I am looking to get a winter car/gas saver, and am considering a Mini Cooper S. I've heard a lot of great things about the handling, and that's a bit thing that is drawing my to the Mini's. I would like to know which year would be least problematic. I'd get a first Gen because of cost. Is 2006 the best year since it was the final year for them? Or is there no distinguishable variations of problems from year to year?

I currently daily drive my 2008 350Z. I live near Boston, MA, where we get lots of snow every winter. It basically turns into a big paperweight when there's even a tiny layer of snow on the ground. I need something kinda cheap to drive in the winter, and maybe even save the Z for the weekends more. (Though I think I'd miss the power even during the daily commute going from the Z to a Mini.)

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

The 05-06 is probably the best bet (IMO anyways) just because of the better tranny

And just FYI Ive outrun 350Zs on windy roads in my non-S cooper. You might find yourself quite surprised by what the MINI can do

 

Get a gen 1 because of looks, style, costs, supercharger, etc. : )
2006, 2005, 2004. not 02/03. ( you can, just a couple things you may need to look out for, there is a list somewhere here)

 

i think this is really a hard question to answer.....

since your looking to buy a used 1st gen MCS your going to be dealing with the prior owners issues and driving style, was it driven hard, did they know how to drive a clutch, so on a so forth. mechanically speaking again is, these machines built by a factory and some hands touch it, no one mini will be the same, specially once its used. with that said, i personally have an 04 MCS and have had no issues yet, i have 31k on it and have several mods done to it to improve handling and engine stuff to make that spirited driving a tad more fun.
i hope some of these other folks can lay out some things to look for, this is my first mini and dont have knowledge to lend in which is better! however you will love these machines once you have one!

 

Thanks for the quick responses. Even the 02-04 6 speeds are bad?

As for outrunning a 350Z on the twisties, perhaps those were the pre-2007 Z's. The HR Z's have a bit of extra "oomph". And do handle a bit better. But I'll have to actually drive a Mini to make an educated comparison between the two.

 

The pre '05 6 speed transmissions had different gear ratios (taller), but they are just as bullet proof as the later ones - all made by Getrag.

 

None of the 6 speeds are bad. As nabeshin said, the 05+ gear ratios were different, so the MINI launches a bit faster. But if your into modding, supposedly the 02-04 has better gearing ratio. In terms of being problematic, the 05-06 is generally better because by those years, most of the problems have been worked out. The major problems to look out for in all MINIs:
-Flywheel glazing.
-Squeaky clutch pedal.
-Failing power steering motor.
-Oil-less superchargers at 100K +
-Weak window motors.

What kind of tires do you have in the winter time? I drove my friend's RX8 in the winter time with snow tires, and they handle fine in the winter. I drove my MINI one winter with summer tires = hockey pucks, and the MINI was also a paperweight. The minute I switched to some Blizzaks, I never got stuck again.

As for MINIs out handling a 350Z. Anything is possible but stock for stock, I'd say it's pretty close. I once "followed" a tricked out Black 350Z around the twists on Storrow Drive, I was impressed on what their capable of, because I usually take those curves pretty good.

 

You want a high mileage, well handling car for winter use, where you can't go fast anyway because of snow. I'd say the JustaCooper is the logical choice then.

Sounds like you're shopping for cars mostly with your heart then. As long as you're clear on that, by all means spend more gas and money on a MCS.

Regards,
--Anders.

 

Ah, I too drove an RX-8 with snow tires in a snowstorm. It was even better than my Mazda 3 with normal tires. I didn't have any snow tires for the Z this year so I used another car.

After thinking about it, perhaps it's best to get a Base Mini instead of one with a supercharger, because that would have been even more stress on the engine, especially not knowing exactly how the previous owner treated it. I should probably take the safe route at first and then build up the motor later. They do make superchargers for the Base Mini's right?

Need to research the gear ratios a bit, so no comment on those yet.

 

Nah, if you want an 'S', get an 'S'. It's not just a bolt-on mod, it's a different engine, different systems, I'd say different car. And for 'extra oomph' there's the John Cooper Works, kicks it up from @ 168-170HP (stock S) to 200-210HP... Better supercharger and a stainless exhaust...worth the difference IMHO.

 

Just a reality check here, since you state that you are looking for a winter car/gas saver. Depending on your definition of gas saver, the first generation MCS is not really a fuel sipper. I drive 36 miles one way to work and 34 of that is highway. During the winter with the winter gas mixture and colder temperatures, I average around 27-28 MPG. Maybe if you drive it like an old lady, you'll exceed that but my point is that the first generation MCS is a fun car, not an econo-box.

As far as the reliability goes, both of mine have fairly good (never stranded me) but each has had the common issues:
1. passenger side motor mount puking it's oil out.
2. the '05 MCSa:
Very laggy until it warms up (first couple of stops before warmed up you hit the accelerator and not much happens for a bit). Had a couple of different software updates that really didn't fix this. The clock module kept losing time and was replaced. The MINI emblem on the steering wheel curls up and was replaced twice (still curled up again). The fix is to replace the entire air bag unit. Checking the oil this week, I observed that the dip stick had two kinks/bends in it. It is a common problem that folks report breaking the dip stick.
3. '06 MCS with LSD - groaning at low speeds. MINI changed the differential oil and that alleviated the issue.

