Man, I don't understand all the negativity for these cars. It makes me a little nervous.

I just picked up my 07 MCS on Monday with 19,000 miles on it. I traded in a problem free 09 Scion xD with 8300 miles for this car and got a hell of a deal on the Mini.

It's got me a little worried now all the problems everyone seems to have with these cars. This Mini is going to be my daily driver. It's still under the factory warranty and maintainence program, so that's good, but shoot.

I'm not looking for a thread where everyone posts their mileage and what not...

I do realize, being a car guy and a collector of some other things that on message boards most people only post if there is a problem in hopes of finding an answer or solution. Not many people post that say "my car drove great today, no problems here".

I guess what I am saying is that I'll be driving this car daily and in hopes of not having all these problems that seem to appear on this forum from a lot of others.

So far, having this car for a few days, I love it, rides great, quick, all the options I wanted and more.

 

Every time I get out of my 09 MCS I have a giant smile on my face. It is comfortable, nimble and relatively fast and I love it. I traded in a 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster for it and don't regret the decision for a single minute. How's that?

 

I will add to this. My wife traded in a 05 BMW 330ci convert. for her new 09 MCS and hasent missed the BMW for a minute She traded in a 03 Z4 for the 330ci and missed her Z4 though Still likes her Mini more though

 

Think about all the MINI owners that don't post on NAM...

 

I went in knowing what the common complaints were (cold start, sunroof sticking) and that it would be a rattletrap compared to some cars. I've never been disappointed with my car.

It makes driving the crappy New Jersey/NY roads exciting, since there are so many pot holes to dodge. It really is a product of marketing more than a car; either you enjoy it or you don't. I sometimes wish I'd gotten one of the Last of the Supercharged ragtops, the way folks talk about the raw feel of the earlier models. if that's what you like in a car, the Mini is for you.

I came from a modded 90's mustang convertible that felt like a '70s muscle car, tons of body flex, rattles, road noise, harshness, exhaust note. if I'd come from a Civic the Mini would drive me nuts. I love all the little gadgets, like changing the interior lighting colors, the nifty dual pane sunroof, the aeronautical switch setup. The Mini is about design. It is not simply form follows function. The form has to come first to resemble the Classic, or it would be an Elise or iQ. It's somewhere in between those.

 

Very true. I would say a very small percentage of Mini owners use NAM. The only reason I found out about it was because I wanted to know if other owners had the one problem I did with my water pump. Water pump was fixed under warranty in one day and I haven't had a single problem since.

Mine's an '08 with almost 14,000 miles on it now. It's the only car I drive.

 

Resale value wouldn't be what it is without a good reason. I'm sure if you go to any of the common enthusiast forum boards you'll hear a fair share of bitching about problems because that what most people use them for. Its great that we have boards like this to help us understand possible problem areas and how we can fix them(if we can fix them).

I've got an old 94 BMW 540 and I've learned so much about my car and improving my mediocre skills as a fairweather grease monkey by reading those boards. I expect that the same will hold true for this board.

 

I ignore most of the whinning on these forums. People tend to exaggerate their problems and have unreasonable expectations about their cars quality and performance IMO.

 

It's a lot easier for people to complain, especially on the internet- it looks like you've taken it with the requisite grain of salt, but it's hard not to be worried about it.

My car (an 07 MCS) had the cold start rattle turn bad, and because it had been documented from my previous visits, between my dealership (NW Mini) and MINI USA it's being repaired at no charge even though I'm technically outside of my warranty period.

I've driven a handful of rentals and loaners while I'm waiting for the repairs to be done, and I can tell you- every car I've driven in the meantime just seems awful. When I use the same microscope that I've used for my car on all these others, they rattle, run rough, have no power, drive like a pig, huge amounts of body roll with a worse ride, etc, etc, etc...

My complaints just keep piling up about these other cars, and I can honestly say that I can't wait to be back in my Mini.

So yeah, I love my car- and sorry if I spilled any Kool-Aid in here.

 

Have you guys seen the thread I started a couple days ago?


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-going-on.html

 

My first MCS (05) was a piece of junk, by the time it hit 5K it'd already spend 12 days in the shop--4 alone just to fix the dash. Loved that car, esp. as it wailed down the road with the 'charger screaming bloody murder. but it had to go....

