This is the **** that I am always talking about https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motora...200322723.html
At this point they are talking about cars that are between 8 and 12 years old. I don't that there is a car that is out there that won't have some kind of reliability issue. I am even talking about those super reliable Japanese models tend to have an issue or two. It boils down to how well it is taken car of in its early life. It was beat like it owned you money and ignored there is not enough money on the planet that can make it worth it.

 

It doesn't matter whether we get our advice from Yahoo. Potential buyers will see this article and shy away from used MINIs (of all years) and drive down your resale value.

 

Seems the number 1 spot was entirely due to the CVT transmission. Which hasn't been used in many years. Their conclusion seems pretty dated..

 

Sorry but I have to disagree with you. Certain brands do have better reliability over others. For example I previously had a 1996 Toyota T100, 1995 Acura Integra, and a 1996 Lincoln Mark VIII. My Toyota was at 190,000 miles without one single issue at all. No oil leaks, and the auto trans shifted perfect. It never spent one minute in the shop. My Acura was sold at 150,000 miles and it had one single tiny repair that took 10 minutes and cost $5, that was leaking tube seals. Now my Lincoln was sold at 90,000 miles, it had a trans leak, engine oil leak, many air ride issues, leaking sunroof, blower motor that would stop, engine fans that would stop, and it would take about 10 seconds to engage reverse. I took care of all 3 cars equally, and all 3 were roughly the same age. This to me proves that care alone doesn't make a car last...

 

I think that how you care for a car does influence how reliable it is, but it is far from the sole determinant. There are basic engineering choices and parts quality (and cost!) choices that have a significant effect. And also variations in assembly, and so on.

Speaking of maintenance, note that they specifically cited the VW 1.8 liter timing belt replacement interval, meaning that the manufacturer's maintenance schedule can also have an effect. And most of us seem to feel that the MINI's 15,000 mile service interval is optimistic at best. That probably also had some effect on the MINI's ratings.

So, put together the CVT issues from the early cars, and the relatively well-known issues with the 2nd-gen S engines (timing chains, carbon buildup, aux water pump, vacuum pump) and the absurd maintenance schedule. I can see that adding up to a low reliability rating.

That said, I do love my car. And it has been pretty solid so far. (Of course, so were my old CRXes, which I owned until 120,000 miles and 210,000 miles respectively.)

 

Hey, just talk with the guys with the N14 engines and the timing chain, HPFP, etc issues, combined with MINI's insane oil change recommendations and you may get some agreement with the Yahoo! article.

And this is the study referenced in the article: http://www.tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/MINI.html

 

I hate to say it, but sometimes I wish I had just bought a Corolla S instead of a Cooper S.

 

If all you used for a buyer's guide was NAM you'd never own a MINI of any generation. Every piece of machinery ever made has issues of one kind or another. My great-great-great grandfather's anvil still works like it did when it was new however.

 

Long before Yahoo's article I had decided I will trade my MINI in for something else when it nears the end of its warranty.

 

MINI and Mini fan yes.

I love the driving dynamics.

I love the style.

I’m not delusional about the upkeep nor am I joking when I say a Corolla S makes more sense for me. It’s not a money thing, but a sanity thing.

The nice thing is my car is now getting pretty close to being sorted out how I want it.

 

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