should i do it? I really like the car I am just really nervous about having issues. I have seen tons of posts about issues with the car. I really like the styling(both exterior and interior) the gas mpg is def a plus and the cornering would be fun as well. My only hesitation is the hefty price of fixing minis and the apparent numerous issues

 

Think of a Mini as like a date with a beautiful woman... You are not going to know if you have a high mantiance one until you get to know it. Some folks here are mildly OCD about theirs cars and issues....maybe more than mild.
Some folks try to fix more than they should...get in over their heads, and compounds issues...others are very often first time car owners...the width and breath of mini car ownership is astonishing!! I consider myself mechanically educated, and able to do basic tasks...oil, fluids, parts exchange, breaks, etc...all saves money.
Please remeber, mini dealers are often associated with BMW dealers, and their prices are to match....IMO if you can find a good local/semi local shop that knows mini's (I drive about 1 hr), it is what will make ownership a good cost effective experance vs a high dollar experance.
Sure buying a Mini has more risk than getting a Honda, but more reward!!

 

do it - as many have said, every car has issues. I'd recommend finding a local indy shop to work on it so you don't have to pay dealer rates. I've had my 06 for 2.5 years and other than a few small issues, I couldn't be happier with the ownership experience. Just for comparison, I had about the same number of issues with my honda minivan during the first 50K of ownership.

 

Have you had a chance to call a MINI dealer w/the VIN to get the service history, and found a place for the PPI? Not to rekick the deceased equine, but these two things can tell you a lot about the condition of your car.

Three of the most common first gen issues I read about were the leaking valve cover gasket, bad thermostat housing, and bad coolant tank. I've had the first two done by my local independent MINI shop, and paid $170+ and $180+ respectively. The first repair also included a brake flush & tire rotation. My $0.02 is that the more common issues aren't crazy expensive to fix, not as bad as you may think.

The rumored common issues may seem daunting to a prospective new owner. Hell, they were for me, but after reading a TON here, the Motoring File buyer's guide 3 or 4 times, and doing the PPI I took the plunge, and could not be happier. I can't imagine a car that delivers more bang for the buck, nor has a higher smiles per mile ratio. I will inevitably encounter more repairs down the line but the fun factor of driving my baby & joy of ownership, not to mention being part of a unique, enthusiastic, knowledgeable owner community makes it all worth it. Hopefully you come to the same conclusions, feel it in your gut, & take the plunge too.

 

mess

 

Take into consideration that people come here to post when they have a problem. People don't come in and post everyday when they don't have a problem. Of course there will be lots of things to read about the quirks Mini's have. This is the case for most, if not all, automobile message boards. Be thankful that there is an outlet for these sorts of things, there's always people here to help you, and if the car will make you happy and it's what you want than go for it, dude. No sense in getting something else only to wish you had a MINI every time you see one go by. My mother gave me some advice when I was debating this car -- that it may be a little more expensive in the short run to get the car you really want, but there's no sense in getting a car you're not truly happy with that you just keep trading-in in a never ending cycle.