So I traded off my mini. Why? Well.....

Right after I got my 03 MCS, I moved to Maine. The nearest dealer is in Peabody Mass. In a year and a half, I had to go there 3 times, once for a problem, once for a recall and once for the 10k service. What a hassle.

Then I get a job where I have to commute 40 miles one way on some of the worst state highways in America. The frost heave combined with the 17 inch runflats made for a bone-jarring ride.

Then those same tires go bald in just 17 thousand miles. Yeah, I drove it like I stole it, (top speed 130 mph) but 17k, come on!

And of course, I had all the usual rattles, and the boot latch problem and I hated having to buy premium gas, so I traded for a Honda Accord v6 coupe. It's a very nice car. But boring!

I miss my mini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I'm already planning my next mini.

This one will be red with the aero kit and the mfsw. The premium pkg is not worth it. The sunroof is horrendously loud when open and the auto climate control sux. The 17 inch runflats, as previously mentioned, make for an extremely rough ride, even though they do look cool as hell.

Not sure on whether I'll get leather again. I will opt for heated seats though. And as for to S or not to S?

Well, I might live longer un-supercharged, but........

 

Good luck on your next MINI!

Go for the 16" all-seasons and the ride won't be as harsh. Also, keep them inflated properly and rotate them and they should last a bit longer than 17k miles. I keep mine at 35 psi, check the pressure every 2-3 weeks, and rotate every 5k miles. My first set lasted for 22k miles, and that included a weekend at the track and numerous outings taking the twisties at high speeds. I swapped them out when the outside tread began to wear and I could no longer take the twisties without sliding a bit. Probably could have gotten a little more out of them if I'd wanted to. My next set will probably be Yoko non-runflats which will help smooth the ride even more.

 

Drop the 17's, Leather, Sunroof, and with a little boot you could say... 200 HP. :smile:
Charles

John Cooper Works

 

bigmini, sounds like you have a plan and a mission. I think that, given the chance, many of us would make slight (or huge) revisions when faced with the prospect of designing our second MINI. Glad you're using your experience (MINI and otherwise) to kick some butt!! Best of luck (...and keep us posted!).

 

I think this is what I would do, too.

 

I got the Yoko's and they are definitely smoother than my previous run flats. But it's not as smooth as you would expect. The best analogy I can think of is thinking of the teeth of a saw blade. They are sharp and pointy just like the feel of runflats. Now cut a block of metal, and now the teeth are kinda rounded and smooth--but still jaggedy! That's what non run flats feel like. Still feel the jolts and bumps, but a bit smoother.

But given you are in SoCal, beware that they tramline really bad. I discussed this on another thread and people seemed to not care about it. I'm starting to get used to it after 3,000 miles, but since I didn't experience it for the first 20,000 miles with the runflats--it gives a very twitchy feeling on the 10 and 405 freeways that makes driving a bit uneasy.

Great sticky tires otherwise and worth the money, just not the best commuter tires for Los Angeles.

 

I swear, some of us have this "boring car gene" in us. there is absolutely, positively NOTHING wrong with a Honda Accord.....NOTHING...nice ride, pretty, good company to deal with, not a problem.....yet......I sold mine too and NEVER LOOKED BACK.....and THAT was in 1985

My pal and i traded rides (Audi quattro A4(moi), Honda Accord, him) the other day..... Get to the golf course and he says to me..."you DRIVE your car....and ride mine...."
I am selling my mean machine to him as soon as he sells his Honda......on account of I am moving house.....

 

Sounds like a bad relationship. Also sounds like you're expecting more than what's physically possible. You can't drive the car "like you stole it" and expect forever-wearing tires, period. Run-flats do not equal good ride quality. If you don't like the ride, get non-run-flats, but don't complain when you get a flat tire! You can also change your springs to something squishier (KW, M7), but don't complain when the car doesn't handle as well. Know the compromises.

 

I can appreciate your sentiment about missing your MCS. As a good exercise once in awhile those of us with other cars should stop driving our MINIs for one or two weeks and use the "other car" then go back to the MINI and see what it feels like. To me it is like night and day. Once you get that feel for what the MINI is all about it is easy to resist the tempation to drive something else.

When I was shopping for my 2003 MCS I test drove several 2003 Accords both 4 and 6 cylinder. It was OK and they wanted about the same price or more than the MCS in the range of about $22K to $25K. The reviews that year for the Accord were good with the one to look for being the manual 4 cylinder. My dealer didn't bother ordering it since "everyone wants" automatic and V6. Of course they make more profit.

A person like my wife and kids would say they like the accord but for the driver it is a bit numbing. It is a reliable car with nothing special styling. You will remain in the crowd driving it which is good when you want your privacy. The MINI is totally the opposite. People stop and talk to you and ask about the car from those that are full stock to highly modded.

If your nearest dealership is very far away-that is a problem. Move closer to a dealer if and when you have a chance. Problems do occur, I had the back latch problem as well. That's what the warranty is for.

If you ride is particularly rough it has mostly to do with your runflats. You can good handling but the tramlining and harsh bumpy ride is jarring for long stretches. It is a compromise for the safety of having runflats that you don't have to change on the freeway. You have the option of changing to non runflats but choose one with a tread pattern that is well suited for highway travel and long wearing.

If you want performance then the really good tires are not going to last as long due to the softer sticky rubber compounds they use. Maybe 20,000 to 25,000 in most cases maybe less if you don't rotate and keep air pressure up. Your runflats lasted 17,000 (with rotation?) which is OK, most will last right around 20,000 with rotation but it depends on your driving.

