My MINI rocks!

No issues or flaws, just fun British quirks that you can laugh about later

 

My 04' MCS has battled with robots, been in 200+ degree F temperature, been in traffic for days, been in a pressure shower, and took a trip over the atlantic, only to meet with me and my destructive driving habits. Now, I call that indestructible.

 

I guess August 2002 builds were blessed with the best reliability Our '02 MC CVT is a proud member of this club. Awesome rock solid reliable car:smile:

My '05 MCS is six months old, near 5K miles and not a single trip back to the dealer for anything.

 

So is an indestructible car an attitude, I think so. Maybe too many people have been sucked in to the mysticism of the MINI, thinking there would never be a mechanical problem. Other cars have them, why not a MINI. A failure of a part does not mean disqualification from this elite group. Parts fail – you fix it.

I’ve read the horror stories about some who have repeated visits to the dealer for major problems. I do truly feel sorry for them knowing I drive, as Smoky4 puts it “a tank” or lot15 who lives in the wilds of Canada and can truly give a real perspective on cold, hot, bugs and off road driving. MINIclo, who drives across the US every year since the first Dragon event in 03 and has never broken down. AND then there’s Doug… July 02 build, 130,000 miles plus on his MINI. I will have to agree that the July/August 02 builds are the best that have been or ever will be produced. I will never sell mine.

For the most part I think 93% of the problems I read on this board are not real problems. I chalk it up to people who are so **** they will complain about anything no matter what it is just to post there name to a thread and see what reaction they’ll receive.

I have read some of the most bizarre posts over three years now and I wish I had a file on them. The air in my tires never seems to be even, I’ve taken it in to the dealer 5 times now and they still won’t fix it. The fluff on my door panels doesn’t match and my dealer won’t do anything about it; and I can go on. Are these real problems or is this an **** attitude, I think the latter.

My MCS is an August 02 build and I’ve never had a true problem and my nearest dealer is a 600 mile trip. My MINI is a tank. Gas and go. Smokey4, July 02 build, a tank, Dpilgrim, July 02 build, 130,000 miles plus and still pushing, a tank. MINIclo drives across the US every year since the first Dragon event in May 03, early 03 build, a tank, YuccaPatrol, early 03, a tank, Koolmini, early 03, who drives hard everywhere, a tank… along with so many others to name.

These are not getting in the car and drive to work situations. We, all of the above put very hard miles on our MINIs constantly without a problem.


We track, Auto-X and hit the Dragon three times a year driving very aggressively the entire time doing major road time to and from places we live no where close to a dealer. I can for a fact claim Dpilgrim, YuccaPatrol and Koolmini do the same hard driving as I do.

So why don’t we have problems with our MINIs?

Because there tanks!!! And the fact we’re not ****. We just drive and deal with a true problem ourselves when they comes up.

 

im kinda hesitant to post... last time i posted something to
this effect, I jinxed my car.


oh wat the heck. MY CAR RUNS GREAT!!! NO ISSUES!!!

 

I hear you! After making my post, I got the flat tire and DSC light backing out of the garage. One reset and 1/2 mile cleared it (must have been the ramps and jack stands from the service) Then on the way to work a huge rock came off the tire of the car in front and wacked the windshield! Thank god I've got PPG, no crack/star/anything.

sndwave - Well put! Although I can easily be placed in the **** catagory also As my commute takes me within 30 miles of the Dragon, I sometimes take the long way to work, most enjoyable!

Motor on folks and remember:So should be the journey of our MINIs.

 

I wish I was only as lucky as you. :smile:

 

I'm not that blessed to live were there are twistie roads.

I have to make my own, using gravel back roads, with 55 mph limits, that don't say that you have to slow for corners

When you can see for miles in all directions, ya gets ta really drift into a corner, using either the e- brake or by down shifting real hard, or both

I love how this car runs on the gravel, it just feels so natural for it, holds any line I pick for it, even if I change my mind mid turn, and my right foot can always be into it, more if the going is good.

I'm all alone on the back roads, the odd farm tractor, and they always give me a thumbs up.

Going at or close to bounce is how I feel these cars should be run, if not all the time, at least some of the time.

6 grand, in 3rd, bliss

 

I have to admit I don't have occasion to push my MINI to the limit...but it has been rock solid nonetheless. Never a whimper.

It was also responsible for saving western civilization from major destruction at the hands of a mad scientist and his hordes of flying monkeys...but that is another story.*





*possible exaggeration

 

Mine has never saved anyone but me and the Navigator*

*No exaggeration

 

No exaggeration, Dorthy called me and said the flying monkeys beat it south, wanted some beach time she said.

