Hello from up-state NY. I am about to buy a new 2014 Mini Cooper Hardtop but am getting cold feet. My nearest Mini dealer is 135 miles from me and I visited them last Thursday. I was treated very well and I liked the no pressure salesperson. I was able to drive everything I wanted and decided on the Hardtop. I had driven to Rodchester with my mind made up that I wanted a Clubman but after seeing the additional room in the new Hardtop I changed my mind.

Now comes the cold feet. After returning home I spent some time on the computer. J P Powers rates the Mini low on reliability, Found one post with over 400 significant mechanical problems, high maintenance/parts cost and such. Please, just what should I expect. I had a Mini back in 1965 that was more fun than any car sense, I am 71 now and a lot of cars have come and gone. I could not find any negative posts specific to the 2014 models. What say you please. Brian...

 

Making the decision to buy a MINI should be based on emotion and not on logic. It's one of the funnest cars around, but it's going to spend more time in the shop compared to a Camry or Accord or whatever boring econobox. You have to decide whether it's worth it to you.

Personally, the amount of enjoyment I get out of driving my MINI is worth the occasional headache.

 

Brian:

I'm 62 years old and will be picking up my 2014 MINI Hardtop 3-cyl tomorrow.

The 2014 is a brand new design and, as far as I can tell, has no parts in common with any other MINI. It may or may not have the same reliability (or lack of) as prior years. In any case, it is a brand new design with all the reliability risks associated with a new design. If you are looking for a highly reliable, low maintenance cost, low risk vehicle, I don't think you want a MINI. Look for a Honda or Toyota.

I bought the MINI because I wanted a fun car. I recognize the new car risk and know maintenance costs will be higher than other cars. I went for it anyway. The MINI may be less reliable that other cars, but I don't think it is unreliable.

The 2014 has only been out a few months. Not a lot is know yet. There is a separate forum for 3rd generation MINIs you should read. People have had some problems, but nothing that worries me very much. We'll see how they hold up long term.

By the way, the MINI purists seem to hate the new design. Too bad:-)

 

Since the dealer is so far away and you are worried about reliability google MINI service shops in your area and see if there are any independent authorized service shops near you. I just found minirepairshops.com that will show shops near you. If you plan on keeping it long term buy an extended warranty. Maybe that will give you peace of mind. I love my MINI and accept the potential repairs and down time. So far mine has been great. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing.

 

in general the first year of production of any new model has a higher probability of 'issues'


couple this with the fact that your warranty and pre-paid maintenance are going to require going to the dealer . . .


I had a 2002s and a 2007S ... first year both GEN up to now


I drove the 2 for 5 years and lived pretty close to the dealer and could drop it off an get back and forth to work. In 2007 gave that car to son who took it to school where there was no dealer within 150 miles .. we had no choice but to get him something else after a year.


my 7 required about 1 hour to the dealer ... but fortunately was never there except for routine pre-pay maintenance ... never had the timing chain issue ... did not have the thermostat leak until out of warranty . .


Just food for thought ... but I recently replaced the S with 'something else'


if buying for the 'hoot' factor, you might want to take a look at the July issue of Car and Driver . . . "new MINI vs Fiesta ST vs Fiat 500 Abarth" AND "30 cars under $30k"

 

Most every one says if you want reliability, go with Honda or Toyota. Not sure that's absolutely true in every way. Case in point: I bought a 2006 Mini Cooper S hardtop automatic (in July 2006) and a 2006 Honda Pilot (also in July 2006).

They are both now 8 years old. The 2006 Honda Pilot has been in for service more often than the Mini, requiring new shocks and struts, new radiator (it sprung a leak at the seam), new alternator, new timing belt (the mini uses a timing chain, which I believe rarely if ever need to be replaced), new water pump, new spark plugs, and one new battery (original battery lasted 5 years).

My 2006 Mini Cooper S so far has required a new water pump (it began leaking after 6 years) and this required the dealer to remove practically the entire front end of the car to access and replace it, which cost nearly $1800 if I recall, much of that in labor costs. It also required a new battery after 7 years (couldn't believe it lasted that long, but it did!) and since the battery is in the boot (trunk), it was super-clean and so easy to access that I replaced it myself in about 5 minutes with a $150 battery from Advance Auto Parts... and I'm not very mechanically inclined. The mini has also required a new power steering pump, I forget how much that was... $800 or so maybe. And even after 8 years, the original spark plugs in the 2006 Mini are fine... I even asked the dealer to change them, and they said they removed them and they were clean and did not require changing at this time.

Of course both cars have required regular wear items to be replaced when they've worn out, such as brake pads, rotors, wipers, radiator flush-and-fill after every 3 or 4 years...and of course oil and filter changes.

In summary, the 2006 Honda Pilot has required more replacement parts and has cost much more in maintenance and repairs than my 2006 Mini Cooper S hardtop. The 2006 Mini hardtop has been one of the most reliable years, so I've been told.

However, I took the 2006 Mini in for service a couple months ago and the service advisor said that the oil pan gasket has started to leak a bit and the control arm bushings were showing signs of cracks and also should be replaced soon. Keep in mind this is an 8-year-old car and plastic bushings do crack/wear over time... and gaskets do begin to leak over time.

I say go with the Mini! If you love the car, go with it and have fun.

 

Brian, I'm a little older than you are and realize my 'fun driving' times are becoming more and more short lived. I adhere to the thought: "So many cars, so little time". Go for it. I bought my '13 base Hardtop this past January and it's given me as much if not more pleasure than I ever received from the few high end sports cars I've owned. You will have a blast. After all the car has a good warranty. If I'm still driving when my warranty starts to expire I figure the simple answer is to buy another new one!

 

Thanks for the great reply's. I talked to the dealership this am and they will provide a loner even with the mileage involved. They are also sending me the price on an extended warranty. At my age I am not sure how extended it needs to be. If I can remember the shift patter in the out-years I will keep driving. The test drive was the most fun I have had with a car sense the passing of my Morgan 4-4 a number of years ago. Thanks for the help. Brian, aka Canoe

 

I did make one concession because of my age. I traded a six speed manual FR-S for my MINI and I went for the automatic. I no longer have to give that much thought to all the synchronized motions involved with handling a manual and the car still does everything I need and does it well.

 

Hi there,

I bought a used 2009 clubman S and it's had a lot of work done to it. I've had warranty work done as well as driven to Way in Atlanta to get some work done right (before I had learned enough to do some of the work myself), and I've learned a LOT about cars from doing some mild to moderate difficulty repairs and car maintenance.

If you want a low maintenance car, the MINI brand is not for you. If you are a DIYer who doesn't mind learning and likes wrenching on the weekends, the car may be for you. If you are the kind of person who takes the car to the dealership for work, you can expect shoddy work and will need a deep pocket. MINI is known for doing such crummy work on their cars that many of us have become DIYer's not only so we can have the self satisfaction of accomplishing car maintenance/repair, but because we want our cars to have a long life and know that the job was done correctly.

If I ever get into the mindset that I don't want to work on my car, I will NOT be buying into the MINI/BMW brand again.