Hi I'm Matt and I'm new here, and I was interested in buying a MINI. I'll be graduating from Massage therapy school in about nine months, so I figured I'd be making enough money around then to get a decent car. I want to get a MINI cooper S automatic transmission with the whole GPS and park assist thing. I just wanted to hear some opinions as to how worth it it woulod be, I was just curious ast to how reliable it is, the quality of the car, and anything I shoud know before I buy it, because its a European car, and that means serious maintenance bills, so I would appreciate hearing different opinions from different ppl,


Thanks,
Matt

 

Some say the gps is a waste of time for 1700. Chrono package, cold weather, premium package. The sunroof is a must. Sport package makes the ride too rough. S comes with sport tires already. Rally lites are sweet. Ipod adapter a waste of money. MP3 player will play the ipod with a $6.00 cord from radio shack and only costs $40.00. Just picked my MCSC auto convertible two weeks ago and car seems ok. It is fun to drive and a head turner. You better get it now while you can. You can also have the dealer search inventory to get the exact car you want if you cannot order anymore.

 

Welcome!

Your going to hear a lot of people tell you how much they love MINIs and how much fun they are to drive ... THEY ARE!

To be fair, I strongly suggest you just start scanning through the technical forums to see exactly the issues that occur. If your worried about maintenaince issue, see what has happened to others.

Most people live with the quirks because the car is to fun

BEST OF LUCK ... you will enjoy a MINI

 

The MINI is the ine of the best cars on the road. You're going to love it. Depending on where you live, the Cold Weather Package and Sunroof may not be worth it. I live in LA, so I got the Sunroof, but not the CWP.
As for reliability and quality, this car is amoung the best. There are no more quirks in the MINI than in any other european car. Most people don't even notice the a-fore-mentioned quirks.
Congrats! Get the '06 if you can!


Marc-Andrew

 

Really I guess you dont read like the thousand or so threads with people complaining? I guess they don't notice those quirks?:impatient

And where does MINI rank in JD Powers reliability?

I am not trying to dissuade the originator ... only buy with open eyes and enjoy the car for what it is.

 

The car has its so called "quirks" more so than a japanese make such as honda/toyota. Which i believe are probably the most well built/reliable cars produced.

However the MINI has alot more personality and its a LOT of fun to drive.

Little things tend to happen to them, like power windows getting fixed, door locks sticking, fragil front glass window. To name a few...but...you have to just love the car for what it is reguardless of the tiny things that go wrong (every once in a while). The quirks are just part of owning a MINI, and if you really love the car, you will put up with it. The trade off to putting up with the quirks is a very FUN car! Its a car that makes you smile when you get in it and puts you in a good mood. You actually dont mind getting in it to go places because you get to be in your MINI.

I would say, take a test drive in one and see how you like it. Most people tend to place an order/buy one after a test drive.

If at all possible try to get a 06' if you are looking for an older model, as most of the quirks have been worked out of them. Or go for a 07' which is all new and no one knows of their quirks yet.

 

thanks you guys.... I really appreciate the feedback. I do live in California so I won't be needing the CWP, and I'm not sure if I want the sunroof cuz I'm not really a sunroof person, and I'm trying to cut costs a little bit. I have REALLY bad vision so I need a GPS, but am I better off getting the factory installed one, or an after market GPS?