The turn signals are starting to p*** me off now, after 2 mos. of ownership. It's just annoying how they're set up.

Yeah that works every time, if you finesse it half way every time that is. If you push past the indent (which is easy to do if you're not paying attention or if you need to shift gears (in a manual) while in a turn), you accomplish nothing.

Furthermore pushing in the same direction to cancel a signal is counter-intuitive, and different from any other car out there. You don't push a stalk in the same direction you don't want to turn to cancel it, it's dumb. You push the opposite direction to cancel.

The indent should have been made more prominent, clicky, etc. That would pretty much take care of it I think. In any case as they are, the MINI turn signals (much like the MINI OBC interface) seemed to have been created "differently" just for difference's sake. One thing's for sure, they sure aren't intuitive.

 

I have seen this mentioned, but apparently the vast majority of owners have no problem with it at all...some even find it a superb upgrade.

 

Agreed. +1

 

The car industry lives and dies by surveys.
I work for a ford dealership (drive 08 mca) some surveys give great info, most give owners a chance to vent. what is your experience, what do you tell your friends, how many minis have you sold to others. Thats the real survey!
I love my fords, they have given me no problems, no hassels and I drive them for 200,000 miles I hope my Mini is the same way.
ordered May 18 2008 took delivery June 21,2008. great dealer great experience so far. Hows that for your survey!

 

Why would anyone be unhappy with the gas mileage of a hummer? They should have known what they were letting themselves in for when they bought the beast. Buying a hummer and then complaining about its gas mileage just seems silly to me, smacks of lack of research.

 

I'd actually give this survey more credence than consumer reports. The current gen hasn't been out long enough for CR's reliability score to mean anything.

These are truly abysmal ratings and I'm sorry but cupholder size does not explain them. If anything that would just fall under the "Features Accessories Quality Design", which received a 2.5/5 and was one of its better rankings...

My 2000 Celica(first year for the model) has only been to the dealer once in 150,000 miles and that was just for a recall on the daytime running lights being too bright. It's hardly a boring automotive 'appliance' either.

BMW really needs to step up here like Mercedes has. For years Mercedes was at the bottom of the list. Luxury car buyers do not ignore problems as some have asserted earlier in the thread. They expect more, which is why Mercedes did so poorly largely due to a high number of small problems.

None of this will stop a true enthusiast from buying and enjoying a Mini. But the brand can't survive on that alone. Mini could very easily be discontinued by BMW if it does not perform up to expectations.

 

Yes, Mercedes is a good example. I just love how these cars are still on the road after 30+ years and still going strong. I'd take that kind of car from the bottom of the list anyday. The newer designs have lost some of their appeal - too fad conscientious in my opnion, maybe that explain why it's no longer at the bottom. You do get the new wow appeal,but you may lose more in the end.

 

I don't think that anyone buying a hummer doesn't know what kind of mileage it gets. I do think however, that just because they buy the truck and know the mileage, it doesn't mean they like it. They just accept it. Big difference.

I drove my Yukon for 155K miles and average 10.5 mpg so when I bought my H2 3 years ago, I knew exactly what I was getting into.... even when I installed the supercharger, 38" tires and 4.56 gears.

Though I knew what I was going to get, does it mean I have to like it. Nope, not at all... it's just a trade-off for me. To get the truck I wanted, I had to trade-off gas mileage.

 

On http://www.motoringfile.com/ there is a Fox News interview with the Vice President of MINI USA. He is asked about the JD Powers survey. His answer is that the sample size for the MINI was very small.

 

 

Huh, really? From what, iDrive? Is there anything "good" about them, other than the three-light signal? I'd like to hear what's so great about it, maybe it'll change my mind.

Anyway I just came back from a run to the grocery in the rain, and after I garaged her I'm still not sure if my wipers are in the "off" position after all this time . Self-returning stalks = unintuitive

 

I love the way the turnsignals work. It was very easy to adapt to, I really like it.

The wipers on the other hand.... I still can't turn on the intermittent wipers and get them to shut off without turning them to regular and then fast. I guess I need to reread the manual.


