A very BIG hello to all !
I am new here so please forgive my ignorance.I commute a little over 100 miles every day. I currently own a 2006 325i. I want a car that gives better gas mileage at lower price and something that holds its value .Since I am the primary driver I can sacrifice some space. I wanted a car that handled similar to my current ride, so mini was a natural choice.
1.How does the car handle on highways?Will I be blown away by semis or strong wind?
2.Is the car safe on snow ?I live in Nebraska and we do get our share of snow.
3.Should I get the extended maintenance and how much does it cost? I am open to a new cooper(base) or a used cooper base or S(save $$ on depreciation?) with auto transmission/bluetooth/auto dimming mirror/ heated seats and ipod interface. I know it can cost a bunch to repair once outside warranty.

4. Does the base run well on regular gas? I plan to keep the car for at least 100k.

5.Is MINI next a rip off or the best route if i decide on a used mini?

Did I like the way the base model handled? Well, I can live with it.

Appreciate you sharing your valuable thoughts to help make a wise decision.

Thank you.

 

I commute about 100 miles a day as well down here in Kansas. My Mini handles very well on the highway. I seem to have more problems with my wife's SUV and cross winds than I do with the Mini. As for snow, the only time I encountered problems was when we got 18 inches in 24 hours. I opted for the extended maintenence, but I don't recall the price. You will definitely appreciate the heated seats in the winter. Hope this helps.

 

I don't have much experience with a 325i, but I would guess that the MINI's ride will be a little rougher because of the shorter wheelbase. Also the sound level may be higher.

Otherwise, I've found the MINI quite comfortable and stable for long highway/freeway drives. I have to watch the speed carefully on my S because it is easy to go considerably over the limit without noticing.

 

I have the first gen - but I believe the answers should be the same.

1.How does the car handle on highways?Will I be blown away by semis or strong wind?
Great in the winds and dealing with semis - its low profile and wide stance - I rarely ever notice the winds. My commute is in a very windy section that is often closed to big rigs because they tend to blow over. Cant think of a better car for dealing w/ winds

2.Is the car safe on snow ?I live in Nebraska and we do get our share of snow.
Yes - does fine in the snow, front wheel drive cars generally do well. Add snow tires, and you'll be fine. Have driven mine thru 5+ inches (when it was stock height) w/ no problems. And have commuted 55+ miles each way on ice covered highways w/ no problems.

3.Should I get the extended maintenance and how much does it cost? I am open to a new cooper(base) or a used cooper base or S(save $$ on depreciation?) with auto transmission/bluetooth/auto dimming mirror/ heated seats and ipod interface. I know it can cost a bunch to repair once outside warranty.
Totally an individual choice. I did not extend the maintenance period and am glad that I didn't. Currently just over 200,000 miles and its only been to the dealer twice for its scheduled "free" maintenance. As for the second gen, not sure on reliability or repair cost, but I do pass a lady every day that has an 07, and has a 137 mile (each way) commute, and it has yet to have problems @ well over 100k now!

My commute is 147 round trip, a couple of days a week (used to be everyday), and I would pick a Mini again if I had too!

Good luck,

Nik

 

handles fine on highway but the MC might be a bit slow for you. the MCS still gets pretty good mileage. also, things get a bit noisy (wind/road).

as a light FWD, it's reasonable in snow especially with snow tires.

not sure about the extended maintenance.

runs fine on regular IMHO, although don't let the purists here know. i didn't notice any difference in MPG or performance in my MC. after 100K on regular, though, i have no idea.

 

Also bought the Mini for a commuter car. I also have a gas guzzling BMW (M5). I drive 60 miles a day for work and it's a pleasure. Certainly not as 'refined' as a BMW, but dare I say more fun?

Can't comment on the snow. I live in the freakin' desert

 

Is it true that most MCS engines develop problems beyond 100k? Also, that the engine cant be repaired and replacement costs about 6-8k?
I am trying to understand if this is the case with only aggressively driven minis? I am always nice to my bimmer - never go above 3000 rpm (I try ). Mixed with some hyper-miling, I have seen some real "good" numbers for a 3-series.(best - 39mpg).

