written by 249Mahoney on 23/03/2014
The Mini One is a Mini Cooper without the Cooper. What I mean is that it's solid & fun to drive, but the One cost less, is more fuel efficient and, yes, has less power than the Cooper. The only time I wish it had the Cooper's power is when we're four in the car and climbing on a long mountain road on a hot day with the AC going. Other than that my One zips around slow-pokes and does it in comfort. I've had absolutely no problems with her.
written by glynisnolan on 24/08/2012
I took delivery of my convertible a few weeks ago I absolutely love it ,its fast ,smooth and dose everything you ask it to do.Not much room in the back but who cares you dont buy a convertible to carry passengers ,Im the envy of all my neighbours,iam in my sixtys and ive never had so much fun .Its the best small car ive ever owned ,well done BMW .
written by on 16/07/2010
Such a nice car, Ive had one now for 3months no problems as of yet, touch wood none to come! Picks up really well, nice smooth drive and looks fab! I would reccomend this car 100% I love them!
written by on 31/10/2008
I love the Mini One, I currently have a Mini One as its lower on insurance. They are great little cars with a powerful engine and not to bad fuel consumpsion.
written by on 28/07/2008
Have owned one for 2 years now, not a thing wrong with it that i didnt cause! Brilliant little car, dont think i would consider changing it, except for maybe a faster one!
written by xxjem114xx on 16/10/2007
I've had my Mini One just over 2 months now. It's a good little car, lovely drive and very nice looking. At first I thought it was the best thing, but it's a good job I bought the warranty as being only 18, I cannot afford to pay for things that go wrong with it like they have! In 3 weeks my power steering pump had gone and then this weekend my clutch went! What's next?
written by cerysevans on 12/09/2007
Brilliant little car thats real fun - but definitely not practical! - the boot is tiny and my sons car seat had difficulty fitting in the back due to the shape of the seats. However I would definitely recommend a mini to anyone.
written by marshplumuk on 17/01/2007
The worst most unreliable car I've had, It always seems that everything is not covered by the warranty unless you argue your case and spares are expensive. Brake pads about £90 a set for all wheels.
I would never buy another BMW car ever.
written by mar1ab on 14/10/2006
I previously had a new Cooper S in 2003. I sold it 9 months later as I was given a company car, and I have been hankering after another Mini ever since. Roll on 2006 - still have a company car, but have given my daughter the old Fiesta, and I now have the opportunity to have Henry Jnr. (Cooper S was original Henry). This time I went for the Mini One Seven with loads of extras (upgraded air conditioning, Harmon Kardon, chrome and vis pack etc). I went for the Mini One as I am insuring my 17 year old son who is learning in it.
Performance wise, it is not quite as quick as the Cooper S, but it still has the same lovely feeling when driving. I was dubious at first when hubby suggested a One, as I thought it would be a "gutless wonder" after the S, but one test drive later and I was ordering it! I am very pleased with it, and I love the way you can personalise the car with the vinyls, and there no two are the same. I won't be selling this one very quickly.
written by richmel on 28/12/2005
First Mini, had 3 months, was in garage for:
- New fog light - wasn't working
- New Spot light - letting in water
- New CD changer - wasn't working
- New Rear discs and pads - uneven wearing
- New rear wheel bearing - broken
- New windscreen (although the garage did break it)
- Faulty computer
2nd Mini, I only 4 days, Power Steering failed. After that I gave my Mini back and got a refund. Very disappointed, but loved having it when it was working ok! Just a pain in the bum when had to spend most of the weekends in the garage getting it fixed!
written by dyncaled on 15/12/2004
I have had my BMW Mini One d Family Car for nearly a week now and I must say I love it! It is by far the best car I have ever owned. It is also one of the best cars I have ever driven. The handling is brilliant you stick to the road like glue when you go round corners. This little car is in my opinion also a quick car for a 1.4 TD. And to top this excellent little car off the fuel consumption is very good indeed. I have been getting an average of 58.8 MPG and the engine isn't even run in yet. So you can't fault it. If your looking for a fun and sensible car when it comes to fuel consumption then the mini is the car for you!
written by Eileenann on 08/01/2004
We have moved to Quimper recently from the UK. During a visit to the BMW garage to order a new 330d for my hubbie, I wandered around and fell in love with the mini. We had been planning to buy for me a little van - a citroen or renault - for practicality etc. But I buzzed around the mini one and I decided that we liked each other. Bear in mind that my perception of cars is of something to get us from a to b in reasonable comfort and speed. My husband's perceptions are far more than that of course (hence the BMW affair), and he encouraged me, as did the sales guy, to take it for a spin.
