Hello, fellow mini enthusiasts. I'm caught in a dilemma and was wondering if you all could help me out in making a decision of whether or not to get the mini. i understand that you all are "mini enthusiasts" and would of course advise me to get the mini, but i hope you all can put aside your emotional attachments/bonds with your minis (if possible) and offer me some objective advice.

Having been to a mini dealer, I am already in love with the mini cooper. but i need to know how practical this car actually is (i know it's supposed to be a fun car), including inconveniences of the car.

Things I'd like feedback on:

1. the rear seats (comfort, esp. on long trips, and the front seats too for that matter)
2. cupholders (so small? i'm always drinking coffee or something)
3. lack of storage space in front and rear (a noticeable problem?)
4. problems with the car (including recalls, etc.)
5. dealer service (wait time on parts, availability)
6. performance (in terms of hp, the 115 on the MC sounded kinda weak, and no, i cannot drive a stick unfortunately)

I know that's a lot of questions, but I really need to know everything and anything about this car before i make such a big decision. i want to make a level-headed decision instead of just buying it because i've fallen in love with it.

so if any of you could give me some honest feedback, i'd be ever so grateful.

thanks!

 

>>Things I'd like feedback on:
>>
>>1. the rear seats (comfort, esp. on long trips, and the front seats too for that matter)
>>2. cupholders (so small? i'm always drinking coffee or something)
>>3. lack of storage space in front and rear (a noticeable problem?)
>>4. problems with the car (including recalls, etc.)
>>5. dealer service (wait time on parts, availability)
>>6. performance (in terms of hp, the 115 on the MC sounded kinda weak, and no, i cannot drive a stick unfortunately)

Welcome!
1) I have two children (10 & 12) and have never heard them complain about the comfort level of the rear seats. We have yet to take a long trip in the car however.
2) The cup holders work with the mini tarveling glass/cup very well. (Others don't fit because of the clearance of the toggle switches)
3) What storage space? You've got the glove box, and that's about it. The rear storage area will hold enough grocery bags for life support around three days. (Stack the bags and get by a bit longer). It's a Give-N-Take relationship when you own the Mini.
4) My car was built in 08-02. I have experienced no problems, other than a plastic grill piece that came loose on the front of the car. No mechanical probelms at all (5K), and am quite pleased with this.
5) I have yet to make a trip to the dealer, but expect to in around 3 months for my 1st service interval.
6) The performance of the MC is adequate. I've owned several small cars in my life, and it's strong. Don't think you are going to win any races, but at my age, I can think of better ways to use my $ other than paying traffic fines.

I can't comment on an auto tranny v. manual, as i drive the stick. I get around 29-31 miles per gallon. Having to use premium fuel is a bit costly, but it all evens out when you enjoy the car as much as I do. I have never owned a car that atttracts more attention! Be preapared to have dialogues with many complete strangers!

Good luck,
Jim

_________________
Turning head syndrome began on 09-21-02. (Indi Blue)

 

Hi Lindaroo,

I have a Cooper S, but perhaps some of this will be helpful:

>>1. the rear seats (comfort, esp. on long trips, and the front seats too for that matter)

I believe this will be subjective depending on the size of the passenger and the length of the trip. Why not take a friend on a test drive - have them sit in the back for a spin, and then you do the same thing? My friend and I did this (he bought an M3 convertible at about the same time I took delivery of my MCS). Incidentally, I am 6'4" and have to sit 'across' the back, but would not be uncomfortable for a couple of hours. I can't imagine not being in the driver's seat, however! :smile:

>>2. cupholders (so small? i'm always drinking coffee or something)

A 16 ounce coffe cup fits in the front cup holder. For 20 ounce or greater, you'll need to use the one between the front seats.

>>3. lack of storage space in front and rear (a noticeable problem?)

I have not found this to be an issue yet - again, I think it depends on what you plan to transport.

>>4. problems with the car (including recalls, etc.)

I have had none to date (1.5 months/1500 miles).

>>5. dealer service (wait time on parts, availability)

This may vary from dealer to dealer - I haven't needed any parts yet, so I am no help here.

