rafthos,
You are right. Everyone has different experience.
My first Cooper...transmission linkage breaks stranding me in NY state.
My first 02 S.....two coolant tanks and stress crack in windshield.
My second S....03...coolant leaking on delivery.
Annoying rattle in right rear. I wear hearing aids...not
in the car. If I hear a rattle..it is loud.

 

>>>>Pmark...
>>>>Laughter is good medicine. Stick around.
>>
>>I dunno man. I'm not the only long-time member I've seen talking about leaving because the site atmosphere has changed. And I don't just mean the BMW thing either. It just seems that the fun is being sucked out of the site in an attempt to make it a more SERIOUS board to discuss our MOTORS and whatnot. It seems that if you're not a techie, then you're not considered MCO material. Well, sorry but 90 percent of MINI owners will never make any modification to their cars, I know I haven't, I wouldn't know how to even start. I guess that leaves me banned to Off Topic, which has already started to become deserted since the Gods decided it wasn't PROFESSIONAL enough.
>>
>>MCO is going to end up being traveled only by techies, which means it will shrivel up and die. That makes me sad
>>


Agreed. Not everyone feels the need to mod there cars. I for one, like mine stock. I bought it becuase I liked it. I have done some minor cosmetic things, but I will not mod any performance on the car...bad experience with that. Sad that "regular" MINI owners are gunna be left in the dark.

 

The really sad thing here for me is that I LOVE my MINI, but am so incredibly frustrated by MINI-USA's actions against its enthusiasts that I don't know what to do.

I had such high hopes that MINI really was going to be a different kind of car company and that they were going to be very proactive in supporting the community of MINI enthusiasts.

But remember when Saturn came out as a new kind of car company. They were going to be so different and touchy-feely, etc. Now go into a Saturn dealership and it is just like any other car dealer.

If only these big car companies could live up to the sparkling image that their advertising agencies depict them as.

ATTN BMW LAWYERS: Be nice. The MINI community here is one of your greatest assets, and it is the best free advertising you could imagine. We can forgive if you can forget about your unnecessary legal actions against your enthusiasts.

 

Our Cooper CVT has never given us any serious problems or left us stranded on the side of the road. The car has been rock solid reliable and has taken us back and forth in different roadtrips in comfort, safety and fun.

I am not downplaying the well dcumented "Ad Naseum" problems reported by most MINI owners during the past year but the car when it comes to the "meat and potatoes" is a very dependable machine and he have been generally happy with the service we have received from MINI.

 

>>The really sad thing here for me is that I LOVE my MINI, but am so incredibly frustrated by MINI-USA's actions against its enthusiasts that I don't know what to do.
>>
>>I had such high hopes that MINI really was going to be a different kind of car company and that they were going to be very proactive in supporting the community of MINI enthusiasts.
>>
>>But remember when Saturn came out as a new kind of car company. They were going to be so different and touchy-feely, etc. Now go into a Saturn dealership and it is just like any other car dealer.
>>
>>If only these big car companies could live up to the sparkling image that their advertising agencies depict them as.
>>
>>ATTN BMW LAWYERS: Be nice. The MINI community here is one of your greatest assets, and it is the best free advertising you could imagine. We can forgive if you can forget about your unnecessary legal actions against your enthusiasts.

At the end of the day MINI is yet another car company a business with the sole purpose of making money. I think a lot of people bought too much into the clever marketing campaign. So wake up and smeel the coffee, the fairy tale is no more.

Remember Saturn's tag line "We are a different kind of car company"??? Saturn is yet another GM division with nicer salespeople and service personnel, that's all.

Let's be more down to earth...this is the sad reality of any corporation operating in US soil.

 

>>I don't know if this will be my last MINI or not, but I'm pretty much disgusted with minicooperonline.com Not because of BMW, but because of the mods, or some of them anyway. They've gotten too arrogant. When they start lecturing us about how "this site WILL be brought into line", well that just makes me laugh out loud. :smile:

Mark

 

I knew a guy with your name would have to be cool!

No worries!

 

It makes me chuckle when I read about the problems people are having.
Do you think that MINI owners are the only ones having problems with their cars?
Do you think that we are the only ones having problems with service?
No, it happens everywhere. Some more than others.

But this is a Eurpoean car. Not a car from Japan.

