If you want to make a change because of financial/practical concerns that is one thing....if you want to make a change because you want something new and exciting, with a new spec, that is something else...... to the frugal a Ferrari never makes sense......If you can afford it.....the choice is made by other criteria.....but, if your making payments....and you like your car... and there are no mods interfering with warranty.....it makes the most sense to buy a extended warranty and drive it till you can no longer buy fossil fuels IMO

 

The Cooper CVT is the first Mini I've owned since 1960. The MCSa is the first brand new car I have ever owned, and is the ONLY car since 1977 that I have ever owned WITHOUT an extended warranty. If a person buys a "new" used car just out of factory warranty, an extended warranty is just peace of mind as well as money well spent. All you need is for your a/c unit, on-board computer, or some sort of transmission failure and you are screwed without one.

When I bought my early '03 CVT in Spring of '04, it was used but only had 2200 miles on it. Even so, knowing that the factory warranty would expire way before I got any big miles on the car, I went ahead and purchased the extended warranty. The car now has 29k, and the 36k factory warranty ran out last September. It will have over 31k in the next 2 weeks, but with that extra warranty in place, I am more at ease about whatever possible CVT problems lurk on the horizon. Sleep comes easily.

 

These are the same numbers!

A dealership won't replace a CVT belt - the unit will be replaced COMPLETELY for a new (or rebuilt) one.
So the cost is the CVT transmission itself, plus the labor to remove the old unit and install the new unit.
Apparently the labor to do gear work on the MINI is massive - these cars aren't designed to be easy to work on. You should see how much a "simple" clutch replacement costs ...

 

I don't know anything about CVT - I like to shift. I did read that the engine manufacture will change to Peugot in 07 (MC2 article? I don't remember the source) another thing to think about. Basically things are worth what you will pay for them. If you love your car and dig the CVT you will fix it. $, $$ or $$$. Basically my situation too. You just have to evalute. I'd rather have my car than a new kitchen - but I live in a small democracy with 5 other people.

 

sorry
that's why I didn't make it

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