>>6. performance (in terms of hp, the 115 on the MC sounded kinda weak, and no, i cannot drive a stick unfortunately)

I love the zip in the MCS, and I am still looking for more. In my experience, this car just wants to be driven. This is subjective also, and fellow MINI owners with an MC will be more help for you here. Incidentally, there have been a few posts by people who have learned to drive stick in order to enjoy their MCS. In the possts I have read, they've stated it's been easy and they wouldn't go back to automatic! Even if you do not intend to get an MCS, you might want to consider the difference in performance between stick and automatic in an MC. Others will be more helpful to you in this regard also.

The MINI is a great car. Best of luck with your decision.

Ravenwhyte

 

>>Hello, fellow mini enthusiasts. I'm caught in a dilemma and was wondering if you all could help me out in making a decision of whether or not to get the mini. i understand that you all are "mini enthusiasts" and would of course advise me to get the mini, but i hope you all can put aside your emotional attachments/bonds with your minis (if possible) and offer me some objective advice.
>>
>>Having been to a mini dealer, I am already in love with the mini cooper. but i need to know how practical this car actually is (i know it's supposed to be a fun car), including inconveniences of the car.
>>
>>Things I'd like feedback on:
>>
>>1. the rear seats (comfort, esp. on long trips, and the front seats too for that matter)
>>2. cupholders (so small? i'm always drinking coffee or something)
>>3. lack of storage space in front and rear (a noticeable problem?)
>>4. problems with the car (including recalls, etc.)
>>5. dealer service (wait time on parts, availability)
>>6. performance (in terms of hp, the 115 on the MC sounded kinda weak, and no, i cannot drive a stick unfortunately)
>>
>>I know that's a lot of questions, but I really need to know everything and anything about this car before i make such a big decision. i want to make a level-headed decision instead of just buying it because i've fallen in love with it.
>>
>>so if any of you could give me some honest feedback, i'd be ever so grateful.
>>
>>thanks!
>>
Indeed, welcome. Here's another take:

1. To me, the rear seats are simply more storage. Beyond 12 years old, nobody will fit back there.
2. Cupholders? Buy the MINI cup or only use the rear cupholder. This is typical EURO stuff. They want to drive, not mosy and drink.
3. Storage? Fold the rear seats down. Other than that, the previous reply is accurate. Don't buy too much to put in the car. It won't fit.
4. No problems. Heard of a recall (search 'recall' in the forum search), but it's been fixed for current production.
5. I have not had to use MINI Service.
6. Performance? Everything I hear says that the MC and MCS are quite close in the lower RPMs and speeds, where city folk do most of their driving anyway. The car is small, so 115hp is relative, and the CVT is quite nice. The handling is superb, likely to be the best handling car you have ever driven. This is an above average performer on the road, even with the seemingly anemic 115hp. Don't worry about the HP number, go drive one and come to your own conclusions.

I promise you that you won't be able to get this car out of your head once you drive it. And remember, it's an experience, not a car. There's more to MINI than wheels and doors. Spend some time on MCO and you'll see...

Happy motorin!

Scott

 

1. the rear seats: Unfortunately i do not use them put snoopy finds it comfy.
2. cupholders: I use the rear one for my bottled water. you should be driving and not drinking anyway.
3. lack of storage space in front and rear: I think we tend to store so much useless stuff in out cars this is the reason we notice it in our Mini's. What more do you need than a pen, paper, registartion, insurance card and a cell phone.
4. problems with the car : coolant bottle and trunk latch.
5. dealer service : Never had a problem
6. performance: I drive a Cooper S so i can not compare it to an Automatic. It has enough to get me into trouble.)

 

I've also gotten the MINI cup which fits the front cupholder. I put in an aftermarket storage-type armrest and still managed to get an any-sized type cupholder attached to it so that it doesn't look bad. No kids to carry, but I can put another adult in the rear and w/ the rear seats down, room to do just about anything you'd need to do- this coming from a former minivan owner! Took delivery 2/14/03, have a bit over 1700 miles on it, one small driver's side passenger seat latch rattle and a very high pitched electronic hum at higher speed- will take to dealership next week to have these checked/fixed. Dealer has an excellent service record. Performance- have an MC w/ 5 speed. Love the shift. Passing and flat out speeds are not huge, but it's zippy enough and when you meet up w/ the 25 mph curves, you'll won't find any other car (some at many times the price) which will make you smile any more

 

Try it...you'll like it!

