It was fun, while it lasted. As anyone can see, I've made a few posts over the years. It was really fun back then, when MINIs were a new thing. Met some nice people. Took a few pictures.

I became disappointed with my car. I suggest avoiding the sunroof, that was the first thing to stop working, and I wasn't about to pay over $300 for the dealer to fix it.

The Achilles heel on these cars is the constant carbon build-up, which requires expensive cleaning, and the oil catch can did not help. In my area, there isn't an Exxon, only one Chevron, to get the special gas these require. The sooty exhaust messing up the rear end was annoying.

Another annoying thing, wore out tires really fast, but that's because I drove it like it was designed for, not like a grandpa (what's the point of owning one when you don't?). Had a blast on the race track with the '03, even though tires and brakes were shot by the end of the weekend.

With "only" 81,000 miles, could see needing the timing chain, clutch, shocks replaced. When the high-pressure fuel pump and the turbo valve failed, those two parts cost an arm and a leg to fix. The digital part of the instrument was also fritzing out.

Was getting an average of 28 MPG, but it recently dropped down to 26, that sucks for a little car. Sure, could have driven like a hyper-miler, but that defeats the purpose of a MINI.

So, for about 2% of the time, I enjoyed driving it such that I would never divulge on a public forum. Not worth the cost anymore, can do way more fixing up my 1969 Chevy pickup, but instead I got a Honda (had two before).

The final straw was finding out how bad the resale value was, freaking ridiculous!

Will say that MINI North Scottsdale is a very good dealer, and having MINI loaner cars is an awesome customer service feature.

But I don't wish to see this again:

 

sorry to see you go, but everything you listed will happen to any performance car. its considered normal wear and tear. whats the next car youll buy?

 

Well, the resale would have been better if the car was treated better. You had a lot of fun with it and no fun is free.

Which Honda did you buy?

 

Resale value on MINIs used to be excellent... General excitement for the brand and with it resale value has tanked in the past couple of years. Unsure if it's due to enthusiast disdain with the F56 and the direction MINI is taking with the marque or just due to the brand going more mainstream. Definitely a bummer.

 

This seems to support that 'driving it like you stole it' costs a lot of money.