Hello dear mini community, at the moment I drive a VW up that comes away as soon as a buyer has been found. I have been thinking about buying a Mini Cooper with or without S as its successor, but I am very unsure of it. Actually, the Mini would be my dream of the perfect car, would not be the many negative reports. One reads on the Internet very much how bad they are from technology and a workshop stay in principle is self-evident. In the 5 years with my up I have never done anything else than to appear on time for my inspection, which is why the change makes me a bit afraid. How serious are the defects really? Are there really more than just inspections on me at which something is changed? If I decide for a used R53 I have already selected for myself the following points for which I think the important ones are or I still have questions: -Year of construction after 2004 best 2006 I am currently a student and drive about 15,000 a year. The car has to last until the end of my studies so about 50,000 km. Is it enough to buy a mini with 150,000 then I would be at 200k after his term. A couple thought up to 200 you could drive him well before his pension. -The Mini Cooper with 116ps should be enough for me from the performance however I find the optics not as beautiful as with the S. So I wonder how much is in the maintenance g And if they have the same defects. The Cooper probably have less mechanical parts that can break because of lack of compressor. -All say only that he swallows if you give it to him correctly. But how does it look with the consumption under normal circumstances if you switch nicely at 2500. -Pay insurance no gear damage which should often happen? To sit on so much money with a car where it is clear from the beginning that something like that comes Before I buy a very unreliable car, I would look at one of my alternatives, such as the MX-5, Audi TT Coupe, Smart Roadster. For another hot competitor, the Audi A1, my budget is not yet rich.