R50/53 Saying goodbye to NAM and MINI
#101
01-03-2008, 02:41 PM
#103
01-03-2008, 02:48 PM
We bought a 2000 Eclipse GT (the body style just before the current one)new in 1999 and traded it for our '05 MCS in August '05. My most pleasurable car change, ever. I only had 2 component failures in the Mits: a door window switch wiring problem and a lumbar support lever.
The car was fast and nice on the highway but was a steamship relative to the MCS in the curves and parking lot. The first time I drove into the parking lot at work and tried to park I thought I'd been transported back into our '72 Ford Country Squire wagon. Backing up was always an adventure as there was NO visibility out the back eapecially with the ridiculous fin going right across the middle of the rear window. The doors are huge as well which makes getting in/out of the car in tight parking spaces a challenge.
We test drove the '06 Eclipse and nothing had changed in terms of the negatives I've listed. More power but still didn't handle worth beans. The styling was great until I got to the front of the car. I thought they'd slipped a Pontiac onto the lot.
Lastly, the bane of every Mini owners life: rear seat leg room. You've got even less in the Mits! While I don't need it often in the MCS, I have been able to put 4 adults in the car, and 3 of the guys had fat boy genes. Their words, not mine. :-)
I don't share well with others so I had to buy an '07 MCS for my wife. :-)
The car was fast and nice on the highway but was a steamship relative to the MCS in the curves and parking lot. The first time I drove into the parking lot at work and tried to park I thought I'd been transported back into our '72 Ford Country Squire wagon. Backing up was always an adventure as there was NO visibility out the back eapecially with the ridiculous fin going right across the middle of the rear window. The doors are huge as well which makes getting in/out of the car in tight parking spaces a challenge.
We test drove the '06 Eclipse and nothing had changed in terms of the negatives I've listed. More power but still didn't handle worth beans. The styling was great until I got to the front of the car. I thought they'd slipped a Pontiac onto the lot.
Lastly, the bane of every Mini owners life: rear seat leg room. You've got even less in the Mits! While I don't need it often in the MCS, I have been able to put 4 adults in the car, and 3 of the guys had fat boy genes. Their words, not mine. :-)
I don't share well with others so I had to buy an '07 MCS for my wife. :-)
#104
01-03-2008, 02:51 PM
Seems to me you were sold a water flood car. How is that MINI's fault? Sheesh!
Go and sign the dotted line on that Mitsu. You'll be back in 12 months, if not less.
(Sometimes human nature is like that... We are stubborn and we need to set our hands on top of the fire to see if we really are going to get burn. Well go for it
)
#105
01-03-2008, 02:55 PM
Here's a pic of the transmission I took this morning. The trans shop guys says he thinks that this trans has come incontact with salt water and that this is not the original trans that came with the car. The MINI is perfectly fine otherwise, no sign of water damage.
Because of this I will never buy a used car again, you just don't know what you're buying.
Because of this I will never buy a used car again, you just don't know what you're buying.
#106
01-03-2008, 03:05 PM
Sites like this are primarily for fans of a given marque. When someone starts a thread essentially stating that the car is bad, lousy, (fill in the adjective), it will attract a avalanche of negativity.
It's like walking into a Evangelical Church and preaching the Quran.
This applies to ALL marque specific sites.
#107
01-03-2008, 03:11 PM
Coordinator:Arkansas MINI Owners Klub (AMOK)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have an 05 MCS-liq yellow. It is the most fun car to drive and it is my daily driver . Never had one bit of trouble and I was skeptical when I bought it as I had always owned tremendously reliable Hondas. It has been so great that my husband just bought an 06 HB MCS. We also have a fantastic dealer in the area-Roadshow Mini in Memphis.
#108
01-03-2008, 03:38 PM
Wow, Ron...I concur with the comments that you may have bought a Katrina car! 
So sorry for all the troubles you've had. Very best wishes to you with the next car, whichever you choose. 
#109
01-03-2008, 04:03 PM
Something to consider concerning some of the "less than wonderful" responses posted.