 

Wow - I think this is the first time I've seen someone looking for a MCS as a winter beater.

Mine is approaching it's 7th birthday - 137K miles - I drive it year round. With good snows, it does fine in the winter. I prefer the Pirelli snows. But look where I live - we don't get much snow here. When we do, the low ground clearance can be an issue - the nose of the car can act as a snowplow.

Rarely do I not recommend a MINI - but in this case, I think there are probably better cars for this task. Better means that you can find a car that will handle the snow better, get better gas mileage, and be available for purchase for less $.

If you do get a 1st gen MCS - be sure to get one with the winter package. Heated seats, heated mirrors, and heated washer jets. Find a car without a sunroof unless you like rattles. And the auto-AC is nice because you can just set a temp and not worry about the cabin getting too hot after the car has warmed up...

 

One thing no one has mentioned but that I found helpful, was that the car is so small you can park it in the tightest of spots during the winter when parking is difficult. And I went from an 04 GTO and 06 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Hemi, and I dont find myself missing the power, the car is fun to drive and handles like a dream!

 

Definitely 2011 is the most reliable - haven't seen a single one that had issues

 

I drive a 2004 MINI S and the thing is bulletproof, no matter how hard i beat her she still drives like the day i got her a couple years ago. only thing i had to replace was the door handles and the boot handle in the 04 to 05 model of each.

 

Even better than the 2011 were the Minis of 2001. For 8 years it didn't cost any owner a penny and it won Car of the Century! Beginning 2002 it was all downhill.

back to the topic...

I have a '06 MCSc. It came with a blown motor-mount and dented steering wheel emblem. The motor-mount was fixed under warranty but the dealer refused to replace steering wheel cover. The previous owner had a coolant leak at the thermostat housing/flange, which was covered by the warranty. The Limited Slip Differential groans on tight turns. I believe there's a TSB out for that. The supercharger can be a problem as there's no way to check the oil w/o removing the whole unit. The power steering pump is an electro-hydraulic type that has a fan to keep it cool. The fan faces the road surface and can catch debris and plastic bag, causing damage. The convertible top has a few weak points that may wear out the fabric prematurely. Cost of replacement is $3k.

It's a blast to drive but I'm keeping my fingers crossed when the warranty runs out. My Mini needs TARP money.

 

Yeah I could just buy a Corolla or a Golf TDI, but they don't turn my head like the Mini does. Plus the things I've heard about its handling are a big selling point.

The things I would not want are the Automatic or 5-speed Transmissions, Convertible Top and Moon Roof.

 

Easily resolved with inexpensive aftermarket solutions. You can install a cover over the fan in a few minutes, or do like I did and install the skid plate and protect everything down there.

 

Good choices. All manual MCS's have the 6-speed Getrag. The only 5-speeds were on the base, non-supercharged Coopers. And only the earlier ones had the worrysome Midlands gearbox. (Like my wife's car...) Dumping the factory gear oil and changing to synthetic seems to help. It was replaced with a Getrag 5-speed later on (2005).

Here's a good "timeline" of what changed and when:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/1712639-post1.html

 

Another question. How short is the shifting on these 6 speeds?

 

ks0385, is there a local 350Z club in Boston? I ran into a 350Z owner in Malden, MA. @ a Dunkin Donuts. It was a tricked out blue 350Z with nitrous and black rims. Owner told me she tracks it at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

 

Yes, you could call it a "club". We usually plan things in the "North East" section of MY350Z.com.

Here's an example of an event they planned. I was not able to attend this one.

http://my350z.com/forum/north-east/4...-the-date.html


And more questions:

- I'd have to put 93 in the Mini just like my Z?

- Is it recommended to feed it Full Synthetic Oil?

 

My dad has an '05 and we haven't had any problems with it. It's been a great car. He changed the tires from Run Flats to regular tires but otherwise his car has been perfect. Granted, in Texas we don't have to worry about snow tires very often but it has handled bad weather well. A year ago, he slid off the highway when it was sleeting and went into a ditch. A guy in a truck stopped and pulled him out but his car didn't have any damage. It's a great car. He trusts that car so much that he helped me buy my first car, a Mini Cooper. From everything I've heard the '05 and '06 years are the best.

As for the manual, I have extremely limited experience but having driven my dad's Mini and my uncle's truck, I can safely tell you that the gears are extremely close together in the Mini. I accidentally went from 2nd to 5th gear during one of my first drives.

So, my advice is to get the car. If you take care of it, it will take care of you.

 

Not an S, but my 03 Cooper handled snow, and winter, no problem.







I was out with the snowplows after this storm dumped 12"


Get snow tires on dedicated wheels, winter fun is yours to be had

Mark

 

Tranny: the 6-speed is geared short and the throw is long.

Gas: premium only for S

Oil: Mini recommends synthetic. The engine's software usually indicates a 15k oil change interval but I go every 7-8k. You may get by using dino oil with a 5k routine... but I would have the used oil analyzed to make sure everything is in order.