With Mazda offering to buy back the RX-8 from customers unhappy with the horsepower discrepancies, how many of us would jump at the same opportunity if offered by MINI???
Some, I know, have suffered from quality issues (Ants!). Others are just plain ticked at MINI/BMW. Still others might want to trade "up" to an S or "down" to a Cooper.
So who'd go for a MINI buy-back and why???

 

have a lot of people sold back their rx-8s?

 

I want BMW to buy mine back because it does not work the way the manufacturer intended it to (hiccup/stumble/yoyo/bog) and they can NOT fix it.

 

Mazda reports interest in their RX-8 buy-back offer to be vitually "non-existent."

 

Hhhmmm, interesting question!

I would strongly consider a buy back, so I could get a new 2004 MINI.

This is mostly because my own MCS has too many problems, for my taste. They can be sorted out, probably, but it really has too many problems for a new car:

speedo cluster changed, new window winder motor and controller, peeling interior trim, sub-standard windshield, in the shop right now to get new hatch latch, and to probably get a new throwout bearing (being determined right now), and to get a fix for the popping noises from the steering column.

However, I love my MINI so much that I would get a new one.

 

Its funny you brought this up! I just talked to my service advisor last night at the dealership I used to work at and there are already three people who want their MINIs bought back due to reliability problems and the stumble/idle issues. MINI better work fast, its all starting to come to the surface now. One guy has had his MINI in service for 80 days! He already went out and bought a new car (not MINI) and wants his money back via lemon law. I thought I had it bad....80 days...!

 

Ah Stovepipe, Looks like a pipe dream to me.

Hooka, hooka, bong
Hooka, hooka, bong
Hooka, hooka, bong

Ain't gonna happen. The German's never go for that kind of stuff.

 

.. and small cars, as a rule, never make money for the car companies - they can offer all sorts of stuff (incentives) with their top-o-the-line models, but on the entry-level, no-profit units, you're not gonna see any buy-back.

 

>>Hhhmmm, interesting question!
>>
>>I would strongly consider a buy back, so I could get a new 2004 MINI.
>>
>>This is mostly because my own MCS has too many problems, for my taste. They can be sorted out, probably, but it really has too many problems for a new car:
>>
>>speedo cluster changed, new window winder motor and controller, peeling interior trim, sub-standard windshield, in the shop right now to get new hatch latch, and to probably get a new throwout bearing (being determined right now), and to get a fix for the popping noises from the steering column.
>>
>>However, I love my MINI so much that I would get a new one.
>>

Wow I am starting to realize I am not the only one with all these stupid little problems... I guess people are just becoming more vocal. Do you really think the 2004's will be any better?

 

If the report is true Mazda will be setting up themselves for a pretty bad precedent in the car industry. Back in '99 Ford had a similar Horsepower rating fiasco with the Mustang Cobra as the car had been sold to owners with inflated HP ratings. However, Ford never offered to "buyback" the cars from unhappy customers (These owners are facing low resale values due to this). I am surprised that Mazda is doing something like this (Remember the Mazda is subsidiary brand of Ford Motor Company) but I guess their lawyers figured that it was cheaper the take back cars from upset customers than confronting a slide of lawsuits due to misrepresentation of the performance figures of the RX-8.

This is a very different situation. The issues with the Mazda RX-8 have nothing to do with reliability. they are not offering to buyback cars from customers with problematic vehicles. If every automaker did something like this, people would be returning cars by the thousands because every car in the planet has issues, some major some minor and some non-existent.

I am afraid that the "vocal Bunch" of unhappy owners represents only a tiny minority sample of the total MINI owners population. Unhappy owners post, ***** and complain day and day out. Happy owners rarely if ever post as often. They lurk around but not post daily reports stating that their cars "Worked today with no failure".

