Yesterday I went to look at my first mini. It was a 2010 s. I absolutely loved the thing. I have owned 2 wrx and have had nothing but bad luck with the cars, I just started college and I want to buy a new car because mine is shitting the bed. I wanted something relitively close to how quick a stock wrx is and the mini surprised me with how nice of a car it was. That being said, I want to know more about these cars, it seems people have mixed emotions about them. I have 10k to spend and I really want a turbo mini not supercharged. Are these cars reliable? What is the worst electronic problem you have encountered? Thanks, Eric.

 

Short answer: NO. Advice: search or browse the forum.

 

You should definitely use this forum to glean all the information you can regarding the vehicle you are interested in. There is certainly a wealth of it here.

That said, keep in mind that posts/threads that deal with problems that motorists are having are not a reflection of the platform as a whole. A large majority of folks that are enjoying a problem-free motoring experience with their MINIs have no reason to consult a forum, and are largely silent. Nobody creates repeated posts that proclaim "My MINI is running beautifully, with no problems whatsoever!" The majority of the posts you see on any automobile forum will be due to the problems that any automobile can have, be it MINI, Mercedes, Nissan, Chevrolet, etc. These problems sometimes arise due to wear and tear on a vehicle that has amassed 100K-plus miles. Many of the issues here are in regards to MINIs which have been modded and/or driven very hard. Preventative maintenance goes a long way towards preventing future failures on any car, not just MINIs.

The reliable ones are out there. Educate yourself on the car, then go out and find one.

 

So is it a good idea or bad idea to get a turbo mini with a 10k budget? What year should I buy? 07?

 

Sorry to hear about issues with your Rex! I've had my STi for 9 years and we've had our ups and downs. As for the MINI, definitely read up on some common issues. Some will say to make sure and purchase a MINI with a warranty and if not, to be DIY savvy. Good advice above as well about the issues you do find on the forum may not reflect the entirety of the MINI community. Preventative maintenance is a good idea and this forum will be very useful if/when it comes time to fixes and/or repairs. As far as a '10, people will advise against the MINI with the N14 engine. Maybe look for an '11 with the N18 as it doesn't have as many issues as the N14. They still have their quirks though. Good luck.

 

Good advice here. As mentioned, try to bump it up a year, far fewer problems reported with the n18 engine.

 

What year has the n18? I can only afford 10k.. :/

 

2011

 

2007-09 are bad? Why? Noting to prevent it? What happens?

 

You should do some searching on NAM for the n14 engine. Lots of common threads -
Timing chain failure
Walnut blast the intake valves
Oil leaks, excessive oil consumption
Coolant leaks, water pump & thermostat housing

The list is actually quite long, those are the ones I thought of quickly. Am sure others will chime in..

 

Are minis mostly plastic in the engine bay? I read that. The rad support is plastic and breaks alot? I feel like I should steer away from these cars on a 10k budget.

 

My $0.02: MINIs are NOT the car for college kids on a budget. Parts & labor for Euro cars are more expensive than the same for a Japanese or American car. If you can't afford a $1500 repair bill w/o serious consternation, this is not the car for you at this point in your life. God knows I couldn't when I was in college, which is why I was driving a hand-me-down Honda Accord.

Save the fun cars for later in life when you can afford to buy exactly what you want and properly maintain (and upgrade) it. It's worth waiting, and working, for.

 

For only $10k and chances are not much budget for maintenance, my vote would be skip the MINI for now and get a clean 2nd gen Miata ['99 to '05] and leave it stock for goodness sakes. Those cars are a ball of fun for super cheap and they're reliable as stone if you leave them stock. The Miata will retain its value and doesn't have any loose-cannon valvetrain problems like the '07-'10 MINI's.

If you must have a turbo MINI, honestly it's best to spring for a 2011 or newer, but it won't be a cheap ownership experience.


Seriously consider the Miata, or a clean Mazda3, or hell even a 1st gen Focus hatch is pretty fun to drive and those would be basically free to own.

 

I have a 2010 MINI, N14 turbo engine and have had no problems with it. I've had it since it was new.

 

Ill have to look for a little crappy jeep or something for the winter if I get rwd, are 350z cheap to maintain? Its nissian and no turbo.

 

Thanks for saying this.