hi i have a mk1 Audi s3 that needing about 1500- 2000 spent on it to sort it also use quite a lot of fuel for a daily driver. i am thinking of trading it in i should get about 2000 for it trade in price.

i am after a small economical fun hot hatch. there a 2007 panda 100hp locally for 4500 grand and a few mini coopers at the same price.

i am thinking the mini would be more reliable timing chain etc and more rust resistant. the panda 100hp is a lot less common and probably cheaper on fuel insurance etc. i was wondering how reliable the panda 100hp are and how rot resistant?

I work with Mini's and believe me, a cooper will cost you a lot more to run than the Panda, be less reliable and rust more!!!

The Panda engine is bomb proof and they don't have any rust issues at all.

All too true. I've had several Mini's to work on (mainly minor electrical issues), but as yet, not a single Panda despite quite a few of my customers owning them as second cars. One customer liked his 100hp so much that now he, his wife, his daughter and his brother all have one each.

pandas do rust speak to samsite if i remember rightly

That's the old panda, the new pandas are very good. I'm yet to pick one up broken down compared to the mini which I pick up weekly.

The Mini is becoming a victim of its own success, and the image is slipping a bit (shame really, as dynamically, it's very good). The Panda, on the other hand is fast becoming a cult-car, especially the 100hp

are didnt see the 2007 yes then i agree. im not a lover of the mini's because there everywhere

See the MINI guide on HonestJohn.co.uk. They are not reliable cars, good fun to drive though.

I found the 100hp a much better drive than the Mini imo.

I haven't drove the mini imo Paul, sounds fun!

Cooper S JCW maybe. Cant really compare that to the panda though.

well ill have a test drive of both of them. i have driven mini cooper before and i quite liked it and it felt faster than i was expecting it too. i have heard they get problems with the power steering.

i read the evo review of the panda 100 and was surprised how much they liked it. i was just a bit worried about reliability i spent about £2000 on my fiat coupe in the 2 years that i owned it

If what I have heard is correct you should buy a Mini One, get it mapped, and it will have the same performance as a Cooper!! It will lack a few badges, etc., but you should get a much better One for your money, and it (probably) won't have been thrashed .

True, the MINI One (original) has the same engine as the Cooper, power is restricted by limiting the throttle opening. A Superchip on a One will give more power than a Cooper.

The 100hp panda is bomb proof, please do not compare is to coupe reliability There not in the same ball park...or country!

The panda is pretty simple, cheep to run, cheep to service and I would hazzerd a guess TCO will be much less. The engine is a peach.

The mini will be quicker and imop looks nicer but will bight you running cost wise.

(I own the older version Knight, and boy that's rusty!)

As an alternative to either...

What about a VW Lupo GTI?

125 bhp, weigh not a lot and are meant to be the closest thing VW has got to re-creating the Mk1 Golf.

I would have one myself, but there isn't much room in the back.

Love these wee cars, especially the later 6 speed version