2011 MCS manual with 49000 miles. Dealer offers nice trade in value.

Looking at 2015 Mini Cooper non S. Automatic. Has everything I want it to have. Like the ride too.

My 2011 is almost paid off. But warranty is almost done and we all know how that can go.

Wouldn't mind have lower payments and stress free car.

What do u think?

 

Depends, 2011 was a transitional year when it came to engines. Do you have the N14 or N18 engine?

 

N18.

 

Well that makes it a harder decision then. If you had the N14 I would have said trade right away. But now I'm not sure. Good arguments either way. The N18 so far has proven much better than the N14 with regards the the Timing Chains, Water pumps, Thermostats, Carbon build up, ect. But its still not perfect. The R56 interior isn't the best. Makes more noise the older it gets.

With the F56 3 cylinder, its a new design. Not fully proven its more reliable, however it is a fully BMW built vehicle this time. And the interior is light years ahead of the R56.

Another thought for keeping the car is no more car payments. You could keep saving the same amount every month you would have gone to a car payment and then buy a new car outright within another few years. Or if you don't have enough to buy it outright, you'd have a nice chunk for a down payment. Also if you wait and save, then you'll see how well the little 3 cylinder is doing (along with the rest of the car).

Just food for thought.

 

There is one thing which just happened and the car is at dealer now. Got misfired in all 4 cilinders. Never happened before.
Maybe it's a sign before more problem will come?
Otherwise never had major problems with it.
I agree on payments. I'm just afraid it's going to be a tough one to sell in future with manual transmision.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about selling a manual trans MINI. People love 'em. Once you find out what the problem is, let us know. That will also be a guiding factor.

 

Have you had the carbon cleaning done ? I'm not sure if the n18 has the same build up problem as the n14 but I had my 10 done at 52000 and it made a massive difference to the power output. Night and day.

 

No carbon cleaning as of yet. Going to call them tomorrow and find out more.

 

I would not hesitate to recommend the F56. I love mine. 12k miles and no problems. The triple has power and in sport mode mixed driving I can't get it to go below 33mpg.

 

Oddly enough, I had a 2010 MCS as a loaner whilst waiting for my Cooper F56 to arrive. I found the MCS to be inferior to the GTI I had traded in in every way (except for visual appeal). I was even lamenting the move to Mini. Until the F56 arrived! It's an epic car: not quite the Hp of the MCS but brilliant in every other way

 

You have a good car with the good 2nd gen engine.
The F56 is has been out for just 1 year and is still teething (for lack of a better word).

Personally, I'd hang on to what you've got for another year or two. Out of warranty repairs will still be less than the car payment you're nearly rid of, and depreciation has slowed to a crawl. Why not enjoy the smaller cost of ownership while someone else finds and fixes all the new problems with the new platform?

 

Your assuming that BMW didn't do their homework. The 3 cylinder engine is here to stay for a while being used in the Mini and the I8 flagship hybrid car. The previous gen engines probably didn't have the money and or expertise behind them like BMW. Say what you will about BMW but it's hard to argue that they make bad engines. My car has been solid daily driving 160mi a day commute through our rough north east winter.

 

No, it's an understanding of the design & manufacturing process, and an understanding of the kinds of unexpected problems that inevitably fall out of a product when you put large numbers of it out in the field.

Odds are that an F56 made 2-3 years into the production run is going to be more reliable than an F56 made in year 1, that's just a truism of producing things.

Also, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...ty-survey.html

 

I still think your giving the OP bad advice. The first year was 2014 and he wants to buy a 2015. Besides the random oil filter leak what was really a major common problem on the F56 so far?

 

The 2014 model was on sale for what, 3 months maybe? It was a model "year" in name only.
You couldn't buy a MINI in the US until April, 2014; almost exactly 1 year of availability from today.

And how long did it take for significant problems with the last generation to crop up? Certainly didn't know about the carbon buildup issue until year 2 or 3 ... which was coincidentally around the same time that they sorted out the death rattle (for the 2nd time), water pump issue, and HPFP issue. These things take a little time to reveal themselves, let alone get fixed.

 

Time has yet to reveal the faults (if there is any of course) of the F56. It will take time & miles to really show the resilience of a vehicle.

 

I actually own one. And I have put 12,000 miles on it already with no problems. Most major problems would have surfaced by now. I don't baby this car at all with mixed highway and city driving.

Are you honestly telling this guy to wait 2-3 years to buy this car? Again that's not really good advice.

 

We all own one in here, 12,000 miles isn't nearly enough time for issues to crop up. Hopefully there won't be any major faults with the F56, but it's still a MINI.

That being said, if you're the type of person who doesn't typically keep a car past the warranty, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a 3 cylinder F56. It's easily the best MINI I've ever owned.

 

And just for perspective Jason, you've owned all 3 Generations have you not?

 

Yeah we've gone through at least 1 of each generation. 1 R53, 2 R56 hardtops, and currently have 1 R series clubman and my F56.

 

FYI, just talked to service. It was a fuel pump.
Picking up my old mini today.
Still considering brand new one.

 

Do it! I didn't drive a Cooper but my MA said the new Cooper is as quick as the R53 MCS. And admit it: you're tired of shifting that thing aren't you?
Part of me wishes I'd bought an F56. It was the Coupe body that ultimately got me, but I was tempted.

 

I just bought a 2011 clubman base auto, what motor do I have I assumed N18 and four cyl. I bought it for my wife and Mini is new to us. I had no idea they made a 3 cyl engine?

 

OP, I just returned a loner F55 Justa while my R59S was getting a new thermostat. I used to drive a 2006 MCS that I dearly miss.

I do agree the interior build quality on the Gen3 appears to be much better and it has none of those dashboard squeaks the Gen2s have built in (just squeeze any vent housing).

However I found the 3 cylinder engine to be less than inspiring.

More power than a Gen1 S? Meh, but mine did have the reduction pulley. Driving a Gen1 is much more of an experience, there is more drama, from the engine noise to the belt driven power steering.

Great fuel economy? I didn't see it. Drove the F55 Justa for two days, always in sport mode putting 140 miles on the car, and averaged a whopping 25.7 MPG. (Full tank to full tank and doing the math)

I couldn't wait to get back in my R59S, which gets 28 MPG with the same driving style.

If your car has the N18 engine I would stick with that, saving your car payment for a few years and buying your next one outright.

If you haven't modded your existing car and you need a change look at the JB+. Easy plugin giving you 15 to 20 more hp. Scratch that new car itch for only $300.

 

OP, I had a 2012 Justa with a manual and it was very dependable (N18). Probably would have kept it, but a dealer friend many miles away was burdened with too many Mini's while his new dealership was being built. Made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I now have the 3 cylinder with a manual. What a blast. Light years ahead in tech stuff, comfort, assembly and peppy as hell. It's got grunt in the low end--not so much up top like the older 4 cylinder but it scoots.