Dont know if anyone has pointed this out yet but Road & Track just wrapped there long term[40000 mile] test on a 03 MCS. Other than the usual rattles and squeaks they were very complimentary of the car and said as far as cost per mile to operate it was the second cheapest car they have ever tested. My wifes 2004 CVT Cooper has 33000 on it and has been fine. As soon as i can move my Evo VIII we will be a 2 Mini family.

 

Just stick with your order. You have a pretty sweet ride coming to you. I love the new MINI. I ordered my 05 HyperBlue MCS cabrio in Sept. of 04. I've had only one issue. The soft top leaked over the passenger side seat. The dealership noticed it was a defective sill and replaced it right away. They even replaced the upholstry where the seat got wet and got stained. No questions asked. Other than that, my MINI has been awesome. My wife loved it so much we ordered an 06 Royal Grey MC CVT. We have only had it for two weeks and she loves it too. No car is perfect. Even Honda. I also have an 03 Honda Element that had a starter go out on it with only 17K miles. MINI also has a great resale value. You won't lose much on it if you decide it is not the car for you, but I'm sure you will not be getting rid of it if you stick with your order.

 

I have owned a long list of just about every kind of automobile out there after driving for the past 50 years...some cheap and some very expensive. I have had major issues with some of the cheap cars and some of the expensive ones. If it's got a moving part they are prone to issues.

I'd just like to note when was the last time you took a Toyota or a Bentley in to get new brakes, rotors, oil change/service, have the dash removed and new felt installed, the A/C evacuated and recharged, new wiper blades front and back, new panoramic screens installed as well as being gone over with a fine tooth comb all at about 35K miles...at no charge?

I may own many other cars for different uses but I know which one I'll always take on the twisties...my MINIS. Absolutely the best automobile I have every owned...and just think about all the great people that come with it.

And another thing, I've seen many $100K autos go by and never turn a head like my MINIS. Go for it. I promise you'll have the experience of a lifetime.

 

THis may be an old thread but, I bought a 2002 MINI cooper S with 37000 miles on it in April 2005
The car is still under factory warranty, (it is really a fantastic warranty) the car has had a few issues that are listed in different cars on the boards, but all have been fixed. (Hell I even got a loaner 2006 BMW 330i how is that for service)
So other than the inconvenience of taking the car in, the joy of driving and having the car outweighs the minor issues.
When I got rid of my 2003 Celica to get the MINI, my family thought I was crazy. (THat car had an issue in which the gas tank had to be replaced for spitting out gas when filled).
But, I do not regret getting my MINI.

 

32? Tha's it?
Try 42

 

Here is a good magazine article on the Cooper S. This is a free download.

http://www.windingroad.com/issue-5/m...mini-cooper-s/

 

well as far as reliability issues my mini has 119,000 mils on it its an 02 first build

and have had no issues at all, maybe just the normal ware and tare stuff but other than that not a problem at all

remember that all cars no matter what the manufactuer will have their share of lemons and others that act up, but for every 1 car that has alot of issues their are 1000 that have not one

the mini has been by far the most reliable and best car i have ever owned
and continues to be

i know with the newer cars all the issues the early cars had was worked out and now the auto cooper s has its issues since its new to the market

but i think its a very good car and will keep you smiling that is unless you get a lemon

 

I think one of the reasons you read about so many issues is because we MINI owners are very picky! A lot of cars may have rattles, for example, but MINI owners are the ones who'll notice and try to fix it. It's just the kind of car that appeals (mostly) to someone who doesn't just exit the car and forget about it. We obsess! I had two Saturns, and boy those things rattled and squeaked, and the interiors were really low quality. I never complained, because I didn't really care about it. The MINI is a totally different story.

Now I know there have been much more serious issues than rattles, but I still think MINIs are a good deal dollar-wise. I doubt you'll regret getting a MINI.

Ken

 

OK, I'm not far enough in with the 06 MCS to really answer your question as well as some long-term owners have. But we went through exactly the same issue between order and delivery! We hemmed and hawed and almost backed out at the last minute--we were still talking about backing out as we drove to the dealer to pick it up! Our main fear was the inconvenient location of the dealer coupled with the possiblity that we would end up hating the dealer (as has happened with about half the car dealers we've done business with over the years).

We bought it anyway and haven't regretted it a minute. It does have one minor rattle I haven't figured out yet, but I'm confident I'll identify it and get it fixed.

Go for it, it is a fun, econonomical car.

 

My MINI is my all-season daily driver, and no problems! Heck, it handles the winter weather a lot better than my old car.

 

Don't buy it. If you are questioning it NOW, it might not be a good pick for you. It was for me, SO FAR.

 

2x03 mcs and 1x05mcsc no problems dealer hasnt addressed

 

our first , an 05 MCSa, has just over 3000 miles on it and we love it. We will be ordering my 06 MCS next week!

**** correction....my wife already ordered my 06! It will be arriving next week!!!

-jac

 

I had the same second guessing as you are. I am so happy I went for it. I have had my '06 MCa since end of Sept.(3000 miles) - one of first '06 builds and I have had some minor things pop up (nothing reproducable - so I can't say it is an actual problem). You do go fast, and my driving style has changed (used to driving Honda's) but I couldn't be happier.

I have had nothing but good times - once you get it you won't look back. We are trying to igure out a way to become a 2 mini family since my man loves mini's so much now (chances looking slim though). You won't look back the second you slip inside of your custom built mini.

 

Go ahead

 

Bad example.

