Vintage Rear Axle
We all adore the mini, with its cute and classy stylings, fun and funky personality and cool, adventurous reputation. But many people considering a used mini wonder what exactly has changed over the years: what has been improved upon or replaced, in short, what makes the new mini different to the old?
Before we start ringing the changes, however, we really should draw attention to the elements that haven't changed, most notably the cars "quirk" factor. This is an undoubtedly kooky car, with more personality than anything else on the roads! The new gen Minis have retained elements of design not limited to the inimitable shell, but also featuring original-styled toggle control switches for the stereo and the heating. The new gen dash makes a feature in particular of the speedometer, oversized and positioned centre dash so you can see when you hit those 140 mph highs. The retro feel that the speedo exudes is entirely in-keeping with the car's overall modish appeal - perfect for mod-men and vintage vixens, and far superior to a scooter!
On to the changes, to start with there's the length - about 60mm longer to fit modern safety regulations and 18mm taller, much to the modern man's relief! A tighter squeeze to parallel park, yes, but no matter - more room on top for your surfboard! This size increase has expanded the boot size by 10 litres - perfect for packing picnics - and made rear seat space far less tight than in previous models - particularly when coupled with the cleverly sculpted "cut-out" chair backs that create more leg-room.
There are elements of the design which have been updated: the indicators are now positioned within the headlamps, which themselves have been relocated to the wings. A restyled grille and larger rear-lights complete the cosmetic make-over, alongside new colour options including metallic paints.
The introduction of power-steering, meanwhile, makes a huge difference to the overall drive, and the addition of a power steering boost button to the Sports kit option makes the car even more powerful and responsive. In the Cooper and Copper S models some parts have been replaced with aluminum for a lighter weight. Combine this with improved suspension, a new rear axle, harder springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, and you've a rare beast indeed; at least, within the supermini class.
These new gen models offer a choice of engines to suit your own needs. The Mini One 1.4 is a bit growly, but satisfactory enough. If you can possibly stretch to it, a 118 bhp 1.6 litre in a Cooper or Cooper S is well worth the extra money, eliminating all residual growl and rattle, jumping 0-62 in 7.1 seconds and hitting top speeds of 140 mph. Both petrol and diesel options are available, and the new cars obviously offer better fuel economy (still not the best in class) than previous models. Repairs are not cheap, and the add on TLC package, covering all routine service costs for 5 years or 50,000 miles at £185 is worth the investment.
This is just one of the paid extras you can add to your Mini. The £1875 Chili pack offers a cut price deal on items such as part-leather upholstery, a three-spoke wheel and air conditioning, among others. Metallic paint and xenon lights will both leave you further out of pocket. The good news is that a Mini is an investment piece, holding its residual value better than any other in the supermini class.
Most importantly, a Mini is a safe car. Changes to its design have created a vehicle with a five star Euro NCAP crash-test rating, boasting front, side and cabin-length airbags and stability control.
Change isn't always good: but in the case of used Mini models, it seems it might be!
Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Used MINI cars.
September 1st, 2010 
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