Mini Problems

The fastest one you can buy. The John Cooper Works and GP models are genuinely fun cars that have personality for days and make driving a joy.

Modern cars are very tricky to break in to so, if you have lost your keys then you're going to need to call a professional locksmith to get you back into your vehicle. The only other options are hazardous as they involve smashing glass, although that isn't a guaranteed way to open your boot or doors as Mini Coopers can be dead-locked meaning they will not open without a key.

 If you don't have a key then you will need to call a locksmith to get into your Mini. Modern security systems make it next to impossible to break into your own car via the boot or door without damaging it badly.

The 1115kg Mini Cooper comes in at 3821mm long.

We could not find any tow ratings for any of the new Mini models on sale in Australia today, which tells us they are not designed to tow a trailer.

As with the original Mini from 1959 all regular Mini Coopers sold in Australia are front-wheel drive. The Mini raced in the World Rally Championship is an all-wheel drive model, though you cannot buy this model as a member of the public. There are no four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive models sold by Mini.

In a factory! BMW’s New Mini Hatch, Coupe and Roadster are built in England at BMW’s Plant Oxford facility, while the Hatch, Convertible and Countryman are assembled at VDL Nedcar in Born, The Netherlands. Until 2016 Magna-Steyr assembled the Mini Paceman in Austria.

Yes, it would the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. Generally it’s a sound car, and 70,000 km isn’t a lot of kilometres for a seven-year-old car, but be careful to check for signs of abuse from an enthusiast owner. Look for smoke from the tailpipe. Also listen for a rattle from the engine, as there was a batch of engine with timing chain issues.

Predicting how many kilometres a car lasts is next to impossible, as each person drives a car differently and in varying situations that affect the potential lifespan of the vehicle. However, as the New Mini has been built by BMW since 2000 they are as reliable as any other premium small car, so long as you service them regularly and don't skimp on cheap parts. The Cooper S John Cooper Works models have a cult following with good cause, as they are legitimately brilliant, fun little cars.

While Mini debuted in 1959, the first Mini Cooper went on sale in September 1961 and over 12,000 were built by the time production ended in 1967. Today BMW has owned Mini since 2000, and produces the New Mini in England, including the Cooper and Cooper S models.