i've been deciding if i should get a mc or a mcs. turned out i really wanted the extra hp so i went with the mcs. I was put on the waiting list as customer number 26 to get the mcs.
as i was waiting to get the call to come into the dealership and order my car i started checking out the internet. turned out the car that was suppost to be so great really was a down fall. sure it would get great reviews simply because it was a car that was so different than any other out there. But as i started to read about what other owners had to say about the car, it really made me think about the reliability of the car. so many problems and so much talk about how cheap parts were that they would fall off or crack. I really had my heart set on getting this car. but for a guy like me who has to travel 200 clicks aday. i really need a car thats going to be reliable. Its funny how one car can have so many sites on talking about the problems their having with their mini. I started to get the picture that this was a small car with big problems!! anyway, my turn came up and got the call from the dealer to place an order on my mcs, needless to say i passed the chance at ordering my mini, i decided to wait till the 2003 modles came out and see if they improved in reliability. It turns out that it seems to be just as bad, and if they fixed a problem there was another that rose up. so now iam stuck here thinking about waiting to see what they have to say about the 2004 modles and hopefully things well be looking brighter for the little vehical.
You've got to love the car as it is one hell of a nice looking vehical but at a price tag in the high $30,000 range (canadian) you would think that reliability and durability would be included in the price....

 

Welcome korey...I've owned a problem free 2002 MCS since July....you have to realize that most of what you read are complaints, because the people that post here and on other websites tend to complain more than they compliment. There are plenty of compliments coming right here...watch carefully.

If you choose not to buy a MINI, the loss will be yours, my friend...good luck on your decision. :smile:

 

I love my MINI cooper, had no problems at all mechanically, electronic-ly, manual-ly or otherwise. My only problem was this b*tch in a VW bug that doesn't know how to park a car and she smacked me so hard that she cracked my bumper :

I'd buy another in a second. I did test drive them both before I decided and I was die-hard on the S, but didn't get one, I love the Cooper. I can say I would have even bought my GIDGET w/o test driving her.

 

Welcome Korey to MCO.

You hear of problems from owners on the boards because they want help. There are many MINI owners out there you don't hear from because they don't have problems. I for one have had no problems with my MCS and love it. The car has the performance and handling that cars many times over in dollars wish they could. I'm sorry you feel the MINI is a car with problems, but I don't feel it is. I love mine.

 

I know of a lot of people that have had problems, but I have had my mini for just over 14,000 miles, and about 8-9 months, and the only problem that I have had with mine is the cold start problem. That meant just having to turn the key twice. I got it fixed very quickly and I have been problem free sense then. I think that the new minis that are just ariving come with that problem already fixed. good luck on finding a car, but I think you should go with the MCS for sure.

 

8900 problem free miles on my MCS. Welcome to the site. This car is not a toyota or honda but it isn't a lemon either.

 

You shouldn't have a problem considering that you have only had the car for 8 months,
but lots of people are. Doesn't that make you wonder??? There are nice things about the car
but i think when you add up all the pros and cons it seems to lean more to the cons, And for a new car these types of problems should not exist. I've been on the net and talked to people about other types of vehicals and none of them had the amount of complants that mini did.
Don't get me wrong I really want this car! but its hard to fork over that kinda money thinking that your going to get a lemon thats going to need repairs all the time, even if its under warrity its such a hassle to lose your car for a day or however long it may be.
I hope they fix the bugs soon so that i too can drive a little car with big fun.

 

reading stuff online is like shooting in the dark, you don't really know what you're getting yourself into! It may seem dramatic to hear about "all these problems", however, look at the stats, there are over 5500 members on MCO, and if 10 people have seen a particular issue on their MINI, that's a whole 0.18 percent! Suddenly, when you see it that way, the problem looks rather miniscule. Surf every car model forum on the net, and you'll see that every car has lots of problems, some more than others. My history with BMW, I own a 3-series, is that the cars are extremely well built, but still require maintenance to keep them that way. I would feel blessed if my MINI only had a few problems during my ownership, it's the cost of owning mechanical stuff!

bottom line: the only noteworthy issue with the MINI is on the Cooper S, and that's the coolant tank. If that's the only major issue, it's a compliment, really.

