I drove a Mini S when they first came out and had a ear to ear grin. But after reading the postings here, I decided it wasn't such a good idea to get one. I drove a Subaru WRX which on paper beats the mini soundly, but was nowhere near as fun. I decided to just hold off and see if the Mini got more dependable. I saw a Mini the other day and got the fever all over again. I feel like I am chasing a woman who is no good for me. Does the mini look so undependable because I am reading the under the bonnet postings? How happy are you people with your minis? Have the 2003's been any better?

Thanks

Yes
Very
Maybe

(good questions, and quite reasonable concerns...but they've been discussed ad nauseam here on MCO. What more could be said that would contribute? )

Check the indepent research from JD Power:

JD Power results

High marks for sytle, performance, and comfort. Low marks across the board for quality.

Here is a thread that discussed these results.

Thread on JD Power survey

The one quality issue that keeps coming up over & over & over is the one about the windhshield cracking problem.

Any new design always has growing pains and the MINI is completly new from the ground up.

I don't think any part of the car has ever been used in any other car before except for the 5 speed tranny in the MC, which is a from another rover car. A version of the 6 speed getrag used in the MCS is also used in the Ford Focus SVT but the tranny was used in the MCS first.

I think right now would be a good time to buy a MC/MCS since there has been a good junk of time for the growing pains to work out. I mean you are probably going ot have a few minor problems just like any other man made object but that is the way things are.

YES!

The problem with the "beneath the bonnet" section is that you could be deceived by what you read. People post their problems and issues with the car there, but rarely do we post about problem free cars because when everything is fine then there is nothing to report (so you post in Mini Talk). Like they say " no news=good news"

There were certainly issues many 2002 Minis, many fixed for 2003 and probably there are still some things with new ones, but you can´t generalize.

In general BMWs are regarded as reliable cars (just read a report on 3 year old cars, but don´t remember where), and since the Mini is built by BMW, sooner or later they will end up fixing all the little quirks and make the car very reliable.

Advice would be to wait until the 2004 model comes out (around november). After two years out most problems should be worked out

23c miles on it and no mechanical problems what-so-ever on my MCS. Had a loose door panel that rattle with my cranked-up HK unit, but that's really not mechanical per se.

Happy Motoring!

If this helps at all, I live in Mexico where its probably got the most challenging terrain and altitude changes anywhere. You know, bad roads, some pretty tough undriving roads, I have been down to the furthest of southernest part of mexico where there is tropical climate at sea level, driven it up to about 4000 meters above sea level(don´t ask me to convert to feet, i only know meters) where the temperature at night reached below zero, no snow yet, but probably will get some of that with all the snow covered volcanoes here in mexico. I do everyday driving at an altitude of about 2500 meters above sea level, and do about 300km of freway driving just about every weekend. But anyway, I have 15000 km, going into my first check up of the car and no complaints, no problems, completely reliable car. I own a late 2002 MCS sportspack. Only problems I have are noises from the sunroof when open, seatbelt rattle inside(i keep all seatbelts tightened even though I dont have other people inside the car, that solves that noise problem) and noises from the trunk lid. Those I hope to solve in this coming check up. Everything else is in tip top shape. Love the car. Buy one, never worry about it for at least the first 15k.

Well got to agree with my Mexican minifriend here, Igot no problems with my S and we drive it 50 feet bellow see level here in Holland. So I'd say get one, I got no rattles, shacks,kracks,squeecs, it just goes like hell. so be a DEVIL and go for the real thing! Good luck on your dicision.
Miniac91

My MCS just arrived from the factory a few weeks ago. I figured these forums were probably relating a disproportionate number of problems and expected my car to be pretty sound. Unfortunately, it had many of the common problems right off the boat. Boot not closing, rattles, noises, headlights misadjusted, low coolant, imprecise cruise control, crazy auto climate control, and a few new problems like a broken headlight and a misaligned fuel door.

It's a great car -- get it!

The only problems I have had was when some loser ran into me.

I do seem to have a coolant leak somewhere, but don't my little problems discopurage you.

I've had my MCS since July 2002, has 6300 miles on it, and have had zero problems with it.

The coolant leak should be fixed on any 2003 models. I've only had my car a short while... but lovin' it so far.

15k and the only problem was a leaking coolant tank which was fixed with a newer style.
MB

Hi everyone :smile:

Well, between the WRX and MCS/MC i'd go for the car that has a classic look (standing the test of time) and the european seal of quality. It doesn't matter whether the WRX can out perform the MINI/MINI S (although i read somewhere in a review that the S beats both the Integra Type R & "Rex" in performance) because in the end investing in a MINI is worthwhile IMO.

I live in Australia, Sydney and many guys my age (18-21) drive WRX's, Supra's, Civic's and other "rice burners". The reason why i've decided not to follow suit is because i prefer style over substance. I don't mind having the odd power here and there but in the end i don't think i'll be trading in my MINI in a couple of years like those kids with kitted up cars (and minus the prestige of a european made automobile).

I'm currently working towards buying my own MC (Jet black exterior/roof with 8 spoke mags) and for the same price i can buy a WRX. The MINI and BMW aren't recognisable icons in the automobile industry for nothing

Fun car...but I would never buy one if I wasn't close to a dealer though !

>>Yes
>>Very
>>Maybe
>>

Ditto! If you only read the few posts about "problems with my MINI", of course you'll be pessimistic, you have nothing else to go on!

My best advice; buy the car you'll be happiest with. Don't expect pefection, we're still talking about mechanical stuff here.

Good luck, Motor-On,
Ryan

I got my 2002 MCS on Sept 9th. Absolutely Love it. No problems what so ever. I have 7000 miles on it. It survived one of the nastiest winters in NY state ever and is going great. I think the later production 02's and the 03's seem to be a little bit better. one other thought might be to look at resale value. I forgot whee I saw it (Consumers Report?) but, the prediction was that the Mini just about will have a better resale value than almost anything else
I'd say go for it! :smile: