2008 Mini Cooper Review | A base model worth considering

[@DmenDuroRider]

I love my r56 base 6 speed. I bought it too daily, but I'm finding myself upgrading it like I did to my r56 jcw with handling improvements. Lightweight wheels, b14 coilovers, swaybars and poly bushings. Pick up an r53 or r56 while you still can. One day, they will be 10k. But stay away if you don't work on your own cars.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I want to have an R53 S one day so badly. Drove a friend’s with all sorts of mods on it and it was a total ripper.

[@MdubMedia]

Lol loved this. Was fun having her in the car w you for the review!

[@wg8290]

I love that you review normal fun cars. 🤟🤟🤟

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Of course! I love cars primarily because they enable me to do the thing I enjoy most, drive. That’s why I never understood brand loyalty either; Mustangs, BMWs, Minis, doesn’t matter to me if it’s fun haha.

[@stevenlee9064]

First time on this channel. Great videography and editing. Thx

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thank you!

[@chris-piascik]

Great review. I've always loved Mini's, I used to have a base manual R56 and always missed it after I sold it. I recently picked up an F55 manual base with the 3 cylinder turbo to use as a daily (so my Type R doesn't get salty during the New England Winters) and I really love it. The engine has a lot of character and has solid pep-a definite improvement in power over the R56-I wish the new car was as small as the first 2 generations, but now that I own one I don't feel like it's lost that little car-fun to drive character at all.

[@chris-piascik]

Also, I'm in CT-happy to let you drive the FK8 or F55.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thanks man, glad to hear the newer ones haven’t lost the small car charm. I’ll definitely take you up on your offer, that’d be a blast. Really appreciate it!

[@chris-piascik]

@@BuzzytheBlue I used to have an E85 Z4 as well! It as the 3.0 before the M was released but I had a custom LSD with a higher final drive that made it rip. Loved that car!

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Oh that must’ve been a blast, the lack of an LSD is one of my only gripes with many non-M BMWs. That 3.0 is a sweetheart of an engine too. I always wanted an E86 3.0 Coupe as a daily driven companion to the M.

[@KeithSachs]

lol what the heck, crazy to see you commenting here! @chris

[@atsproto9338]

had one for 3 years , loved it. too bad i had to sell it as its repair costs overcame its resale value lol

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Yeah I’ve had that happen with a couple other cars of mine, the math starts to look pretty bad lol

[@MrAyeeGee]

Just got a 2008 at an auction

[@S4RCSTC]

Oh shit handle engaged!!! 😂😂😂

[@Zackkhan580]

Hey there, love your review and I just love minis too much and thankfully I owned one but unfortunately the country I am currently staying may have 5 or 6 minis in total so the issue with finding parts were disastrous , and sadly I had to sell it. but hoping to buy on again soon in good condition .

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Thanks man, yeah that’s a tough situation, even the parts you can get must be super expensive. Wish you luck finding another either way!

[@robhallahan163]

Hey there Buzzy! Have really enjoyed your style and standards of production. The biggest compliment I can give is Henry Catchpole flow and quality from a layman's perspective. Did your neighbours bestow Buzzy upon you or did your sweet lady come up with that? I think my neighbours may have penned some more colourful names for my friend and I and our vehicular cacophony. If your ever in Australia come and drive the Great Alpine Way Victoria or Thunderbolts way in NSW. Love both of your work, cheers from Wollongong Australia. Rob

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Hey Rob, that’s very kind of you to say. So glad you’ve been enjoying the videos! Buzzy comes from an old childhood nickname (Buzzmanti) that I used as my handle on Xbox as a kid. A group of friends had already setup the color naming scheme, so I changed it over to BuzzytheBlue. I’m sure my cars have earned me far less generous names with any less-understanding locals.

[@robhallahan163]

Cheers mate I hope it's not all black ice in Connecticut ATM. After hearing your M cars I thought I might install an anti-lag on my Scubie liberty/legacy GT. What could possibly go wrong😜😜 @@BuzzytheBlue

[@dustinberg1134]

just bought a 2012 mini roadster, mint showroom condition with only 55000 kilometres. but yes the handling is up there with a 911, yes really. and I own a x3m competition, and the handling is second to none......not talking about the meak power, would like to try the S, or Cooper works.

[@El_coyote710]

Nice

[@JSproductions1202]

If she has had any motor or transmission issues please do a reel on it or something! I just got one and everyone says they are trash

[@BuzzytheBlue]

I should’ve touched on it in the video, she’s had zero issues from 60k-100k. (Whole time she’s owned it) We did the timing chain preventatively when we bought it and 3000 mile oil changes but that’s it. On the base cars I think that’s the only *major* failure point but I’ll do some research and put a video together.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

But yeah consider doing the chain&tensioners if it hasn’t been done already.

[@joecrafted]

I know that road! Ha ha, I know why she grabbed the handle, that whoop-de-do, tiwsty section is a little unnerving. Cool review, my GTI is not a great handling car IMO, but similar vintage.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Not sure I’ve ever had the misfortune of being in the passenger seat for that section hahaha.

[@TurtlesandStuff.]

These are very popular as track rats here in the UK. Shame the Prince engine is so terrible in terms of reliability.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Must be a blast on a technical track. Yeah we did the timing chain (+tensions etc as well) preventatively, and haven’t had any real issues. What other failures are they known for?

[@TurtlesandStuff.]

@@BuzzytheBlue Yeah the chain is the main issue for the NA engines. The turbo S engines have even worse issues but you'll probably find it burns a lot of oil so I'd definitely recommend checking the dipstick often.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

Gotcha. Funny you mention that lol, just hit 100k and have noticed I’ve been having to add like a quart or two between 3000 mile oil changes.

[@rigpod4821]

Don't believe them. If you buy a Mini, you WILL regret it. It will fall apart on you: oil leaking, radiator leaking, and eventually engine dies. And *when* you take it to anyone to have work done (and good luck finding anyone), they WILL overcharge you, because the parts are very expensive already, and they know it's hard to find anyone else to work on your Mini. They are notoriously awful cars. It will become your money pit. You have been warned.

[@BuzzytheBlue]

“Believe them”? Are you implying I’m lying? Everyone that’s EVER owned one has regretted it? Sweeping generalizations and projections aren’t helping anyone. This car hasn’t hiccuped in the last 30k miles, likely because we’ve bothered to take care of it and do preventative maintenance. Sourcing parts on FCP and Rock, it hasn’t been any more expensive to run than other cars I’ve owned. It just requires an iota of effort.