The best advice I can offer is to research the issues about timing chains and carbon build up on the valves if you are thinking of a second generation Mini Cooper.
Just do a search on this site and you will find a wealth of information about these two issues and like i've already said the problems are exclusive to the turbocharged models.
It is still unknown if the newer 2012 through 2014 turbo models are going to be as problematic as the 2007 through 2011 were as some improvents were made in the last years of the second generation models. Just don't know if these improvements have solved any of the problems or not and time will only tell on that.
The first generation that had the constant velocity automatic transmissions were also something you would want to steer clear of.
I believe there were certain years of the first generation Mini's that were better than the rest but would defer that to those more familiar with the first generation to anwer those particulars.
At any rate Tsquared is correct in that "any non-S model will be more reliable" than an "S' model.

 

Along with my Mini I have an 04 GTO. Gas tanked rusted at 108k. So I went with new fuel pump while it was out. I had someone on the inside of a GM dealer service dept that did the job for me. They found a gas tank (VERY RARE TO FIND) from a 10 mile wrecked GTO that had a fuel pump in it also. Installed it cost me 196.00 bucks.
If I had taken it to any other shop it would have cost me 2k bucks to have it fixed.
The GTO having came from Australia makes the Mini not the only car with high repair costs.
When you buy performance cars your have to count on higher repair costs. Keep up on your preventative maint and more often then not you will be ok.

 

People like to bash Consumer Reports, but they are pretty good reliability data collectors and compilers. I'd draw the following general conclusion based on their data: 1st gen: S (supercharged) and non-S generally close in reliability; 2nd gen: S (turbocharged) significantly less reliable than non-S.





- Mark

 

I guess I am one of the lucky ones with my 09 S. I know the history of my car and it has done WELL compared to that chart.

 

Yes you and many others Mini Cooper owners out there have done well with their cars and although we only have 6K miles on our "justa" we have done well also (and hope to continue to do so).
But the point is that there have been enough unfortunate Mini Cooper owners out there that have not done so well with their Mini's that not only has it scored poorly on the Consumers Report but has found it'self at the bottom of every automobile ranking out there.
Sadly, I believe that it is primarily the 2nd generation turbocharged models that are responsible for tarnishing the reputation of Mini Cooper as a whole.
In addition the poor customer responce/support on known designg flaws over the last few years has not helped any with our Mini's reputation either, but hopefuly Mini USA has just stated to wake up to that fact and is makeing some attempt to remedy some of the faulty design issues.
It is indeed fortunate for those of us who have not had any issue with our Mini Coopers, but when prospective Mini Cooper owners come to our site and ask about Mini Coopers "reliability", it is also fortunate that this site is here to give them an honest and accurate evaluation of how reliable these cars are and point out where problems with our Mini's may exsist so they (the potential new Mini owner) may make informed decisions.

 

Not sure I agree on the general statement that performance cars have higher repair costs. For one example, my main car is a 2005 Mustang GT. I have taken this car to 7 track day events now and have 75,000 miles on it. Not one single issue since Day 1, other than the scheduled maintenance (not expensive). This is the most reliable car I have ever owned, and if it did ever break, it is relatively inexpensive to fix.