 

If it's main use is your 100 mile commute, a "justa" Cooper will be fine and will get stunning fuel mileage.

Comfortable and quiet, but fast it's not. However, if you're just buzzing down I-80 or something, you'll find it does fine. I had a "Justa" Clubman automatic all last week for my 40 mile/day commute and it was great.

Snow, no problem but snow tires would be a good idea if you absolutely positively have to get there when it snows. Buy the cold weather package for sure. I think you get more snow up there in Ne than we do here in Ks, but I've never had a problem getting to work in mine.

Maint? IDK, how many miles will you keep it? The factory will take car of the first 50K........

 

Not on my first gen - nor on that 07 2nd gen I mentioned earlier.

 

The MINI isn't as cushy as your e90 3 series, you have to test drive one on the highway to see for yourself.

I also don't think the MINI's powertrain is any less reliable than any other car, especially if you take care of it.

1. It's very stable, especially with 17's. Can be a little twitchy sometimes, but you never feel not in control.

2. It's a lot safer (feeling at least) than a rwd 3-series.

3. I wouldn't bother, just save the money.

4. I wouldn't use regular gas, especially in an S.

 

Somewhere I read that MINI engineers them to be good for at least 150K miles, and that some of the delays in getting the JCW out were in order to reach that goal.

 

+1 on snow tires. I drove through 4 Wisconsin winters on my Blizzaks. I have to go uphill from my house to make it up to the main roads, and the only time I chickened out and turned back to home was the day they cancelled classes anyway.

 

The mileage isn't much worse with the MCS (I've been seeing almost 33 mph in my mixed commute). I think the added power is worth it.

Extended warranties are generally NOT worth the money. Put the equivalent cash in the bank and apply it towards your repairs IF they happen, and you'll be ahead of the game, at least from an actuarial standpoint.

--Dan
Mach V

 

Use premium fuel. If you can't afford premium or don't want to on a regular basis, you probably can't afford this car.

As for the snow, do 4 snow tires all around, 2 on the front drive wheels as a bare minimum. DO NOT mistake the optional Continental All-Season tires as something that will do for snow. Again, if you can't afford to pay the price for snow tires, you probably shouldn't be driving this car.

Spend a little money, get a superior product, and have fun. Being cheap does not cut it when it comes to a 20k investment or your safety in dangerous conditions.

 

No to regular gas. It will cause some crazy knocking, and hurt your gas mileage. I don't think MINI would say premium only just for fun.

 

When I first got the car, I commuted about 50 miles a day for school, and I loved it. I end up getting a little over 500 miles per tank (I always fill up with either 91 or 93). I have a base model, and I love the handling, although I fell in love with the S when they gave one to me as a loaner. It's really easy to drive fast... 80 or 90 easily feels like 60 or less. I drove a friend's BMW 325i a while back and I don't recall it being nearly as fun as the MINI, although there was obviously a lot more room in the car.

I don't know how much snow Nebraska really gets, but in Buffalo NY, we get A LOT. The car handles fine once it's driving through the snow, but if there is ever any more than 6 or 7 inches of it on the ground (which is common to get in just a few hours where I live) while the car is parked, there's no way you're getting out without a shovel.

 

Kris, FWIW, I have a 100 mile commute, too and was doing it in my 02 E39 540i and quickly rang up 140K in under seven years just doing that. SO I got my MCS just to take over the commute which it does admirably. HOWEVER, it isn't the same as a 3 series in terms of smoothness and plushness. One alternative might be buying a recent 328i CPO. BTW, PLEASE rev your 328 to 4K or 4.5K regularly. The BMW inline six loves revs and it is far more taxing on the engine to be lugged in low rpm than wound up. 4-4.5 K RPM is just normal anyway.

 

Thank you all for taking the time.