 

Hello lindaroo!

my 2c worth, based on my 2 months, 3800 mi in an 03 MCS:

Yes, the MINI is phenomenally fun. Is it practical?
Most of the time yes, but I'd say it really depends on your needs. I had a 98 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon before MINI. Lots of space for passengers and luggage. Great for camping. Great for thrwoing a bike in the back. However, I noticed that while suby was great, driving wasn't nearly as much fun as my old 1973 MGB-GT was, and that rarely did I take advantage of the space and features of the suby, very rarely. I rarely had more than 2 people in the car, and occasionally threw my girlfriends bike in the back. So, I decided to get a fun car, and one that gets better mileage, and one that stirs the emotions again.
Since then, I've had more opportunities to have 3 or 4 people in the car than in years of suby driving. I love the fact that I can fit 4 people when needed, but I have to say that for four mid size adults it is a wee bit tight. I'm only 5-10, but I like to have my front seat way back when I drive. WHen someone is sitting behind me, I move my seat forward a bit.
4 people is ok, but I would perosnally not go on a long trip with more than 4 people in the car. I'd probably draw the line (based on need of course) at about 1-1.5 hrs.
Space is ok for 2. I went camping with my g/f and we were easily able to fit all our gear.
Your specific questions:

>>1. the rear seats (comfort, esp. on long trips, and the front seats too for that matter)

the seats themselves are very comfortable, but distance between front and rear can be tight.


>>2. cupholders (so small? i'm always drinking coffee or something)

yep, the front ones are too small for most cups. You should get the custom-fit MINI mugs. The single rear holder is ok, and I use it most of the time for my non-MINI cups.

>>3. lack of storage space in front and rear (a noticeable problem?)

Not a problem for me, I have enough in door pockets and passenger compartment.

>>4. problems with the car (including recalls, etc.)

I've had no real problems so far, but want the delar to look at a few thinsg asap. I will be going on a 500 mi trip soon, and will post how things went when I get back in about 5 weeks.

>>5. dealer service (wait time on parts, availability)

Have not been to dealer yet.

>>6. performance (in terms of hp, the 115 on the MC sounded kinda weak, and no, i cannot drive a stick unfortunately)

can't really comment on that since I have MCS. However, I've often wondered whether I should've gotten the MC, since for around town driving teh MC may be just as zippy: low rev torque does not really differ that much (hp is a top-end of rev range difference), and the MC is almost 200 lbs lighter!!

The best thing to do to see if the MC is zippy enough for you is to take it on a good test drive. Bring some friends to put in the back if you transport more than 2 very often.

Cheers,
Markus

 

 

Hi,
After 8000 miles everything is good for me.

1)Seats. Being in College I always seem to have to drive people about. They like to complain, but most of the struggle seems to be getting in and out. Once they're back there they are OK. Ever try a Celica? My friend has one and it is way worse than the MINI.

2)Cupholders haven't been a problem for me, but I'm one of those coffee addicts, so my cups are always 12-16 ounces and always fit. If per chance I have a larger drink, it simply goes between the seats.

3)Storage space is fine. If you are going grocery shopping you can always fold down one or both of the seats, then you can fit as much stuff as you need to.
I went on a scuba diving trip with two friends and the MINI. We fit all three of us, plus ALL diving equipment for three people including tanks, not to mention dry clothes and food etc. Everything fit. Granted it was a bit of a logistics problem, but with a little planning it was fine!

4)I've had no problems with the car, except for nose prints and finger prints that arrive on my windows! I do have a few squeaks and rattles, but that just means the music isn't loud enough!!!

5)I have an MCS and have never driven an MC, but unless you need high end performance I believe the MC is fine. Everyone I've heard who has one is very happy with it!

If you don't mind me asking, what alternative cars are you looking at?

