mini cooper and bikes

brearley

after an unfortunate death of my car I'm on the lookout for a new one.

I'm liking the looks, handling and style of the mini cooper however can people tell me what practicality is like with bikes?
obviously I'll need to fold the seats down but will I get a bike in with them folded? I'm going from a VW Bora where I could get a bike in the boot no problem.

Also what are the MPG figures like in reality for a 1.6
Should I just give up and go for something different.

My shortlist is:
VW Polo 1.2 S
Ford Fiests 1.25 Zetec
Skoda Fabia 1.2
Vauxhall Astra 1.6
Mini Cooper 1.6
Ford Focus C-max 1.8 Zetec

All are the same running costs really +/- £20 a month.
I'm 22 so although the Cmax is most practical it's a bit of a Dad car.
I'll be taking most of the above list out for test drives tomorrow.

Let me know your thoughts.

daviesee

Anybody buying a Mini does so purely on a style basis.

If you are looking for practicality, look elsewhere.

upperoilcan

My Mrs had a 1.6 2004 Mini Cooper and the thing drank fuel like no tomorrow,although i have been told that the newer models with a different engine are a lot better on fuel consumption.

To be fair i think both wheels will have to come off the bike to squeeze it in the car because if my memory serves me right there was'nt a lot of room in the back.

Do not go near Vauxhall as all their cars are complete sh*t and anyone who say's different is a liar.

gmb

upperoilcan wrote:

Do not go near Vauxhall as all their cars are complete sh*t and anyone who say's different is a liar.

I've got a Vauxhall. It's complete sh*t.

upperoilcan

GMB wrote:

I've got a Vauxhall. It's complete sh*t.

brearley

the astra was right at the bottom of the list.
guess i'll have a decision to make on whether I look cool and trendy or practical and old at 22

stannie

My daughter has a Mini and the bike fits in the back with no problems if the seats are down and both wheels are off. My small bike would even fit in there without removing the back wheel.
If you like the mini it shouldn't stop you getting it.
My other daughter has an Astra - bigger, more practical but boring as hell.

daviesee

brearley wrote:

the astra was right at the bottom of the list.
guess i'll have a decision to make on whether I look cool and trendy or practical and old at 22

Anything with a decent boot and proper fold down seats will do.
That includes most hatch backs.
It does not include a Mini. Which is a girls car in anything but top sport spec anyway.

southdownswolf

My metalworker is currently making a "Mini". He is a fanatic with 8 already in the family, old type of course.
This one is going to be special though....

Ford Cosworth chassis, 4x4 and engine - tuned to "a little over 300bhp" with a Mini body squeezed over the top after a few alterations.

As it will only have two seats, there will be plenty of room for a bike in the back :-)

the playing mantis

actually the astra, well certain versions of it have been getting decent reviews lately i think...but for me i couldnt get away from the fact its still a vauxhall. like peogeot they have a reputataion for being dull, crap and the car of choice for someone who knows nothing of and has no interest in cars or there looks/performance, as anything other than a means to get from a to b (which in our base from is all that they are and we should want, but human nature doesnt work like that). even though some of the hot hatch latest peugeots are also getting decent reviews.

i would get a ford/vw/skoda over these anyday.

a mini always comes across as a lady hairdressers car, much in the same way as an audi tt does, and when i see blokes driving minis i always assume they are driving their OH's car.

id get the fiesta or focus, whichever is sportier of the choices you mention.

Giraffoto

brearley wrote:

I'm 22 so although the Cmax is most practical it's a bit of a Dad car

As a former owner (and a current Dad) I can recommend the C-Max for carrying bikes inside, outside, on the roof or on the back. The 1.8 is startlingly economical too, although the fuel tank is a bit small.

daviesee

Just remembered something I saw a couple of year's ago.....

At the Caledonia Etape, one guy had his Pinerello with the wheel's removed placed neatly on the passenger seat/in the footwell of a 911.

Buy the car you want. You will figure the rest out. Life is to short.

MickTheMove

My other half has a Mini cooper Clubman, Bike fits in rather nicely, the rook racks are rather cool as well and it it economic and rapid, but expensive to buy

Pross

Used to get mine (58cm) in my Mini easily with both wheels off and rear seats down. Whether that is considered practical is another matter!

Doctor House

The new style mini is a woman's car. Ask for opinions about a mini and all you get is "my sister/daughter/wife/mum/gran/auntie has one..."