I'm just hoping they don't hang out on the power lines above my MINI.

 

I may be a smooth operator, but I ALSO drive Wanda HARD on the Dragon!

Best car I've ever had the pleasure of owning.....


Clover

 

I drive "Spike" like I stole him every time I get into him. He continues to be the most fun and exhilerating automobile I've ever owned. I will continue the abuse as long as I own the car. I bought it to drive and drive I do. Thank you MINI for an awesome auto. Quit bitchin' about the squeaks and Enjoy the Drive.

 

Ok, I'll jump in here.... I've said many times before that this is the most reliable car I have ever owned. Better than Toyota's, Hondas, Fords, VW, GM etc. ( actually my wifes 04 tacoma has been pretty impressive so far). I currently have over 83000 miles on my mini. It has been back to the dealer exactly twice, once for each scheduled "free" service. At which time they did any scheduled service, and fixed any problems.. coolant tank, and recalled suspension bolt. The coolant tank is now leaking again, but I have ordered a forge tank, that should take care of it . But by no means does this make it unreliable. It starts a -6 degrees and 120+ every time, not one complaint. It will get me home thru snow, rain, and blazing desert summer heat.

It is the vehicle that my family of four prefers to take if we have any sort of road trips. After almost three years I'm still happy to drive it anywhere, and always with a smile... errr grin By its third birthday it should have just over 95000 miles...........hmmmmmm time for more mods....

Oh, I still have my original windshield :smile:


Would I get another one? yep, but it wont be replacing my current one, just adding to it.

Nik

 

Ohhh, ohhh! I wanna play too!

Tho at just under 20000 miles we can't make any astounding claims - but my MCS runs like a champ! And she loves it when we autocross! I like my MINI better than anything else I've driven!


Shelly

 

Did someone say crap?

 

I want to come visit you and go for a ride!!!!!! :smile: :impatient

 

Hey anytime

But bring your MINI, back roads are a blast

 

Do you think its really being **** as much as first time owners of any kind of car ... or possibly their first "foreign" car? With such a low entry point in the marketplace, I think your looking at a lot of recent college grads, 20-somethings, etc. It might be their first new car. What market group is MINI targeting and by that I mean the nameless masses, not the enthusiasts?

I read a thread elsewhere where someone was furious with the dealer, going back multiple times, to get a map light fixed. To get coolant topped off, etc. They never heard or knew what tramlining was or the car following the crown of the road. If they came from driving some of the American "boats" with soft suspensions, the MINI ride is totally different.

****? Maybe. New car owner, probably. They honestly might not know what to do. (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt ... I seriously doubt the average driver is going to change the brakes DIY ... rather they just want the car to run and not be bothered about it.)

Also, people tend to complain rather than praise. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Its much easier to complain than to praise. You are praising and I applaud you for that. But many people also come from Toyotas, Hondas, etc. and I can say that I've owned four different toyotas and none of them EVER saw the inside of the dealer for anything.

Just a thought. I'm sure some people are **** as well but I would bet its the demographics as well.

 

I love my MINI Whether it's driving her hard on the Dragon & down the street from where I live or just cruising the interstate Life is better in a MINI and in mine going topless makes it a little better

Lois

 

I don't fit the demographic you desribe, I'm neither a 20 something, nor is this my first foriegn car.

It is the first new car I have ever owned, and at 56k miles has less miles on it than many I bought. And I plan on doing with this car what I have done with most of the cars and trucks I've owned, drive them to the grave

My Mini still cleans up very nice, even after hammering it on gravel back roads, doing 600 miles of highway a week, parked outside all the time, -50f temps, and lots of snow.

I have a pitted windsheild, take rock hits all the time, my bonnet could use a paint job, but I don't worry about it much, cause the little bugger goes where I point it, and responds to me, no matter what I ask of it

 

23 months old and 10,030 miles and nothing ever wrong. Perfecto!

 

I hear you lot. I don’t drive the back roads like you have to, but the MINI sits on a driveway rain or shine and every damn hurricane that comes my way.

I have the pitted windscreen and the chipped paint and it still shines up well. But it starts every time and it runs and runs. I’ve said before and will say again I have no plans to ever sell this MINI. I will buy another, but this one will be mine forever. It’s that great of a car.

 

24 months and 51,434 miles and I have been hit by an explorer, and all it needed was an alignment(and some body work, but no suspension damage), even doing the mods at home I haven't had a mechanical failure. I love every minute with my car and love stealing minutes from other things for it.

 

[QUOTE=sndwave]I hear you lot. I don’t drive the back roads like you have to

I don't motor on back roads because I have to. Lots of paved roads up here

I do it cause this car is just so much fun in the gravel