Hello everyone!

Currently I'm looking at trading in my Fiat 500c for either a Mini S convertible or a VW Beetle TDI convertible. We like both cars, and each have their pros cons. I am familiar with the TDI engine and VW's as a whole as I drive a TDI Jetta and love it, but there is just something special about the Mini S that makes us smile. But unfortunately, money for repairs and maintenance get in the way of just buying what makes me smile. Having said that, I would like some opinions on how the new Mini convertibles are as far as cost to own. I do all my own work on my Jetta, but I have never owned or worked on a Mini and I'm a bit afraid of the cost and frequency of repairs that the car might need. So far I see timing belt and carbon problems are sorta common, but what else can you tell me? Also, how bad is the road/wind/general body noise on these cars after being driving for a while? The Fiat has a fair amount of wind noise and rattles that makes us unhappy.

I really appreciate any into the matter and thank all who replay.

James

 

Gee, I had a generation one MINI and run it to 95K doing nothing but regular maintaince. Would still have it had my son not wrecked it. Odds are, you won't have any trouble with the new MINI's either. How unlucky do you feel? If you are in doubt, might should stay with the VW. Mini's can be noisy, but much improved over the generation ones'- have a new hardtop and it is awesome Still some highway noise, but much reduced. BTW, owned several VW's when younger, the MINI is much superior IMO! Best wishes on your next car.

 

Gee, I had a generation one MINI and run it to 95K doing nothing but regular maintaince. Would still have it had my son not wrecked it. Odds are, you won't have any trouble with the new MINI's either. How unlucky do you feel? If you are in doubt, might should stay with the VW. Mini's can be noisy, but much improved over the generation ones'- have a new hardtop and it is awesome Still some highway noise, but much reduced. BTW, owned several VW's when younger, the MINI is much superior IMO! Best wishes on your next car.

 

Is there an echo in here? Sorry about that, don't mean to repeat myself! Embarrassing!

 

James,
Mini have timing chains. The upside - you should not need to replace them as part of regular maintenance, as you would with the belts.
The downside - on '07-'10 MCS cars had a defective timing chain tensioner that gradually stops tensioning properly, leading to "cold engine diesel sound" at best, and chain skipping the teeth with terminal outcome for the engine at worst. More information here: http://www.motoringfile.com/section/recallscampaigns/

Basically, if you are buying a used '07-'10 MCS, make sure the previous owner has had the tensioner and chain job done under warranty, or set aside $2K to do it on your watch.

Other than that, the cars a pretty solid and easy to DIY.

I haven't had a VW since college days, and never cared for the Beetle look, so you are on your own there. Golf R or GTI look half decent, though.

a

P.S.: I have a hard top, so the road noise is not much of a problem. The car is a few steps short of luxury-quiet, but not too annoying either.

 

We have an '11 MCS Hardtop. It sounds like a diesel at times, and not sure why. The comment above makes a little sense, but only 34k miles. We haven't had any major issues, but it has gone into the dealer for a couple things (warranty). Definitely worried about after the factory warranty ends, even considering purchasing the extended warranty. I LOVE this car, but it is the girlfriend's. I don't want to see it go, so I may be buying it from her. Road noise, not bad. It's not a Lexus, but I've been in worse.

I will say this.. I've been a VW fan since I was a child. Dreamed of owning a Corrado when I was 15, and then bought one when I was 19. Ecstatic! I've wanted another VW since, but haven't had a chance to grab one. Got into muscle cars and bikes. Now thinking about another, for fun and better gas mileage than my current daily (2001 Acura CL). I really don't care for the new Beetles, but I do like the new Beetle Convertible. Saves the car! I'd take the Turbo or the TDI. Also like the Golf/GTI and Jetta TDI.

Hard to decide!

 

Not sure if the "diesel death rattle" applies to '11 MCS cars, but if it does, it's the customer's job to complain loudly to the dealer to have it addressed.

Mini has refused to issue a recall, but will measure timing chain stretch upon customer complaints and if it's beyond spec, will replace everything under warranty. No complaint - no replacement.

I had to take my case to 3 dealers before the issue got addressed and I got a complete timing chain, tensioner, guides, etc replaced. The first dealer denied there was a problem or a TSB. The second "could not reproduce the problem". The third bothered to measure the chain, found it out of spec, and got paid by Mini to perform the full replacement job for its proficiency.

YMMV,
a

P.S.: 2 months out of warranty, the first dealer called me back saying that NOW they found the TSB and would be willing to fix the chain on my dime. Class act, what can I say.

 

Yep, not sure it applies to '11s. But as I replied in another thread, right after I made the above post, our car was dead one morning. So off to the dealer it went, assuming it was a dead battery. Correct. I asked them about the diesel noise, more so on cold start ups, and said they'd check everything out. Their response: the noise is actually the stock blow off valve and is fine/normal. They said they checked the timing chain and was OK, and oil was within limit.

We're just about to 36k miles, and the g/f is shopping & researching new cars. I have to decide if I want to take over/buy this car, and let go of my paid-for 2001 Acura CL with 65k miles (with potential issues). Or go for another brand new car/truck instead. Or just keep the Acura and prey it holds up (transmission is the iffy part).

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I ended up just going with the VW. I already have a diesel VW so why not another. Too bad I only got to drive it 16 miles so far before I had to park it to leave on vacation I'm sure the Mini would have been fun to drive, but so is the VW and it sure is sexy with its top down.