Evey year, the top cars in customer satisfaction:
Honda/Acura & Toyota/Lexus.

Everyone has heard stories about leaking problems and other problems with european cars. That is just the way it is. My father hates his Mercedes. The serveice is the worst I have ever heard of. They tried to give him a Hyundai as a loaner car.

On the other hand, he loves his Acura. He has had 6 of them. He is considered a "Prefered Customer". When he takes in his NSX, he gets a new RL as a loaner car. He has never had any problems with the Acuras.

O, the most important thing about the MINI.
This is a new car, by a new company. There are going to be many, many problems.
Saturn wat the same way their first years. Things will get better.
But there will be problems everywhere.

I love my car. I have had 1 problem. 12,000 miles in 10 months on a 2003.
I will get another one.

 

I have had 8 Honda/Acura vehicles in a time span of 12 years. The cars are very good but they do have problems specially after their 4th or 5th year in service. I was never impressed with the level of service provided by Acura dealers...I was treated like if I had bought a $15K Civic instead of a $30K 2.5TL sedan. My last Acura, a made in Japan '97 2.5TL had many issues within the first 10K miles....rough shifting automatic tranny, water leaks in trunk, burnt bulbs, cracking and peeling leather, failed A/C engine fan, prematurely worn out brakes, etc.

People need to get off the fairy tale of perfect cars, because those cars don't exist. Every friggin' car made today from any maker has issues to a greater or lesser degree. look at the JD Powers quality ratings of the Camry and Accord that have been on a steady decline in the last 5 years.

If you love your Japan, Inc appliance mobiles more power to ya, I personally fed up of their cookie cutter boring designs and driving experience. the Japanese will never make anything like the MINI because they view cars (mostly) as transporation appliances the same way you and I see a kitchen toaster or dishwasher.

My MINI has been very reliable and I would venture to say equal or less problematic than my old Honda products. Until recently I had a '01 Chevy Impala LS (Sold) and the car was rock solid for 21K miles..no rattles, no issues.

So if you dislike, hate or can't stand dealer service depts, then your money will be better spent on an Echo or Corolla. Clearly the MINI is not made for the "Maytag appliance" set. :evil:

 

>>>>A large part of the reason that Off-topic and the language of the site was being addressed was because of the issue with BMW. >>

Ah yes, I suspected as much once the BMW issue broke. Mark you've done an awesome job here. I sincerely hope, now that some our rants, discussions, petitions, and pleadings have been unleashed, that it will help events move in a direction that will help your cause and the cause of all affected. Best Wishes.



_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

And before anyone comes back to me about the '04 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, I will never spend $37K for what basically is a souped up econobox sedan. Sure 0-60 in 4.1 seconds is Lamborghini Gallardo acceleration territory, but the car is ungainly ugly and it still is a Mitsubishi Lancer = questionnable resale value once the "fever" passes.

 

I am thinking that this will be my last foray into the whole BMW line. I've been ignored and insulted by MINI USA since buying my car. The quality issues have continued to nag the whole driving experience (Damn starting stumble, 2800-3200rpm lurching, crappy winshields, poor quality dash switches, and the whole symphony of rattles and squeaks (that I have been refused service for because I didn't know about an unwritten 1000 mile warranty on rattles). I have the money to buy more expensive BMW products, but they're pushing me at the competition. If BMW continues to ignore my concerns then Audi or Mercedes will gain my business. Once I'm gone, I won't be back, no number of favorable write-ups in car mags will wash the sour taste from my mouth. I promised 15 years ago that I'd never purchase another GM vehicle and since then, I've never set foot on any of their associated brands' lots. I've further convinced my extended family to avoid their products. Remember, enthusiasm can be a two-edged sword, get a group of people, that were "gonzo" over your product, fired-up over your treatment and they will show just as much fervor in trashing your reputation.
BMW, you sold me this car as an "experience," made me suffer an interminanble wait for delivery, and have delivered nothing else in the way of satisfaction since. Wake up and smell the steaming foreheads of your customers before we decide to write you off!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

