I know that there are alot of storng oppinions on this but I would like to get some solid info here. For those of us looking into the 07s what is the liklihood that the new engine and rear suspension etc. will have serious quirks and would be better holding off for an 08? can anyone think of new turbo engines having substantial or no issues their first year? thank you for the help. I would hate to get an 07 only to find that it wont last me as long as if i had waited for an 08. Thanks!

 

My main problem with the '07 MINIS are that they will be pre-specked by the factory for the first few months.
Custom ordering was one of the most fun aspects of ordering MIB. I got the MINI I wanted, not what the dealer
wanted to sell or what MINIUSA could shove down my throat.

I am sure that there will be some hickups with the new turbo and other new features, But my next MINI will most
likely be a MINI Clubman S or what ever they call it.

 

Just wondering what the source is for this info. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, including my local dealer when I informed him I hoped to get a custom '07 fairly early once orders start being filled.

Thanks!
JMelrose

 

I remember hearing about the early US MINI's coming pre-spec'd, I can't remember if it was Motoringfile or White Roof Radio or somewhere elso but I haven't seen anything more about. It was several months ago I think. The MO at East Bay MINI thinks we'll be able to spec them from the get-go.

 

I heard that too. But I took it to mean the first couple hundred cars would be pre-spec'd as dealer demos with others to do the car show circuts.

Many of those cars are being produced right now (see the pics of the train cars full of MINI's? Both old and new?). They're cranking those out as we type.

As soon as customers can place orders, I believe you can "have it your way" (to steal someone else's tag line).

 

I think MINI/BMW has more that likely learned from the problems with the early build MINI's. My thinking is the 2007 model will be just fine. If you are too worried about the quality control you'd better wait a year or so. For me if I was in the market for a 2007 I'd buy it.

As far as pre-spec'd ones go most all new car releases are pre-spec'd by the dealers. Wait a bit & custom order yours.

 

The original question is a tough one to answer. I think the data would show that problems peak in the first year or two and then level off. No matter how much testing a manufacturer does, there is no way to recreate thousands of cars is real world use. There are bound to be more issues in a new first year car. The question is how severe.

Will it be major faults in the brand new engines or subtle things that are more of an annoyance? I don't think it will be as rough as the first two years of the current car, which was a clean sheet design, but it will have bugs.

For me, it's not the severity as much as the hassle. I hate the whole car repair inconvenience, whether it's something small or not. Dealer visits throw a wrench into my life regardless of what's being done.

If I get a new MINI, it will very likely not be an '07. But that's just me. Thankfully, there are those who don't mind the new car risk and help everyone else by doing the final testing on the car.

 

I was planning on getting a 07, but after talking to the dealer I am getting one of the last 06's. He said that after the trouble they had with the 02 & 03's there was no way he would get an 07.

 

My 2003 MCS has been a great MINI. I am very interested in reserving judgment about the 2007s until I get to actually test-drive one. I will be keeping my Wanda...but that doesn't rule out getting another MINI up the road a piece.

 

Your asking for solid info on something that unfortunately, one can only speculate about.

I guess your best bet would be to look at BMW's track record when it comes to model re-designs. Have there been major problems? If things have come up... did they fix them to the owner's satisfaction?