Please don't generalize one story you read online into a major design fault. There are a handful of people that will look for things they don't "like" and will bash all day long. Don't pedestal the car either, nothing is ever perfect.

Good luck, and damn you for giving up your production spot! (jealous!)

 

Well Korey, if you don't want a MINI don't buy one. It's your hard earned money. Whatever.

My MINI is perfect!!!

If you think a MINI is too much trouble that's fine. It's your choice. But you'll be missing out on all the FUN!!!

Good luck with your decision, whatever that may be.

Kecia, did I mention that my MINI is perfect?

 

hmmm touched a nerve with you did I? Well perfect is the way it should be for the first couple of years, thats why they give you a warrenty. Its just some of these problems are major, and thats what concerns me and if this is happening in the first year, whats it going to be like down the road 3 or 5 years later.....

try to keep in mind when reading these messages that i really do want to get a mini, I guess it was a good thing that i posted this message, this way the people that don't have problems can be heard and help people like me think once again about hoppin in that mini and takin the roads at a whole new level..

 

touched a nerve?

Perhaps; I have no respect for abstract bashing. Please provide a list of your percieved major problems with the MINI.

Korey, the manufacturer does not provide a warranty because "it should be [perfect] for the first couple of years", they provide one to ensure the car stays on the road in good running condition to maintain value and keep customer satisfaction high!

Now I'm curious, what other vehicles are you considering?

_________________
Wisdom is not a function of age, but a function of experience.
*Keeper of the CWFAC
list*

 

Korey - felt the same way but took the plunge for a January build 2003 - no problems - love the car! I have come to realize that when you have access to a worldwide owner's body, more people will write in about their complaints merely because there is a forum for it. I'm sure that there are far more problem-free cars than not. In all fairness, the widespread posting of problems probably helped their eradication since Miniusa is listening and doesn't need the bad press - if you look at folks with later build vehicles, you'll see that the early problems are simply not coming up any longer. Hope you make the right decision.

 

"to ensure the car stays on the road in good running condition to maintain value and keep customer satisfaction high!" sounds to me like thats a car that would be in perfect condition
or at least near perfect.

Other vehicals I test drove and took interest in where:

acura,rsx
mercedes,c230
toyoda, celica

AS for problems, I really don't think you need me to list them since all you have to do is
read the message boards.
but stuff like linkage problems, coolent leaks, electrical problems..............

 

Are you looking for advice so you can decide on a purchase or are you looking to think out loud?

If you want advice, I think people are giving it. It's a car so it's going to have mechanical issues but
most people on this board have little or no problems with their cars. Myself included.
I have had no problems with my Cooper and have just shy of 10k miles on it.
I drive it 100 miles round trip minimum a day. It gets decent gas milage, gets me where I need to
go and is more fun than any car I have ever driven. This was the selling point for me.
I'm confident it will serve me well beyond the warranty period..

Don't forget that you always find more complaints and problems in forums and on messageboards
than you will compliments. It is the nature of the beast.
But, MCO probably has the lowest complaint ratio I have seen.

Mini owners love their cars. It's like owning a Mac. Those who have never owned one just can't understand.

Lobo

 

I hope Korey that this is not just another bashing thread - it seemed that you were seriously asking for opinions?

I just traded in my MC; I had done over 8000 miles on it and it gave me no trouble. People complain because they hope someone can help, and because these cars generate a "love" which persuades people to really want perfection. Sadly perfection is difficult to achieve - for ANY product.
My wifes Mercedes just hit us with more than $500 for a service bill. Do you think Mercedes are unreliable?

