpensive car to run with the TLC XL (£500 service pack for five years).

My wife had a 57 Cooper and in two years, but thankfully under warranty, the ABS unit failed.

New and under warranty I'd suggest they're OK for what they are, but out of manufacturer warranty I would stay clear.

I wouldn't have another one.

 

Didn't that Clubfoot cost (what at the time) seemed like a colossal amount to purchase?

 

I've often wondered if that would be the case.

They run a lot of camber as standard (2 degrees on the front if the internet is telling the truth), which presumably gives the "go-kart handling" Troy and his mates are always on about.

 

The MINI Cooper is a bitch. And I spanked it.