I finally ordered my Mini today and when I was at the very end of the process, I mentioned that I was a little nervous about the engine being Chrysler. I said that I had heard it was a joint effort by BMW and Chrysler and that the engine wasn't in other Chrysler cars. (that's what I had heard) She replied by saying this engine has been used in Costa Rica for 20 years and that it's a DODGE NEON engine! I'm not trying to be anti-american, but I alway felt Foreign cars were better. And I thought a Dodge Neon was one of the cheaper American cars. It put a funny feeling in my stomach, which should have been the happiest moment. I am very excited about my car, but this is my only car, not a weekend car, and I want to feel like I could drive cross country if I wanted to. PLEASE help me feel more secure, if you can.
I bought a Chili Red Cooper with Black Top----Chrome inserts and tailpipe----all 3 packages---black cloth interior and red tartan seat covers. I went in thinking leather, but they had a Red Black Top w/Red interior and I loved it, but thought it would be too much red if the doors were red also. My sales person suggested the seat covers in red. I'm pretty excited about that part. I can't wait to see the red seat covers w/black interior. Oh, I also got the Harmon stereo.
If someone could help this feeling in my stomach everytime Neon comes in my head.........I would really appreciate it!!!!!
Made May 1st Delivery 2nd week of June.....hopefully!

 

its a DODGE NEON engine!?!?!?!?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo

 

Nice color choice. My chilli red with black top is at the VDC, hope to get it next week.

Don't worry about the chrysler/bmw engine. Chrysler has made good engines for a long long time.

Andy

 

Ibboarderh20........THAT DIDN"T HELP!!!! hehehe

 

the 1.6L I-4 used in the MINI is a joint-venture engine between DaimlerChrysler and BMW. To my knowledge, the only production car this engine is in is the MINI. I know DCX uses this engine for some concepts, but doesn't use this engine in the U.S market for sure. This engine is not used in the Neon!!!

Regards,
Ryan

 

Mmmm....red black top tartan red seats. Well my Mini should be at VCD this weekend. So it might be with yours asodestrom.
Anyways don't believe that the engine is the same as a Dodge neon you got fed some misinformation. But I would be worried if it don't! Your buying a great car, right now you should be waiting for you order # if you haven't gotten it yet, if you did you should be tracking it. Ahh the anticipation....

 

I read somewhere that the engine is used in the PT Cruiser sold in Europe. I don't remember where though.

 

"but I alway felt Foreign cars were better."

Stop reading Consumer Reports! And don't worry,
about getting one...
after the party at Ferman Mini today I may be
changing my name to 3minis.....
The Neon engine BTW is bulletproof. Ask Skip Barber.

 

MINIDRIVER


"The 1.6 liter gasoline engines used in the MINI are built in Brazil by Tritec Motors Ltda., a joint venture company formed in 1998 by BMW AG and Chrysler Corporation (before they merged with Damilier Benz). The Tritec engine is sometimes called the Pentagon engine, perhaps because this is the name of the system which controls the engine assembly line in Oxford. These engines are also used in Chrysler Neons sold outside the US"




For the record, these other guys are wrong . My information is that the engine is used in non usa neons, and is a new design (no, it was never used in costa rica) That is not necessarily bad as many crhysler engines are quite reliable and so far no recalls or troulbes with the engine have been reported on these message boards.


The problem however is there are a lot af parts in an automobile other than the engine. And you'd be better off worrying about them rather than the engines. Minis have had there share of other problem. Fortunately, many appear to have been solved.

But truth is mine has been fine, and it otherwise is a great car. I think you made a good choice.