And before you ask - why did I trade in my MC? Because I now have an MCS! So either I am an idiot, or I bought another MINI because I love it!

If you are really interested in MINI, try to look at the positive posts instead of the negative.
If you want a *guaranteed* problem free car, I don't know where you can go; my Ford Contour was dreadful to own (no engine power); my Chrysler paint disappeared when I washed it ...

[edit] just remembered - my car prior to the MINI (a Lexus RX300, surely a good make) had a problem - the transmission was not properly sealed, it leaked oil and started to seize after about 700 miles! No permanent damage, as far as I know.

MINI has the backing of a big company - do you think that BMW would be so stupid as to allow poor quality, and think it would not hurt their image?



_________________
Ian C. Gloucester, MA
<A href="http://users.adelphia.net/~gbmini/bl...uot;</a>

CWFFC member finally collected Indi Blue / Lapis Blue MCS ... body color exterior trim, chrome grille, european shelf and rear fog switch
(MC gone)

 

"...when you add up all the pros and cons it seems to lean more to the cons, And for a new car these types of problems should not exist. "

Sounds like you've already made up your mind. If that's true, nobody will be able to convince you otherwise.

A point to consider...if you drive 200 ticks a day, you may want to consider getting something with better fuel economy. There are definitely more "reliable" vehicles that get better gas mileage. I know - I work in the industry and have access to all of the JD Power data. Of course you can best describe them as "vanilla", and not exactly inspiring. The choice is up to you.

I also had similar concerns before I bought my MCS. One thing you really should consider is the distance you would need to travel for a repair / service. If there is a dealer near you - great! If not, you will be extremely inconvenienced if you have an issue (even if you just have the recommended services performed at the recommended intervals).

My MCS has been problem-free for over 8,000 miles, and is my daily driver. I wouldn't dream of driving another vehicle. I wish I could say the same for my wife's VW Eurovan!!!! In fact, I'm making plans to get an additional one for my wife to cruise in without the kids.

 

I'am not saying that theres a car out there thats going to be problem free, I just feel that with a company like bmw behind mini, I would of got a better quality car. Its not very often you would by a new car, take it off the lot and you have already found a problem! or the car just wont start!? I think this is something to be of concern especially if you haven't had it for even a year. but anyway, iam not going to be doing this for every message that is sent to me. Eveyone hear iam sure can see where iam coming from and iam getting good responce too!
this well forsure help me to decide whether or not to buy a mini s .

thanks for all the input!

 

Seriously. I can't believe you passed on your oppotunity to order a MINI! Shame on you. I'll say it again. First year cars are going to have a FEW glitches. The MINI had them and the vast majority were fixed promptly. I can see waiting for the 2003s. But waiting another year? No way. I got one of the first 2003s and already have just under 10k miles. No problems and not a hint of cheap quality or materials. Coolest car and best built car I have ever owned. Period. I may buy myself a second car in another year or two. And it will probably be a second MINI. At the very least, I'll always want at least one MINI in my driveway at all times (if not two!)

 

Hey...

It's been almost a full year now since I drove off the lot in mine.... One major problem....that whole TransCable Recall deal... happened BEFORE the recall announcement... Lucky me... Instead of just the transcable clasp I recieved a new, properly sized cable...

Sure... it was an immediate "THIS CAR IS CRAP" situation... but I grew out of that in about 15 minutes. Every car has problems. Some more evident than others.... some sneak up on ya and some you can see coming a mile away.

The great thing about MCO and other Mini Forums is that you can weigh your decision upon other peoples issues.

Ever since the whole transcable recall, I've been motoring problem free. When one makes a complaint...ONE PERSON... it can "look" like a major Brand-Wide Problem.... But when one sings praise... it can be easily glossed over and forgotten.

the warranty is for YOU, the consumer.... USE IT
If you think that your other choices are going to prove to be problem free.... good luck and I hope they are.
BMW has a reputation to uphold and they are carrying that over to their MINI...High quality product and service.
The MINI has won more accolades than many other new models... You WILL find that the Pro's WILL outweigh the Con's.