Sites like this are primarily for fans of a given marque. When someone starts a thread essentially stating that the car is bad, lousy, (fill in the adjective), it will attract a avalanche of negativity.
It's like walking into a Evangelical Church and preaching the Quran.
This applies to ALL marque specific sites.
Sites like this are primarily for fans of a given marque. When someone starts a thread essentially stating that the car is bad, lousy, (fill in the adjective), it will attract a avalanche of negativity.
It's like walking into a Evangelical Church and preaching the Quran.
This applies to ALL marque specific sites.
#110
01-03-2008, 04:49 PM
We bought a 2000 Eclipse GT (the body style just before the current one)new in 1999 and traded it for our '05 MCS in August '05. My most pleasurable car change, ever. I only had 2 component failures in the Mits: a door window switch wiring problem and a lumbar support lever.
The car was fast and nice on the highway but was a steamship relative to the MCS in the curves and parking lot. The first time I drove into the parking lot at work and tried to park I thought I'd been transported back into our '72 Ford Country Squire wagon. Backing up was always an adventure as there was NO visibility out the back eapecially with the ridiculous fin going right across the middle of the rear window. The doors are huge as well which makes getting in/out of the car in tight parking spaces a challenge.
We test drove the '06 Eclipse and nothing had changed in terms of the negatives I've listed. More power but still didn't handle worth beans. The styling was great until I got to the front of the car. I thought they'd slipped a Pontiac onto the lot.
Lastly, the bane of every Mini owners life: rear seat leg room. You've got even less in the Mits! While I don't need it often in the MCS, I have been able to put 4 adults in the car, and 3 of the guys had fat boy genes. Their words, not mine. :-)
I don't share well with others so I had to buy an '07 MCS for my wife. :-)
The car was fast and nice on the highway but was a steamship relative to the MCS in the curves and parking lot. The first time I drove into the parking lot at work and tried to park I thought I'd been transported back into our '72 Ford Country Squire wagon. Backing up was always an adventure as there was NO visibility out the back eapecially with the ridiculous fin going right across the middle of the rear window. The doors are huge as well which makes getting in/out of the car in tight parking spaces a challenge.
We test drove the '06 Eclipse and nothing had changed in terms of the negatives I've listed. More power but still didn't handle worth beans. The styling was great until I got to the front of the car. I thought they'd slipped a Pontiac onto the lot.
Lastly, the bane of every Mini owners life: rear seat leg room. You've got even less in the Mits! While I don't need it often in the MCS, I have been able to put 4 adults in the car, and 3 of the guys had fat boy genes. Their words, not mine. :-)
I don't share well with others so I had to buy an '07 MCS for my wife. :-)
#111
01-03-2008, 05:40 PM
Very true, just pack your bags get your new car, hopefully enjoy it, and join their forum. 99.9% of the folks here love their Mini's, trashing them won't win you any points. Good luck.
Guys I love my MINI I just bought a bad car, maybe a Katrina car, who knows. But with all the problems I need a break from MINI for awhile. Mabye, years down the road I may buy again, a MINI for a weekend car.
#118
01-03-2008, 07:07 PM
Changing deck chairs / to a smaller chair
Ron, you are simply going from the frying pan to the fire. Tinker you will... often until you are all tinkered out. fun you may or may not have depending on your definition of fun. See my gallery. That car was very reliable for what it was. Also, unless you are a very small guy, you're not going to enjoy driving an old Mini very far for very long. It's a very tight fit for a six footer. A vintage Mini is strictly a play car. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, you may be walking sooner rather than later. Bring your cellphone.
#119
01-03-2008, 07:16 PM
Didn't see that iceberg!
Yeah, they shouldn't blow at 62k, IF they weren't submerged with the Titanic first. Quit blaming BMW for your choice of a Katrina/Katrina "parts" car.
#120
01-03-2008, 07:16 PM
4th Gear
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Holyoke, MA
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can't resist sending a post....
In W Mass, we dug the Mini out of 12" of snow after sitting in our driveway for the past 10 days. We have around 30K miles on her and it was -4 degrees and a -15 wind chill when she started right up. And up the drive she went. The only problem is seeing over the 8-10' snow piles when leaving the driveway. Never a problem.