So, my new mini arrived and it's absolutely lovely and classy to drive around in. It feels like a supremely made machine and people's heads turn all the time as I whizz, carefully, around. I don't know about any downsides yet as we have been together just for a few weeks but it is fitting and growing on me well.
I don't rate the BMW franchise though and its service approach, but that is another story.
Written on: 14/01/2004
Oh dear Oh dear. This is a person who 'planned to buy a little van' and ended up with a mini that ' whizzes around', This is female who marks as a bad point, the detail that BMW fit a cigar(ette) lighter & ash tray which may be a boon to others, but she don't care. Further this 'female' seems to need a Mini to make heads turn, something which understandably, is a new experience to her. Where is the review for the Mini I wander ? So self centered is this female that only a few references exist and those that do, are absolutely subjective and 'fluff'. I read your comments on the 'Ade from London' review and feel amazed that you could critique someone elses comments when your drivel is several leagues lower. I assume that your move to France was more escapology or hanging onto the tail of your successful husband, poor soul, than thru achievements of your own ! Be minded that your opinions have been rated - -2 compared with your targeted review of +19. Read it and weep - you are an example of 1999 girl power - and it's sad!
written by RPMmini on 18/11/2003
The mini one is the cheapest model in the new bmw range its very stylish and seems to have become very popular (If any one lives in old windsor they will know what i mean). The Mini one handles quite well. It does not handle as well as the classic but its one of the best handling modern cars i've drove.
If your a Classic mini owner and are looking for something a bit more pratical for the day job you will love this car as much as you like your current mini. Also any other person who likes a fun drive with stylish looks would love this car.
Alot of classic mini owners are negetive towards this car but i think bmw have done a brilliant job and I would love to own one to go with my classic Mini.
written by Ali Sinclair. on 24/04/2003
I've had my Mini for 10 months and I would not have another car, apart from a Cooper S. It's such an iconic car that its really difficult to say anything negative about it as it transcends normal reviews of other cars - apart from supercars such as Maclaren, Ferrari etc. You can drive on motorways at high speed and still talk and hear whats on the cd and its just ace round town. Driving was good before but its great now!
written by Squz. on 15/02/2003
The quick little mini runs cheaply it also keeps a few of the original features of the orinal mini. It is hardly any different to the cooper but not as quick.
written by Onatopp. on 07/02/2003
This car is a DREAM CAR, it has all the perfection of the origional British Mini brand with the reliability of a BMW. 6 months and 3500 miles later I sold it for £200 more than I bought it for and bought a Mini Cooper S
written by billylomess. on 17/06/2002
Overall, the BMW Mini One car is the car of the year (and the century) for me. I'm only 21 and this is a young persons car but it can be enjoyed by everyone. It's hard to pigeon hole this car as it really falls into a class of its own. The sales teams are fantastic and you get a really good test drive of the car before you buy it (unlike other cars). The drive feels like you are driving a BMW and best of all everyone looks at you (which is important when you're young trying to impress the girls).
Anyone who buys this car will not be sorry for it, as this car is more than a car it's a status symbol - and that is: 'let's have FUN'.
written by Carl. on 27/05/2002
Due to my so many bad experiences over the last 5 months with my BMW Mini One, I just can't help wondering what other skeletons there are waiting in the cupboard? The car is on a renting scheme and I will be returning it next month. My advice to anyone from now on will be to wait a year before buying one so as to give BMW time to get all the problems (some life threatening and that is no joke) resolved.
Written on: 26/02/2003
I too had serious problems with my mini one. It had three gear boxes. Six months and 14000 miles later it was replaced free of charge. 2003 uk models much more reliable than 2002. Only minor trim issues with the latest one. great runner though.