I have the Yokohama ES100 in 17" and they don't tramline for me (Octane Guy has the 16" size) but my Pirelli Runflats did tramline on the same roads bigtime. If you do change tires someday then talk to Alex@tirerack.com to get an idea of which tire would work for you.

As for ordering your next MINI-
If you are still going to live far from a dealer, need to do a long commute, need a smoother/quiet ride but still have good performance then:

Consider ordering less options- more complexity leads to more things to go wrong. Less is better if distance to dealer is going to stay far away.
MFSW is OK, Red is good and fast, aerokit is cool.

If possible stay with the stock 16" wheels and try out the runflats or sell them new and replace with non runflat 205/50-16 Avon M500 from tirerack.
Pretty good performance and wear, smoother riding than runflats and not available in 17" sizes. Good price too. Ask Alex about tramlining on your highway commutes.

Heated seats? Fine. Leather or cloth? Your choice. Even leatherette is good in that it is super easy to take care of and keep clean and you can always cover it and it's a no cost option like cloth. In the past the MCS has had space cloth and that is quite good.

S or not? Given what you wrote I'd think that the S would be the way to go and maybe with the Limited slip differential when it arrives in Jan 05. It will help with delivering power to the wheels and maintain better traction with your two front wheels. Not sure on the cost but it's a great performance option, In my book worth having if possible.

 

What gets me about some MINI owners and former owners is that they forget this is a British car. It may have German engineering, but it is still a British car. For those that need explanation on that, here you go:

There will be rattles. It will (eventually) leak oil. It will, above ALL else, be a quirky car that you just want to strangle sometimes. And (for those looking at the convertable) it will rattle even more and the top will leak.

But it will give you more than your share of smiles, incredible drives and experiences. People will look and wave or smile. Strangers will come up and comment or just want to chat.

Be realistic in your expectations, and enjoy the ride. You won't find another like it.

PS I've got 17" run flats on Pittsburgh pothole filled roads and don't find the ride bad at all. To each his\her own, I guess.

 

The MINI will not leak oil on account of a) it is NOT made by Brits but rather by Brazilians and b) the engine was engineered and is built by Daimler-Chrysler and (thankfully) not good ole British Leyland....

 

I'll believe that when Charlie finally goes to that automotive place in the sky and there have been no puddles on my driveway. Until then, I'm expecting a leak. :smile:

 

i'm a bit concerned about maine myself... i'm going back to school there, and in bar harbor, no less. probably about 500 miles or so from the nearest dealer!

all i can do is hope for the best, i suppose. or hope they build a closer dealer, of course.

christina.

 

I don't understand the logic of your selling your MCS for an Accord and then saying you'd like to get another MCS. Why sell it in the first place?

As someone else wrote; if you drive your car like you stole it and keep those run-flat tires, yes, you'd feel the bumps. Worse if you're driving in Maine's rural roads.

 

_________________

Aaaaahhh! Baaa-Haaabaaa. Nice place.

 

Thanks Richard! I'm really surprised to hear you say that your stock runflats didn't tramline and that the Yoko's do. I've heard just the opposite from people. My stock runflats tramline a little bit, but I wouldn't really notice it if I hadn't been looking for it (after other people mentioned it here). I drove Jim's car with 17" Yokos and boy were they sweeeeet! I didn't feel any tramlining at all. Do you think it has to do with tire size? What's the other thread so I can reference it?

 

Yes, my MCS does have German engineering and was built in Great Britain. There are no rattles, it doesn't leak oil and it isn't a quirky car.

It does give me a lot of smiles, :smile: incredible drives and experiences. People do look and wave or smile. Strangers do come up and comment or just want to chat.

It has met my expectations, and is a joy to drive. I don't want to find another like it.

And my front spoiler doesn't scrape under heavy braking, because I don't go that fast because it's not necessary.
Charles

 

Hey, bigmini! Welcome back to the MINI cult...LOL! Good for you for returning to the fold. Hee hee! Very best wishes to you with your new baby. When's the due date?


Clo/Wanda

 

Np! Yeah I can say honestly, I rarely felt any tramlining except on the 105 with my runflats. Maybe the 16" Goodyear treads were better. I dunno. But the tramlining difference is night and day with the Yoko's. Great tires though! Nice and sticky! But the car swings side to side on all the major freeways, except where it's flat and no rain grooves exist. It's a dream on the canyons and smooth roads though!

 

I moved the money for the leather seats to the exterior and got the full Aero Kit. I am totally happy with my black leatherette. Everyone thinks it is leather when they get in the car..."OH such a sweet ride and leather too".

I did not buy any package, I picked the options I wanted Ala carte. I wanted the 16" stock wheels and I did not want the added weight of either the sunroof or the 17" wheels. I did get DSC and both front and back fogs so my toggle bank is full.

I'm already planning my 2nd MINI. I want to keep my MCS to bring out on weekends and get a 2nd Cooper with CVT to use as my everyday car.

I think MINIs are addicting!!

 

Minihune is right,drive something else abit.I use my sisters new G.M.minivan,it feels like a busI drive my freinds Santa Fe,no back roads on it,mostly asphalt,some well kept gravel roads,and it has more rattles than a babies toy!
Go in my buddys Dodge Ram 4x4,and I feel like it is going to tip over
Even the 320i BMW I've got from the dealer as a loaner rides like any sedan
Drove an Aveo the other day and it made my x's Echo seem like a real car
MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINI MINIGo ahead,try and change my mind

 

CharlesWil for President.......

 

pocketrocketowner
Shouldn't that post be Off-Topic Politics? :smile:
Charles