In W Mass, we dug the Mini out of 12" of snow after sitting in our driveway for the past 10 days. We have around 30K miles on her and it was -4 degrees and a -15 wind chill when she started right up. And up the drive she went. The only problem is seeing over the 8-10' snow piles when leaving the driveway. Never a problem.
#121
01-03-2008, 08:55 PM
Ron, you are simply going from the frying pan to the fire. Tinker you will... often until you are all tinkered out. fun you may or may not have depending on your definition of fun. See my gallery. That car was very reliable for what it was. Also, unless you are a very small guy, you're not going to enjoy driving an old Mini very far for very long. It's a very tight fit for a six footer. A vintage Mini is strictly a play car. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, you may be walking sooner rather than later. Bring your cellphone.
Yeah, they shouldn't blow at 62k, IF they weren't submerged with the Titanic first. Quit blaming BMW for your choice of a Katrina/Katrina "parts" car.
These cars have lots of problems, that's fact.
#122
01-03-2008, 10:39 PM
Ugly Gas Hog - YOU'RE OUT!
"I'd be getting one if it weren't for the fact...", is much like an army officer telling us, "I'd like to go with you men, but they need me here. However, I will be observing through heavy lenses." Great car to recommend...TO SOMEONE ELSE!
I talked to an early twenties guy with one of those the other day. Quite the car, but he stated that the car gets 13 mpg.
Every car enthusiast friend I talk to about the WRX, the first thing out of their mouths is a version of, "Those are ugly cars." Lousy gas mileage/ugly = two strikes you're out. Me, I don't want to race one, and I don't want to own one.
#123
01-03-2008, 10:42 PM
#124
01-03-2008, 10:47 PM
Like I said, a vintage MINI would be a weekend fun car, nothing more, a grocery getter. Just a toy to play with.
Yeah, mine is a unique situation but I'm far from being the only MINI owner with a bad transmission. Besides, this car has had a lot of other problems unrelated to the transmission. She's been in the shop 8 other times for warranty work in 18 months, unacceptable.
These cars have lots of problems, that's fact.
Yeah, mine is a unique situation but I'm far from being the only MINI owner with a bad transmission. Besides, this car has had a lot of other problems unrelated to the transmission. She's been in the shop 8 other times for warranty work in 18 months, unacceptable.
These cars have lots of problems, that's fact.
Does "she" have an obstetrician, too??
#125
01-04-2008, 07:04 AM
5th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ugly Gas Hog - YOU'RE OUT!
"I'd be getting one if it weren't for the fact...", is much like an army officer telling us, "I'd like to go with you men, but they need me here. However, I will be observing through heavy lenses." Great car to recommend...TO SOMEONE ELSE!
I talked to an early twenties guy with one of those the other day. Quite the car, but he stated that the car gets 13 mpg. Every car enthusiast friend I talk to about the WRX, the first thing out of their mouths is a version of, "Those are ugly cars." Lousy gas mileage/ugly = two strikes you're out. Me, I don't want to race one, and I don't want to own one.
I talked to an early twenties guy with one of those the other day. Quite the car, but he stated that the car gets 13 mpg.
Every car enthusiast friend I talk to about the WRX, the first thing out of their mouths is a version of, "Those are ugly cars." Lousy gas mileage/ugly = two strikes you're out. Me, I don't want to race one, and I don't want to own one.I assumed that lukeinjax was talking about the 2008 STI, since it is the current model. It is a whole new kind of ugly gas hog. However, if driven sensibly it should get between 17 and 23 mpg. I get <20 mpg in my MCS, so that does not seem unreasonable to me (within the context of American wastefulness and ignoring the fact that all passenger vehicles should get at least 40 mpg).
People don't buy STIs for their looks. They have to really want the 300 hp and terrific AWD to make the sacrifice. My MCS looks like a cartoon clown car, has negligible power, and cheap FWD. My car would have to produce about 230 hp to have roughly the same power-to-weight ratio as an STI but would still not have AWD. The positives for the MINI are that it is over 700 lbs lighter and only 12 feet long.