I 2nd that emotion!

 

I WILL do it again, once I sell my 2009 Hawkeye Black-and-Gold Clubman! Bring on the 2011 Configurator

 

I definitely will...I'm gonna start saving and hopefully in a year I'll have enough for a pepper white MCc. I currently own Baxter an '05 hyper blue MCc.

 

you bet! we love it.

 

We are very happy with our '08 Cabrio S. It's a small car, but that's all you need most days. The problem I have is the new ones are so ugly I couldn't think of buying one. We would definately wait for a third generation and hope the cars don't just keep getting uglier. We pretty much plan on keeping this one until it is about 15 years old or more though, so no rush.

 

hmm i guess im one of the only ones that will honestly say they will never buy another mini ive had fun with the one i have but im trying to sell it ... having no luck at all honestly i had better luck selling a jetta than a mini

 

I bought my '04 MCS used in '06. It's definitely quirky, but fortunately not in any ways that would have left me stranded anywhere. There have been times where the quirks have really gotten on my nerves and I had thoughts of trying some out some other car.

With that in mind, would I do it again? Heck yeah! I love this little car so much that I convinced my sister to buy one ('06 MCS). I'm not sure if I'll make the plunge towards an R56 - every one I've test driven has left thinking that the newer ones have less personality. It's almost as though some personality was sacrificed for more reliability or something.

I'm anxiously waiting for the R56's replacement.

 

A LOT of personality was sacrificed in the R56 and R55's. Hopefully the third gen cars are better designed.

 

I'll probably get a "Countrymen" when they come out with a High Performance model such as a "JCW" or "WRC"

 

I'm right there with ya. 04 with 120,000 miles and waiting to see what the next rev feels like.

 

Best of luck to you, but honestly not everyone is having the same bad experience as you .

 

I haven't actually driven an R56. I was kinda assuming it would drive better in some way. I love the idea of having a turbo to tune and the efficiency of them. I just never got past the exterior. Well, I did notice that the interior is really very nice on most of them. The giant side scuttles, massive chunk of plastic around the wipers, too many seems around the headlights, and the odd proportions are really not things I see myself getting used to or getting over.

I was kinda sad to see the Countryman, too, as its appearance is even further off the mark. For a car line who's whole concept is based on classic styling as much as go-kart handling, I just don't see the Countryman working at all. If you told me it were another odd Porsche, I probably accept it better. As it is, I'm taking the Countryman as a hint of what will follow the R56 styling, and its a big miss in my book. Glad I got the last of the R52's.

 

Great points. For me, I think quality control is seriously lacking. If they had shoved the new turbo engine in the first gen car, it'd have been a good combo. Alas Europe and their stupid pedestrian laws caused most of the R56's exterior changes like the 4x4 suspension and bulging hoods. I'm still up in the air on whether I'm trading my R53 in. I love the car, it's just a money pit right now. Overall, I'd probably say yes. Unfortunately, at this point I'm obsessed with the up and coming Buick Regal Gran Sport, so we shall see.

 

For the folks who didn't like the changes of the 2nd gen I wouldn't hold my breath for the changes in the coming years. They'll just never be anywhere close to the 1st gen MINI.

 

NEVER AGAIN!



Way too many problems with my wife's 03 MC. Just today the tranny started making a sound like something was getting thrown around inside. I'll have to diagnose it monday at work, but its probably the crap-tastic midland tranny craping out. Not even 100k on the odo and its not driven hard.



Here is the repair/failure list so far

Window motors X4
Door lock actuators X2
Power steering pumps X 2 (one under warranty)
Steering rack
Radios X2
radiator fan assembly
A/C compressor
thermostats X2
Valve cover gaskets X2
Oil pan gaskets X2


I'm sure there is more that I am just forgetting.

 

Soo...I've been through a '94 dsm to 2008 cobalt SS t/c.

I've decided between my 02 MCS and an Mazdaspeed3 ...guess what won?

I love my mini so far

 

I will be buying another one. There is no other car, or community for that matter, that matches the MINI IMO. I'm starting to lean towards the Countrymen, but I really love the R53's. Might try and find a low mile GP.

 

Ive had my MINI for 4 years now. I have owned a plymouth baracuda, audi 100s, audi a4, and a vw gti. i only had each car under a year, just didnt like them enough. I can see having my MINI many more years to come..

 

My 2003 R50 has achieved "money pit" status but I don't think I'll ever own anything other than a Mini again! ($10k to buy and $5k++ in repairs in a little under 2 years)

My only regret was buying a base Cooper.

My next car will be an '05 or '06 MCS or JCW.

 

My '03 MCS is in the family for the long haul. It has the "Toy" status in that it only comes out during the summer months and prefers to keep its feet dry.
Its only at 24k. miles so far and has required only petrol and oil.

Unfortunately, its owner had a '66 Austin 850 and always wanted a full race '66 Mini Cooper S. My mod spending to date is coming close to matching my purchase price!
I drive with grin!

Sister drives a '02 MCS, nephew a '10 MCS.

 

Based on my really uninformed purchase of a mini with lots of expensive maintenance issues I would say unequivocally NO...unless it was new with a full warranty...and I would purchase a factory extended warranty as well. The car is a blast to drive but its going to end up costing me much more than it is worth.

 

Loved every second of it so far! Bought it in November 2011 with 67k on it, and now has 75k on it. Coming from a 450whp E85 SRT-4 (sold), and my fiance drives an 05 E85 Evo 8 360whp...we'll be adding a Lotus Elise into the mix soon as well!

 

We would, we did, we bought a second MINI, and a third, and a fourth. I'm trying to persuade the wife on a fifth, but she doesn't want to get rid of one.

 

...probably. I've only had a Mini for a 1.5 months. It's the only car that seems to have genuinely intrigued every single person I know, or have met. Men and women, boys and girls, seemingly unanimously love the MINI Cooper. More importantly--I think it's the most fun thing on four wheels I've ever owned (SRT-4, Ford SVT-F, Chevy Blazer, VW GTI). Yes. I'd buy another MINI Coop'. Hardtop. Next time: brand new, JCW package, black/red, etc.

 

...More. I actually hated the color green for cars. Until I saw a green MCS. It completely changed my opinion.