>>I am thinking that this will be my last foray into the whole BMW line. I've been ignored and insulted by MINI USA since buying my car. The quality issues have continued to nag the whole driving experience (Damn starting stumble, 2800-3200rpm lurching, crappy winshields, poor quality dash switches, and the whole symphony of rattles and squeaks (that I have been refused service for because I didn't know about an unwritten 1000 mile warranty on rattles). I have the money to buy more expensive BMW products, but they're pushing me at the competition. If BMW continues to ignore my concerns then Audi or Mercedes will gain my business. Once I'm gone, I won't be back, no number of favorable write-ups in car mags will wash the sour taste from my mouth. I promised 15 years ago that I'd never purchase another GM vehicle and since then, I've never set foot on any of their associated brands' lots. I've further convinced my extended family to avoid their products. Remember, enthusiasm can be a two-edged sword, get a group of people, that were "gonzo" over your product, fired-up over your treatment and they will show just as much fervor in trashing your reputation.
>>BMW, you sold me this car as an "experience," made me suffer an interminanble wait for delivery, and have delivered nothing else in the way of satisfaction since. Wake up and smell the steaming foreheads of your customers before we decide to write you off!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:


Yeah sure, Mercedes and Audi are just as bad!

maybe you should try a shiny new Corolla!

Wait, those have problems too!

 

I have never seen a MINI on the side of the road broken down. Today I saw 3 cars that had overheated. I'm going to get my MINI and love it.

BMW is just a corperation. I work for a corperation. I buy most everything I own from corperations. I feel most corperations are run by people who would not be a friend of mine.

but I'll still buy a Black n Decker, Hoover, Maytag, GE, etc... even though they are corperations run by profit crazy jerks. I shop at large places, Walmart, Target, etc... and they all have company policies for their employees and what they are allowed to sell in the store, etc... that don't seem right to me.

but If a product is good, it's good. Yes you are supporting that corp, but you are also giving allot of people jobs. You are giving people their living.

I hate the corp I work for just enough to never take them seriously, knowing they could lay off 7000 more this coming year, and I love them enough to work my hiney off and make a darn good living doing it.

 

I'll admit that I think it's a shame BMW/MINI brand is acting so tyranical. I also wish Mark luck. That said, I would buy another BMW product again (and certainly a MINI). The truth of the matter is that they are excellent cars with teutonic fit and finish. They drive excellent. I can see that I would not buy another GM vehicle--there is just no yearning for their quality. I just don't hold grudges against people (or their companies). So, just because the people that make up a company make me angry, I'm still going to buy their product if its good/quality. My parents have two BMWs, and that is partially why I liked the MINI. The cars bring total satisfaction and impress me.

YES, I would buy another BMW or MINI.

 

>>I hate Ford worse than any company. Profits before safety and reliability. That is their motto. The president even admitted the reliability part on TV.

I also dont like Ford although I do own a classic mustang which is the only ford I'd ever own. I love that car but its a major death trap! It only has lap belts and theres no barrier between the passenger compartment and the trunk. So if your rear ended the gas tank would spill gas all over the passengers and you'll be toast! But I still love my mustang.

The mini is a very safe car, the excellent handling and brakes have saved my life a few times and I've had no reliability problems in my year of ownership. Its only the MINI USA fiasco thats leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

 

You posted while I was writing pebbles, and now see that I agree.

 

Cooper4us, you are spot on. The MINI is a brand spanking new BRAND, not just a new model built off of last year's chassis. Give them a couple years to work the bugs out. My parents never bought a new car in its first year. My first models built
has a kid sucked but a year later I was perfect.

As far as the trademark stuff and this website is concerned, how exactly is
MINI ruining your life? Are they causing you to lose money, lose sleep? Are they
beating your kid up at school? I'm sorry but I just don't care. Its the car I want most of all and not the group get togethers and kool aid parties. I'm sure you're all very cool people and I'm sure I'll do some rally or autocross thing someday but its the CAR I care about.

 

I am still waiting for my mini so my answer is yes, I will buy one.

But as far as BMW goes..the answer is no, I will not buy one. I had a 320I in college and it was a POS. Biggest money pit ever. I owned a mustang gt vert for ten years and put almost 70k miles on it and spent less in maintanance on it then the 1 1/2 years of bmw ownership. I purchased the 320I used and it had 60k miles on it but it was well maintained. I had all service records for it from day one and it still was a POS. I almost bought a E39 540I this year but thought better about it even with the great deals out there but the past came up.

Instead, we put down a deposit on a MCS.