My 09 MCSa has hit 5k, with no problems. 1 day in the shop for tune kit install, oil change, and fix a minor rattle in the headliner. Much better build quality across the board. Lots O Love here.

 

I started this thread for the same reasons as well.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ppy-posts.html

 

mini cooper mini-I was just about to post your thread link also!! Great minds think alike!! Maybe you should start a Happy Motorist Club! I know I am one Happy Motorist who loves her MINI!!!

Happy Motoring!!!!!!!

 

Toss me in with the uber happy folks.
Getting there is as fun as being there, plus the distraction of looking forward to getting back.

 

I believe that most of the complaints seem to come from the folks who had a high end car or still do as a second vehicle. To switch from a high end car to a Mini would seem like a "step down". I also switched from a Mustang. I have never owned a high end car because they never fit my pocketbook or my life style. I could afford one now, but it is not my style. So, the Mini was a big step "UP" for me and I am impressed with all the cool features. I am learning that they have been around for a long time, but I did not know it.

My 09 has not given me any problems that I would call "problems". I love this car.

Jim

 

Also, probably 3,000 miles of the 14,000 miles I have on my car are from actual places I NEEDED to go, the other 11,000 has been pretty serious spirited motoring.

 

I would be an example of someone who has owned multiple high end cars prior to my Mini (5 BMWs, 3 Porsches) and I don't see the Mini as a step down from any of them. I still own a 645Ci with SMG transmission which I love but it doesn't put a smile on my face like the Mini. As I said above I just traded my 330HP, 4.7s 0-60 M Roadster for the Mini and it doesn't seem like a step down in terms of quality or fun, the payments are just 1/3 as much.

 

FWIW,

I love my MINI! I traded in a perfectly fine 06 Dodge Magnum R/T sport wagon, 5.7 Hemi, 390HP with all toys, nav, satellite radio, DVD, leather, dual climate control, cruise, sunroof, etc. for my 06 manual justacooper. I have absolutely no regrets, as my mini is easily 3X as much fun to drive! I have yet to experience any problems. I smile as I get into the car, smile while I'm driving, and smile when I think of getting in to drive some more. I enjoy washing/detailing my MINI myself. This forum is mostly great, you have to understand that complaints & issues are topics in any type of auto forum, most MINI owners just quietly motor on, using this forum as a knowledge resource without posting much, if at all. Did I mention that I love these cars?

 

Greatest cars I have ever owned, or driven, for that matter

 

41,000 fun filled miles so far. It is my daily driver. Also have made
TWO trips from Texas to Orlando. One last year and just got back
Monday from the second trip. Love to drive my MINI anywhere!

 

I don't think this forum has a many complaints as some of the other device forums I frequent (blackberry mostly). Sure the problem threads draw most of the comments, who's gonna keep a "my Mini is the best car I ever owned" thread going for days? Mine's been great, one warranty fuel pump in 30k miles. Had 2 more expensive Jeep GCs before and jeez where they full of problems. Don't get me started

 

I love my 2008 MCS JCW. Only issue was a noisy sunroof and it was adjusted and fixed with my first service appt. The car is fast and handles like a champ with the extra JCW bits that I have added. This is my favorite car to date and I have owned many including multiple BMWs and Audis.

 

Good to hear some of the positives. I traded in my very reliable Honda Element. The mini will be my daily commuter/work horse and I need reliabilty. I do LOVE it thus far

 

I guess I made my comment to general and I must point out I'm only guessing here as I do not know for certain. I see a lot of posts about bad speakers, bad radio controls, plastic interior, poor center stack lay out, cheap seats, low quality this or that and so forth. I like simple controls (because I'm driving), plastic stuff and rubber floor matts (they clean up easy). These complaints lead me to believe that for some it was a step down.

Jim

 

No whining here..I just would have liked a battery that would have worked, windshield wipers that actually turned on and map lights that would turn off. Had it two weeks and going in the shop for the 3rd time on Monday. I want to love the little beast but dang I am wondering if I can keep it long enough to put some miles on it. I only have 340 miles on it now.