Good luck!

~Joe

Cough, Cough, MINI, Cough!!!

 

I also would like help on the mini, I'm thinking about it for my sixteen year old daughter and she doesn't have a clue about stick shift but she loves the idea of the s model. I have read a diesel model will be comming but dealers haven't a clue. I live in Tucson and the dealershisp is in Scottsdale, so wonder if that's a problem. Any help would be great.

 

Better rent her a cheap car and teach her to drive stick! IMO people who drive stick seem to be a little bit safer: more aware of their car, and others on the roads. Of course, there are plenty of exceptions on both sides!

~Joe

 

Thank you all for your advice, it was of much help. More and more i am being convinced to get the mini.

Joe, thanks for your feedback too. the other cars i'm looking at also are the new accord coupe and the rav4. i know these cars are in completely different categories but honda and toyota are very reliable companies. i went to check out the accord at the dealer today and the interior was made like a luxury car. dual a/c, heated leather seats, multi-function steering wheel, 6-in dash-cd changer... all standard on the ex (except the leather). my parents came with me today and they were sold on this car. they keep pushing me to get the accord now, but this little person in my head keeps telling me that i'll regret it if i don't get the mini. i mean, i'm 23 now. when can be a better time to get the car of my dreams when i'm still young and single and don't have as many obligations. i can't get it 10 years from now when i'll probably be raising a family. sigh.

and another thing, i was searching through edmunds and i saw that j.d.& power gave the '02 mc 2 out of 5 stars on mechanical quality. that scared me quite a bit. i'm hoping the '03 mc's have worked out some bugs. now i'm wondering to be on the safe side if i should wait for the '04 mc to come out. does anyone know when the '04's are coming out anyhow? i think one dealer told me that it wouldn't be until december or january, which seemed impossible to me (how can i wait that long!). besides, don't new models usually come out in september/october-ish?

alright, i think i've babbled enough now.

and the journey continues...

 

Go for the S. I learned to drive stick on this car. I will never go back to automatic. Of course I am 18, I bet when i get to be 50 I will take that back. Get the MCS! Stick is what makes this car fun, besides the everything else.

 

lindaroo...
You need to buy this car. The most telling thing you've written is that you're 23 and might not have a chance in the future to have a car like this. I'm 27 and have not regretted buying this car for a single second. I've had it since October. There are certain things that everyone should do at least once in their lives, and one is to own a truly fun car! The thing about the MINI is, it's SO much fun that all of the other stuff you mentuoned ultimately doesn't matter. 23 is WAY too young to start worrying about being practical. I promise, you won't care once you have the car.

The cupholders are crap compared to the Accord or the RAV4 (I'm guessing here, but I feel pretty confident), but believe me, I can't tell you how many times since buying the MINI I've bought a cup of coffee, put it in the cupholder, and then completely forgotten about it until I reached my destination and noticed it sitting there. This car changes your whole style of driving, very much for the better. Storage space is just fine. The door pockets hold quite a bit, and for around $30 you can get a great glovebox organizer from mossmini.com.

>>To me, the rear seats are simply more storage. Beyond 12 years old, nobody will fit back there.

This is just wrong. I'm 5'9", and someone my height can sit behind me just fine. If you're shorter than me, don't worry about this at all. Honestly, how often do you carry more than one passenger? People are always so psyched to ride in the MINI that comfort is the last thing on their minds. Don't base your car decision on the occasional backseat rider's comfort. The thing that's different about the MINI's backseat, that makes it much more tolerable, is that the roof goes straight to the back of the car, so the people back there have headroom. Ever ridden in the back of a Mustang or an Eclipse? Your head hits the glass or the roof! Trust me, the MINI is more than tolerable back there.

As far as service, parts, etc. goes, that's the tradeoff with the MINI. You'll see a lot of problems mentioned on this site, but keep in mind that these people are in the unfortunate minority. If you have a problem and your dealer is far away, you've got a difficulty to deal with. The vast majority of us have had no occasion to go back to the dealer, for anything.

