Thanks,
Randy & Meg

 

Get it....My 06 BRG MC is my daily driver and I love it. Every car has issues. Mine has been dependable so far.

 

26,000 miles on my mini in 9 months, and not one serious problem.
Stick with it, you'll love it like it's your own kid :P

 

My husband has had a MINI since 02, and he trusts MINI enough to buy an 06 to be my daily driver. We have done very well with MINIs and love them. Our friends have also done well. I have a CVT Cooper and he has a Manual MCS.

 

JUST DO IT!

Looks like you've been reading way too much and now second guessing yourself. There is another thread here like yours, but asking how many would buy another one. Overwhelmingly positive responses too!

I hemmed, I hawed and every thing else. Wound up adopting an orphaned '04 10 days ago and couldn't be happier. There is nothing else that really approaches these cars short of spending almost double.

You might find a support group to get you through the gestation period. Opps, you already have!

Hope you ordered the JCW...

 

my MC has been more than reliable (pepper white / black too). i drive 80 miles a day and it has been perfect. MINIs dont really have major problems. these engines are almost flawless. when you do see a problem its not the kind that causes the car to break dwon. its usually something like a rattle, or a stuck window, or something else minor. these are very, very well built cars. BMW builds them. anyway, i have 32,000 miles on my car in 13 months and it has been there everyday, starting up and driving perfectly each time i put in the key. it was 12 degrees outside this morning, started right up. keep it, you will not regret it. dont get it, and you will regret it.

 

Get it! MINI is in the fourth year of production now. Most of the major mechanical issues have become very infrequent, and build quality has really come up. Just remember that for every person posting here about a problem, there are probably hundreds who don't have that problem. I think that the '06 will be the best one to have 5-10 years from now.

 

as far as being reliable so far so good. It's not as perfect as my
other cars in terms of rock solid reliability, but it's not bad at all.

i'd get a 2nd one too. ive yet to see a MINI off the road for
engine related trouble even in this unusually cold Chicago winter
this year.

 

It's not a Toyota by any means, but most of us drive our Mini's much different than we would drive a Toyota, so "individual results may vary". All cars have problems, but remember what you read on boards is almost always about the "bad" for any car. I had a Toyota Matrix before my Mini (considered a reliable car) and their forum is very similar to this one. The main difference is that there are Toyota dealers next to every Starbucks and McDonalds, so "going to the dealer" is no big deal.

Would I go back to Toyota? Probably not. If I ever wasn't happy with my Mini I would probably have to move to a BMW. There are just so many things about the driving experience of the Mini that are so much nicer.

 

My 03 has had a fair amount of ISSUES, but I'd buy a 2005/06 without buyer's remorse...much more solid than the early builds. Don't wait for a 2007 as that is an iffy proposition, since it is a new engine...so go with a 2006 at the latest!

Rock on,

-boognish

 

You'll find in most enthusiast forums like this one, a disproportionate number of threads will revolve around problems/issues people have with their cars. People aren't likely to write in saying everything is just going OK - come to think of it that would make for a pretty boring read too.

I've had my 06 MCS since the end of October and not one single issue yet (knock wood). I also have a few other close friends with MINIs and I haven't seen any real major problems with any of their cars either. While the MINI may not have the appliance like reliability of say a Honda Accord, the MINI is light years more fun to drive.

Bottom line, if you really do like the car, why not just go for it!

 

Thing is how many forums are there for other car brands? You won't find much on Hondas, Toyotas, or most other brands. Mini enthusiasts are unique. I hope you did notice reading through these threads, that the quality of these cars has improved in the last several years.

 

I too read the boards before buying my '03 MCS and read about all of the problems folks were having with them at the time (windshield breakage, stumble, yo-yo, etc.) but decided to get one anyways.

I wanted the MINI for it's style and performance. I was willing to give a little in the reliability and TCO department because that was not one of the top reasons I wanted the car. Having said that, I now have 34k miles on the car with no major problems save for a few rattles that were fixed by the dealer. I have put quite a bit of money into it for modifications but that was by choice.

I think one of the great parts of owning the MINI is the fact that such a large community exists to offer help, guidance, and commiseration should you encounter a problem with your car. If something goes wrong, you can check to see if it has happened to anyone else and how they fixed it. If it weren't for the passionate folks on these boards who care about their cars, you wouldn't even know there were problems.

If you are looking for day to day reliability and low cost of ownership, you're probably better off with a Honda or a Toyota. I've had one of each and they were great point A to point B cars that ran on regular gas (MINI requires Premium) and required nothing other than routine maintenance.

I ,for one, am very happy with the choice I made and if I had it to do over, I would buy another MINI in a heartbeat.

The purchase of a car is a very personal decision and whether you will be happy with one model over another is greatly dependent on what you hope to get out of it.

Good luck and choose wisely.

 

My Cooper's been a great little commuter...no problems at all. In addition, I actually look forward to driving to and fro each day. Hard to place a value on that.

