Just a dad looking to buy a car for his daughter

Just a Dad looking to buy a Car for his Daughter…

How difficult can it really be?

My daughter wanted a Mini vehicle…

there were so many I got confused…

so I did research…

this is what I found…

I started at www.mini.co.za

No wonder I was confused… these were all the mini models on the menu…

Mini Models

Hatch Clubman Convertible Coupe Roadster Countryman

PacemanJohn Cooper

Works Mini Design

I mean really… could she not have wanted a Toyota Tazz?

but I had to push through, I mean I am the Super Hero dad?

So I started comparing different BASE models, start at the bottom I thought and work my way through this mission

Hatch Clubman Convertible

Vs. Vs.

The first thing I noted… they are all manual, and she wants automatic…might as well get out of this screen but thought let me at least say what else I saw…

They were all 6 speed, with the same 90Kw of power at 6,000 RPM, with the same torque of 160 Nm @ 4,250 rpm, had the same tank size at 40 litres

The hatch had the fastest 0-100km/h at 9,1 seconds, the other two were at 9,8 seconds, not that I want her to test acceleration, but nippiness can help you out of trouble sometimes… Top speed was also slightly higher at 203 km/h, but this I definitely don’t want her to test… why do they still build cars that travel this speed, why, why, why?

The largest boot space was the Clubman at 260 litres and 930 litres, the latter I suppose mean that the seats can go down, nice when she travels with friends I suppose… oh shucks that means she will be sleeping out? Not sure I am ready for that…

How big is a litre?

Why do they do boot sizes like this?

She is not taking any litres of stuff with her I can tell you that

right now, unless its water!Hatch is the lightest on fuel and the greenest at 6,9l/100km urban (she will only drive close to home, I think,,,

Droptop.. Cool?

A bit too square?

Hatch the

winner?

So based on previous slide, and my view that hatch (baseline comparison) is winner… let’s compare against others…

Hatch Roadster Countryman

Very sexy Solid…

Same power and torque than hatch, but slightly slower of the mark and top speed

Interesting to note that the permitted load is only 290 kg…not that you will need more as this is a 2 seater… I think, as site did not specify

Fuel usage much higher at 8 l/100km.. Must be a drag issue on aerodynamics, which in my mind may make drive noisier as well, so if I phone her on car kit I may not hear her?... But then I may now be taking a bit too far…

Even slower of the mark at 10,5 seconds and top speed also slower at 190 km/h. Not that this bothers me, but I want nippiness if she needs to get out of harms way, not sure this will do it…

Even more thirsty at 8,3 l/100 km and by nature also CO2 killer at 152 g/km

Note: The site has a lot of fuel and CO2 data in brackets, I could find nowhere what that means, hence I ignored it…the bracket data however could influence fuel usage significantly as there was a rather large difference between the two data sets

Vs. Vs.

Hatch

Although I am only comparing base models its worthwhile showing the other Hatch models, don’t you think?

Cooper S HatchJohn Cooper Works

Hatch Cooper D Hyde Park

Cooper D Green Park

Power increases significantly to 135 kw at lower revs, and Torque to a solid 240 Nm from very low revs…

And acceleration to 7 second 0-100 km/h… mmm is that good for her…

Wow! Power now increases significantly to 155 kw at 6,000 rpm, and Torque to an even more solid 260 Nm from very low revs…

And acceleration now below 7 seconds (just) 0-100 km/h… mmm is that good for her…Tank 50 litres, which makes sense

as fuel efficiency decreases to 7,3 l/100 km and also CO2 emissions Even more thirsty at 9,7 l/100 km/h and

real green killer on CO2 standards

Mmm power drops to 82kw, top speed slightly down but fuel consumption very low at 4.2 l/100km… that is a nice feature, especially in todays economy…

And if she drives as much as she sends whatsapp messages this may just be an option (lol)

This model appeared on site, but most of the data said “undefined” so could not really compare

Crazy Power!!!

Enough Power!!!

Economy…

All of them still remain manual gearbox, that wont help in this case, so none of these will work for me…

Hatch John Cooper Works Paceman

This is all about pwer (155 Kw) and speed, with a 240 km/h top speed and 6,4 seconds 0-100 km/h

Also for light people, at 290 kg max load…oh yes and only two of them

Fuel guzzler at 9,7 l/100km amd CO2 emissions of 163 g/km

Tank capacity 50 litres

Tank capacity at 47 litres, such a weird number.. Must be something to do with the design I think

Larger than most at 4,1 meters long and 1,7 meters wide, with height at 1,5 meters, so I assume spacious inside

Heavier than Hatch by 180 kg

All of them still remain manual gearbox, that wont help in this case, so none of these will work for me…

Turns out that the John

Cooper Works is a type

of configuration in most

of the mini models,

mostly the difference is

more power…and none

automatic

Here I got bored and tired…

so I skipped all the steps I had in my mind and went straight to comparing all the

Automatic models…

as this was the most basic requirement she had…

No manual car dad please… whatever

So which models are Automatic?

