Hi, new to mco. I like the S model, but have a few questions before firming up a decision to place order:

1. Are they selling at MSRP or are dealers gouging on them (mark up above MSRP)?

2. Country of build/origin?

3. Build quality?

4. Reliability? (see #3)

5. Will I fit comfortably (6'3" 210lbs)?

6. Real world gas mileage numbers?

7. Cheap mods to boost HP and torque a bit?

8. Premium fuel only in the S model, right?

9. How to get warranty work done if you're 170 miles from nearest dealer?

Thanks. I have a '95 Corvette Convertible now. Really like the Cooper S, though. It won't be a daily driver... weekend fun car only.

I'm in southern Indiana USA

 

1-They are selling at MSRP if you go to the right dealer. Some dealers are charging a markup, many are not. I got mine for MSRP.

2-The engine is a joint venture with Chrysler, assembled in Brazil. The car is built in Oxford England.

3-I have nothing but good things to say about build quality. I have had a couple rattles, but the dealer was quick to eliminate them on a recent visit. Many don't have any problems. But I think in general there have not been any bad things to say as a whole, only a few isolated instances of some minor issues.

4-Reliability has been perfect for me.

5-Yes, the seats move up/down as well as front/back, so you can accomodate a very large driver.

6-I've been getting about 22 around town driving like a bat out of hell, and about 25-30 on the hiway.

7-There are many mods available, and many more on the way. You can get performance intakes for around $200, 20hp chips for about $6-700, exhausts for $500-1200, plug wires for around a $100, etc. If you are curious, click on "links of interest" on the left in the Main Menu section, then select "Aftermarket Suppliers". You'll see that there are MANY vendor choices.

8-Yes, premium only. Not sure if that's S only.

9-Unfortuneately you'll need to drive to your dealer.

R

 

Welcome to MCO! Lots of info here. What I think I know is as follows:

1. MSRP is not unusual for most of the US except the coasts. I got MSRP at Bill Jacobs in Chicago.

2. Oxford England built.

3. Above average quality for an inexpensive car. I think this is due to good engineering. First model year bugs are being addressed promptly.

4. Should be good as most BMW products. Only time will tell.

5. No problem for tall people. Forget the back seat behind the driver though.

6. Gas mileage? How do you drive? Lead foot around town should get low 20's. Long trips with cruise control, mid 30's. This is a guess.

7. Mods are comming fast and furious. This is a very hot model for aftermarket mods. The car is new and already many performance mods are on the market.

8. Right!

9. Plan on driving 170 miles! I have no MINI dealer close to me. The local BMW dealer will service the car adequately, but for warranty work you must and want to go to MINI. They have free roadside assistance and towing to the nearest dealer. I have heard if you are over a specific distance they even pick up some personal expenses.

Check the MINI USA website for more info as well as other discussion threads on this excellent site. :smile:

 

"5. Will I fit comfortably (6'3" 210lbs)?
6. Real world gas mileage numbers?"

My cousin is 6'5" and he fits.
21 to 24 mpg is the best I've done but I drive it like I stole it.

 

Premium gas in both models (S and non-supercharged).

 

>>Hi, new to mco. I like the S model, but have a few questions before firming up a decision to place order:
>>
>>1. Are they selling at MSRP or are dealers gouging on them (mark up above MSRP)?
>>

Some dealers are selling the car at MSRP, but inflating the price of dealer-installed options (like the CD Changer, BootBox, etc).

BTW, any accessories you buy at the time you buy the car are covered by the full vehicle warranty, otherwise it's much shorter (I think 90 days or a year, depending on the item).

Chip H.

 

5. A: One of my friend's brothers, who's at least as big as you, if not bigger sat in my MINI soon after I got it.. his comment was that there was more room in the MINI then his new pickup truck...

Rocketboy_X

 

As far as size goes: I'm only 5'10", but I hang out with some big hombres. Two of my friends are 6'4" and 6'7"(!), and they both fit comfortably in the drivers seat. The MINI sales literature makes a big deal about how they designed the car to accomodate someone up to 6'7".

As stated before though, forget about putting someone in the seat behind them.

 

1. Are they selling at MSRP or are dealers gouging on them (mark up above MSRP)?.....yes where I live, you can actually find used ones in the paper for under MSRP if you factor in no sales tax on the sale.

2. Country of build/origin?.....Britain, but not really English, lol!

3. Build quality? Don't expect BMW build quality, it isn't there, too much plastic and I have had rattles in the rear hatch, sunroof, dashboard...all eventually fixed by dealer...also blown air compressor, dead supercharger, defective runflat, but those are mechnical really and not related to the rattles which were really annoying having owned bimmers before...

4. Reliability? (see #3)....well,the biggest problem is getting the problems fixed if they are mechanical because you have to wait on parts in some cases..10 days for the air compressor, 2 weeks for the supercharger and over a week on a matching runflat....dealer was very good and I got to drive a bimmer loaner car which was not all bad...

5. Will I fit comfortably (6'3" 210lbs)? well...yes and no...I'm 6'1" and there is plenty of head room and leg room, but the seats are really to short for me as I have long legs, the seats are the most disappointing feature of the mini, in my opinion not very well thought out design wise as I find them pretty uncomfortable on drives over a couple hours...

6. Real world gas mileage numbers? ...around 25 mph driving around town, don't really take it on trips as I prefer a bigger car for long road trips when I take them.

7. Cheap mods to boost HP and torque a bit? ECU tuning biggest bang for the buck but wouldn't do it since the warranty could come in question...exhausts, air intakes don't seem worth the expense to pick up a few extra hp in my opinion.

8. Premium fuel only in the S model, right? yep...premium fuel, no big deal at 25 mpg...my suburban gets about 10mpg and I use reg, so you tell me which one is the better value...lol!

9. How to get warranty work done if you're 170 miles from nearest dealer? Pray !

This car is pure fun but it does have some annoying idiocyncrazies, almost a love/hate affair with me, but I also had the original back in the late 60's for a brief time and that car was also a love/hate relationship so maybe bimmer did really do a great job of trying to bring back the classic...lol

 

I'm 6'2"/185lb. The first time I sat in my S, I moved the seat as far back as possible, which is something I do with most with every car I drive. I couldn't reach the pedals. I would esitmate someone at least 4 inches taller could fit comfortably. It never feels like I am near the roof line (though I do have the sunroof). I have spent 12 hours in the driver's seat and gotten out feeling great. Don't let size inhibit your decision (but note that comfortable position for someone your size means there is about 3-5 inches of legroom behind your seat; you're buying a three seater).