Mini One - a Mini for less than 200k
Finally, almost 10 years after the Mini was launched, South Africa is finally getting the Mini One. This is the smallest, cheapest Mini in the range. So, the cheapest in the range. Its still going to be a raging success.
So, currently, the cheapest Mini you can buy is the standard Cooper at R227 500. For R30k less, the Mini one comes with a few less kW and… thats it as far as I can work out. What I do know, is that for the first generation Mini One you could take it into a tuning specialist (or a Mini dealer I’m sure) and they will change the ECU chip for $50 or so and the new chip will increase the power to that of a Cooper. Magic. Just one little chip.
In standard form though, the Mini One is as close to the original Mini as you can get in the current range, being small and practical(ish). Pricing isn’t bad. At 198 000 including VAT and CO2 Tax, the One is the priced near the 1.6 Comfortline Polo and Ford Fiesta Trend. The issue comes in with extras, as the Pepper Pack costs R17 000 and all you get is a leather steering wheel and a piece of Chrome on the outside. Black or blue paint is R1 850, leather seats are R5 700. Once you start adding in the nicer extras, the Mini One is touching R225 000. You can keep going on the extras right until R250 000. Thats 250 000 for whats basically a Polo.
The thing is, it doesn’t have a Polo badge, its got a Mini badge, and thats just plain cool.
It will be interesting to see how it does in SA?