Well, I should know better than to ask an enthusiasts site because you tend to hear all positive comments. I went to Edmunds to look at reviewer comments and many griped about windows that don't work, alternators, transmission issues, fuel pumps...and on.

I've driven a couple of Minis and yes, they are a blast to drive. I am looking at a daily driver, one that will not give me headaches and that will be reliable, especially in a WNY winter.

I'm just trying to make an informed decision as I will be paying for the privilege over a 5 year period if I decide to pull the trigger.

Thanks all of you who have responded...your passion is wonderful!

 

ok so i have had 2 MINIs so far!! my first one was a 2002 pure silver cooper! when i got the car it had 80k miles on it! i was living in ireland so high mileage isnt as common there, i put 25K miles on it, i liked the car, but the more i drove it the more i loved it, however the first gen ones, 2002 till 2004 are the ones that have the most problems it seems, steering collums, power steering failure, manual gearbox problems, radiator issues, etc etc.. i had most of these problems, and it is a pain, but the love you get from the MPG and the fun to drive it makes it almost worthwhile, now to be said the 2004 to 2006 models, the facelift ones were much better, they fixed those flaws and are much more reliable! the new and current version 2006 and up seem to be a treat! there isnt many things wrong with them it seems, as long as they get the service and looked after it should treat you fine, i am realistic when it comes to cars, but theres something about having a MINI which is a little different! especially since im now living in California where i swore i would drive a mustang.. or charger etc, but they just arent as fun as a MINI!

 

Well, I lost most of the novelty with my first MINI, which was a hunk O junk, and if the problems continue with my second one, well, I'll find something else to love. Dont get me wrong, I love driving this car, but all the trips to the dealer for all the little, and sometimes big, things that go wrong or go south are starting to make me jaded.

 

I've had my MINI for a year now and the novelty has not worn off... In fact, my addiction is getting worse... The little cars are just too much fun to drive...

 

If you were to start to get bored with your Mini, you just need to add a new mod and it becomes a whole new car again. Always thinking about the next way to spend $$.

 

I still get up every morning and get a lift when I see it out under the car port. When I start it it's love all over again and when I hit the ess cuurve at the bottom of the hill at 40mph (could do 60 if I wasn't law abiding) It's all I need. Novelty wear off, I don't think so!

 

Ive had my mini about 2 months now. Already, my driver side door has stopped locking and unlocking electronically, my front tires are way worn out (haha, burn outs are fun!), my clutch makes a very loud squeek, and my CEL(check engine light) comes on every once in a while. I am without a doubt in love with this thing. I do have to admit that it doesnt like bumps. was drving on a mountain road today, and was hitting the brakes right into a corner where there happened to be a little drop in the cement, and it scraped the bottom. I love this thing to death though, i dont care that it hits the ground sometimes. Im at about 70k on my 03 MCS, loving every moment. I cant tell you how awesome it is to open the garage door in the morning and see that sexy hood scoop

 

SO true! totally agree with this

 

The "novelty" has not worn off for me.

But in reality, I fear that if your tastes and need actually are with vehicles like a V6 Magnum, you may very well not like the Mini. That's OK. There is nothing worng with having different tastes in motor vehicles.

But you will find the Mini to be a very different animal, one which requires a good bit more care and feeding.

Give it some serious thought. I really feel that if you have to be convinced to buy one, you don't really want it. In that case, you will never be happy with the car.

Your heart and mind will tell you the truth in almost every instance.

Seriously.

 

I'm still in the honymoon phase also...
of course DaMINI, an 03 MC was an August 02 build purchased in Sep03. I traded her in at 70K miles for Norbert, a 06 MC in Mar 06. Norbert has 66k miles on him.

Me and DaMINI go to school


Norbert and Motoring buds:

 

Wear off???? My Mini is my skin, it will never wear off. I got sun burnt in Hawaii last month and my "Mini Skin" came back refreshed, good as ever.

 

If you are concerned that this "enthusiasts site" will give you nothing but rave reviews, you need not worry. A lot of the discussions on here deal with people having issues. And more often than not, someone else has a solution, or tells howthey dealt with it. That seems to be the norm for most car sites, people venting about problems more than saying everything is wonderful. It's the nature of a forum. But most people having issues with their MINI still end their post saying something like "even with this problem, I still LOVE this little car."

I've had my 09 Clubman for about a year and a half, with a little over 10,000 miles. I live less than a mile from work and I only wish I had a longer daily drive.The novelty definitely is not wearing off, every time I get a chance for a longer drive , I find another reason to be glad I made the right decision and bought this car. And as others have said, it's a great community of people, both on line and in person.

 

Nope....still looking for more roads to drive my car on. Bought it new and will likely drive it way after I retire. Recently passed a mileage milestone.

 

WOW, I wish I could get my hounds to help me wash SJ!

 

Good points...the biggest one though, is financial as I will be done paying for the Magnum in Dec 2011 and going without car payments would be nice.

I do have my eye on this used 2007 Sparkling Silver MCS that is outfitted just beautifully and I just have to go and test drive it and see how numbers fall out. If it doesn't work out, so be it...it's not like I need to get a new vehicle and I'm sure there will be others down the road.

The MCS is just such a blast to drive though!

 

My MCS is an '07 with around 40K on it. I still love looking at it, and think it's a blast to drive.

 

Lol before the mini I had a srt mag...I. love my mini more every day!

 

7 + Years. We still love our Mini. Must say we have had to put some $ into our " justa" in the last year, all for normal wear & tear items. Still as much fun to drive as it was the day we took delivery on 03/01/03.

 

My enthusiasm has diminished after this...





But I still love this little car. This thing is a real beast.

 

Are you kidding me? Got my Cricket the same time a guy @ work got a Honda. He just drives back & forth in a vehicle. Somethng to get him from point A to point B. Now, take me -- I leave the house with joyful anticipation on motoring in my Cricket & smile the entire way to work -- for the guy who bought the Honda? I give him the biggest smile & tell him, just think, you coulda had it all ~!!~ still! It never grows old-just gets better

 

Yes, the novelty wore off for me last year....I owned (and loved) an '03 Cooper and an '07 Cooper. I moved on, though, in favor of a broader interest in the new batch of micro-cars. Some cool stuff there. These may not be BMW MINIs but they are very linked to the kind of thinking that made the Mini great in the first place. MINI's emphasis on performance-oriented driving is a good move for BMW sales-wise, but is not a personal interest of mine. Other aspects of the classic Mini are still a fascination, but I find those elsewhere now.

 

I have had my MINI for 2 weeks and I can't ever imagine it not being fun to drive. I have never been someone to take a corner fast or to feel like racing at a stop light, but I do in my MINI! I feel a speeding ticket coming on and in 20 years of driving, I have NEVER had a speeding ticket!!

 

I had an '03 MCS JCW and now have an '09 Clubman S with 22K on it.

We just got back froma 2500 mile trip in the Clubby and found it a comfortable and fun companion for my wife and two dogs and me on the trip.

If ride comfort is a concern, drive a Clubman back to back to the coupe, you might find the difference in ride quality a determining factor.

But, I still enjoy driving it and looking at it every time I go anywhere, and the added bonus of the MINI community and the social events that go with it are a real treat!