I've owned my "Just-a-Cooper" for 7-8 months - base car with only a cruise control steering wheel and hood stripes as options.

The car gets great mileage, but I've had lots of squeaks and rattles that annoy me. The latest is the driver's window which rattles over anything but smooth roads. The dealer said he can't find it, so he can't repair it. Same story for the glove box and on sometimes the passenger door.

These things bother me and take away from the enjoyment of the car. I am also getting tired of the ride, which was OK when I first took a test ride, but after a 200 mile trip it gets pretty tiring. I deliberately bought the base car with 15" non run-flat tires to get a better ride, having tried the 16" & 17" run flats on the test ride and found them way too intense for everyday driving.

The handling is pretty good, but the front wheel drive can't quite do what my rear wheel drive cars can - turn without torque steer. Add to that the high level of road noise, and I'm feeling like I made a rushed decision when I bought the car and should have gone for the BMW 3 series instead.

Sorry to be a negative voice on the forum, but I'm wondering if others have had similar experiences, and if so, what did you do to overcome them? And, by the way, I'm an older guy, so everything tends to bother me.

 

Cadillac or Jaguar all the way...smooth ride.
For less cash a Buick Lucerne is sweet.

 

I'd say you bought the wrong car. My car is a rattle trap and the seats are the worst so I crank the stereo and I'm looking for new seats. My point being some people love these cars and some people just are cut for something else. Be happy about one thing, at least your not gonna be trying to trade in an SUV

 

if you want less road noise and a little better ride, dump the run flats, you can also add sound deadening material to the firewall area if you take the tires off and the felt liner.

 

He does not have the run-flat tires, so there's nothing to dump.

One thing you might try is to go drive a more ordinary car for a bit, just to get a bit of perspective. For me, everything's all relative... so I guess if I had access to other cars with similar "fun factors" I might also be less tolerant of my own car's "features."

I'm afraid I don't know of anything else to improve your driving experience short of trading your MINI in. Good luck!

 

+1 on the stereo! I never hear rattles or squeaks.

 

I'm one of those older guys as well. But I am currently driving an 05 GTO, rear wheel drive lots of hp. Pretty nice car as hot rods go. Pretty stiff ride. The suspension does not have a lot of give. Not a lot of money for a lot of hp. I'm used to a stiff ride so I don't think the ride will bother me. I also have a Mazda 3. The car is a nice size interior wise except the center stack is too close to my right knee and it is not comfortable on long trips.

My wife had a Toyota Corolla that was pretty comfortable. Cloth seats and all.

My wife has the MCS auto and so far I like that car alot. It's a 2009 model and we got most bells and whistles. I have not driven it but I have ridden in it and I don't notice any rattles. They drive me nuts as well but I think I will learn to live with them if I have to because I love driving the car. I have a tendency to think I will put up with a lot just because I like driving the car so much.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that only you can make the decision as to what to do with the car. Keep it or get rid of it. If you lean more toward looking at a car as just a conveyance and you want that conveyance to be comfortable and quiet at all times then you probably did make a hasty purchase. It may no be the best time to sell right now if you should decide to do so. If you have another car you may want to drive it and keep the MINI with extremely low miles just to maximize the selling price when the market gets better. I like cars with bells and whistles so that is why I bought loaded cars. Gives me more comfort so I can overlook small nuisances.
I also like the car because it is just different. Quirky and not something that is in every garage.

Good luck with you decision.

Pat

 

I'm a noise **** for sure, so I understand your frustration. The control panel to the sunroof rattles like crazy in my car. I keep removing it, and trying to pad what I think is the problem, it's all trial and error.

As for the ride, you can upgrade the suspension system, and get better seats, otherwise you should probably start looking for a different car. I don't think the Mini was ever intended to be a luxury ride, even with all the bells and whistles. It's a race car and built like one.

Basically, I don't think you should over come anything, if you're tired of the ride, get a new one. Mini's hold their value fairly well, so you shouldn't have a problem selling it.

 

As far as the ride goes, you might want to look at a set of Koni FSD's, I hear those really soften things up while keeping the good handling. But that is $$$ and doesnt fix the other problems you mentioned.

I am in agreement with what PatM said, it is all about what a car is to you.

 

OK, you need to "fun up" your MC.

Things to consider-
Roll your window down- if the weather permits. Hopefully no more rattles
Or if you need the window up then try a stereo upgrade. What about window partially up- any noise?

