I like, I like. Used to own a '78 Corvette Pace Car way back when...(the first car I ever bought on my own was a '74 MG Midget and learned how to drive on an Austin Healey Sprite).

 

Come on people lets hear from ya

 

Funny that this is coming from one of the biggest vendor basher/fanboys........

Like all car forums, we will see the complaints not the praises most often. It's the "Have a problem, post it, maybe you'll get the problem fixed" that keeps most forums going.

 

You know instead of sparring with you. I will just report your post Have a nice day

 

 

sighs... no true complaints about my mini.. ok maybe one.. i still make payments.. but the hubster bought his outright.. is THAT fair? even though i do have the 06 MCS and he has the 08 MC... grins.. its win win over here!!
Rant on if you have probs with your mini, i understand completely... thats the beauty about the forum.. you have the right not to read if someone is complaining... its not all sunshine and rainbows.. but with the mini cooper.. it can be partly cloudy with rainbows.. and the lollipops taste great!!!

 

I know my Lolly does.

 

I have an '03 R50 and an '06 R53 that I bought in '06 when I had a chance to get a new R56, instead. I chose the R53. Aside from basic wear problems, I have little, if any complaints and do not intend to sell either car...even though the '03 is a CVT. I've tracked both cars, modded both cars, taken both to the Dragon numerous times, as well as to national MINI events, and just think each is fantastic in its own way. The R53 is my daily driver/HPDE car and the R50 is now relegated to mostly car shows and sometime driving, as it has some really rare qualities I wish to preserve.

I can afford a new R56, or a Clubman, or a Bimmer, or even bigger, but why mess with what I already have? I honestly do not believe a better car exists for what my driving habits are. I bought my cars for me. I am big, and they fit me perfectly. I never have been in the back seat, nor do I intend to ever sit there. My wife drives a Hyundai Sonata, claiming that the MINI is too small for her. That's ok...to each his own. However, my MINIs have never spent as much time at the dealer as has our Sonata [even IF it is claimed to be such a great vehicle]. The only real reason we have it is to transport friends and/or family for an evening out or on a long distance vacation, with lots of people AND luggage inside. Other than that, the Sonata is just a car, while the MINIs are just nothing short of SUPER!

 

My new Clubman S is the most fun car I've ever owned (and it's also a lot faster than my old 1973 Porsche 914 2.0 liter). My only complaint is that I've only gotten one wave so far (and that was by a passenger, not the driver). I love this car!

 

 

WOW. Your cars sound intriguing. You should post photos. Would love to see them both. I for one love my new '09 MCS and my husband loves his '03 MCS (modded).

 

Come on lets hear from you that love your Minis Here is another thread that I'm talking about where people are not necessarily bashing but have the wrong attitudes about our cars.



https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...or-my-r56.html

 

I am new here and my MINI was an impulse buy because I wanted a fun daily driver so I could retire my Vette to weekend status at 100k miles. I took delivery on 6/20. On day two the battery was defective and was replaced. On day six it left me sitting under an overpass in a torrential rain when the wiper stalk malfunctioned, it was replaced. And now 2 days ago I come out early in the morning with my map lights on. They wont turn off. Removed the bulbs and took it in. The SA says I have a defective roof control module. On back order. So in 400 miles it will have been in the shop 3 times.

The car is a blast to drive. Fit and finish seem to be good. I am hoping I just have a few bugs in it. But I have to admit I am getting a little uneasy about the car.

 

I've owned 2 Minis. My first was an 06 MCC and my current one is an 08 MCS. With 90,000 miles between them I am totally enamored with them. Both have been very reliable and a blast to own. Fit and finish are very good. Only the MCC had an issue-O2 sensor. I'd buy another one tommorow if I could justify it!

 

I think you just don't get it. It's a car... Yes, it's fun. Yes, the group of friends one finds is good. But it's still just a car. A car with more than a fair amount of problems. A car with too few dealers so lots of owner have a hassle getting service or warranty repairs. A car with some rediculous prices on spare parts (unless you really scrounge around).

Sorry if this sounds a bit rough.. But who appointed you the arbitor of what is correct and proper for all things Mini? Heck, you even participated in the thread that you pointed to about "people with the wrong attitude" about Minis. (But I'm sure you were just there to lead the masses who've wandered astray back into the flock...)

