Given the widespread "epidemic" of negative discussion topics regarding MINI, its dealers, et al, I think, us happy owners, need to balance the rush of negativity by posting about our positive ownership experiences.


Please post year, build date (if you know it), mileage and selling/servicing dealer.


I'll start:

2002 Cooper CVT (8/2002 build), 22K miles.
2004 MCS (9/2003 build), 6.8K miles.


Selling servicing dealer: Lauderdale MINI in Ft Lauderdale, FL.


Rating = Very happy with the product and service received so far.

 

Bout time, I about gave up on this site. No other site has such negativity towards their vehicles, I mean why buy one and just knock it all the time? I used to like to think that all MINI owners share the same enthusiasm as I do.

Well here we go:
2003 IB/W MCS (7/2003) ~7k miles
No problems, only smiles
It's been the best thing to happen to me since i met my soon-to-be wife. :smile:

B

 

Okay, I'll jump in:

2003 MCS (July 4, 2003 build date)
12,300 miles

Issues: Rattle in door panel. Fixed when my driving lights were installed.

Dealer: Flow MINI in Winston Salem, NC
Rating: Love it.

 

>>Bout time, I about gave up on this site. No other site has such negativity towards their vehicles, I mean why buy one and just knock it all the time? I used to like to think that all MINI owners share the same enthusiasm as I do.
>>


you do realize there is several thousand members to this board. Not everybody knocks it all the time.

about the happy mini owners happy to own it and to drive it, just have some issues.

 

2004 MC (build date October 2003)

No problems, save for a crackling right speaker (replaced w/o a problem)

Dealer/Service: excellent rating for Roadshow MINI (John Lloyd and Brian Blalock)

Car rating: brilliant piece of work. I am anjoying it more and more and makes my other car mediocre.

 

What I want to know is if any of the people who posted in the three previous, multipage, threads on this same exact subject are still in the "no problem" camp.

No Problems
MINI Owners who have had little or no problems with their car
Poll: Who has had no problems with their car?

All in all, I'd say we're a pretty feel-good bunch.

 

'04 MCS, 10/03 build, 4600 miles

Dealer: Tom Bush MINI, Jacksonville, FL

Problems to date: Zero :smile:

I love this car. Sometimes I get spoiled, but then I drive another car and realize how great the MCS is. It's easily the most entertaining car I've ever driven, and an incredible value, both performance and style-wise, for the price. People have the right to complain about some of the "issues," but there's no car under $25K that I'd rather drive.

 

i got laid because of my MINI...

... and its good on gas.

 

 

Was that worth $22,000, or has it happened more than once?

Do tell...

 

I like this idea.

I have an'03 MCS, bought 10/02 in NY from Westchester MINI....great out-of-state buying experience, no hassles on price and no extras required. An ideal buying experience....and a great road trip to break it in....

Problems to date: minor stuff....a couple of creaks and rattles from the plastic interior pieces. a steering column replaced when I mentioned the creaking sound it started to make at about 15000 miles. I now have 16000 miles on the car, still love it...

Other dealers visited: Desert MINI in Las vegas for the 10000 mile service. They couldn't hear the weird note the AC compressor makes when it's over 100 degrees outside....:smile:

Assael MINI in Monrovia for the JCW kit at 12000 miles. They actually beat the price other dealers wanted for the instalation....no markup on the kit, though they do mark their cars up a staggering amount...prompt and effiicient installation process, free rental car...

Long Beach MINI for the above steering column thing, plus a bent door fixed at the body shop. They fixed the door panel perfectly but the window rattled when I got it home, so they tried again, seemed to get it but it came back. I fixed it myself by changing the alignment of the up-and-down window track with the bolt at the bottom of the door....no rental car, gotta get that on my ins. policy quick.....

Am I happy? you bet. Nothing that has happened has stranded me, and I don't believe any car is immune to problems. Engineering isn't an exact science....some designs don't hold up.

So far I'm a believer....

Every so often I sort of pinch myself, and look at my car, and think, hey, I'm driving one of the coolest cars on the road, and never feel worried about it breaking. What more could you ask?

Bruce in Santa Monica

 

2004 IB/W JCW MCS (11/2003 build), 5.8K miles.
Selling dealer: Classic MINI of OH (the best) :smile:
Service dealer: Rassmussen MINI of OR (excellent service) :smile:

So far, so good! Many many !


_________________

 

2003 MC SG/SG
04/03 build date
9851 miles
Dealer: Tom Bush - Jacksonville, FL
Very responsive to any concerns or needs, very satisfied with their service.

There is no vehicle at any price I'd rather drive.