Hatch Clubman Convertible Cooper Coupe Roadster

Countryman Paceman

Only the S ALL4…

6 Speed Auto with

Steptronic

Only the ALL4…

6 Speed Auto with

Steptronic

Damn I should have started at the Auto Gearbox point, would have saved me all this

comparisons…

and getting hungry now, don’t think this Diet I am on is keeping me full … I am digressing,

lets get back to the cars…

So it’s a shootout between these two…lets have a look then…

Countryman Paceman

Lo and behold… their specs are nearly identical!!!!

after all of this time

Description Countryman Paceman

Engine Specification Cooper S Cooper S

Transmissions 6 Speed Auto with Steptronic 6 Speed Auto with Steptronic

Output 135 Kw @ 5,500 rpm 135 Kw @ 5,500 rpm

Max Torque/Revs 240 Nm @ 1,600 – 5,000 rpm 240 Nm @ 1,600 – 5,000 rpm

Top Speed 205 km/h 207 km/h

Acceleration (0-100 km/h) 8,3 seconds 8,2s

Unladen Weight 1,480 kg 1,395 kg

Max Permissable Weight 1,915 kg 1,865 kg

Permitted Load 470 kg 470 kg

Boot Space (Min-Max) 350/450 – 1,170 liters 330 – 1,080 liters

Tank Capacity 47 litres 47 liters

Dimensions (LxBxH) 4,110/1,789/1,561 mm 4,115/1,786/1,552 mm

Fuel Consumption Combined 8,1 l/100 km 8,1 l/100 km

CO2 Emissions 189 g/km 189 g/km

In boring (but effective) table format…the bold red font indicates the differences….

Then price must be the selector?

So lets have a look what the advertised prices are on the Mini Site…

Oh no wait the site tells me I can have a look at specifics on the model…

I like the country man (Sounds more solid) so lets start

there…

Without boring details, everything seems to go around roominess and 4 seater that allows each occupant maximum comfort, oh and they say it corners well too, and power distribution is automatic to the right wheel at the right time

And we get to the price…

And this is where I got a bit frustrated with the mini site…

After all the comparisons thinking that only the Cooper S All 4 has Auto transmission, it turns out the Countryman Cooper, the Cooper S

and the All4 has auto transmission with steptronic GRRRRR!!!...

Wait, does that mean the other models may have as well…let me quickly

check..

2 Minutes later… revisiting the Hatch specs and looking at the pricelist page…

Hatch

Before

Hatch

After

Well the site gave me some weird sounding error on this page first

but turns out you do get an auto option

Recommended Retail Price

Cooper Cooper S

Cooper Manual R 296,000 R 361,000

Cooper Auto R 312,900 R 377,900

ANOTHER 2 Minutes later… revisiting the Clubman specs and looking at the pricelist page…

Before After

Yes also apparently you do get an auto option


Cooper Cooper S John Cooper Works

Cooper Manual R 361,000 R 361,000 R 361,000

Cooper Auto R 377,900 R 377,900 R 377,900

Clubman ClubmanNot sure this pricing correct on site as all the different variations cost the same…

And ANOTHER 2 Minutes later… revisiting the Convertible specs and looking at the pricelist page…

Before After

Again a Yes also apparently you do get an auto option




Cooper Auto R 337,900 R 406,900 R 465,900

Convertible Convertible

Yet ANOTHER 2 Minutes later… revisiting the Coupe specs and looking at the pricelist page…

Before After

Damn I wasted a lot of time…Yet again a Yes also apparently you do get an auto option




Cooper Auto R 321,900 R 382,900 R 439,900

Coupe Coupe

And ANOTHER 2 Minutes later… revisiting the Roadster specs and looking at the pricelist page…

Before After

Starting to hurt but Yes also apparently you do get an auto option




Cooper Auto R 355,900 R 417,900 R 472,900

Roadster Roadster

And now the Countryman…

Before After

Well I knew this one had Auto, I did not know across all the models




Cooper Auto R 348,400 R 407,400 R 498,900

Countryman Countryman

And for good measure the Paceman…

Before After

Well I ALSO knew this one had Auto, I ALSO did not know across all the models



Cooper Manual R NA R 390,500 R 482,000

Cooper Auto R NA R 407,400 R 498,900

Paceman Paceman

Strange no Cooper Version?

So what have I learned so far…

You will note that I used the word APPRENTLY in the past few slides, that’s because my recent vist to Mini Garage,

salesman told me that you don’t get Auto on some of the models????

That in all the models except one you get three versions, Cooper, Cooper S and Works…

The difference:

Cooper Spacks more punch (135kw+)

Works packs a hell of a punch (155kw+)

And my daughter told me she wants MINI CONNECTIVITY, so I had a look..

There is a Bluetooth Option… It’s a handsfree Car Kit (Must have for her that is on the phone all the time) and you can play your music through this as well, sounds Kewl - Dads may use the cool word

may we not

And a USB Interface…

Must this maybe be “an”

Via the MINI USB interface a broad range of devices can be supported.

Depending on the equipment of the car even videos can be displayed on the central display.

WOW!!!

It is worthwhile to note…MINI Connected can be specified as an option for all MINI models – and Mini sayus that it opens the door to a unique form of in-car entertainment, using new technology specially developed for the MINI to integrate the entertainment and online functions of the iPhone into the car

This may be a bit of an issue…

will have to check…

as my daughter has an Android device

And there is an App as well…

that is Super Kewl

I am still confused however…

In the dealership I saw that there are Mini’s with more modern styling and electronics inside the vehicle…

I also saw things such as Heads Up display,Parking Assistance, Rear and Front Cameras and all kinds of safety features, none which I found on the site…

It seems I will have to go get more info from dealership…

But I think I will get her the Countryman…

What do YOU think?

Automotive

Just a dad looking to buy a car for his daughter