With all the recent bad threads on our cars, i'm sick of it Yes we dont drive, Hondas or Toyotas or Lexus's, thank God We drive MINIS Quit with the crying about how the controls are bad, how the speedometer is to big, the radio **** is in the wrong place, it has a squeak, it cost to much, I cant set the controls................... blah blah blah............. Why the heck did you buy a Mini then? Go drive a boring azz Honda or a Toyota or better yet the "number one JD power rated Hyundia" Come on people lets stand up for our Awesome little cars

 

I'd like to add to this thread by saying lets stop the vendor bashing. I think it's part of the Mini culture for people to individualize their car, and if someone wants x or y brand, it's all good!

 

+1
I agree totally. It seems if the Mini isn't "perfect", people b*tch. I've never owned a perfect car, nor do I expect a car to be perfect. As with everything, take the good with the bad. If the bad exceeds the good, git rid of the car. Don't just sit there and b*tch.

Kevin

 

I have a 2003 MCS as well. Sure there can be some problems. Yes my other car is a Honda Civic that is "trouble free".

No, I have no plans to part with my MINI even if I am considering what is out there (both green and sporty).

I simply can say that my MINI has changed my way of life, my thinking about how a car can impact what we do and what we experience.

My MINI was my first modded car, my first tracked car, my first driving school car, and it's been more ups than downs.

Could it be better? Sure, but that's life too.

Overall my little MINI has got character and soul. My son in High School does drive it and when his friends ride along they can't believe it is 6 years old (55K miles).

1+ for the ol MINI.

Bottomline- are you having fun with your MINI? Great.
Are others doing what they like with their MINIs? Great.

Do your homework and shop around. Enjoy the process.
Life is too short to dwell on the downs.

 

My MINI has had some issues over the years, but the car has never left me stranded, except for the time a tire blew while I was on a loose gravel road, which sent the car off into the ditch that dropped down about 15 feet, then back up very abruptly. Most cars would have rolled, but my 03 stayed upright. Pretty much every piece of black trim got ripped off the car, front and rear bumper covers got shredded, radiator had a 1 inch stump impaled in it, paint was scratched up everywhere but the roof. I believe the car kept me safe as we flew off the road at 40mph, coming to a stop about 75 feet in the brush.

So I say bash away about these awesome little beasts, because nothing will ever change my mind about how wonderful they are.

Oh, BTW, Poco turns 6 in a couple of weeks, has 105,000+ miles, looks like new, still has the OEM battery, and puts a smile on my mug every time I wash/work on/motor him

Mark

 

nothing compares to my mini .yes it took a while to get used to it ,wouldn't trade for anything. miles of smiles

 

I have to agree. I do not think anybody bought their car sight unseen so you should have been aware of things like the radio control **** etc. Every time I drive my MINI I am amazed at how magnificent this little car is.

 

They have a radio control ****?? Coooooollllll !!!
Yes, the bashin does hit a nerve!
You can't please everyone... but my MINI is GREAT for ME!!

 

It took what, a whole week to get used to the controls? big deal!
The squeaks, I prefer hardwood floors over bacteria breeding carpets any day of the week, now THEY squeak!
How many times in the shop, please, even had problems with my old Honda.
Lovin' my MINI and would do it all over again!

 

right on guys and gals, lets keep it going

 

My driveway, both mine. I think that sums it up

 

MINIs rock!!! I'm personally happy that so many people are bashing them. Maybe it will prevent some of the bland, no personality tards from driving the same kind of kick a** car that I drive.

 

about being sick of needless defense of non-existant perfection? The only way to have a conversation where one gets to control what content is discussed is to talk to oneself.

An other thing to think about is why should we be so defensive to criticism? Isn't there enough room to take the bad and the good? Look, we all know that pretty much nothing (other than my wife) is perfect, so what's the problem?

Is the Mini a damned good car? Yep. Is it perfect? Nope.

That pretty much implies that there will be discussions of the imperfections. Get over it.

Matt

 

I love mine. I keep wanting a cabrio but I love the look of a sunroof coupe. Guess I'll wait until I can afford 2

 

I know this is going to P*** a few people off but this is a forum after all. Your examples are mostly 2nd Gen traits, so the solution is.............. buy a 1st GEN! he he

 

Thing is we own both But there is a thread started yesterday about problems with GP's and the guy said he has been hearing about many problems with R53's? So I asked him "what problems?" No answer, its all BS gossip

 

Criticism about documented ongoing problems is ok, thats what this forum is about, helping people fix and maintain stuff. But whining about how quirky and not perfect a Mini is, well thats just wrong.

 

C'mon now, we paid significant $$ for our MINIs we have every right to complain about whatever we like. However, in the spirit of your thread I will add a +1 and say I love my MINI with a passion, and despite my complaints I would not consider buying another brand of vehicle in the future unless it was my 2nd car. My primary vehicle will always be a Mini Cooper

 

No thats ok Thats why we have Constitution I just got kinda over the top with it all I really like our 2 Minis

 

Agreed MINIs are great car. But all cars have problems from time to time. I had an 03 jeep that was great but something with the electrical kept going wrong. It drove me nuts. after a year they ended up giving me a brand new jeep because iot happen 5 times in a year. A freind bought a jeep two days after I did at the same dealer and he had no problems. i bet if you go to a toyota or honda forum there are people bashing those cars. I love my MINI, it's going to be around for a long time.

The thing that drives me nuts is other drivers bashing the MINI for whatever reason. some guy once asked me if i was gay because I drove a girly car. People on the forum don't bother me that much because this is a place to talk about the good, bad and ugly of our MINI's. But it's the outsiders that bother me. One of my employees is always bashing me for driving a MINI. Funny thing is when he does I ask him what he drives, oh thats right you don't have a car so you can't say anythign. And not because he can't afford it. Becaus ehe is to lazy to just buy a car.

 

I have a complaint ...

Minis are really small ;-)

 

I agree with the OP.
I also agree with the right to speak one's mind.

I disagree with making a profession out of harping on one's favorite issues, and making an advertising campaign out of complaints.

 

my complaint is I don't have 2 yet..... oh and the speedometer is not large enough.... when I fly past other drivers they can't see how fast i'm going...

 

In the 60's I had British Leyland, MG Midget/Triumph TR-250. In the 70's I had Honda. In the 80's and 90's Cadillac.Until this year Chevy Impala LS. Now as a proud owner of MCCS the thrill of owning a great car has returned. After all folks its a British car. Yes, somewhat expensive to maintain, can be a bit quirky, but when its running the way it was designed nothing comes close except a vette or the exotic Europeans that most of us can't afford. And no one ever came up out of the blue to ask about any of the other cars I owned. Minis are unique and people are curious even sometimes envious. Enjoy the experience. Go drive a very curvy road and see why you really bought this car. And enjoy the family of enthusiasts you have joined. And be glad you don't live where I do, the Subaru breeding ground.

 

Oh yes......... it's fun too but the mini still get's lots of attention on it's own...