Look, I'm happy that you really like your car and find the Mini experience exhilirating. But why insist that each and all of us have exactly the same response?

My car is a blast, so much so that we got a second. But it will never ever have the tail wagging fun of my Mustang, nor will it ever have the sound of the flowmaster equipped V8. Nor will it ever be the light and carefree nimbleness that my underpowered Fiat spyder was. Nor will it ever be the totally ***** to the wall raw experience that a Lotus 7 clone I'm looking at (but really shouldn't get) would be if even only three of it's four cylinders were firing! Nor will it be the carefree fun that an 09 Miata I drove was, nor will it be the totally cruisilliciousness of a SL550 I had the pleasure to drive for a few hours.... Nor will it be the sheer (and shocking) all around driving exctacy of the new blown XF from Jaguar (with slightly better seats and a better nav system, that would be as close to the perfect car as any I've ever driven.)

I guess I'm just left wondering why we can't all just get allong and accept the fact that these cars are different things to different people, and that's good, as it should be.

Matt

 

Wow I just saw this post Actually whats your problem? This statement by you, "But who appointed you the arbitor of what is correct and proper for all things Mini?" I started a thread about what I wanted to say,.... ahh.... this is America where I can say anything I want! Why all the negativity? You also say this, "But it's still just a car." Then why do you have 9500 posts in a "car" forum? And why are you a poster in one of the largest Mini magazines in the country? If you are not passionate about the car why write about it? And then you say, "why we can't all just get allong and accept the fact that these cars are different things to different people" Thats fine But I happen to like our cars and the friends we have made only because we now own Minis

 

back to your normal thread content...

Matt

 

First was an 02 !! Had to go all the way to Atlanta to get it!! Had a few Air Bag issues... got scared, and bought a 05!! rocking... had a hard time getting used to "Its so Cute" thing!!
Then the British Green cam out.... yep!! Now the 06 is the "LAST ONE" I can buy ( she says..LOL) Only issues are tire wear... duh!! Cops saying I'm a bit too old to be going "that" fast, and the "Its so cute" thing!! Great car.. fun car.. it does all I want it to do.. even if I still have to listen to the "its so cute"!!

Just me.....................................

Thumper

 

I agree, "Thumper" (the name, its so cute) that the cars are cute, but that they can be made to look masculine or feminine. Look at my gallery--you will see why....

 

2003 R50 purchased new sold with 120k problem free miles
2005 R53 purchased new sold with 158k problem free miles
2007 R56 purchased new 80k problem free miles so far

No complaints from me!

 

I complain as much as the next Mini owner but I still love my Mini...

 

Wow you drive alot Also, nice car line up there

 

I love my 2005 MCS, but my recently acquired totally stock 1988 Toyota MR2 (21 years old with 69,000 miles) is my daily driver because it has proven to be far more reliable than my aging MINI with 106,000 miles on it and it's almost as much fun to drive, though it lacks the power.

I ran out of flatbed credits with AAA last year, and was glad the cycle just turned over, so I just did my first flatbed tow of the year last week. I spend a $1,000 to get my MINI repaired, and within 2 weeks, something else goes wrong...that's how it's been for the past year. I'm at the point of wondering whether I should keep pouring money into fixing the MINI or giving up and starting over.

What's up with my $45,000 plus R53 MCS that is trick and modified? It seems to keep needing replacement parts..and I don't have the deep pockets to maintain it.

If I do this all over again, I will definitely think twice about buying a broken MCS to save a few bucks up front and I will think twice about modifying it to the degree I have done so far.

My first MINI was a new 2003 MC that I sold after 65,000 miles and 3 years old.

I love my MINI, and like Minihune, has been many firsts for me, but the MINI love has worn thin for me.

re: parts
My JCW steering wheel was $350 used or $400 new. I bought a Momo for my MR2 for $180. Though parts are hard to find for a 21 year old car that isn't being built anymore, aftermarket parts are a lot lower!

The point of my post? I'm not bashing MINI for any of the problems I've had, nor am I bashing any vendors. Is my MINI absolutely fun to drive? Yes!! Are there other fun cars I could own? Yes! A customer of mine is selling his low mileage Maserati for $42,000...or a used M3 can be had for much less...both incredible cars that I wouldn't mind owning over my MINI.

But I'll still be keeping my MR2 if for anything as a company car for my customers to get around in when I'm working on their cars.

Richard