With the Mini I believe the results: 1.6 problems per car sounds quite possible, but the JD Powers survey probably doesn´t rate the "problem". A rattle qualifies the same as engine stalling, and considering perfect cars don´t exist the results punish quite I bit, don´t you think?

Are there any follow-up quality surveys from JD Powers? One thing is initial quality and a very different one is how the car holds up after a couple of years (which is more important in the end)

I would like to see the general´s cars after two years compared to the japanese. From close experience, comparing my 01 civic against my sister in law´s 01 focus (pretty much same mileage and driving) the civic is holding up much better. The focus already had to get fixed a couple times while the vic only goes to the dealer for regular service...

I know call it my "SUVic" it can go anywhere... and after two years the only thing I´ve gotten is rattles

 

^ ^ Mexminime, that's a good point about the severity of the problem. As for long term follow-up, that's true, but it's not what JD Power does (I believe their survey is called the "initial quality" survey). Look to a long term test such as Consumer Reports or Autosense for that...and the bottom line there is that no one has had a MINI long enough to do that sort of rating in a test situation.

 

Perhaps a better read would be if anyone has access to Consumer Reports reviews.

A friend of mine with a 330ci told me that he looked up the 3-series and said it had horrible ratings. BMW was what? 2nd or 3rd in the JD Powers ratings. Anecdotally, he was talking to someone with a Benz who was looking at his 330 and had an E320 (Do I have that right?) and the Benz owner complained that his was always in the shop. So much for conventional wisdom.

Tom

 

As I've posted in other places,
I'm not too worried about the JDP survey results.
Ok, it's not flattering, but if you read up on details you find out that the complaints include those about cup holders, for crying out loud, in an initial quality survey. What do cup holders have to do with initial quality??? Nada!
WHat has me worried though is the possible response by MINI, although I may be off or misinterpreting this. I heard though, that MINI is planning on making changes to the suspension system (different oil and damping) because of complaints about a too stiff ride. Again, too stiff of a ride IMHO is not an initial quality issue, and softening the ride of the MINI would be way the wrong thing to do. What MINI does need to do is address the friggin windshield issue

See the thread on the windshield issue:

CRACKED WINDSHIELD PROBLEM THREAD

IMHO that is one of the biggest issues that will come back to haunt MINI in a big way if they do not address it asap!!!

 

I filled it out when I got it and gave the MINI high marks. But honestly...what can they expect? The car was just released. It would be a miracle if there weren't any problems. I think JD Powers sucks anyway.

 

Where do you hear things like that? But I agree, that would be the wrong response. The problem (if there is one) is the tires, not the suspension.

 

>>Where do you hear things like that? But I agree, that would be the wrong response. The problem (if there is one) is the tires, not the suspension.

I really don't want the 17" tires I am getting with the Sport package for that reason. A MINI would be fine with fat 15" tires. The only reason it has tires like this is peer pressure. People will be driving salemen crazy with some VW or Neon with 18" wheels. Insane.

Tom