My wife and I love the MCS, but we are 7 hours from the nearest dealer. That is not a problem for the purchase, but the issue is maintenance, reliability, and repairs. Reliability is assumed not be a problem, but this will be our main vehicle, we will probably drive it 20,000 miles a year until it drives no more...

Any comments that you all can give me about why it is a good idea to buy a car that take 14 hrs travel time to have any work done to, would be greatly appreciated. We really want one, but have not been able to commit to the long distance relationship with the dealer yet... HELP!!!

 

8 hours?! I'm a little under 2 hours away from the nearest dealer, and I don't much like it. It's at least a half day to have anything done. No way to sugar coat it: you will need to take your MINI to the dealer from time to time, reliable or not, unless you intend to pay someone locally out of your own pocket for any warranty work, which they probably couldn't do and which would also void the warranty! Bite the bullet and plan on major inconveniences if it's to be your main ride and both of you have jobs w/ little flexibility. If my dealership was any further away, I doubt I'd have bought my MINI. I LOVE the car, but life is already tough enough w/out guaranteed headaches. Sorry to sound negative here, but them's the facts. Wish it weren't otherwise.

 

Aaaah, fear of the unknown.
IMHO, go for it. Otherwise, you'll always say "What if" and never experience the fun in motoring in a Mini.
The reliability in the car is there. The major quirks have been solved.
If it becomes too inconvenient, you still have something to sell or trade.
:smile:

 

I'd have to go with fms ... there's no guarantee with ANY car that you won't have to visit the dealer more than a couple of times a year. I've been to my dealer for service about 5 times in the the past 9 months, and my problems -- unlike some others on MCO -- have all been either routine or minor (i.e., nothing involving towing or limping in). I know that I'd be VERY ticked off if I had to drive more than the 45 minutes I do to the dealer. 7 hours would definitely be a deal breaker.

Unless you're already doing that 7 hour trip for some other reason (business, groceries, mail?? ), I'd think you'd better wait on buying a MINI.

 

>>Any comments that you all can give me about why it is a good idea to buy a car that take 14 hrs travel time to have any work done to, would be greatly appreciated. We really want one, but have not been able to commit to the long distance relationship with the dealer yet... HELP!!!

If you MUST have your MINI then it's a good idea. You will work around the service problems. On the other hand if you simply want one then it's probably not a good idea and your going to be VERY upset when you make that first service trip.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I have done test drives in CA, AZ, and soon in New Orleans. Visited the dealer in INDY also. I really love these cars. But it is a long ways from any support. Does anyone know how to find out about new dealers coming online? If one were to come to El Paso I would be set. And can a dealer across the border service (Mexico) a US car? Have a large border city near me also... But for now we still must decide whether the car will work for us...

 

>>Thanks for the feedback. I have done test drives in CA, AZ, and soon in New Orleans. Visited the dealer in INDY also. I really love these cars. But it is a long ways from any support. Does anyone know how to find out about new dealers coming online? If one were to come to El Paso I would be set. And can a dealer across the border service (Mexico) a US car? Have a large border city near me also... But for now we still must decide whether the car will work for us...

To check on new dealers go to http://www.miniusa.cam and click on Find a Dealer. The chances of one opening in El Paso anytime soon is rather remote IMO. Read some of the threads about MINI Dealers in TX and I think you will arrive at the same conclusion. There is no dealer in Juarez either but the chances of them opening one there are greater than El Paso. When you say "service" I am assuming warranty work. IF there were a dealer in Juarez they could do the work but it is a question in my mind IF MINIUSA would pay them. Interesting question. It might work out that warranty issues would have to be paid "out of pocket" and then reimbursement requested from MINIUSA - I'm guessing.

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2003 Cooper VR/W, Black Interior, Cold Pak MFSW, DSC, OBC
Mods: Clear 3rd Brake Light, Stubby Antenna, Cocomats, Clean Visors, Minilite Wheels, CNC Pedals

 

Albuquerque and Santa Fe are closer, but the chances of dealers opening there is probably about as good as one opening in El Paso. I suppose I want the impossible. A Pepper White MCS with Cordoba Beige interior on sports seats would be nice too...