I symphatize with those who have had less than perfect cars. Problems are real and do exist but these are not passed onto all owners in the same exact way. My 2002 Cooper CVT with nearly 14K miles has been perfect. No rattles, no squeaks, no electrical issues, nada. I had the software related problems that everybody had (Or still has) since the beginning of time but after I received software update 32.2 the car has been working like the finest Swiss watch machinery. The car will be exactly one year old this coming Sunday and still drives, feels and smells like new.

 

I guess I am a lucky one. I have had minimal problems.
This Halloween, it will be our 1 year birthday.

The drainage tube in the front pillar was not connected causing it to leak
inside when it rained.
i will be taking it in for service next week to have the drivers window looked at.
And I need the side mirror to be fixed. Aside from that, it has been great.

i do have a 2003 model. I let people order in front of my just so I could get a 2003 model because everyone knows the first year is the most problematic of any new car.

 

Back to your original question stovepipejones – NO, I would not sell my MCS back. I have a 02 and have had no problems. It may not be the fastest car on the road, but it only came with a 165 HP engine. What it gives me in handling performance is everything it was advertised to be.

I’m a very happy camper.

 

>>If the report is true Mazda will be setting up themselves for a pretty bad precedent in the car industry. Back in '99 Ford had a similar Horsepower rating fiasco with the Mustang Cobra as the car had been sold to owners with inflated HP ratings. However, Ford never offered to "buyback" the cars from unhappy customers (These owners are facing low resale values due to this). I am surprised that Mazda is doing something like this (Remember the Mazda is subsidiary brand of Ford Motor Company) but I guess their lawyers figured that it was cheaper the take back cars from upset customers than confronting a slide of lawsuits due to misrepresentation of the performance figures of the RX-8.
>>
>>This is a very different situation. The issues with the Mazda RX-8 have nothing to do with reliability. they are not offering to buyback cars from customers with problematic vehicles. If every automaker did something like this, people would be returning cars by the thousands because every car in the planet has issues, some major some minor and some non-existent.
>>
>>I am afraid that the "vocal Bunch" of unhappy owners represents only a tiny minority sample of the total MINI owners population. Unhappy owners post, ***** and complain day and day out. Happy owners rarely if ever post as often. They lurk around but not post daily reports stating that their cars "Worked today with no failure".
>>
>>I symphatize with those who have had less than perfect cars. Problems are real and do exist but these are not passed onto all owners in the same exact way. My 2002 Cooper CVT with nearly 14K miles has been perfect. No rattles, no squeaks, no electrical issues, nada. I had the software related problems that everybody had (Or still has) since the beginning of time but after I received software update 32.2 the car has been working like the finest Swiss watch machinery. The car will be exactly one year old this coming Sunday and still drives, feels and smells like new.

Cooper4us thats great and all...but do you wonder why on both MCO and MINI2 you keep having to defend MINI so much? Because lets face it, yes there are problem free MINIs . But there are also WAY TOO many with problems. Lots of problems. We all know by now that your car works fine, you literally have posted it EVERYTIME someone posts they have a problem. The sad truth is though, there is already a list at my dealership of people who want buy backs due to problems that keep persisting and software related issues. Its unacceptable to tell someone who has just bought a new car and laid over 20K on the line, that they are just supposed to "deal" with these problems. What good is a car that doesnt work right? Also if anything...I would say we have seen more people become vocal about the problems with their cars who were silent before, and who we thought had problem free cars. So thats great about your Cooper, but please, for some of us, this is an important situation. I only pray that your MCS is problem free also...or maybe we will start hearing from you also when you have to spend week after week at the dealership and in a rental car.

