New Car Picked Up Today!

Z

Zeld4

Senior member
 Oxford
Only the second time I've ordered a brand new car, and the last time it was an r56 Cooper S too.
This time my other half Samantha and I are buying it as she needs a new car, and she seemed much happier about my keeping the Z coupe if we bought it together funnily enough!!

So this morning I got the train alone as Sam is recovering from a back op, to Oxford Parkway and then a taxi to BMW North Oxford where Oxford Mini are based temporarily. We ordered a Cooper S five door (Sam wanted the extra practicality) in blazing red with black roof. It's got the chilli pack, media XL, Variable Damper Control, heated seats and folding mirrors. It's a surreal experience picking out up a new car, a cross between excitement and, what have I gone and done now, dread. But I'm really chuffed with it.


The drive home was suitably relaxed and will be for quite a bit as it runs in, but instantly it feels like a good car. Nice driving position with good seats and a well sized steering wheel that's nicely trimmed. Really glad I went for the adjustable dampers, I put those on at the last minute as I was having trouble sleeping as I hadn't specced them at first.

So I drove home and had to leave for a three day work trip almost straight away so no chance to learn about all the toys as yet. Here's a few pics of her :driving:
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idej_jedi said:
Interior looks cool.

Is it a big mini? As it looks huge from the side... :scratchhead:
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Yes I love the interior too. I think you'd call it a big, small mini. It's the 5 door hatch which is about 6 inches in total longer than a three door hatch. Three inches in the wheel base and three inches added on to the boot. The rear three quarters to the car do look slightly ungainly but I'll get used to that.
 
buzyg said:
That's huge. :? Side view reminds me of a Cayenne. :o Nice colour contrast :thumbsup:
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Haha it can't be that big!! Must be something to do with my bad photography
 
metal licker said:
Very nice :thumbsup:
The forum has another new mini owner :)
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The Mini does seem to be a top choice amongst Z4 owners. I was speaking to the guy I was dealing with at Oxford Mini today and he reckons in 18 months the JCW is going to be facelifted and given 280bhp!!!
 
some of the new MINI's are indeed not very mini...

That said my new one is smaller than the car it replaced (DS3)...

OP - looks great :D
 
I do like a Mini.
We swapped our Countryman SD in september for an X3 as we needed a bigger boot but I couldn't fault it during the time we had it (apart from the ultra stiff ride due to runflats and sports suspension). Was sorry to see it go as it was fun to drive and had a very individual interior, you knew you were driving a Mini. Shame they have got rid of the large centre speedo in the latest models....
The new models do feel more "BMW" though as in the build quality seems better and they feel very solid cars. :driving:
 
chapeau said:
I do like a Mini.
We swapped our Countryman SD in september for an X3 as we needed a bigger boot but I couldn't fault it during the time we had it (apart from the ultra stiff ride due to runflats and sports suspension). Was sorry to see it go as it was fun to drive and had a very individual interior, you knew you were driving a Mini. Shame they have got rid of the large centre speedo in the latest models....
The new models do feel more "BMW" though as in the build quality seems better and they feel very solid cars. :driving:
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I had both r53 Cooper and r56 Cooper S models and I have to say that the latest model is in a different league when it comes to refinement and interior quality. I also feel you sit a good bit higher than before but that might be my imagination. You are so right , there is something very alluring about Minis. When we were looking for a new car, before we went to a Mini dealer we drove VW Polos and looked at Golfs and Fiestas and other things and it's all so uninspiring. The interior of Fords are woeful and they are expensive for what you get and the Polo is an OAP snooze box.

Then we went to Mini and Samantha was like, I want one of these. You can't afford it I said, so we took it for a test drive any way. After that I agreed to pay half!!! Sucked in like a fool I was, but I don't care, life is too short to drive boring slow cars.
 
maxi more like! not a fan of the new minis to be fair! :)

I stopped liking them after the GP2 which were amazing.
 
Zeld4 said:
I don't care, life is too short to drive boring slow cars.
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My sentiments exactly. I've always had the car i want that i can also afford (otherwise there would be a lambo on the drive :oops: ) and will always do the same.
 
Buckz said:
maxi more like! not a fan of the new minis to be fair! :)

I stopped liking them after the GP2 which were amazing.
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I wasn't a massive fan at first but they have grown on me, and it's still a really good drive. Minis qalso strike me as being pretty good value these days. Most hot hatches seem like budget cars with a powerful engine, where as Minis feel like a premium car with your choice of engine.. I guess that's why they sell so many as there is no direct competitor on the market today.
 
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