Hi From NE Oh, Looking to get into a Mini
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2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Leavittsburg, Ohio
Hi From NE Oh, Looking to get into a Mini
Hi all,
Looking around & checking out some Mini's for my Wife. We test drove a 2002 5sp & are going to check out a 2005 S convertible tomorrow.
From what I've read, the Midland 5sp is not a good trans, power sterring problems but can be fixed w/ the additiond of a fan shroud of sorts to protect it from road debris. The shock towers can mushroom but a metal plate install corrects this.
Anything else? Any years to avoid. the 03 driveline got bad marks in one review. BTW we are looking for a manual.
Any advice is much appreciated. I also was checking out the Burning River threads. Always nice to have a support group nearby!
Thanks again,
Dave
Looking around & checking out some Mini's for my Wife. We test drove a 2002 5sp & are going to check out a 2005 S convertible tomorrow.
From what I've read, the Midland 5sp is not a good trans, power sterring problems but can be fixed w/ the additiond of a fan shroud of sorts to protect it from road debris. The shock towers can mushroom but a metal plate install corrects this.
Anything else? Any years to avoid. the 03 driveline got bad marks in one review. BTW we are looking for a manual.
Any advice is much appreciated. I also was checking out the Burning River threads. Always nice to have a support group nearby!
Thanks again,
Dave
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Leavittsburg, Ohio
Drove an 05 Conv & an 07 S last Thursday. Don't think a conv here in NE Ohio would be a practical DD. The S was fast & had the push button start. Took us a minute to figure it out, but man this Mini wanted to go.
Why did the S go from S/C to Turbo in 07. We haven't driven a S/C model so we don't know as of yet how it compares. Drove 3 Mini's so far all were still tight, no rattles or squeeks, handling firm. One thing w/ a 5sp, when driving 55MPH the engine is running at 2800 RPM w/ the 6sp it drops down to 2K. I'm sort of surprised that the non-s gets 37MPG epa rated on the highway w/ the engine working that hard.
The Lil' Mrs. has taken a fancy to Orange as of late. I've only seen 'em so far in a conv when looking online.
MINI's rock,
Dave
Why did the S go from S/C to Turbo in 07. We haven't driven a S/C model so we don't know as of yet how it compares. Drove 3 Mini's so far all were still tight, no rattles or squeeks, handling firm. One thing w/ a 5sp, when driving 55MPH the engine is running at 2800 RPM w/ the 6sp it drops down to 2K. I'm sort of surprised that the non-s gets 37MPG epa rated on the highway w/ the engine working that hard.
The Lil' Mrs. has taken a fancy to Orange as of late. I've only seen 'em so far in a conv when looking online.
MINI's rock,
Dave
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Ask around in the First Gen forum, your questions will probably get noticed more there. There are also lots of questions on this topic already if you look around.
I honestly don't know much about the older MINIs, but I have read in various forum posts that '02s had more issues than any other year. And for the cabrio, I think the '09 (first year of 2nd gen?) had the most issues.
I don't know what your budget is, but check out the certified used cars... you would get a 100k warranty. Most of those will be from the last few years though, and therefore more expensive.
You are correct about the potential for mushrooming of the strut towers. The reinforcement plates are easily installed, just make sure the car you are buying is not already damaged.
I honestly don't know much about the older MINIs, but I have read in various forum posts that '02s had more issues than any other year. And for the cabrio, I think the '09 (first year of 2nd gen?) had the most issues.
I don't know what your budget is, but check out the certified used cars... you would get a 100k warranty. Most of those will be from the last few years though, and therefore more expensive.
You are correct about the potential for mushrooming of the strut towers. The reinforcement plates are easily installed, just make sure the car you are buying is not already damaged.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Leavittsburg, Ohio
Ask around in the First Gen forum, your questions will probably get noticed more there. There are also lots of questions on this topic already if you look around.
OK, I've been finding them.
I honestly don't know much about the older MINIs, but I have read in various forum posts that '02s had more issues than any other year. And for the cabrio, I think the '09 (first year of 2nd gen?) had the most issues.
09, really? We don't think a Cabrio, after much discussion, would make a good DD here in NE Oh.
I don't know what your budget is, but check out the certified used cars... you would get a 100k warranty. Most of those will be from the last few years though, and therefore more expensive.
The 07 had one I believe, that makes for gr8 advice!
You are correct about the potential for mushrooming of the strut towers. The reinforcement plates are easily installed, just make sure the car you are buying is not already damaged.
OK, I've been finding them.
I honestly don't know much about the older MINIs, but I have read in various forum posts that '02s had more issues than any other year. And for the cabrio, I think the '09 (first year of 2nd gen?) had the most issues.
09, really? We don't think a Cabrio, after much discussion, would make a good DD here in NE Oh.
I don't know what your budget is, but check out the certified used cars... you would get a 100k warranty. Most of those will be from the last few years though, and therefore more expensive.
The 07 had one I believe, that makes for gr8 advice!
You are correct about the potential for mushrooming of the strut towers. The reinforcement plates are easily installed, just make sure the car you are buying is not already damaged.
Thanks,
Dave
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Good luck in your search! For what it's worth, if I was going to buy used it would definitely be a MINI Next certified as I mentioned above. If they hadn't made those nice changes to the 2011, I would have probably bought a certified Next just for the warranty. And if the car you are interested in is not certified, ask if it could be. There are certain requirements it has to meet (which gives me more confidence in them) but you might be able to pay a little extra to have it certified.
http://www.cincinnatimini.com/CPOStory
http://www.cincinnatimini.com/CPOStory
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