I currently own a 2004 VW R32. Wonderful car that has been very reliable over her 110k miles! However, a lengthy 42 mile commute and joint problems mean it is time for me to put the VW up for sale for something more "reasonable".

I have 2 questions:

1) I know there isn't much reliability data out there since the new engines came in 2011. But what does long-term, high-mileage reliability look like? I'll be putting 30,000 miles a year on the Mini (!!!), so I want something decently reliable without major "scares".

2) What is the ride quality like on the highway? As much as I love the ride and handling of my R32, it is just too firm, steering is too heavy, and driving it really fatigues me. I would be getting a base, non-sport.

Cheers!
Jonathan

 

I'm riding in a 2009 MCS w\o the sport suspension and the ride is great. The sport suspension is an option on either the base Mini Cooper or the S model, it's $500. You can easily drive both and see what you think.

Regarding maintenance and the warranty, my dealer sold me the 7 year\100k mile warranty for less then $2k. Considering that includes brakes, clutches, oil and filter changes, etc... It's a good deal.

I think you'll find them a lot more livable than your r32.

 

Thanks Dustin!

I forgot to mention, I would be getting the *automatic* transmission.

 

I've got a ~40-mile commute every day, too, which I drive in my '09 Cooper. So, I put over 20k miles per year on it, AND have done several track days and Auto-X events over the last few years, and I've had essentially zero problems with it up to it's current ~78,000 miles.

 

Over 85k on our 08 MC With very few problems.

 

smart move staying away from the run flats for your longer commute - assuming you stick with the 15" stock wheels.

As for base justa reliability, my 2012 has had zero problems so far. But I'm not putting on your kind of miles.

Are you at least close to a MINI dealer for the routine services that will come up more frequently?

 

9800 miles so far. A few problems that I have encountered:

1- Flat tire. Not the car's fault, obviously.
2- The stock jack failed to lift the car, damaging the rocker panel in the process. MINI replaced it under goodwill.
3- The mirror covers on the sun visors broke. This evidently happens all the time. Replaced under warranty.
4- A solenoid on the oil pump started leaking oil into the wiring harness. I didn't notice this, the dealer did. They replaced the solenoid and the wiring harness. The harness had a different electrical connector at one of the other ends for the coolant temp sensor. The sensor is a part of the thermostat housing, so they had to replace that as well to get the new sensor. They were going to replace the housing anyway per service campaign.

The solenoid repair was apparently pretty involved. They had to drop the oil pan and remove the pump from the car to R&R the solenoid.

I'm a little nonplussed by the solenoid leak, but I'm still happy with the car. All of the work was covered, so I didn't have to pay for it and I did get a loaner car while that was getting done.

I still need to remember to dig out that old scissor jack from storage, because I don't think the stock jack is useable.

 

I agree with joe13472000, stay away from the run flats. I owned a 2007 MCS with the sport suspension that included the run flat tires. My 2011 MC has the base suspension and non run flat tires. The ride is much more comfortable with the base suspension and I don't feel any difference in the handling. I have the manual transmission but was very impressed with the 6 speed automatic when I test drove one. My 2011 MC has about 13,000 miles and has been almost trouble free. The only issure I had is the dealer overfilling the oil. The 2007 MCS was the first year of the 2nd generation MINI's and had more problems. All the problems were fixed under warranty by the dealer at no cost to me. I was given a loner car for any work that required the car to stay at the dealer. Any problem is annoying, but its great that the dealers try to make it as easy as possible.

2011 MC, PW/B

 

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and luckily we have a good selection of Mini dealers. Patrick Mini is nearby.

I would love to get back to Columbus, OH one day. They currently only have 1 Mini dealer (MAG Mini). I have had good experiences with MAG's VW service. They are good, but also a little bit on the higher-end of the price scale.

Other than the Mini, the only other car I've found that I like is the Mazda3 hatchback with the skyactiv engine. A little bit better gas mileage (39 mpg highway), a little lower price, likely cheaper to maintain, but less character than the Mini.

 

Coming from an R32 you should consider the S, you will miss the torque with a Cooper.

 

Would love an "S" and it is within my price range. But truthfully I can't justify spending that much on a car I'll be putting 30,000 miles a year on! I bought the R32 under a different set of circumstances. If I had known I would be commuting this much, I would probably still be driving my old Golf TDI!

 

As a highway cruiser, you are imo on the right track looking at a base cooper!!
The S is the one with several issues...but the regular cooper motor is pretty rock solid...
About 90% of the readers on a board like this are S owners...go fast crowd...but i have been told/heard many times the NON S is a great cruiser, relilable, and economical. Issues with the S (much hifgee strung, and often abused) have paid many mechics bills....the non S IS KINDA LIKE A HONDA/TOYODA....in for oil changes, and back out.
good luck!! There are quite a few 150,000+ gen1 cars with sticks on this board (the cvt auto was a nightmare, and even the gen1 stick was an issue sometimes, but the gen2 cars you are looking at is a complete redesgin, with only the same look, and few mechanical carryovers.