Koni FSD shocks might be a good choice for street use. I like the FSD for good ride and good handling.
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...per_fsd_shocks

Better tires are always tops on my list of stuff. Your old tires can be getting harder over time and more noisy and less comfortable. Even though you have a 2008 MC, if they have a lot of miles on them then think about replacing with something with soft rubber and good comfort. Consult with Alex@tirerack but for stock 15" wheels maybe something like-
Michelin Primacy MXV4 Grand Touring All Season tires in
195/60-15 620 treadwear, $109 each H speed rated
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....l=Primacy+MXV4

Your get more comfort and low noise with good handling for street use and longer wear. The size is good for stock suspension and stock wheels.
All Season means you can run them in any weather year round, dry wet or cold.

For daily use I use stock Continental ContiTouring Contact tires 175/65-15. They rate near the last for all categories for Grand Touring All Season tires but they work.
For Performance driving I use Extreme Summer tires- 205/45-17 Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R. Much higher cost and very comfortable and good handling but wears fast.
They do come in 195/50-15 to fit on stock 15" wheels but the load rating is low for street use and the tires are much smaller than stock.
Also for highest grip and good comfort Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec in 195/55-15 which is smaller than stock but not too bad.$89 and 200 treadwear

So in order to get the most out of your upgrades-
1. tires- it's never too soon to upgrade them
2. Koni FSD shocks and stock springs
3. cold air intake or at least a new air filter if your old one is dirty, see http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...7i)intake.html
4. windows down or whatever it takes to get the rattle out. Maybe try a different dealer? Maybe try an independent garage.
5. I didn't see any good options for 2008 MC exhaust but that would have been on my list. It's more fun to drive when you have a little more sound from the exhaust, Might drown out the rattle. A custom exhaust axle back is possible.

 

I don't have any rattles.

What does bug me is that occasionally the driver seat shifts on it's rail or something, like it's not completely set or locked in place. I like a rigid seat that doesn't move.

 

Mine is pretty rattle free. An occasional dash buzz from the upper vent when the temperature is just right. That's about it. I hate noise as well, but all in all find the mini very quiet.

I'd take the car back to the dealer or try another dealer. Have the tech drive it with you and hear it for himself. I had a terrible rattle of the secret compartment. They replaced the entire assembly as mini had changed the design since mine was built. It didn't help. On my way back home I turned around and had them drive with me. He heard it. Turned out it was the oak panel vibrating against the plastic backing of the door. Problem solved.

I also agree about driving another car for a while. I've never had anything that had the handling of the mini, and I also think it is very comfortable.

 

I've always felt that there are 2 kinds of MINI owners... those that love 'em and those that think they do and find out that they really don't. Sounds to me that you're one of the second... that's OK though. Probably the best thing for you to do is move on. I bought my MINI from an owner like you. They were happy to move on and I was thrilled with my new (used) MINI.
Good luck!

 

If it's not for you, then it's not for you. At this point though, I wouldn't sell it quite yet--if you have another car to drive, mothball the Mini (a shame, yes). I think mothball insurance only costs like $25/month, and you'll definitely earn that back in resale price when (Note: not if) gas prices go back up.

 

Here is my suggestion....

Go and spend a day or two in a rented crapmobile. Try an Aveo, Dodge Neon or Hyundai Accent.

When you get back inside the MINI you'll have a deeper appreciation for the kind of machine you have.

If that still doesn't move you.... Come to terms with the fact that the MINI is not a good fit for you. Time to move on...

 

Nah, I don't think switching shocks or tires will give the op what he needs. I mean he has non "S" suspension and non-runflats already.
I still say pick up a sweet Cadillac, Jaguar, Buick Lucerne or Crown Victoria...you won't regret it smooth like a yacht.

 

Thanks to all for talking me off the ledge - it was touch and go there for a while.

OK, here's what was behind this initial post. I have always had a fantasy that ended with me buying a Ferrari - any Ferrari, but preferably red/tan. Over the last 3 decades I've been buying lots of cars, none of them Ferraris because I didn't want to spend, or didn't have the money to spend, on buying one. So I've owned several interesting non-Ferrari cars including several Alfa Romeos (great cars - GTV-6, 164LS, 1991 Spider), several BMWs (3 series, 5 series, 850), Porsche and a lot more mostly easily forgettable cars.

So with the luxury car market in shambles I find myself looking at used Ferraris once again - especially since they are a lot cheaper than they were just a year ago.

Naturally, at least to me, a Mini Cooper can't compete with a Ferrari 550 - an incredible 12 cylinder car with 400+ HP and 400+ pound feet of torque in a beautiful 2 seat body. These cars are priced at 1/3 of their new car prices of 8 years ago, a great value.

So I look at a few of them, and drive a few of them, and to no one's surprise, I like them more than the Mini. So I call the insurance agent, and since I'm old and haven't had a speeding ticket since Carter was president, I can get great coverage for a song. So now I decide that my Mini Cooper isn't what I thought it was when I bought it (It is, we all know it, but I'm a Ferrari addict).

