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Sporty little car

I recently got a Cooper S Clubman. There's more room in the back than in the hatchback. It's very quick, 175bhp in mine, being light it's a bit of a rocket in Sport mode. I'm seriously looking at getting another.
I'm pondering a mini but will probably get a higher mileage one, I doubt I'll be doing driving but it would be nice if it was responsive.
 
I'm pondering a mini but will probably get a higher mileage one, I doubt I'll be doing driving but it would be nice if it was responsive.
I'm told that the Cooper hatch is as good as the Cooper S in most respects. I'm also told to not use the run-flats. According to my multi mini owner friends the Cooper on "ordinary" tyres gives the best ride/performance combination.

If you get one, and it has spotlights, can you tell me where the switch is for them? I can't find it on mine.
 
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I'm told that the Cooper hatch is as good as the Cooper S in most respects. I'm also told to not use the run-flats. According to my multi mini owner friends the Cooper on "ordinary" tyres gives the best ride/performance combination.

If you get one, and it has spotlights, can you tell me where the switch is for them? I can't find it on mine.
To be fair, I don't think run flats are any good on any car and I wouldn't touch them. The problem then becomes do you buy a spare wheel/tyre for your car or perhaps a space saver. ? A full wheel/tyre just take up so much space. A lesson learnt here when I got a puncture over a bank holiday and I didn't have a spare.
 
I'm told that the Cooper hatch is as good as the Cooper S in most respects. I'm also told to not use the run-flats. According to my multi mini owner friends the Cooper on "ordinary" tyres gives the best ride/performance combination.

If you get one, and it has spotlights, can you tell me where the switch is for them? I can't find it on mine.

run flat on my old cooper s where hard as nails ride wise, first time I hit a speed bump thought I'd broken the car as well as my head off the roof
 
I recently got a Cooper S Clubman. There's more room in the back than in the hatchback. It's very quick, 175bhp in mine, being light it's a bit of a rocket in Sport mode. I'm seriously looking at getting another
This has been bothering me for a while. I know it's each to his own and I know Des likes his mini's, but are they really a sporty little car?
They are just too upright and too angular me thinks.



images
 
This has been bothering me for a while. I know it's each to his own and I know Des likes his mini's, but are they really a sporty little car?
They are just too upright and too angular me thinks.



images

They can be nippy, maybe that's the qualification. But no, they don't look sporty.
 
This has been bothering me for a while. I know it's each to his own and I know Des likes his mini's, but are they really a sporty little car?
They are just too upright and too angular me thinks.



images


the r53 ie first gen bmw was




Mini+Cooper+S+Rear+Three+Quarters+Parked+on+Village+Street







newer bmw minis are not to big :p
 
This has been bothering me for a while. I know it's each to his own and I know Des likes his mini's, but are they really a sporty little car?
They are just too upright and too angular me thinks.



images

They can be nippy, maybe that's the qualification. But no, they don't look sporty.

The thing with the Mini is that the smallest is the 3 door hatch, then the 5 door hatch, the 5 door Clubman, the Paceman and the Countryman.

The three door hatch, Cooper S JCW edition is very quick. And, IMO, is a ver sporty looking small car.

b_4107.jpgA Cooper S JCWScreenshot_20221113-155419_Outlook.jpg
My Clubman Cooper S
 
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Im really tempted to get a cheaper Lexus IS200 petrol (rear wheel drive with the straight 6 2.0L engine) and do some work myself on it to get it aight. Maybe not welding though so cant be rusty. I wouldnt be able to spend over £2k and preferably less. It wouldnt be my daily driver for now.

Saw one on gumtree from a trader with poor bodywork and the wrong colour bumper and auto transmission for a mere £1250. But I want a manual one really.... am I crazy? :D
 
Im really tempted to get a cheaper Lexus IS200 petrol (rear wheel drive with the straight 6 2.0L engine) and do some work myself on it to get it aight. Maybe not welding though so cant be rusty. I wouldnt be able to spend over £2k and preferably less. It wouldnt be my daily driver for now.

Saw one on gumtree from a trader with poor bodywork and the wrong colour bumper and auto transmission for a mere £1250. But I want a manual one really.... am I crazy? :D

A first gen IS200 is going to have endured 20-25 UK winters so a clean one at that price probably doesn't exist or, if it does, it has many co-morbid issues.

You'd get better value by experiencing the heady rush of adrenaline that comes with buying online at a Japanese auction. Clean-ish 2.0 manual Altezzas (as they are called in Japan) are plentiful there due to lack of road salt.
 
A first gen IS200 is going to have endured 20-25 UK winters so a clean one at that price probably doesn't exist or, if it does, it has many co-morbid issues.

