Real World MINI Gas Mileage?

[Ben Carufel]

I've been kicking around the idea of buying an '02 or '03 MINI base model just to commute in and generally beat up on -- something I don't have to care about parking, valeting, etc.

Edmunds has the MPG at 28/37 with the manual transmission...

Are the numbers even close to that in real world use?

The other car I'm considering is an E30 318i 5-speed. The advantage of the E30 is that with liability insurance my rate would be about $21/month for that car.

However, the E30 will probably only return high 20's with regards to MPG.

The advantage of the MINI is the fact that it's newer and has a more modern feel.

Reliability is a toss-up. The E30 is older and will possibly need more frequent maintenance, but the MINI is chock-full of electronics and the packaging of the engine makes it a royal PITA to do major work on, whereas the E30 318 is dead simple and easy to wrench.

Anyhow, just some rambling. Your thoughts are appreciated :).

[NCMINIGUY]

You'll get about 35 on long highway trips at 80 mph. slow down to 65, it will get almost 40.

Our '06 base averages about 32 on mixed city/highway driving. My '06 S averages about 27 on the same types of trips, but if I baby it I can get almost 30.

[catseye]

You'll get about 35 on long highway trips at 80 mph. slow down to 65, it will get almost 40.

Our '06 base averages about 32 on mixed city/highway driving. My '06 S averages about 27 on the same types of trips, but if I baby it I can get almost 30.
I'm getting about the same results with my '05 S. Great little car.

My '91 318is got about 28/31. Great little car.

[Brad5161]

My '02 S get's mid-30's on the highway. The 6 speed doesn't hurt. For the difference in price of the base and S models used (minimal) and performance (not minimal), I'd go with an S again in a heartbeat

[Ben Carufel]

Just picked up a 1991 318i this morning. It came up on Craigslist on Tuesday morning and was too good to pass up -- one owner, all records, 266k miles, full maintenance history, etc.

Pics are in the Bimmer Rides section...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=957099

[catseye]

Just picked up a 1991 318i this morning. It came up on Craigslist on Tuesday morning and was too good to pass up -- one owner, all records, 266k miles, full maintenance history, etc.

Pics are in the Bimmer Rides section...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=957099

Awesome! I wasn't going to say anything, but it sounds like for what you wanted, that was a better choice... I loved my 318is....

You'll probably hear all about the infamous "profile gasket", but w/ as many miles as yours has, it was either replaced, or won't be an issue....

[flannelhippie]

I got 32 mpg in the city consistantly, when I had my cooper.

[MrBlah]

I get 32 no matter how I drive my 07 MCS, 35mph average speed pretty much only city & backroad driving

[bjm442]

I'm looking at the same... a 91 318is or a 2002 cooper s. I'm not sure what too do. I like them both.

[catseye]

I get 32 no matter how I drive my 07 MCS, 35mph average speed pretty much only city & backroad driving
I want to know how you do that!!

I'm looking at the same... a 91 318is or a 2002 cooper s. I'm not sure what too do. I like them both.
Have you driven them both? IMO, the 318 is a lighter, more nimble feel, while the MCS is a more solid, modern feel. The FWD issue is still a little weird to me, but I'm getting more used to it, and with a few mods, should be able to negate any negative feelings I may have. One thing I hated about the 318 was it's overwhelming lack of power.

[ak96ss]

I have both a '91 318is and an '04 Cooper S - the Cooper is a hoot to drive, handles like a go-kart, accelerates very well for the displacement, just all around fun. The FWD does take some getting used to, but I have to say it is the only FWD I've ever had or driven that I actually enjoy taking out! It is also the only FWD car I'll likely ever own again.

I do love my 318is, though it is definitely underpowered when compared to the Cooper. Just a different feel to it, still a joy to drive, especially in the twisties. More neutral, no throttle-steering, a little more room inside and a much larger trunk, but it doesn't feel considerably larger.

Depends on your tastes, I guess - the Cooper definitely has a more modern feel, but the 318is is pretty classy looking and handles very respectably, even on a stock suspension.

