There are only two things I really don't like about my '09 JCW. And these are in comparision to my '03 MCS.

1) The turn signal indicators never seem to go to the position I want them to be in.

2) The electric steering pump took some road feel away from the driver. The steering just doesn't feel as precise.

Here are things I think MINI improved over the 1st generation cars.

1) Better engine performance (lots of torque)
2) They are safer
3) More fuel effiecient
4) More comfortable ride
5) Better top end pull
6) Quicker off the line
7) Better braking
8) Awesome sounding exhuast note
9) Still cute as a button

Of course there are always going to be problems, service bulletins, and recalls as with any car manufacturer. Most issues have been fixed to my satisfaction by a great service and repair crew at the dealership.

 

There is only one thing I hate about our Mini:





It is that I have to put Blizzacks on her during the winter and she just does not handle as well

 

Driving style has a lot to do with the gas mileage.

I'd say 27 mpg at speeds of 120-130 is pretty darn good.

I've never seen below 27 mpg in my JCW and it only got that low when I first got the AP tune and drove crazy all day. Almost every tank the mileage is between 31-33.

 

MINI's for the Canadian market come with lights programmed always on, everything, lowbeams at full power, taillights, markers, plate, ..........everything. Yes, we have a federally mandated daytime running light law, which I agree with totally. But, I would like to be able to turn the lights off when parked or when starting the car in minus 25 degree winter weather. Even if they went off with the handbrake. But BMW removes the DRL programming. There isn't even a fuse to remove the drl function.

Even my 2009 Chevy Silverado has a switch to turn lights off while parked. BMW is very lazy about this. They program every other function under the sun.

Gerry.....2010 BRG Cooper

 

the amount of dust on the trunk and rear window after wash/wax

 

I used to hate
1. My leatherette seats, switch them out a week ago to suede.
2. Hate the price of a new clutch, pricey indeed.
3. Run flats sucked.
4. on how everything in the car is so freaking tight in there, a pain in the rear to just change the control arm bushings.
5. like everyone, brake dust.

 

I hate that I can't have the heat/AC blow just on my hands and feet, it's either hands/feet/windshield, just hands, or feet/windshield. The airflow sucks when it's set to blow on all 3, and that's no good when it's friggin' freezing outside. Also, my lock ***** on my doors sometimes rattle and the dealer can't do anything about it.

I'm kinda glad that I only have petty things to complain about, other than that my MINI has been wonderful :D

 

everytime i get in my pant leg or my leg hits the arm that lowers or raises your seat. and it goes down a full click not a huge issue but annoying. also the lack of no place for cds. its hard getting a cd from the glove box while driving

 

oh and htat automatic crap with the air. i feel like im driving in a fire when im on the highway, how do i stop the hot air from always coming in?!?!!?

 

and how coul di forget! the horn not being in the middle of the wheel, i hate that!!!! its instict to go for the middle. its hard trying to find those little buttons

 

After six months of ownership, I haven't used my horn! I don't even know what it sounds like!
I should probably go outside an beep it!

Dave

 

What?? Horn?? It has a horn?? Where???

Mines is at 13 months and 25K miles -- never honked mine either. Let's both go outside and blow our horns.

Really, I just never thought of that before.

 

Weird, I haven't used my horn either

What do I hate about my MINI? The fact that dealer services are a bit more expensive than I'm used to (luckily that's not a HUGE deal), the small creaks and rattles (damn aftermarket suspension), the brake dust, and how the rear end of the car gets much dirtier than any other part of the car.

That being said, the good outweighs the bad almost always.

 

Yeah I feel like a bus driver in Hell. Is this normal?

 

Have you tried turning down the temperature?

 

Then it just blows colder air. What I want is no airflow. That's why I have my AC/Heat in the "off" position. If I wanted it on, I'd turn it on.

 

You don't have to run it on the auto setting. On the right side of the stack are buttons that allow you to direct the air toward your feet or towards the dash, or both and, once its off of auto, you can play with the fan speed and temperature to your heart's content (you can even leave the vents open and turn the fan off so that you just get air movement from the cowl. I've really found my HVAC system to be pretty well thought out, once you figure out how to use it.

..... and I guess the reason we so seldom use the horn is that its so seldom anything is in front of us that long -- right???

 

 

I hate that I can't fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood in it. If I could, I'd have no other reason not to drive it.

 

check engine lights

 

1. Not being able to open the boot with the key in the ignition.

That's one of the biggies, for now.

 

I have to agree, I didn't get one sooner is the biggest thing.

Other than that, it would be nice to have a boot release inside the car. But it isn't like it is all that far to walk from the driver's seat to the boot lol.
And if that is all I can come up with, I am doing good. I like just about everything about it, much more that I liked my Honda Accord. I smile everytime I drive the MINI.

 

Boot release in the car or no, you CANNOT pop the boot with the key in - meaning, at the airport, trying to unload people/luggage while in park, etc. *That's* the part that drives me crazy.

And yeah, it is much more finicky than my last (Subaru). But I knew that going in and understood that to get the super-fun-awesomeness that is a Mini, I was going to have to put up with a little eurocar-BMW-esqe nonsense.

 

My pet peeves are (1) the dusty bum my Clubman gets after only 3 days post-wash; and, (2) not being able to open the barn doors from the inside with the key fob in the ignotion.

And, as noted by others, brake dust is pretty bad, but it is nowhere as bad as the Infiniti G35 I drove before my MINI.

All in all, I still love my MINI.

 

There is an inside release for the rear, it's on the key fob! Just take the key out and push the hatch open button!

Dave