You'd get better value by experiencing the heady rush of adrenaline that comes with buying online at a Japanese auction. Clean-ish 2.0 manual Altezzas (as they are called in Japan) are plentiful there due to lack of road salt.

Yeah rust is the real killer. I wouldnt buy a car I havent seen and driven so tbh a Jap auction is out. I might just have to pay for welding....


What do you think? Not too far from me. 2 grand, manual, 2005. Looks sick.
 
Yeah rust is the real killer. I wouldnt buy a car I havent seen and driven so tbh a Jap auction is out. I might just have to pay for welding....


What do you think? Not too far from me. 2 grand, manual, 2005. Looks sick.

Looks straight but non-OEM wheels are a bit of an alarm bell and this text from the seller has the whiff of deception about it "selling now as I want a change".
 
Getting back on track to sporty little cars, here is a little pocket rocket, The Honda CRX especially the SIR. I had a chance of buying one of these about 8 years ago
but did not have any pennies at the time. Quite a rare collectors thing now. I imagine they might be quite cramped inside, but hey.

images
images
 
So the two grand MX5 shuffled off this mortal coil. But Mr A319 was so enamoured he sold his hot hatch and brought this 49.000 mile example for £5k. Of course, it brings his insurance down to have his dad as a named driver….

IMG_9157.jpegIMG_9159.jpeg
 
I got rid of the Clubby. It had electronics issues, the front subframe was rust, rear lights stopped working properly, one door wouldn't open. They have a reputation for unreliability.

Great fun to drive, but otherwise a piece of shit.
 
This was a car that crossed my radar when shopping around, a plain hoesnt little sports car.
31 years old and just 8000 miles on the clock! I imagine fun to drive despite the lack of performance.
1694163183740.png
 
My brother-in-law has just had to sell his beloved SLK 350 due to having to get a sensible car as his daughter is having a baby.

Awful lot of performance there in a tiny little convertible and not that expensive either.

Had me looking at SLK 55s briefly just for the over the top lolz. :D


Those Elans never did much for me really, although they don't look bad these days when you occasionally see one. Got better with age for sure. :)
 
My brother-in-law has just had to sell his beloved SLK 350 due to having to get a sensible car as his daughter is having a baby.

Awful lot of performance there in a tiny little convertible and not that expensive either.

Had me looking at SLK 55s briefly just for the over the top lolz. :D


Those Elans never did much for me really, although they don't look bad these days when you occasionally see one. Got better with age for sure. :)

I've got an R230 SL55 AMG that I am NEVER going to sell. It's fantastic. I got it dirt cheap from the Merc dealer who took it as a trade in and then transmission failed so it was permanently locked in reverse. They couldn't be bothered with it and sold it to me for crack money. I took it on because it had really good body and interior. It took me over a year to put it right but now everything works. The infamous 'ABC' pump went on mine and a new one was over 2 grand! Still worth it for the 500hp roof down experience though.
 
This was a car that crossed my radar when shopping around, a plain hoesnt little sports car.
31 years old and just 8000 miles on the clock! I imagine fun to drive despite the lack of performance.
View attachment 390672
It’ll get three miles down the road then the electrics will fail, if my mates example was anything to go by.
 
During my recent car hunt I was tempted by 1.8 Civics which are quite small and even a Boxter for 4k .. ended up with a sensible 16 valve 1.25 Zetec Fiesta which makes a great noise even if it isn't exactly powerful. :)
 
Im going to sell my 2004 Corolla and get a 2005 Lexus IS200 next month (automatic as the manuals are all expensive and have been thrashed). I can't wait!! Never had an auto before nor cruise control... been thinking about it for ages and decided I'm just going to go for it! Quality banger here we come.

First gen one - RWD, 2.0 litre with a straight 6 and 153HP. No racecar but definitely a step up from a 1.4 Corolla :D
 
Im going to sell my 2004 Corolla and get a 2005 Lexus IS200 next month (automatic as the manuals are all expensive and have been thrashed). I can't wait!! Never had an auto before nor cruise control... been thinking about it for ages and decided I'm just going to go for it! Quality banger here we come.

First gen one - RWD, 2.0 litre with a straight 6 and 153HP. No racecar but definitely a step up from a 1.4 Corolla :D
Im guessing the Corolla isn’t automatic? We’re looking for a first time car, which is automatic for Ames
 
Im guessing the Corolla isn’t automatic? We’re looking for a first time car, which is automatic for Ames

Sadly it's a manual but have a look on Autotrader or fb marketplace for autos as they are rock solid! And probably a good sub-3k option, comfortable safe and easy to drive.
 
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