How many here think MINI next is a rip off? Do they run special rates like BMW CPOs and is the extended warranty same as the original warranty(and maintenance)?Guess BMWNA cheaped out on mini enthusiasts by not matching the maintenance with the 4 year warranty?

Reg. extended maintenance - read else where that it costs anywhere between $1300 to $2000. Breaks even with brakes and clutch fixes. I have to take my car in for a brake job($700 bucks) pretty soon, so I am kinda sold on the extended maintenance thing.

 

I have a modded 02 MCS and the wife has a base 08 Clubman. For commuting you can't beat the base model. The engine has surprising torque at low revs, will pull to 80-90 without really noticing how fast you're going, and with freeway driving you're looking at about 500 miles a tank on less than 14 gallons of gas. Handling is as good on a base car as the S, a bit less weight up front, and with the lower torque less torque steer.

I'm one who did data logging on the supercharged motor as far as gas goes, and it does make a difference for the supercharged S and I'd reccomend premium for it. But I've never seen any actual data on either of the base motors as to what the differences actually are. But I did read an article in one of the other car mags I get that most gas companies do use higher levels of detergents in the premium gas than in the regular, and that may have some long term effects, but I don't know for sure.

If you're handy with tools at all, a brake job is a perfect place to start learning to work on your own car. $700 for a brake job is just a rip off, plain and simple. Even with new rotors at all corners, you should be able to do the job in your driveway at less than half the cost. Clutch jobs are a different matter for sure! Most extended warranties are very strict on car modifications, so if you're planning on mods I'd just skip the extended warraty all together. If you're going to drive it stock, I'd think about how much I'd spent on other cars when the mileage gets high to help do the math....

I don't think that they skimped on less free maintenance than the BMW big brothers, there's less profit per car to be had with the much lower base price, so free maintenance eats up more of that. While the free maintenance is only 3 years in the Mini, the warranty is still 4 years/50k miles.

I get to do some automotive journalist stuff and get to sample a lot of cars. Minis are at or near the top in fun per dollar spent, fun in an absolute sense, and with the fold down rear seats and the hatch configuration, much more practical than a lot of cars out there.

The notion that one can't repair the engine is just BS, plain and simple. It's just an engine, and bolts together just like any other engine. Don't know where that one came from, but by the time it needs work more independant shops will have experience with it, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Matt

 

@Pinky Demon - I currently drive a car that takes premium and thats what I put in my car. As I mentioned in my original post, I want to downgrade to a car that will bring down my payments and can take regular gas, but handles (almost) similar to my bimmer. The guy at the dealership told me that base model takes regular, while S requires premium.

 

91 octane still recommended for the MC, but as per manual, regular will not harm the cooper.

 

There is theory that using worse gas reduces MPG, so it ends up costing the same. The real question your should be looking at isn't premium/regular, but actual running costs. The MINI is pretty economical, so is cheaper to run that a lot of cars that use regular gas. The engine is very new and high tech, hence the high compression ratio, efficiency and premium gas.

I wouldn't risk even our Justacooper to regular gas.

 

Extended Maint has been debated numerous time and both have their pro's and con's. I bought it since I will keeping Nigel for at least 100.000 miles. I will probably break even on it. Look at this way, in 100,000 miles you will have at least four brake jobs and 5 to 7 oil changes. At 800 to 1000 per instance for brakes and 90 to 100 for oil changes you are already ahead not to mention the regular maint. items. And don't foget about the clutch!.

Yes, everyone. I know that you could do a brake job or oil change yourself relatively inexpensively but I have neither the tools, space, talent, or inclination to replace my brakes or change oil.

Oh and use premium gas. The 8 to 10 dollars a month you would save is not worth the detrmental effects on your engine.

 

I don't think someone who drives 100 miles a day is going to need brakes every 25K, in fact, a car driven like this will need far less maint of any kind, because long distance hiway miles are the easiest you can put on your car, unless you're diving the Nebraska version of the Cannonball Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash!

It probably won't even need a clutch in that distance.......

 

Ive done the brakes twice, and still on the original clutch.






I'm at over 202500 miles