All good and well but it's the missus who wants one and who I would have to try to sell that arguement to.

I can just imagine the look on her face when I pointed out an iq and suggested "how's about one of these instead of a Mini my sweet?....... far more faithful to the original Issigonis design brief"

To add my thoughts, having owned a string of originals: The BMW Mini is very inefficient in terms of space, the back seats are a joke and barely useable. It's good to drive, but fit and finish are poor, dreadful for a BMW. The run-flat tyres are very expensive. Three friends have had gearbox failure. The brand is so dilute now it's become embarrassing.

My left field choice would be a Fiat Panda, with the 1.1 or 1.2 FIRE engine, this ancient engine is a work of art! Revvy, smooth and cheap as chips to run. We have one in the family and every time I drive it I feel like I'm 21again. The high mouted gear change is like a knife through butter and the whole car shouts FUN! Minimalist dash, great packaging, seats 4, great to drive, 50 mpg. It's not fast, but feels it, and keeps up with the flow, even on motorways. Noisy though! And it runs out of grip quite quickly on its skinny tyres, but that just adds to the fun.

Also consider a Suzuki Swift Sport, minimalist hatch, quick and simple, genuine nicely tuned 1.6 with no turbos or lag to worry about. Far better car than a Mini.

Having had 3 Mini's in the family, here's my view FWIW. Cars 1 &3 wifes, low mileage driver, car 2 mine, anything but low mileage and slow!

Car 1 - R56 Cooper 1.6, Dec 2006, FBMWSH, bought with 18K, sold 4 years on with 44k. Regualr old changes, no timing chain death rattle on start up. Had 2 tyres, rear pads and discs (BMW specialist fitted) and new front pads. Faultless reliability, sad to see it go. Bought from Mini specialst in Norfolk, standard aftermarket warranty.

Replaced by Car 3, an R56 2012 Cooper S Cabriolet, high spec, BMWSH. Bought from Rybrook nearly 2 years ago on 14k miles, today done 24k, faultless mechanicaly, one service under service plan. Only other issue has been the self-levelling gizmo at the front (for the xenon headlight adjustment) failed. Replaced, by local Mini dealer. Cant fault it. Ride is firm on 205/45X17 runflats, but reduce tyre pressures 3-4psi and it improves.

Car 2 - R56 Cooper S saloon (58 plate). Again, full BMWSH, bought from Benham's Wolverhampton, 51K miles in 2014, well speced. Six weeks in the Mini enjoyment, piston broke after 1,800 miles. Taken to Sytner, diagnosed, engine strip, new short engine under Mini warranty at no cost to me. Sytner also reported engine badly coked up (prev owner short journeys?) and they sorted this too at no cost. Also fitted with new thermostat and new water pump, but thermostat began leaking 6 months on from new engine. Fixed under Mini warranty, but took 2+ weeks as part was in short supply/back order and dealer was pressurised to resolve. Did have a hire car Mini was paying for. Car sold to work colleague, still running today, but had a couple of electrical gremlins.

So it's variable on reliability, but it's a car a like, the performance versions are great fun to drive - and fast, but I'd only buy again with the full Mini service history and a Mini 12-month warranty.

The R56 series 1.6 engines in the Cooper S are the same as in the performance DS3s, and some Pug RCZs and prone to same timing chain and coking issues.

Suzuki Swift sport nippy, but hey, doesnt have the charisma of a Mini, does it?

Thing is there's plenty of Mini's around, specs vary widely so you can be picky, but I'd suggest air con and part leather upholstry, reverse park sensors as a minimum and 16in wheels if a Cooper. Pan roof is nice, xenon headlights make a hell of a difference too. Also check if it's an 'S' that the recall has been done to the turbocharger (aux water pump cools after switch off) - recall was for 'smouldering' then car in flames!! See HJ car by car, but lots of niggly faults can occur.

I like the Panda as well - good fun drive. However, not everyone likes the looks but the 500 is basically the same car with a cuter body which might be worth considering.

If, as you have hinted at, this car is to be a christmas present, it is going to be very tricky to get anything other than the mini she wants. But ignoring my earlier posts regarding what would be the perfect 'spiritual' successor to the original mini, someone else mentioned the suzuki swift sport. This is probably about the best car which competes with the BMW mini. It has very similar proportions (squat), is fast enough for most, it is very reliable (as are most suzuki's), vey well regarded by the motoring press, and is rated vey highly by owners. Also, it is almost certainly going to be cheaper year for year than the BMW mini. So have a look on autotrader, and if you like what you see, maybe you could 'casually' point out one or two when you are out and about to guage her reaction?.

She's a bit odd that way though, she doesn't generally like small cars i.e. it's only the mini (okay, and the TT but that's too low for her back) that she likes. If she was to go for an alternative she's probably fancy something bigger....I didn't say it made sense!

Popped into a local dealers this evening and came away with a nice 2015 Seat Leon 1.2 TSi (110) SE (Tech). Sensible, reliable, nice to drive, decent spec (sat nav/DAB and LED lights) bit cheaper than many others on AT and a very fair trade in on the Volvo (plus £30 pa tax is a bonus). SWMBO seems very happy!

We'll settle for capable but slightly boring at the moment and I'll be back here in maybe 3 years time when I get the itch for a fun car (I can really see myself in late 2000's Jag XJ 350 series!)

Thanks again