MINI ONE Hatchback 2001‑2006

I have been driving my Mini for the last 3 years and I have been very happy with everything. its very smooth and stylish!

Purchased this car quite recently and was thrilled by its compactness and sturdy reputation. Migrating from a well know 2 seater ( a change necessary for more load space ) it suits my need for a small, compact, all rounder.

It drives very positively and sits down on the road with confidence, although I do find the ride a bit odd? Rather 'lumpy' over uneven tarmac and bit heavy on the steering. On motorways it's like a much larger car, taking lanes with ease and quiet 'to boot'.

For short daily runs it does it well, starts well, very economical and nippy. Fuel wise: equally admirable for long trips.

Inside the dash is very ergonomical and easy to use as is the access to rear seats and fold downs. Boot space is adequate for me although a family of four would struggle, especially with luggage.

Reliability wise: my clutch failed on the 14th week of ownership with virtually no warning at all. Fine one day and then gone the next. Only slight hint of an issue was more difficulty in engaging gears for a few days leading up to scenario. My short warranty, luckily, covered this as it was clearly a mechanical fault and not excessive clutch wear. For secondhand buyers another point to mention is dont be misled into thinking you have 'runflats' even if the reset switch is present as I was led to believe it did. With that said, check the compressor works stored in the boot!!

Performance wise, it does things all rather well but handling is no where near my previous car.

All in all a pleasant package and I will buy again but certaily be sure of a decent mechanical warranty to cover the unknowns. No 8 year stamped service booklet will indicate these impending disasters.

after reading many little whinges and gripes gor pull yourselfs together cars sometimes do go wrong! after all they are mechanical! lol! i have had no trouble with my little car and i was very suprised at the drive performance after driving an audi tt i thought i was in for a shock in deed i was at how responsive the mini really is. fuel consumption again couldnt believe how far the fuel goes in this car and omg my insurance cut by 2/3rd's wow is that impressive and its the same size engine. neva mind the kids ive had 3 adults in the back and still managed a trip to the shops! and thats impressive good first car good second car good third car you dont have to be in any certain age bracket to have one there generally a hip & happening fun car.

Decided if I had to have a automatic car it had to be a stylish one.

I absolutely love the look of my black Mini and enjoy driving an automatic that doesn't make you feel like you're having a seizure when it changes gear!

My joy with my new toy crashed around my ears a bit the first time I went for a supermarket shop. I have a large family, mostly moved out so reckoned a 'smaller' boot would now be fine, ha ha. For those who exist on a pot of yoghurt and a packet of crisps, fine, for those of us who need to eat a full meal a day, there 'aint the room in the boot baby'. Haven't yet had to do anything with a suitcase but that would probably require the acquisition of a bit of patience first. Luckily the other half has a station wagon thingy that copes with luggage and DIY stuff!

I still get a bit of a jolt when I go to fill up with fuel, she is a thirsty gal wee Minnie. After several Fiestas Minnie always seems a bit greedy.

There are irritating things happening just now that suggest a bit of a temperament, central locking is throwing a few tantrums and the back windscreen washer is on strike. There is also an annoying thing going on with a leak somewhere 'at the front' which apparently Minis are known for but a little minor incontinence I can forgive in exchange for the feel good feeling I get driving her down the road.

The male members of my tribe are quite keen on taking her out for a spin too - when I let them!

She is a great little car and I love her to bits - I've have drawn the line at the stick on eyelashes though, that would be taking it too far!

Very good, reliable car! Suitable to my lifestyle but maybe not to someone who needs a spacious car as the boot is very small!

Car is very quick and looks really good! Drives well also!

Absolutely love my mini!!

If you're after a little car, then it definitely has to be a Mini.

Although the car is actually a lot bigger inside then you would first think when looking at it from the outside.

My car has isofix car seat anchor points for children's car seats, and although the first time it was a bit fiddly to get it in you soon get the hang of it.

Perfect car for running around urban areas but also for long distances as well. I've run my mini up to Scotland a few times and although it's no saloon car, it was comfortable journey.

In recent month's the running costs have gone up but obviously so have the petrol prices etc so it's all in line with inflation.

Brilliant in the snow, better than my Dads Jaguar and Mums BMW!!

Overall superb car and I would recommend it to everyone!

I recently bought myself a Mini One as my second car, aged 18. As soon as I got it insured, I knew I would be pestered by my friends to go for a 'cruise'. After a week of cruising around, and £90's worth of fuel later, I knew it would be a fair bit more costly to run than the previous car, a 1.0L Corsa.

The Mini is so much fun to drive; it sticks to the road, it's pretty nippy and looks like a supermodel, but a car version. I bought myself the Chilli Red coloured One, and can safely say that there is no faded paint on the car at all. After a wash, the car shines brilliantly in the sun.

I was luckily enough to get myself a top spec One, with the brilliant dual electric sunroof. I can't praise this enough, it's cool to have it open whatever the weather!

The only limitation that I can think of when buying a Mini is that it's pretty tight if you're trying to fit people in the back seats. Also, the folding front seats, used to get people in the back, are pretty useless and very temporamental.

Overall, I'd say, definitely buy a Mini One if you can't afford the insurance for a higher spec model and if you won't often be squeezing people in the back.

Mine's a BMW MINI ONE DIESEL.

It's simply the best car I have ever had!

It's cheap to run on diesel fuel, approximately sixty-five miles per gallon, extremely reliable,

It never fails to start first time, summer or winter, and it has never let me down or broken down.

Even in the bad winter weather it's road-holding ability is still fantastic!

Although it is classed as a small car, it is very roomy inside and can carry large objects without any problems!

It is now approaching seven years old now and if I were to change it then I would buy the same make and model again.

I have recently just purchased my Mini One and I must admit I am very impressed. I have had a few small teething problems but my car was sold to me with a full year's warranty which has taken care of these things. The few things that went wrong were very common things - new power steering pump and there was a small water leak and a blocked rear wiper pump. All of these things were fixed in a few days and my car is now running perfect. It is absolutely fantastic on fuel and although it may not be the most powerful or fastest car, it is very nippy. I totally love it and would not change it for anything else. If and when I choose to get another car I cannot see me choosing anything other than a Mini. I might try another model but for cost effectiveness, which was one of the main things I was looking for - the Mini One does it all.

If you are considering buying one of these cars then I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I was lucky enough that the owner of my car who bought it from new decided to totally upgrade everything she could on it and I have a lot of the Cooper and Cooper S extras but even without these it would still be a great car!

Cons -

Not a lot of room in the boot for shopping etc

No spare wheel; you have to mess with a goo in the tyre which means that you need a new one

Bit noisy on the motorway

Bit uncomfortable over bumps according to passengers but not something that ever bothered me

Pros -

Looks good inside and out

Comfortable to sit in for long periods

Great fun to drive, especially on country roads

Cheap to insure and tax

Good customer service at Mini dealers

I had two in a row and only changed because I wanted something faster and a diesel because I'm doing a lot of motorway miles; bought a Golf.