 

2004 MCS (build 9/03)
bought out of state from Moritz Tx.
No service yet.
6200 mi.

I am so glad I did not let the negitive feedback I read here and other places before i bought it discourage me. I think you roll the dice with any car you purchase and you are never guaranteed a problem free product.

I just had to have a MINI then found this site and did some research. Weighed the pros and cons, rethought my decision then started frantically calling dealers all across the country for an acceptable price/wait.

 

About time for this thread!!

LY/B 2003 MCS

30-03 build date

4-19-03 deliver date (birthday party coming up)

26,586 mostly hard miles

Bought and serviced by Crevier in Santa Ana - great sales people and service people - no complaints (I paid a little more then MSRP but got what I wanted.

Have added: Intake, throttle body, coil pack, wires, plugs, pulley , wheels and tires X 2


Soon to add: Springs, ECU, Borla exhaust, Rear sway bar, brakes front and rear.

Servcice other than normal: smog hose replaced under warranty. (this was done after intake etc.

Love the car. Best vehicle I have EVER owned (shared ownership with the bank )

Earl

_________________
SCURVES is NOW 1O851 CS

 

a 320i loaner is the best handling car
BMW Canada has been fine.although this is my first NEW car.have had 20 cars in 35 years,this MINI is looking like a keeper

_I commute 500 + miles a week ,when it is not -20 I get 34-36MP U.S. gallons_that's cool, it's a sports car, not an econo box .on the winter highway the MINI can drive through almost anything day or night
bought the car right off the lot _
the car shines in any light even dirty
they did not get the Hubble right the first time either.______________
03 MC BRG/W,15" 7 hole white...
Black Lab navigator

 

The nature of online forums like this is to serve as a place for people to express problems, so its going to appear that things are worse than they really are just by reading these forums. But anyway, I've only got 170 miles on my new MCS, but they've been great, no problems, no rattles, no anything, just fast and fun driving!

 

2002 MCS. Modded to the max. My car is fantastic.
Sure there's been some problems but who gives a flying f***. That's life. Deal with it.
Whiners would whine no matter what car they were driving.
There are people on all the MINI boards who have damn near had
heart attacks over issues I don't even give a second thought to.
Guess it's all about your frame of mind and threshold of tolerance.

 

2003 IB/IB MCS purchased 8/2003

I've had nothing but good experiences since test-driving.

Ordered 6/14/03
At dealer 8/22/03
Mine 8/26/03

Currently 11,040 miles

One unscheduled maintenance visit for emissions-related failure @ ~2900 miles

Today had first scheduled maintenance (LOF, top off fluids, new wiper blades, V36 software update), took a while but a busy dealership...

All experienced @ MINI of Towson.

I also had Randy Webb install the ALTA 15% pulley @ ~8400 miles, I did the B&M short shifter install, along with the parcel shelf and Pilo Racing intake. So lots of time spent w/ASC off, grinning from ear to ear!

Hi...my name's Marty and I love my MINI.

M

 

"Every so often I sort of pinch myself, and look at my car, and think, hey, I'm driving one of the coolest cars on the road, and never feel worried about it breaking. What more could you ask?

Bruce in Santa Monica "

Despite all the nagging about windshields and creaks and CVT trans and leaking fluid, this paragraph alone has made me so happy that my Cooper is about to be delivered to the dealer. Thanks, Bruce!

 

British Racing Green Mini Cooper
Build Date: March, 2002
Miles: 18,500
Problems to date: A few small ones, but I'm not perfect, so I don't require my MINI to be.

Overall Impression of the car: Love it. Don't want to be without it. Most enjoyable vehicle I have ever owned and at my age, I have owed a few, many much more expensive than my MINI.

 

04 JCW S, Pure Silver,....1900 miles...Not one problem...not a rattle,nothing,zilch,nada, and the handling on this thing is unreal....the fastest thing on my block...so far, and everybody in the hood loves my little go-kart....NO REGRETS....I WOULD DO IT AGAIN!!!!! :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

I'm in the first blush of romance with my '04 MC. Built in February and delivered by Mini of North Scottsdale in March. 700 trouble-free miles. Even my skeptical wife has been impressed!

 

>>I'm in the first blush of romance with my '04 MC. Built in February and delivered by Mini of North Scottsdale in March. 700 trouble-free miles. Even my skeptical wife has been impressed!
>>

my first blush is 9 months and 16,000 miles could not be happier

 

Build Date 01APR02
Brought home 20:MAY02

43,000 miles. No mechanical problems.
Got the stress crack in my (already heavily rock chipped) windscreen. Replaced under warranty and I got a loaner to drive while it was in the shop.

I still love the car. It's still great fun to take it on the most mundane tasks.
No regrets.