Hello all,

I'm back on the Mini wagon . I wanted a Mini but went with an 03 Nissan 350Z 3 years ago. I'm now needing a new used car, tired of the crappy MPG and I've dropped around $2K in just freak maintenance on the Z already.

I narrowed it down to an 06 model. I am shooting for an 06 MCS 6 speed but am wondering if the 06 MCS Auto is more or less reliable than the 6 speed counterpart.

Secondly, the 06 base is not out of the picture just yet. If the price and car is right I would not mind one bit. How's the auto or 5 speed reliability on the base model compared to the S model?

Just want to start some discussion while I continue my research to find the right car for me. Thank you gang.

 

The 06 MCS, R53, with 6 speed is the best choice of the cars and transmissions you have listed.
It was the final year of the 1st Gen cars.
The 06 has the closer ratio 1st & 2nd gears Getrag transmission.

 

I have an 06 MCS 6 speed & it has been great. I have a friend with the autobox in his 06 MCS & he has had no problems.

As far as a Cooper goes a 05 or 06 5 speed would be a good car. Stray away from a Cooper with the CVT auto. They are very troublesome transmissions & cost many thousands of dollars to repair.

 

Got it. Thank you both. Good to know that I am not all the way out of left field. Also found a couple of links with guides on what to look for when buying a used mini. Thank you once more.

 

I have a 06 Base model that I bought used 2 years ago and it's been the most reliable car i've ever had. Only had the passange side motor mount fail in those 2 years and that's it.

 

Nopistons, is your car the 5 speed or the Auto variation? Thank you!

 

5 speed manual

 

With the MCS, both the Auto and 6 speed manual are great!

 

Just got my 06 R53 6 speed last week. Carfax showed all maintenance by the previous owner, it was well cared for. Got it as a second car to tool around town and daily driving in Chicago. So far, I absolutely love it! Driving it for a week, 100 miles or so and the gas needle has moved 1/4 of the way. Huge improvement over my 08 V8 Touareg. My son seems to think the car makes its own gas. Got a sweet deal from a non-Mini dealership. 43K miles, lots of options, blue with black roof and racing stripes. I am obsessed. Makes driving even more fun for me.

 

I have an 06 base manual, it has been a solid car for the year I've owned it. Leaky thermostat housing but no other issues.

 

06 MCS auto chiming in. Change the transmission fluid (it is NOT lifetime, there is a how-to here) and it will serve you well. Tons of fun, zero issues.
Test drive one, the autos don't feel/behave like traditional ones. You will swear it is a SMG or DSG.

 

CVT on the base is a no-go. My mother's 04 base model is shot at 60k miles and was never great to begin with. Flooring it gives you the acceleration of a rickshaw laden with obese tourists, not confidence inspiring when getting on the highway. She gets a phenomenal 21mpg in mostly around town driving, which is disturbingly low for a 115hp engine.

On the other hand, the 06 MCS auto is great to drive. I have driven a friend's on occasion and it shifts quickly (I actually thought it was SMG/DSG); you'd have to really know what you're doing with a stick to beat it in a drag race.

 

Ditto! Love my MINIs

 

Love my '06 S with 6 sp. auto. Test drove a 6 sp. stick and it was a blast, but found a great deal on the auto and went with it. Also, for me the auto beats the daylights out of a stick when stuck in stop and go traffic!

 

I was told that the 06 auto transmission fluid did not need to be changed, it was only 2005 and earlier that needed this, is this true?

By the way, I love my 06 MCS sport automatic ... I never was a car person before and I never ever thought that I would say this of a car, but this car is FUN to drive!!! hehe, I even post on car forums now so beware, getting a MINI will totally change you!

 

I know it's not a 06, but I have a 03 base, CVT and I love it. No problems yet but, I plan keeping the CVT serviced regularly. I am hoping for the best! I would say that if you drive a stick shift that you should go with that, haha. I can't drive one well so I don't want to burn out a clutch. Good luck with Mini hunting!