Performance: I drive a Cooper, and it is PLENTY peppy. The handling is so unbelievable that you forget that you're in such an economical car. Don't hesitate at all here. Those of us that drive manuals are, of course, convinced that it's much more fun, but I;m sure that the CVT MINI is a total blast as well.

Trust me, you really need to buy this car! :smile:

 

TccRoseQueen -
Please, don't buy the S for your daughter. The advantage of the S over the Cooper is primarily acceleration at speed, something that is absolutely NOT a good idea for a 16-year-old driver, no matter how responsible and mature she may be. She may love "the idea" of the S, but how do you feel about the idea of her driving around with little experience and all those extra tempting horses under the hood? No way! The Cooper is PLENTY of car for her.
_________________
2003 Cooper, Borla exhaust, Moss intake, Magnecor plug wires - Brookline, MA

 

lindaroo,
I'm 22yrs old, and got the car for much the same reasons. I'm single and have no current need for a larger vehicle. When a family comes along I may need to rethink things (I sure hope not!) but until then I couldn't ask for more than a MINI.

Oh, forget JD Power. MINI was named North American Car of the Year 2003. Thats saying something. The 03's definitely have most of the bugs worked out.

Go for it!!!

~Joe

 

Thanks for the help, I also think the automatic will be fine for a beginning driver, have many people here had dealings with the scottsdale az, dealership?? The bmw dealer in my town is asking 29,000. for all the cars on his lot. I haven't asked if he's willing to deal. It just turned me off. Would the bigger tires be better for a new driver and what options do you think she will need?? Thanks

 

For a new driver spend the least you can. She doesn't need a beefier suspension, or anything like that. A first car should be something to learn to drive in. Nthing fancy. I am sure you want to pamper her, but it really isn't necessary. A lot of girls her age don't get heir first car until they graduate college. My opinion is go for a bare MC, add a few things, but nothing drastic.

 

29,000???? For MINI's

Go somewhere else that guy is insane.

 

Offer the BMW dealer $19,000 for a well-equipped MC. That's about where any discussion should start. Otherwise, he's just using the MINI's to attract attention from folks jaded by BMW's ubiquity. MINI Cooper's base MRSP is about $16,900. What's he adding, a GOLD package??!!

 

1. Rear seats are comfy with 2 caveats. The headrests poke viciously into one's spine unless they are slightly raised, and there is very little footroom. I'm a small fellow and I have to scoot the driver's seat up a notch or two before anyone can squeeze a foot behind me.

2. Front cupholders cannot be used for any type of cup. A can of Red Bull would probably fit -- if you could get it in there. The switches block all access to the cupholders. The rear cupholder is within awkward reach of the driver and will hold common beverages but is quite small as well. I'm tempted to drill it out and fit a larger insert.

3. The door pockets aren't deep enough for unsighlty storage so I don't use them. The glovebox slopes downward such that all the contents dump onto the floor when opened. There is virtually no rear-seat floorspace to put groceries, etc. I bought the very nice MINI sunshade but can't find any place to store it other than strewn across the entire rear seat. There is only room for about 4 grocery bags or one carry-on suitcase in the boot without folding the seats. Last weekend I loaded a 35" TV in the back -- I removed the rear seat-backs (10 min) to provide a flatter floor and the TV just barely fit face-down. It spanned the entire distance from the hatch to the front seat-backs, floor to roof, and there was just enough room on either side in which to wedge each of the removed rear seat-backs. The cargo hooks in the boot are a very nice touch and allowed me to safely secure the TV with straps.

4. My car arrived last month with a surprising number of problems. The headlights were horribly misaligned -- blinding all oncoming traffic. One headlight mounting bolt had been overtightened and ripped right out of the housing -- destroying the entire headlight assembly and leaving it dangling by one bolt. The computer often refuses to latch the hatch -- it bounces right back at me when I slam it until I hold the trigger for a while with the hatch closed to reset it. The gas door is misaligned and doesn't lock as a result. The coolant was low upon arrival and there's a little crustyness nearby but no definitive signs of leaking yet. There's already rattles in the driver's door and boot. The HVAC blower makes a horrible screech when in recirculate mode. The cruise control is imprecise. The climate control is so absurdly 'dumb' that I can't use the "auto" mode and therefore it's purpose is completely defeated.