As I look closer into the Ferrari world, I see my old first love - the late 1980s Testarossa, even found one in Red/Tan. I call the owner, ask a bunch of questions and the moment of truth arrives - should I buy it? I ask for some service records and he faxes them to me. And then reality hits - $12,000 for his last major service, and nearly $30,000 in bills over the 8 years he's owned it. The 550 should cost less to maintain, but it will likely cost what I paid to buy my Mini.

Then I remember how much fun I had with my Fiat 850 spider - which I bought brand new when I got my first high school job in 1968 for $2,420 including tax and a radio. I drove that car hard - hitting redline in every gear all the time, and rarely exceeded the speed limit. I was racing everyone, but they never knew it since the car had only slightly more power than a lawnmower. But it brought a smile to my face whenever I drove it.

That's what the Mini is now. I get ABS, airbags galore, a well designed car with crisp handling, a 4 year warranty and 3 years free service in a lightweight easy to drive car. Best of all I can rev the engine to redline in any of the first 3 gears without exceeding the speed limit on most roads. The handling is great, and the only drawback is I still don't like front wheel torque steer.

So, now that I can get my Ferrari (no, I'm not rich, but given how much I lost in the stock market last year dropping some money on depreciation won't kill me) the bigger question I ask myself is "Why?". If I think a Mini is a rough ride at times and is loud on the highway, is a real Ferrari 328 or 355 going to be less so? Will I get to rev in every gear with 360 HP under the hood without getting the attention of the local law enforcement officer? Will the driving experience be that much greater than the Mini, which I can drive every day and park anywhere without worry? The honest answer is no.

So, I'm reconsidering my Mini in a new light. Maybe the answer is right in front of me - drive it and enjoy it, and if I need a different less "involving" ride, maybe I should consider a BMW 750, or some similar sport/luxury car.

Anyway, regardless of what I decide, thanks again for talking me off the ledge - it's a great community we have on this forum.

 

You would hate a Porsche...

 

May I offer a suggestion? Sign yourself up for a track day, sometimes called HPDE, and put your justacooper through its paces (if you haven't already done so). I also have one of these amazing machines, and pushing it to its limit on the track is a thrill that just has to be experienced to be appreciated. Driving as fast as you can (safely) on a track without worrying about LEOs, kids, potholes, etc. is great economical fun! Oh yeah... getting 40+ mpg on the highway is a plus, too. It just may give you a whole new appreciation for your MINI, and it's a heckuvalot more affordable than a Ferarri

 

What he said. But I bet you can go a cut above the above mentioned cars and still the MINI would come out way ahead.

 

If now is the time that you can afford to fulfill your Ferrari Dream... maybe you should. You said that you are old. So if you don't do it now... when would you? Until you do it, you will always wonder... and probably NO other car will ever fill that void.

BTW- I love my MINIs! But I have no desire to own a Ferrari so... take it with a grain of salt. Good luck to you.

 

Get the 3 Series, and keep the MINI for the weekends

Mark

 

nobody has to anwser your heart but you

 

Well Ferraris (Like most uber exotic Italian cars) are very expensive toys to feed and keep running. I understand your obsession with them (Quite Frankly Ferraris don't do much for me, I much rather see myself in a Lambo, Maserati, Aston, Ford GT) but understand that you may be getting yourself into a money pit like you have never seen before.

Ferraris are temperamental beasts. I know people that have owned them and simply moved on. Brutally expensive maintenance, astronomical repairs and if gas shoots up again to $4 per gallon, you don't even want to think about the cost of keep feeding that V-12.

Those cars are made for rich people, period. Everyday laymen can not sustain the cost of maintaining these fancy toys running.

So beware, Even if you can get a Ferrari for 70% discount, the cost of repairs and upkeep will negate the purchase "savings".

Just my two pence. Feel free to disagree.

 

lencap: When memories are taken in retrospect, they always seem nostalgic. People can get caught up in the "what could have been" and the "what if" when in reality the "what it is now" matters the most. The Mini might not be for you, but if you have not given it a fair chance you might regret it later. Try the classes as someone else mentioned. Most owners never truly feel the wonders and limits of the Mini. Go discover yours.

On another note: I saw a rich lass(in her early 20's) pull up into my hospital few days ago. She's one of our biggest clients. I never knew she had a Mini and started chatting with her a little. She knows nothing about Mini's. Just that they're expensive little buggers that was a fad when the movie came out. She also noted the uncomfortable ride. Alas, her family drives the usual luxury comfortable brands. At the back of my mind I pitied the Mini, it'll never truly feel its real calling on the twisties. GAH! It was supercharged too. :(