I haven't yet recieved my Mini, so I cannot comment on problems or solutions - but this seems to be a common thread. I wanted to pick it up in terms of a comparison to other cars.

Heres my list from worst to best:

85 Plymoth Horizon - first car. All the rattles were from crappy trip pieces. It was my first car, it was used, had 100K. Solution: turn up the radio. At 16, you just don't care.

87 Camaro IROC-Z - A fine example of a low cost 80's GM sports car. This thing mostly had rattles in the rear end. Most were completely unexplainable. Occasionally the T-Tops (I would *LOVE* to have another car with t-tops - simply the best)

92 Eagle Talon TSi AWD - Probably from cheap plastic, flimsy construction. Same as the Camaro - it falls into the cheap sports car category. You expect it. Ironically, one of the louder rattles came from around the right rear wheel only at low speeds. Turns out the shop somehow sealed a metal valve cap inside the tire when they rotated the tires - it was banging against the rim at low speeds (and centrifical force hold it to the tire at high spped keeping it from rattling - what does this say for the shop??!!)

98 Sebring LXi - Sunroof is number one - started out OK and got worse. The occasionally rattle from the plastic in the back seat, but only on rough roads.

93 Nissan 300ZX TT - Now this wasn't a car I owned - but a friend of mine. Still to this day, you can cruise with the stereo off and its just solid. Was it Nissan build quality or the fact that it was a nearly a $50K car when it was new? Take your pick.

So what do you think of the build quality of the Mini? How does it rate to your other cars?

Erik

 

Haven't seen any of these things in my MINI

 

I have had few problems, and only one was a rattle. I took it to my dealer, and under warrenty they fixed it in about 15 minutes. I think it is a great car, and you should get one, because it is the best car I have ever owned. Have fun with whatever you choose.

 

Unlike a few people here, my S model seems as solid as a rock. If it did have a small rattle, believe me when I say, at 51 the radio trick still works!