5. The nearest dealer is over 100 miles away so I've never been. The dealer that sold me the car was terrible.

6. The MCS is very speedy. The standard Cooper is a pretty long sprint to 60 but feels very powerful and responsive racing around town. The CVT should also add a performance advantage over comparable automatic cars.

I also considered the Accord Coupe. The Accord is vastly more luxurious, almost on par with Lexus, in comparison the MINI has an impressive array of creature comforts and gizmos like MFSW and heated seats but with a bone-jarring, noisy ride.

Once you drive the MINI, anything else will be out of the question. Don't wait for '04. MINI fixes problems one at a time so there will be no difference in the last '03 vs. the first '04.

 

TCCRoseQueen: I'm in Tucson as well. I bought my car over the phone from a TX dealership with no wait/markup and paid $550 to have it shipped. It arrived at my door an amazing 6 weeks after placing the order (4 weeks of that was shipping/handling). The BMW dealer here has no affiliation with MINI and cannot get parts, so it's 120 miles to Scottsdale. Lucky for you, the diesel will most likely never be sold in the states -- can you imagine how angry Bush would be if fuel efficient cars were being sold here? Anyway, you are obviously terribly unaware of the fact that *nothing* is more offensive to a 16 year old young lady than a diesel. She would never, ever, *ever* forgive you.

The standard Cooper has a silky smooth effortless transmission that anyone, even a girl, could drive with ease. The MCS has a very precise but heavy, high-effort transmission with a non-standard gear pattern -- reverse on the top left. Either transmission is easy and forgiving but the 5-speed is much more so. I disagree with the concensus that the MCS is too much power for a kid, it's not much faster than a Honda Accord. One thing you may want to think about however is this: The only thing boys like better than a cute 16 year old girl is a cute 16 year old girl with a supercharged sportscar.

 

I have an auto Cooper and I love it. It's my daily driver and only car at the moment.

>>1. the rear seats (comfort, esp. on long trips, and the front seats too for that matter)
I'm 6'0" and I've ridden in the back for a 3 hour trip. Not the most comfy but tolerable. I wouldn't want to go cross-country back there. I've driven with two guys, both 6' plus in the back. About a 45min ride. They said it was cozy but fine.

>>2. cupholders (so small? i'm always drinking coffee or something)
as everyone has said, the mini cuo is about all that will fit in the front 2. I keep my beverage in the middle one. It's a bit out of the way, but I've learned where it is.

>>3. lack of storage space in front and rear (a noticeable problem?)
I've never had this problem. Since my Cooper is a 2 person car 99% of the time, the back seats are just more storage. With the seats down, I've gotten boxes back there that onlookers swore would never fit.

>>4. problems with the car (including recalls, etc.)
Almost 19,000 miles and my only problem was a bit of a rough idle inthe cold weather. A visit to the dealer and a computer update fixed it right up.

>>5. dealer service (wait time on parts, availability)
scheduled maintenance has been easy. The only part I've gotten was a replacement foglight and that was in stock. They said normally it takes 3-5 days.

>>6. performance (in terms of hp, the 115 on the MC sounded kinda weak, and no, i cannot drive a stick unfortunately)
115hp may sound weak, and there is speculation that MINI under-reports the actual number, but it's plenty for the car, whatever it may be. No problem with hills, high speed merging or passing. It's no stoplight drag racer, but that's silly kids stuff anyway.

The MINI is the perfect car for me, maybe not so perfect for others. Hope this helps.
:smile:

 

thank you all again for your advice.

i've seen posts about problems with cold starting on the mini. this could be a problem because (although i shouldn't) a lot of the time i don't have time to warm up my car before jetting off to work or something. have you all noticed this as a vast problem?

one more thing, have the lot of you noticed problems with your windshield? i've heard that the glass on the mc's are made thinner than typical domestic cars so have tended to crack and chip more easily. if so, are there any aftermarket windshields available for the cooper that's thicker?

and i think i had a dream about the mini... it may be a sign.