_________________

 

>>>>If the report is true Mazda will be setting up themselves for a pretty bad precedent in the car industry. Back in '99 Ford had a similar Horsepower rating fiasco with the Mustang Cobra as the car had been sold to owners with inflated HP ratings. However, Ford never offered to "buyback" the cars from unhappy customers (These owners are facing low resale values due to this). I am surprised that Mazda is doing something like this (Remember the Mazda is subsidiary brand of Ford Motor Company) but I guess their lawyers figured that it was cheaper the take back cars from upset customers than confronting a slide of lawsuits due to misrepresentation of the performance figures of the RX-8.
>>>>
>>>>This is a very different situation. The issues with the Mazda RX-8 have nothing to do with reliability. they are not offering to buyback cars from customers with problematic vehicles. If every automaker did something like this, people would be returning cars by the thousands because every car in the planet has issues, some major some minor and some non-existent.
>>>>
>>>>I am afraid that the "vocal Bunch" of unhappy owners represents only a tiny minority sample of the total MINI owners population. Unhappy owners post, ***** and complain day and day out. Happy owners rarely if ever post as often. They lurk around but not post daily reports stating that their cars "Worked today with no failure".
>>>>
>>>>I symphatize with those who have had less than perfect cars. Problems are real and do exist but these are not passed onto all owners in the same exact way. My 2002 Cooper CVT with nearly 14K miles has been perfect. No rattles, no squeaks, no electrical issues, nada. I had the software related problems that everybody had (Or still has) since the beginning of time but after I received software update 32.2 the car has been working like the finest Swiss watch machinery. The car will be exactly one year old this coming Sunday and still drives, feels and smells like new.
>>
>>Cooper4us thats great and all...but do you wonder why on both MCO and MINI2 you keep having to defend MINI so much? Because lets face it, yes there are problem free MINIs . But there are also WAY TOO many with problems. Lots of problems. We all know by now that your car works fine, you literally have posted it EVERYTIME someone posts they have a problem. The sad truth is though, there is already a list at my dealership of people who want buy backs due to problems that keep persisting and software related issues. Its unacceptable to tell someone who has just bought a new car and laid over 20K on the line, that they are just supposed to "deal" with these problems. What good is a car that doesnt work right? Also if anything...I would say we have seen more people become vocal about the problems with their cars who were silent before, and who we thought had problem free cars. So thats great about your Cooper, but please, for some of us, this is an important situation. I only pray that your MCS is problem free also...or maybe we will start hearing from you also when you have to spend week after week at the dealership and in a rental car.
>>
>>_________________
>>

Re-read my previous post carefully. Problems DO EXIST and issues are genuine but you are still part of a vocal minority that has problems with their cars. Heck, even anecdotal evidence or this or any other MINI enthusiast site is by no means an accurate gauge of perceived reliability. Let organizations like Consumer Reports gather data from a significant larger statistical pool of owners.

There are around 40K to 50K MINIs already in American roads. So since 50K people are not posting here, it is hard to determine whether the problems documented here have affected every single owner.

MINI owners that I know locally are very happy with thier cars. I have only met one person that had a plethora of problems with his early build Cooper and after 15 months of struggle the car was fixed but he is so soured towards the vehicle that he is managed BMW to buy it back from him. He will be getting a brand new '04 MCS as replacement to his '02 Cooper.

So far I think MINI has been responsive in getting issues addressed and fixed. Try other car companies to see if you don't run into the same exact brickwalls....from Rolls Royce to KIA, every car has issues to a bigger or lesser degree.

 

Ants- The question was "Would you sell-back your Mini?" So, if I may say so... no. Many of us have had very few problems and LOVE our cars. I got a great deal MORE than I expected for my 24K!

 

>> Back in '99 Ford had a similar Horsepower rating fiasco with the Mustang Cobra as the car had been sold to owners with inflated HP ratings. However, Ford never offered to "buyback" the cars from unhappy customers (These owners are facing low resale values due to this).

You are right, Ford did not do a buyback but offered all customers re-engineered replacement parts to actually boost the horsepower to the advertised ratings. Less restrictive exhaust, better intake manifold, etc.

You may also recall similar problems with the IRS (Independet Rear Suspension) in the same year model Cobra. This is the first year it was introduced and customers had a noticable shaking at a certain speed that felt like the car was going to come apart. Ford sent a letter out to all customers who owned '99 Cobras and offered to fix the shake free of charge by replacing certain parts in the IRS or the entire IRS setup, depending on the problems at hand.

