OV9

Rich B wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:22 am

IanF wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:53 am Think they missed a trick not calling it the minii or imini. I

Surely it should be the Mini e

Min-E

I’ve just started working from home and having a big diesel is pointless so looking at electric options. Most weeks it will do less than 50 miles but I’d like it to be able to do a run to York (120 miles round trip).

Alex88 wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:18 am The i3 does look a bit bland inside.. but I've not seen other trims or been in one. Not keen on these minimalist interiors.

TBF I've always been impressed with the feel and look of the modern Mini interior, especially with a nice trim level. They feel premium.

The Mini is nice inside, certainly. The i3 is lovely to be in though; the design is simple and well done, the materials are clever and high quality.

Fair enough, and that would make sense considering it was a pioneer of BMWs new eco cars at the time. I think they look fab on the outside.

Alex88 wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:18 pm Fair enough, and that would make sense considering it was a pioneer of BMWs new eco cars at the time. I think they look fab on the outside.

Agree. BMW haven't topped it yet really have they? Personally I'd sooner have an i3 over a MINI. Every MINI I've ever been in or looked has felt cheap inside.

Or I'd be looking at an R5, cos R5. I saw an R4 the other night for the first time though and that was pretty

But, we all know what it's like when the wife has a very clear idea of what she wants.

I've already planted the R5 seed and am now playing the "not overly interested/involved" game. I'll leave it to germinate.

GG. wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 10:54 am

Mito Man wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:45 am Mini E was technically an i3 wasn’t it? At least I remember all the technical stuff underneath the i3 having Mini logos on it. I think I’d just go for an i3 which is more spacious, better city car, rwd, better quality materials.

Also - I'm not sure about the reference to better quality - there's one clear winner re interiors here and its certainly not the i3! I'd also add that cloth is not an option for a school run car - its got to be wipe clean leather for that purpose.

[

Why does it need to be wipe clean ?

We have had alcantara and Merc Plastileather for 11 years and the kids barely make a mess.

Do they regularly eat Sunday roast during rush hour or a bowl of cereal while navigating potholes ?

Dave!

V8Granite wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:52 pm

GG. wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 10:54 am

Mito Man wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:45 am Mini E was technically an i3 wasn’t it? At least I remember all the technical stuff underneath the i3 having Mini logos on it. I think I’d just go for an i3 which is more spacious, better city car, rwd, better quality materials.

Also - I'm not sure about the reference to better quality - there's one clear winner re interiors here and its certainly not the i3! I'd also add that cloth is not an option for a school run car - its got to be wipe clean leather for that purpose.

[

Why does it need to be wipe clean ?

We have had alcantara and Merc Plastileather for 11 years and the kids barely make a mess.

Do they regularly eat Sunday roast during rush hour or a bowl of cereal while navigating potholes ?

Dave!

Alcantara and the Merc synthetic leather may be different but with normal cloth seats, any liquid (including just water) spillage leaves marks on the seats. i3 example below:

V8Granite wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:52 pm

GG. wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 10:54 am

Mito Man wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:45 am Mini E was technically an i3 wasn’t it? At least I remember all the technical stuff underneath the i3 having Mini logos on it. I think I’d just go for an i3 which is more spacious, better city car, rwd, better quality materials.

Also - I'm not sure about the reference to better quality - there's one clear winner re interiors here and its certainly not the i3! I'd also add that cloth is not an option for a school run car - its got to be wipe clean leather for that purpose.

[

Why does it need to be wipe clean ?

We have had alcantara and Merc Plastileather for 11 years and the kids barely make a mess.

Do they regularly eat Sunday roast during rush hour or a bowl of cereal while navigating potholes ?

Dave!

I've never understood this either. No food and drink in the car. No bother.

IanF wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:53 am I saw an advert for the BYD Dolphin Surf with £229 down, £229pcm, 1.9% APR over 4 years.. looks a small footprint 5 door vehicle

My next door neighbour has just got one of these on a lease that I think was even less than that. Only 4 seats but he's enjoying it. His M4 Cabrio may be getting sold due to lack of use.

I saw the R4 on a cheap (<£200/month) lease the other week. I'd probably go for that rather than the R5 due to having a bit more space.

Swervin_Mervin wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:23 pm

Alex88 wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:18 pm Fair enough, and that would make sense considering it was a pioneer of BMWs new eco cars at the time. I think they look fab on the outside.

Agree. BMW haven't topped it yet really have they? Personally I'd sooner have an i3 over a MINI. Every MINI I've ever been in or looked has felt cheap inside.

Or I'd be looking at an R5, cos R5. I saw an R4 the other night for the first time though and that was pretty

But, we all know what it's like when the wife has a very clear idea of what she wants.

I've already planted the R5 seed and am now playing the "not overly interested/involved" game. I'll leave it to germinate.

Indeed, it still looks great on the road despite being a relatively old design now. BMW do seem to have a habit of building cars that are stylistically controversial at launch, but age really well and win people over. I think the i8 is great, too.

I think it depends on the Mini interiors. I've been impressed with our F56's interior, but it is a higher spec car with white leather. Decent materials and design and an overall nice place to be.

Agree on the R5. Would love one but range would be a hindrance.

JonMad wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 2:57 pm

IanF wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:53 am I saw an advert for the BYD Dolphin Surf with £229 down, £229pcm, 1.9% APR over 4 years.. looks a small footprint 5 door vehicle

My next door neighbour has just got one of these on a lease that I think was even less than that. Only 4 seats but he's enjoying it. His M4 Cabrio may be getting sold due to lack of use.

I saw the R4 on a cheap (<£200/month) lease the other week. I'd probably go for that rather than the R5 due to having a bit more space.

Was his lease though BYD themselves?

scotta wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:29 am

Rich B wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:22 am

IanF wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:53 am Think they missed a trick not calling it the minii or imini. I

Surely it should be the Mini e

Min-E

One thing it will never be called is Mine!

i3 with “loft interior” has leather seats, and as a killer option, the i3 has an area in front of the satnav that is the perfect size for a mid-size handbag and stores it fairly securely

Mini e level 2/3 are well spec’d , and a Mayfair one (Mini/BMW dealership) will have done minimal miles.. tracking and alloys however!

My ex has an R5 coming, which is annoying because it’s a good car that I can now never buy! But is a lot bigger than an Mini/i3, although a higher driving position would definitely be a plus point in London..

Surely you can do salary sacrifice GG.. takes the pain out the post ownership repairs, I imagine?

ETA - Check out this car on PistonHeads!

BMW i3
Price: £16,500
Year: 2021

View details: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/19660575

Zonda_ wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 3:13 pm

JonMad wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 2:57 pm

IanF wrote: Wed Mar 11, 2026 9:53 am I saw an advert for the BYD Dolphin Surf with £229 down, £229pcm, 1.9% APR over 4 years.. looks a small footprint 5 door vehicle

My next door neighbour has just got one of these on a lease that I think was even less than that. Only 4 seats but he's enjoying it. His M4 Cabrio may be getting sold due to lack of use.

I saw the R4 on a cheap (<£200/month) lease the other week. I'd probably go for that rather than the R5 due to having a bit more space.

Was his lease though BYD themselves?

12 months initial payment £1800
35 monthly payments £150
10k mileage per year
through Select Car Leasing