 

Just get it. I would do it again in a heart beat. If I were in the market to buy another car it would be another MINI without a second thought. Mine is my daily driver and has never let me down. 110 degree summer days to -10 degree winter mornings. It has been more reliable than any honda or toyota that I have owned.

Just turned 92,000 miles yesterday . another three years and I'll be due to pick out a new one

Nik

 

Hi Randy and Meg,
I am a new MINI owner and would like to say that I am very pleased with the car. Bought mine last month and after 2700 miles, I am glad to say that we have had no problems. Every car has it's quirks and foibles, it is just a matter of knowing what to expect and going with the flow.
If you haven't already done so, check out nmmini.org. Great local club and lots of great folks. Lots of events and get-togethers. Next up is a motor to Carlsbad Caverns Jan 21/22. If you have your MINI by then, hope to see you there!

 

I think you could go to a users forum for just about any vehicle and find a similar amount of issues talked about. As with most forums, a large number of posters are looking for solutions to problems and to vent about little (or big) issues that they're having. In the end though, you need to do what's best for you and your particular situation.

Look into it a bit further before you make up your mind, and possibly regret a decision you might make. There are quite a few threads here that have some very positive things to say as well.

Good luck to you and your wife and whatever path you choose.

 

I should add that after 5,000+ miles on my 2006 there are a couple of issues that new buyers should be aware of (from some early experiences):

1. The Cooper S is fast. It's VERY fast. It's extremely easy to end up on the freeway going 90 mph without even knowing it. The car is quieter at 90 than my Toyota was at 55, and quieter than my Jeep idling. Don't scream at us if you get a ticket!

2. The stock tires will likely wear out quickly if you decide to have fun showing your friends what DSC does in the parking lot at work. While exciting for you, your friends may also refuse to ride with you ever again. . Utilize your new found powers with caution.

3. While taking street corners at 32 mph in 2nd gear is exciting, it can land you a ticket and it can create some extra tire wear. Drive with caution.

4. Everything in the car (laptops, wallets, IPods, etc.) must be fastened to something, otherwise when you take a corner anything not tied down is going to move to the other side of the car and you won't even notice. Why not? Because you'll be focused on the road, both hands on the wheel and a big smile on your face. You won't even notice that your IPod nearly slid off the dash and out the window.

 

I had the same concerns, but went ahead with my 2006 (1600 miles). I am really glad I did, especially when I climb back in our other cars and compare. Their steering now feels as precise as a divining rod compared to the MINI. "We're gonna go over here in this general direction sometime, probably soon..." is how I feel driving the MINI's predecessors. As for reliability, who knows, but it's already been better than my Volvo 240.

 

Now we've wondered off topic...but just to let you know there are plenty of forums for just about every car out there. I'm guessing this is your first experience. And just like here most forum participants are passionate about their cars and like to share their experiences. And we're definitely not as unique as the S2000 guys, since they only sell about 10k of those a year .

MiniMeg06...

Back on topic...reading any forum looks like there are tons of problems with any car...even honda and toyota. I ordered almost the same thing you did, except I wanted the JCW instead of the premium package, even the same color combo. I hope you go through with your purchase as I think the car will provide years of enjoyment. The best thing is that you get the free maintenace for 3 years and a good warranty for 4 years if anything were to happen.

Thanks for the idea of getting the S-lites polished...I hadn't thought of that. I'll be looking into that now...see, somthing good can happen on the forums

 

After I placed my order in late Nov. I too had second thoughts for about 2 seconds, and then I relized that what dchez says is absolutley true!

 

If you have ever had a bmw or european car you would understand all the complaining is about. European cars are not always perfect but the ride is perfect. So if you want a perfect daily driver that never has problems, I would get a honda civic.

If you want a car that can handle on rails, is sporty to drive and CHEAP . Buy a mini, but realize your are buying a baby racing car . WEEEeeee.

The one thing you have to ask yourself is this, have you ever seen a mini driver without a smile on there face as you drive by them? NOPE

 

I have a Aug 02 S. One of the first in L.A . 55,000 + HARD miles on it , Canyon's , L.A traffic, track days , auto X and most recently driven at speed by Will Turner for a Eurotner event.Lots of mods on the motor including NOS and the dreaded lightweight crank shaft pully In the first year I had the A/C compressor go out and in the second year the steering rack. Both were replaced under warrenty with no issues. In my book this little car takes a beating and keeps on ticking.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

this is more true than alot of people really know...I cannot explain what I have seen these cars take...oh the stories I could tell....lol....I know some CRAZY mini folk...

I haven't seen many HUGE issues...it seems to me that people are more passionate about the car..cause they love them so much that they are nit picking things....I dunno...I drive pretty hard on a daily basis

I haven't had any probs...that's all I know...

 

I will soon be ordering my 06 MCS. Not worried at all. In fact Consumer Report just added Mini to their list of recommended cars as its reliability has improved greatly over the years.

Good luck!! Don't turn back now<img>