I owned a 96 Mustang Cobra at the time so I stayed on top of the issue while it was going on.

And not to side with anyone, but only a handful of Cobras are produced each year, (8,095 in '99 in both coupe and convertible to be exact)which makes it a little more feasible for a mass replacement of parts. For the complete breakdown of Cobras made per year, you can check out www.scoa.org. You can also view the letter sent to each Cobra owner here.

I'm not saying BMW shouldn't fix the problems, because they should. I'm just simply trying to let you know what Ford did. I loved my Mustang Cobra and will own another one sometime soon because of Ford's stance on the issues and the way they dealt with them. I'm also just a sucker for an enthusiast car where social events and a lifestyle accompany your purchase. I love the events and meetings associated with them. With that being said, I hope eeveryone gets their problems solved sometime in the near future.

Cabbage

 

I have to agree with cooper4us, there will always be some problems. its how your dealer handles them that makes ALL the difference. i have bought about 20 new cars and mazda replaced seals in my rotory engine 1 yr and 20,000 miles past the warrenty! they said they were not lasting as long as they thought they should. I also had a problem that nissan could not correct after replacing most parts in the frt of the car(axles , struts, etc). I asked them to put it in writing that the car was safe to drive on my vacation so if i crashed my lawyer would have a copy. within one week i was called by the dealer to come in for any car and they would give me the full price that i paid for mine.
I wish antsmini good luck with his dealer, thats who can put some pressure on BMW/MINI. signed fuzzyface

 

wow is the HP in the RX-8 really that bad?

Would I sell my mini back? well yes and no. Yes becuase I'd want to get a MCS, and no becuase I've been lucky and had little problems with my mini. Only problem so far is the inferior quality of the leather in my mini, and my e-brake boot broke off.

 

I think the HP differences in the RX-8 (Manual and automatic models) between the published numbers and the actual figures is around 8 to 10HP in difference. Does this warrant replacing an entire car for?


I am having a hard time believing that Mazda is willing to do something like this...totally unprecedented.

 

thats not too bad, why such a fuss over that? most reviewers said there was no power down low anyways...

 

I don't care HOW it's done.......I'd just want to be able to replace my '02 with an '04 replica of it that has a complimentary prayer book in the glove box.

 

It's pretty simple. They are revising the RX-8 horsepower figures: the Manual is being revised down 3.6% to 238hp, and the Auto down 4.5% to 197hp.

Anyone who has already purchased an RX-8 will be receiving a letter from Mazda offering two alternatives:

Mazda will buy back the car. This includes taxes and other fees regardless of the mileage OR Mazda will provide free scheduled servicing for the duration of the standard warranty plus a $500 debit card.

Bad precedence? Get out of here.... they're standing behind their product advertising admitting someone screwed up when the tuning was changed to meet emissions. They did it for the 2001 Miata when it was found to be down on power too.

Unless something goes wrong with mine, I plan to keep it for at least 5-7 years. No problems so far but then again, it's only about 6 weeks/2100 miles old.

 

Say, I guess if California can call back a governor, BMW can buy back a Mini

Say, does anyone know exactly what the Lemon Laws are? Isn't it something like if you have to bring the car in 3 times for the same repair work the manufacturer has to buy it back? I am sure I am not totally right here, so does any really know?

 

Oh, I suppose I should add that I would not sell back my Mini to BMW. My 02 MCSJCW has been pretty much trouble free. The only problem I have had is the seal in the coolent resevoir bottle that the dealer replaced under warranty.
My car is just one year old, but only has 6,000 miles on it.

 

I would NOT sell back Wanda to MINI! She has been superb: 16K+ miles since April 4th, and no problems. She is my second MINI, the first was an all-Pure Silver Cooper...beautiful little MINI, but she was very squeaky! I traded her in with almost 13K miles on the odometer for Wanda, my all-Jet Black S, so in just over a year, I have motored about 29K MINI miles and loved 'em all!

Cheers!
Clover