Here's a pic of them, bracketing my family sedan... :)

http://lh3.google.com/2006TopBanana/RsdNUzXs7SI/AAAAAAAACGE/kgzVuI17Mwg/s800/P8189923.JPG.jpg

[anthrazit]

27.5 on a recent trip to Myrtle Beach
24.5 daily driving to work, mostly non-highway.
05 MCS, 15% pulley

[MrBlah]

I want to know how you do that!!


I dont think you can unless you have the newer MCS, mine is a turbo 2007

[Michael Yount]

New to the forum, and a brand new Clubman owner here. Curious if any of you have experienced pretty significant discrepancies between what your computer tells you your mpg is, and what it actually is (odometer/gallons at fill-up). Wife's new Clubman is naturally aspirated, and the computer is showing some pretty amazing numbers.

[MrBlah]

dont trust the obc

also all the bmw's mileage is slightly off, 55mph is more like 53mph, it does add up

[tenfifteen]

We've owned 3 Coopers (all S), and our results were mixed, but only because they've all been very different. My '02 had intake/pulley/exhaust/ecu and some tranny mods, and I averaged about 22-24 in the city, 30-32 on the freeway. The '04 got pretty much the EPA stated (25-34?), and our '08 (just picked it up Saturday) has seen between 28-34 in mixed (but mostly city) driving. It's also the auto, so take that for what it's worth.

I have read on other forums about people getting 40mpg freeway with the turbo plant. Can't say I've seen it myself though.

[rimplestultskin]

my 2004 R50 (just-a-cooper, as some call it) is supposed to get 25 mpg city, and 32 mpg highway. and real-world driving, i find, is more or less spot-on with the EPA estimates.

that's with the CVT...if you get stick i'd imagine somewhat better numbers, but if you get the regular automatic with tip mode (only on the cooper S, methinks), not as good. and from '07 onwards, the mini has a new peugeot-designed engine that's even better on gas, as compared to my mini's (and every BMW mini up to 2006 models) chrysler-designed block.

[catseye]

I figured it out!!! Coming back from the mountains (using gravity to my favor), I was able to average ~34mpg for many miles!!!

[auto_pilot]

Mostly freeway driving...I'm getting 30-31 mpg...some spirited driving in there.

[elttes reven]

i drive 11 miles one way to work. 5 days, then more on weekends. i get about 25-28 mpg.

[EOSphoto]

So it sounds like the newer turbo R56 gets much better MPG than the s/c R50

[tenfifteen]

So it sounds like the newer turbo R56 gets much better MPG than the s/c R50
Yes, MINI says ~15% or so. Real world on the freeway, much higher. You can keep your foot out of the turbo, but the supercharger (R53, not R50 btw) was always "on."

[pbraun]

Keeping your foot out of the throttle is the key.

If you want to drive for gas mileage, you have to focus on it.

[JBgotM]

Ben - I used to average 32-33mpg every tank driving across town on my commute to work. It had some bumper to bumper, some 80mph sections, and a bit of spirited in between. A sustained 80mph highway will not do great in a base cooper. I get about 32 sustaining that on a road trip.

Now hat I live in a little town and most is residential slow driving I am getting about 30mpg or so.

Some have stated I should get higher, but those are the real world results, but just trying to milk the mileage to hit some rating.

[redbull325is]

depends how careful you are with the car... heh heh

[madsedan]

I think the newer turbo S should get better mileage than the supercharged ones, can anyone confirm that?

[MrBlah]

I think the newer turbo S should get better mileage than the supercharged ones, can anyone confirm that?

much better, it's posted all over

[madsedan]

cool, thanks.
I'm 99% on leasing a new s when I sell my M3.

[MrBlah]

I went from an e36 m3 to a mcs too, I'm glad I did, I always worried about money shifting, and the guy that bought it from me, did it, BAD, engine is toast

[madsedan]

Can you recommend a MINI dealer in Atlanta, we don't have one in Birmingham so I'll be coming there for one.

[MrBlah]

I ordered from amanda at mini of south atlanta

there's an atlanta mini forum, and you can talk to other owners there

http://atlantaminis.net/