Hi....Haven't bought yet...trying to read everything first. I just read every page of mechanical problems. Wow! The people with problems....would you do it again? I love this car, but nothing is more important to me than feeling secure. I don't want to be 100-500 miles away from home and on the side of the road. (in fact, I'd like to feel like I can go cross country) I'm going with the non-S mostly because the roads in my area are horrible! (Fairfield County Connecticut)
Decisions, Decisions!
Thanks everyone....talk to you again soon.
Dale (cuzacan)

 

Well I waited a year for them to get all or atlest most the bugs out of the car, and by the looks of it they may have most of them out. Now is as good a time as any to get it. :smile:

 

You should have started somewhere else...Most of the problems were in the first wave of production. I got mine in August 2002 and have had only one issue with the coolant tank leaking. They fixed it and nothing else. Good luck. I know I could not wait a couple of months. To wait until next year someone would have to shoot me. Good Luck. :smile:

 

I too am considering holding out for a 2004 but not really because of problems but it sounds like feeling safe is very important to you,and I'm not sure If this car can be serviced at all BMW shops or just the big ones where their sold.Mine would be picked up in Dallas so any kind of service would be a 2 hour drive one way,which bothers me a bit but willing to risk it just because I love this car.I would however not buy one of these if it was my only transportation,nothing bad in particular about the MINI in itself and I would feel the same about any foreign car and If the new one had the Lucas electrical system I would not even buy one at all.

 

I have 20,000 trouble-tree miles on my MCS. The dealer is over 3 hours away so maintenance requires a full day trip. I budgeted for a couple of short-term car rentals in the cost of ownership and am now ahead because I havn't needed them. It a rental costs $200 and you need two/year - that is $7.69 per week. Don't walk away from a MINI for less than the cost of two beers a week!

 

If you're going to order one special, you'll end up with an '04 by the time you get it. After all, the new model year is only about 6 months off. Just make sure you tell your salesperson that's what you want to do. Otherwise, go for it!. I've not owned mine a long time but other than the stupid gear shift **** pulling off on some 2nd gear shifts, it's been a dream.
Advice? Spend the extra money on the S. The suspension is a bit stiffer, but it's not that bad. I'd say you could unstiffen it a bit just by the tires you order with it. Also, you will not regret the additional power.

 

Call me crazy, but I've been waiting for this car (...a premium small car w/ some usable space) for a long time. I've had mine in for one or two tweaks...but I've had this with absolutely every new (or used) car I've ever had. The MINI is a great car! Sure, I'd buy another MINI...and another...and another. (...I may have three of four left in me 'til they won't let me drive anymore! ) I'm just worried that they'll stop making it someday.

 

If you decide to wait for a 2004, I'd run to the hospital immediately thereafter and ask to be put into a temporary coma. I only waited 3 months for mine (from order to delivery) and that was enough to drive me near bonkers (some might argue that I am, in fact, there already). I think they worked out their major issues--and I haven't had any issues with mine--and anyway, their roadside service seems pretty comprehensive. Life is short--do you really want to let another several months go by by without motoring?

Suggestively,
~Kelley

 

I have a friend who's waiting to buy a computer. He's wanted one since they first came out, but keeps waiting for them to be more powerful and the prices to come down. Problem is that every time he goes in they offer more for less and he thinks that next time they will also offer more for less and on and on. Meanwhile, he's missed out on using them.

If you want it, buy it. Enjoy it this summer. You won't be disappointed. Car manufacturers are always teasing us with more for less on the next model. Be happy 'cause the 2005 will be even better than the 2004 which will be better than the 2003 and on and on.

 

The computer example is a good one. The main bugs of the '02 cars are out of the '03 MINI's. Waiting for the next model year might make sense if there were serious body design changes ahead or more options were offered, but to wait for perfection, well, what I get into each morning seems perfect to me!!

 

Don't wait. Get one NOW A pleasure delayed is a pleasure denied. (Keenly anticipating tomorrows minor jaunt over the twisites of Baltimore and Harford Counties, MD)

 

Why wait? You'll be missing several months of fun motoring. Besides, the car is European, it will ALWAYS have bugs. Live with it and love it.

 

Car problems are not new to me either. One of my other cars is a 72' Triumph TR6, lucas electronics!!, but the car is very fun to drive and I can deal with a little problem now and then. In the case of waiting for a MINI, I have ordered mine, but as I wrote on another thread, I am not expected to receive a production number until the second quarter of 2004!!

Can I really wait that long??? Don't know yet! But it is the right car to wait for!!!!

Waiting,

Cline.

 

hey there,

I had a lot of the same concerns (safety, maintenance, etc) that you did,
but I coudn't imagine going without a Mini any longer than I absolutely had to.
Bottom line: I think the Mini's good as is; they've fixed most of the glitches
and putting off fun for another day is simply NOT an option! Go out and pick
up your car soul mate...life's too short to wait.

_________________
Lucky13

 

For whatever its worth - I have a MC - January 2003 build - ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS, RATTLES OR NIGGLES. Seems like the debugging process is well under way. While there are never any guarantees, you should not be afraid to start motoring.

 

I've been thinking the same thing. It's good to learn that most of the problems are from the earlier model line. The more I look at these cars the more I realize I'm not going to be able to wait for '04. I'm OK about buying off the lot. Actually I'm hoping to do just that this week.

What was it I was saying about waiting to '04?

jerij