Written on: 18/11/2003
Alot of the first mini ones that came out had alot of problems BMW seem to have sorted out the problems on the 2002 and 2003 models.
written by Barty. on 13/04/2002
The BMW Mini One has been a deserved success, unlike other "lifestyle" cars (such as the VW Beetle and Tigra) it offers more than a fancy body on standard hatchback. As a driving experience it stands head and shoulders above them and the steering, brakes and handling all inspire confidence.
Many have commented that it is not the true successor to the Mini because it not truely innovative and it is too large to be called a Mini. I thought this was true until I started driving it and the Cooper version. It takes most of the fun parts of driving the old mini and then adds in safety, refinement and comfort.
The real cost of getting a Mini One on the road is around £11,200 This gives you Alloys, Metallic Paint and the Salt Package (Foglamps, Revcounter and the glossy interior finish) as used in almost every photo.
A lot of the safety equipment such as traction and dynamic stability control are optional extras too. It would not be difficult to push the Mini One up to £14,000 - £15,000 if you chose all the options.
You could regard the Mini as an expensive small car or a cheap route into a stylish, and classy motoring world where journeys are made just for the fun of driving. This car has that rare "x factor" that will mark it a future classic.
BMW/Mini even convinced me to part with my money for a new car - a unheard of event.
written by Ade Pepin. on 10/02/2002
So, we needed to upgrade my wifes 325i Touring and our 2nd car no longer needed to be an estate. The search was on for the successor. While strolling around the BMW dealership while picking up my car after a service (a scrumptious BMW 540i Sport, reviewed elsewhere @ reviewcentre.com), I stumbled across The New Mini display area which had me immediately hooked. I had to think about the Clio, persuade myself that a Peugeot was a possibility, force myself to find a focus and just did not want a V.Wagen or Vauxhall. The Mini it was for me - All that was left was the task of persuading the wife. Not a massive problem then, I hoped.
Leaving the brochures spread around the house all week did the trick. A casual glance on a sunday morning a week later over tea kick-started the complimentary comments and within an two hours we were at the dealership ordering another £4,000 worth of the extras we wanted on top of the £10,300 price following a test drive in a Cooper.
As I write 2000 miles later the little smile that was always there when you get in has gone. It is now a massive grin 'cos you know what you are in for.
Massive over-engineering means that the Mini always feels totally confident and in charge of everything you ask of it. The faultless handling and pin sharp turn in leave you wandering why you even considered an all style and no substance of one puggish competitor, the solid build confirms that the createur d'auto's would have been 3rd best and the performance, ride and comfort kicks the remainder into touch. The Focus options are not even in the same league for this type of car although price considerations would change the ranking. The Mini is Car of the Year quite rightly and for all the right reasons. If you think it's a bit too much - keep saving and buy one later - it is head and shoulders above all it's competition and you will tire much sooner of their 'style over substance'. Mini has style, substance and perhaps in most abundance, Character.
The extra £4k? We went for air-con, cream leather, extra airbages, MiniDisc, 6 changer CD, Massive wheels and chrome bits amongst loads of other stuff. Worth every penny.
I could tell you about all the boring things - consumption, technical achievements, emissions, tiny niggles (2) and a long list of very satisfying angles BUT - that would be completely missing the major Mini point. Read the brochures if that's what you are looking for. What I can tell you right here is the stuff that brochures can't cover . .that of all the cars I have ever owned, The Mini is possibly the most accomplished car at making life more Fun. Capital F.
How much is that worth as an extra? If you are spending between £10k and £12k on a new motor, buy the Mini. You'll never regret it.
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Gsichris's Response to richmel's Review
Written on: 17/03/2006
I have a 2003 Mini One Diesel 1.4. This car actually uses the Toyota diesel engine taken from the Yaris. Im having trouble with static charge build up which you can really feel through the metal door handles! My engine drive belts etc squeel very bad ( Williams BMW have adjusted these many many times: still not fixed) My instruments all rattle on cold start up's, and my engine struggles to start once the engine is warm ( again 2 years later all these problems have not been fixed by Williams BMW) Dashboard has been removed and ?? to repair annoying rattles and squeeks but still does it !! Anyone else suffering with these problems ? Williams BMW are now 'at a loss what to do with it' they say but i have to bear with them until they find a cure!! No doubt this will happen just after the warranty expires!!