Mark

 

When all esle fails, RTFM.

Push the lever down past the neutral position to turn them off. This is the same action that gives a single wipe when the wipers are off.

 

I don't need no stinkin' manual.... I got you.

Thanks, MUCH appreciated...

Mark

 

Is that really one of the questions on the survey? If it is, then everyone on the planet should immediately discredit such crap. OF COURSE nobody in their right mind would ever answer "yes" to the question. It's the same as saying "No, I really wish my car would be less efficient and cost more at the pump". No idiot that cares whatsoever for technical prowess or environmental consideration or wallet preservation would ever want a car that couldn't be better in fuel economy than what they're driving now.

A significantly better question...and I barely had to think to come up with this one...is "Is the fuel economy of your vehicle approximately what you expected based on your driving style?"


Now, back to the original survey. Basically, I agree, the MINI is built relatively poorly compared to the rest. Does that matter for me? No way, I tear my cars down and rebuild most of them within a few weeks of delivery anyway. Like I said in another thread that asks about long term reliability, I've had 3 parts actually fail in the past 6 years on my MINI's. Apart from all my mods and tweaking, I only needed to fix the car once every two years. Is that so horrible for a niche sports car?

 

I didn't buy mine new but my buddy did and told me (I paraphrased) that is essentially what it asked. I asked him if he was serious?

Back to the original post.

I agree, no car is going to be perfect and it seems the more expensive (read: more bells and whistles) the more the car will have "issues".

I love Mini's quality though I'm pizzed about the sunroof issue. To me, that isn't a bell and whistle, it's a serious problem.

Overall, I'd rate Mini an 8 out of 10.... far higher than most other manufacturers. (IMO)

I take JD Powers with a grain of salt.

Mark

 

From MY personal experience I have to somewhat agree with the initial product quality survey.

Although I absolutely love to drive my MCSa whenever I can.

I must say I have had my share of mechanical problems in such a short period of time of owning Scrappy.Plus the speed sensitive wipers are a joke where they won't go into the fast mode unless you start driving and still don't clear that well even after having the wiper blades replaced under warranty.Turn signal operation took a little time to get use to since it is counter intuitive.The radio dials? Come on in different locations on the center stack I can't tell you how many times I turn the preset station **** to increase the radio volume!! Yes I know I should just use the steering wheel radio controls instead but still.

 

Shrug. My 2007 Cooper S has been far more reliable than my 2003 330i or 2006 330i. No comparison really.

Anecdotal, sure, but it's something for me. My BMWs required frequent overnight stays and repeat visits to the dealer. My Cooper's been fine - save for an issue with some flaky software.

I don't think griping about RFTs makes sense for an initial quality survey. The car's weak AC or weird buttons also aren't a quality problem. Those are purposely designed/released. Maybe people want something different but it's not really a QC issue.

 

I had a 2nd Gen loaner...couldn't figure out how in the world to use the turn signals correctly. I'd go to cancel the turn signal and either not cancel it, or put the turn signal the OTHER way!

I'm glad I got one of the last '06's.

 

My car has been great.
No problems, knock on wood.
Great mileage, quality, sportiness, looks. ergonomics.
I love it.
('08 Cooper Coupe, 10,000 miles)

 

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics"

Mini is what it is,,,motor on boyz

 

'None are so blind as those who will not see.'

 

I've never understood all the moaning about the turn signals. My MA showed me how they work on my initial test drive and I have never been conscious of them since. Both me and my wife drive my MINI and neither of us ever think twice about the "baffling" signal operation.

 

This car has the same basic problems every car ive ever bought had. I didnt bye the mini to last forever knowing the type of carit is. Im assuming it will start falling apart at 100000 because most cars do. I feel the engine and auto tranny should be ok but everything else?

 

This car, by no means, has the same basic problems as other cars have. I'm sorry, this car, by far, has had more problems than any other car I've ever owned. Our other two vehicles (Ford and Toyota) have over 110k miles on them and have never had any problems. I bought this car thinking it would have BMW type quality. Boy was I wrong.