Have had Many, Many toyotas and did not because

"didnt have too"

 

Hello,

Maybe I can answer this since I feel exactly the same as you.

Its actually a bit simple when you look at it objectively.

First, you need to remember that this is an "enthusiasts" site so your going to get ALL the bad things wrong posted ... misery loves company.

Second, your also going to here ancedotel info from some small number (vice the MINI population at large) saying MINI is the best thing since "canned corn beef".

I would throw out both the bad cars and the people who say its the best car in the world. They are always the two extremes on any normal curve.

Now you need to look at the faceless MASSES out there, and since 140,000 or so MINIs are on the road in the US now, thats far, far more than who post on any board.

I can say this ... coming from mostly Toyotas and sports cars ... MINI is no Toyota. I've NEVER had a toyota in a shop for ANY warranty work yet every MINI owner seems so concerned about their MINI warranty (and have reason to) ... So, if you want Toyota quality, buy Toyota. From the sports car perspective (Porsches, BMW, Mitsi Turbos)... you got to expect more problems and given MINI's abilities, it fits in line.

Our MINI is the wife's daily driver. She picked it out. She found it. She said "I want it ... buy it", etc. Do I worry about its reliability? Of course. I do NOT want her to see codes thrown or "limp mode" or any of that stuff ... It is just NOT acceptable for a modern car to go to "limp mode".

So, the question is the tradeoff ... Live with the quirks? Yup. Why? For the smile on her face when she drives off

Given that, I do NOT find it acceptable NOT to have a spare-tire. Could care less about "racing" care less about autox (been there, done that, too old) so RFs are fun with me. Having had my share of flat tires in my lifetime, I do NOT want her stranded someplace and have to worry about calling some towtruck, filling some tire with goop, whatever. With the RFs, she just drives home (in most cases).

BTW, all that crap about free maintenaince, etc. Nothing is free, you paid for it in the price of the car.

Final analysis. The smile on her face ... priceless.

 

CHOWS, you were almost on a roll there calling for an objective look at the evidence by throwing out both ends of the "curve", then you went south on us and cited strictly anecdotal, subjective experiences of one toyota owner, YOU. Tsk, tsk, can't call for objectivity and then jump to subjective and still make a valid, effective argument, you must know that.

 

Agreed.,,, I got carried away but it was flowing there because I was trying to make the point that we are Happy with a MINI despite having some other reliable cars. I know it aint a Toyota but STILL bought it so that, I think, says a lot

Wife is Happy, I am Happy ... what more can a guy want

 

I will edit this to say the above. Them being happy is a big deal in and of itself. It takes the pressure off and we can just BE our naturally happy selves. Kind of like man's best friend, feed and water us, walk us, scratch us occasionally and every so often throw us a bone. HEAVEN....what else is there?

 

I'll just put in my 2 cents, even though I've only been driving my 2006 for a month now...I LOVE IT!!! For the most part, I've only heard great things from my other friends that own MINIs too. I drive a MCS, and not only is it FUN to drive, but I also feel incredibly safe in it: basically, it is a well-built car. Also, I would get the 2006 model, as others here have mentioned, because next year, the manufacturers are making changes to the MINI, and reliability may become more of an issue. At least the '06 is tried and true, the last of its generation. I would definetly buy another one!

 

DUDE!!! You GOT IT!

It's kind of like shopping. Let her go do her thing. Just throw us a new t-shirt and shorts once a year ... Give us a "scratch" now and then and we be happy

 

Hi all again,

I know all of you LOVE your Mini's. We will probably take a chance on the MCS. I will look closely at the Lemon Law in our state and keep records on all issues with the car. We also live within 7 miles of the dealership. Wish us luck! I feel we will need it . I wish my better half would have liked the 06 Mazda MX-5 Sport w/ susp. pack. Time will tell?

Thanks,
Randy & Meg

 

Best of luck All I can say is start with a positive attitude. Its fine to run scenarios, but life rarely goes exactly the way you planned for it to. So, perhaps you just need to adjust your thinking about reliability a bit to get a more positive spin on the MINI. Heres a scenario of what could go wrong with the MX-5.

Lets say, you bought an MX-5. One hot summer afternoon, you're driving down the road with your husband/wife at your side, enjoying the day, when all of a sudden you come around the bend, and there, stuck on the side of the road in his/her Toyota Corolla, is one of your really cute girlfriends/handsome hunks whose just coming out of a messy divorce. Its 110 in the shade, so you can't just leave him/her there. The only thing to do is have everyone squeeze in. So she/he gets in and has to sit on your husband/wife's lap. The car is small, the day is so hot that your friend has to squirm around all the way back to Albuequerque. Your husband/wife seems, for some odd reason, to be especially enjoying this ride. This, of course results in your own messy divorce proceeding. He/she manages to get a better lawyer than you, takes you for all your worth and you're stuck drving an old Ranger pickup until you can get back on your feet.

A car that promotes divorce? I'd hardly call that dependable! If only you had bought a MINI, given the spacious rear seating, none of this would have ever have happened. MINIs make the world a friendlier place and it just could save your marriage.

 

Sounds personal, or was that a "friend" that it happened to? Actually my experience is divorce, whatever the initial cost, is worth it if it gets rid of them, at least. Except if there are kids, then you are STUCK with that ex for a couple of decades at least. A crazy ex-girlfriend seems to think it's still OK to call every couple of years and whine about her lousy life. The formality of the divorce seems to be better for severing those ties once and for all so that you can recover, financially and otherwise, IMHO.