Good Luck and if you decide on a MINI...I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed mine so far!

 

">>BMW has a reputation to uphold and they are carrying that over to their MINI...High quality product and service.
>>The MINI has won more accolades than many other new models... You WILL find that the Pro's WILL outweigh the Con's.
>>
>>Good Luck and if you decide on a MINI...I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed mine so far!
>>
>>"
Read recalls on BMWs. High quality product? I really don't
think so. I never would have gotten a BMW but I would have
gotten a new Mini if it was built by Yugo.
Now, BMW motorcycles...that is another story. Quality right up
there with Honda!

 

The Celica starts at 17,790 for the GT, GTS starts at 22,455
The RSX starts at 19,975, and Type-S is 23,270
The C230 Kompressor Coupe starts at 25,670
The MINI Cooper starts at 16,975, the MCS starts at 19,975


The C230 coupe can cost $38k+ fully optioned
The Celica GTS can cost $28k+ fully optioned
The RSX-S has no factory options $23,770
The MCS can cost $27,015 (all factory options)

The RSX-S has the most horsepower, the Celica has the highest redline, the Benz has the highest sticker price, and the MINI will turn the most heads.

You choose, just don't bash the other three in the meantime. You've heard the saying "different strokes for different folks"

Cheers,
Ryan

P.S. 2Minis, I know exactly what you're saying, I've been on the "front lines" of the recall-fest. My 3-er has had at least 15 recalls (***** you not!)
_________________
Wisdom is not a function of age, but a function of experience.
*Keeper of the CWFAC
list*

 

>>Other vehicals I test drove and took interest in where:
>>
>>acura,rsx
>>mercedes,c230
>>toyoda, celica

Any time you buy a first year car, you're bound to have problems, nobody is immune. A co-worker got a Mercedes C230 coupe early last year and has been in the shop numerous times for various check engine, airbag lights, and sunroof failure. And most of the time it was for at least a week! My MCS has been problem free after 6600 miles since I got it in November, and I do drive this car hard. If you decide to buy something else, that's your decision. But I for one, have no regrets about buying my MCS! :smile:

 

Recalls are merely fixable problems....

Even old Fords still undergo Recall announcements....

Friend of mine had his 95 Mustang called in on a recall issue... it was a minor problem which the manufacturer assumes responsibility for... which they fix or replace.

And why would I "slam" you?

 

I have indeed had 2 problems with MEMINI one is the damn windshield crack wich is soon to be fixed the other is its soo noticelbe that it makes it hard to go run an errand real fast... you spend more time in the parking lot talken to people than in the store ahah... also i have gotten pulled over by police more often... rarely get a citation or a warning more of a curiosity factor... i had one cop tail me for 5 miles before pulling me over on Wed. haha

all that and i LOVE MEMINI i motor over 80 miles aday to/from work, and she runs like a top!!!

 

>>Recalls are merely fixable problems....
>>
>>

Like I said do a search. Try the 7 series. Compare it
to a Neon. The Mini has had the most 'fixable' problems
of any car I have ever had and that includes a first year
model Fiat and a first year model Izuzu. I had fewer
problems with my first car...a Renault. BMW builds cars
for people who trade them every year or two.
I first had a Cooper...linkage problem on a trip. Now I have
an S...coolant issues, coolant tank issues, stress crack in
windshield, rear latch problems, H20 leak rear hatch.
I've read that BMWMINI has a new coolant tank
design.....but I haven't gotten my notice yet. If I had to drive
200 kilometers a day I wouldn't be doing it in a MINI.
Probably a Toyota Echo...I'd want to get there and back. Don't
get me wrong..I love the Mini and have since I first drove a '67
in 1969. I just wish someone else had built it.