Buy Jap - the Yaris suggestion from madasahattersly is a very good suggestion. Or better still a Honda. The engineering attention to detail in a Honda is outstanding, and they have high spec interiors for the money.

smidsy

The new mini is not...mini. Damn it is bigger than many family hatchbacks (focus/golf etc).

Best avoided regardless.

Get the C max.

florerider

I thought this was going to be a different thread.

My closest shaves on the bike have been with mini coopers.

Others in the office share the same bad experience of them too.

Monkeypump

OP - What was the criteria for your shortlist?

Jumping from hatchbacks to the C-Max seems odd, and misses out lots of potential vehicles. What about a standard Focus? Or Golf? Models to suit all budgets, cheap to run and fix, very practical and no image problems. There are lots more that should be on the list, but what are your 'must-haves'? What budget?

As mentioned above, I would avoid the Mini. Not cheap to buy, not cheap to fix, you'll look like a wannabe hipster (or worse, Foxton's estate agent), and not practical in any way. I agree life is short, but there are far better non-practical motors if you want to throw that argument in.

Colinthecop

How did you come up with that shortlist....?

jds_1981

Having been donated my dads old ford mondeo estate, I can recommend one of them. 2 litre petrol so reasonable oomph, get one with under 100k on the clock and should have plenty of life left in it.

An absolute tonne of space in the back.

napoleond

I used to be able to get my 58cm bike in my Mrs' Fiat 500 with bike wheels removed, back seats down and front seat forwards. You will find a way somehow.

Flâneur

Random short list, an Astra but not a golf for instance?

Buy German or Jap. A mini is fun to drive and you can fit more than you expect it (a bike would be front and possibly rear wheel), newer models mpg is excellent, but it does come with an image, but so many cars do - old, boring, arrogant, hip.

Do not get a C max you are 22.

Go test drive them and see which you enjoy being in and driving then put your bike in the back

Polo will fit the bike 1 wheel off, but depending on what roads you drive on you may be better off in a golf (do you town plod or do want the acceleration and motorway comfort?

If you really do not care about the image of your car then get a skoda - bang for buck winner right there.

Always buy a different car and a rack? I can fit my bike across the back of my car (no boot) but just use a roof rack to keep the car tidy

kajjal

When I was 22 , about twenty years ago I had a Peugeot 309 which fitted three people, three bikes and all the gear you would need for a days mountain biking. It didn't look like much but took us all over the UK mountain biking in relative comfort.

My wife has a Mini Cooper and unless you are very short with a bike to match it is going to be very impractical. Nice car but you have decide which means more to you having a mini or a more practical car.

napoleond

If you want to have something big, practical and coool then see if you can get an old VW Transporter

meursault

This one

dave in swansea

You will manage to get a bike in most cars. With a bit of imagination.
Megane CC.
Roof up, bike in boot with both wheels off. (No folding seats).
Roof down, on back seat with both wheels off.
Now in winter with full mudguards, those options don't work. So wind the passenger seat low backwards. Front wheel off and the bike sits across the top. Rear wheel in back, bars and fork in passenger seat.
Usually I use a strap on rack, unless the car and bike need to be left anywhere.

kingofthetailwind

One more for the shortlist?

awavey

my bike just fits in my mini cooper, but yeah only if I take the front wheel off fold the seats down and scooch the front seats forward a bit...other than that its a great fit I wouldnt change it though they are great fun to drive if not the most practical at carrying bikes around

metronome

awavey wrote:

I wouldnt change it though they are great fun to drive if not the most practical at carrying bikes around

+1

I own a Cooper S and it's a hoot to drive - like a go kart. Awful consumption, costly to run, bumpy ride, no space in the boot... but fun.

Have you considered a Clubman? The S version is nice.

dov2711

Not the most practical as a cyclist but still a workable car which gives a great deal of fun. Only ever owned minis for the last 20 years so not the most impartial opinion on the board: Owned: classic Mayfair, cooper and works as well as modern coopers x4.
With a roof rack fitted and a will to make it work we have had 2 bikes on the roof, luggage and spare wheel in back, kids in rear seats one with a wheel at their foot and off we went from Fife to London and on another occasion Oxford.

The opposite mindset of the modern family who seem to think they need a people carrier to take a toddler to asda for some risks.

daviesee

dov2711 wrote:

The opposite mindset of the modern family who seem to think they need a people carrier to take a toddler to asda for some risks.

Reminds me of going on holiday as a young teenager from Edinburgh to Newquay..
MK3 Cortina Estate, Mum & Dad in the front, 2 sisters and brother in the back seat, and me in the boot on a bed of luggage.
Mum & Dad smoking the whole way.