# Another Used Car: Mini Cooper-esque for $4000? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** used, mini, cooper\ **Created:** [June 24, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807 "2010-06-24T15:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tradrock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Tradrock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tradrock)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/1 "2010-06-24T15:04:19Z")
I offered to help my sister find a used car. Budget is $3500 - $4000. She loves the Mini Cooper (of course), but they go for about $7500 used. In order of importance, she wants: (1) environmentally friendly (good gas mileage), (2) small size (for NYC parking), (3) reliability, and (4) cute/cool. #3 was my idea, actually. ANY SUGGESTIONS?!?! Please help!! Thanks, Dan. ---
**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/2 "2010-06-24T15:16:00Z")
Does your sister want a car, or a lifestyle appliance? Get her a Toyota Corolla, and let that be the end of it. When she can afford a Min Cooper later in life, she can get it herself. NYC is really, really expensive for car insurance, so getting her something that isn’t going to break the bank should actually be #1 on the list. I know, I grew up in NYC. BC. ---
**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/3 "2010-06-24T15:35:15Z")
Scion xA could be bought for that price with high miles. Why does she even need a car in NYC? Subway pass and a bike should get you anywhere you need to go. ---
**Author:** ![Tradrock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Tradrock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tradrock)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/4 "2010-06-24T15:35:35Z")
BC, Thanks, good info. Yes, it’s a tricky one. She does want something nice looking… I’m going to suggest she dress up a Corolla or something like it. She’s an artist (little income, so your point about insurance is particularly appreciated). Anything else she can dress up??? Cheers, Dan. ---
**Author:** ![Tradrock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Tradrock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tradrock)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/5 "2010-06-24T16:11:39Z")
Needs a car: Lives in Brooklyn, works in the Bronx, weekends in Westchester. Dogs not allowed on subways, and hers needs to go with her everywhere. I’ll check out the Scion. Cheers. Dan. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/6 "2010-06-24T17:47:57Z")
Go to [cars.com](http://cars.com), do an ‘advanced search’ under used cars, specify the location, price range and body type, see what catches her/your eye. I found a number of Acura coupes (with lots of miles) for between $4000 and $5000. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/7 "2010-06-24T17:56:52Z")
I think reason #4 is actually reason #1…This means your cost per mile to own and operate doubles… Help your sister find a husband. Dogs are a pathetic substitute for a family… ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/8 "2010-06-24T18:00:02Z")
I would look at small cars however watch very closely and foremost on insurance. It is going to be a large percentage of your purchase price and happen every year. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/9 "2010-06-24T18:52:30Z")
Help your sister find a husband. Dogs are a pathetic substitute for a family… My dog is a member of our family–just ask him! ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/10 "2010-06-24T19:49:22Z")
Does she care how old it is? You can still find pretty nice examples of early 90’s Civics and CRX’s. The CRX especially might make her happy from a “kinda like a mini” (but with better handling, reliability, and gas mileage) perspective. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/11 "2010-06-24T20:00:54Z")
I agree, if you’re footing most of the bill for this, cuteness/cool shouldn’t be a factor. Reliability and low operating costs should be paramount. The Corolla is a good choice, the Focus can be had at low-than-you-might-think prices, there’s also the Yaris, Scion, Civic, and Cobalt. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/12 "2010-06-24T21:02:08Z")
Dogs are a GREAT addition to a family, but they are a POOR substitute for one… ---
**Author:** ![BadaBing2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@BadaBing2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BadaBing2010)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/13 "2010-06-24T22:58:54Z")
Model Year 1996-2000 Honda Civic HatchBack: -Small -Easy on Gas -Reliable -Rather inexpensive to insure. -Plenty of space in the back for dog(s), when the backseats are down. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/14 "2010-06-24T23:33:00Z")
How about a New Beetle? I would suggest the TDI, but that adds a degree or two in difficulty to own if she’s not used to one(gotta remember which pump to pull up to, and if there’s even many diesel stations around) ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/15 "2010-06-25T00:41:29Z")
“My dog is a member of our family–just ask him!” Does His Majesty rule the roost? Her Majesty rules ours; at least she thinks she does. And most of the gang lets her get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/16 "2010-06-25T00:46:42Z")
Check this brochure for theft losses and then consult her insurer to see what the cost will be. Theft loss should be more of an issue in NYC than medical or collision losses. Most of the driving should be on surface streets and not the expressways. Note that the New Beetle has very low theft losses nationwide. [http://www.iihs.org/research/hldi/ictl\_pdf/ictl\_0905.pdf](http://www.iihs.org/research/hldi/ictl_pdf/ictl_0905.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Tradrock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@Tradrock](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tradrock)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/17 "2010-06-25T23:26:15Z")
Thanks for all of the advice. The Corollas aren’t gonna happen. Reason #4… The CRX is a good plan, will look more at that. The Acura coupes are not only a little long (think parking), but also great targets. Also like the new Beetle. Of course craigslist had a Prius on there cheap (too cheap to be real) and she’s alllll over that… Keep em coming! ---
**Author:** ![jalaramie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jalaramie/32/1888_2.png) [@jalaramie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jalaramie)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/18 "2010-06-26T00:16:52Z")
vw golf ---
**Author:** ![izzolaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5fc32e/32.png) [@izzolaw](https://community.cartalk.com/u/izzolaw)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/19 "2010-10-29T16:52:40Z")
In the mid-late 90s BMW made a little 3 door hatchback called the 318ti. Typical BMW handling, construction, safety – a great little driver’s car, and it’s better looking than a Civic/Corolla/. They are around 4 grand. To me that’s about as close you’re gonna get to MINI for that price range – especially considering both cars are made by BMW. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807/20 "2010-10-29T17:04:17Z")
CRX would be fun, but has pretty poor crash protection - I noticed ‘safety’ didn’t make your list, might want to add it. If it is a concern, then stick to more modern cars, much better safety equipment. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-used-car-mini-cooper-esque-for-4000/50807.md?page=2)