Let me get the positive out the way 1st, MINI is the most fun you will ever have driving a car. No doubt about it. MINI takes your boring commute and turns it into an exciting fun filled adventure.

Now on to the BS it's priced and marketed as a premium car, that makes me think it's on par with other premium vehicles. unfortunately this has not been the case.

I bought my MINI new in April 2011 I paid about 21,000 for manual with premium package (I use the word premium loosely)

1. Broken sunvisor the very 1st time I opened it. Known issue replace under warranty.

2. "Premium" Harman Kardon stereo system only in name, not in performance.
Sounds no better than my stock 2008 VW jetta system

3. Chrome line interior $250 option! only cheap shiny plastic, ebrake trim piece broke off in my hand replaced under warranty only after haggling with the dealer and posting on this forum. Told me to stop pulling so hard, Huh?

4. Purchased stainless steel pedals, more like rubber covers with sheet metal decoration. Seriously calling rubber covers stainless steel with thin *** sheet metal I could bend with my fingers. Pathetic.

5. RATTLES EVERY WHERE IN THE CABIN, my old VW Rabbit had better sound proofing and cost $6000 less, better fitment and assembled in Germany.

6. Manual Transmission, the most difficult trans I've ever driven and I Valet cars for 4 years so I've driven all kinds. This one will make you feel like you just learned how to drive stick today.

7. Way under powered engine almost conks out every time I take off from a light , no sport mode on, AC on full blast, Forget it. Sounds like its gonna stall and even did a few times.

If MINI is going to price and market their vehicles as PREMIUM then they should step up there game and make them so. In my opinion they are no better in quality then a Toyota.

However even with all their BS the car is still a crazy fun drive.
Comon BMW give MINI the quality fit and parts it deserves, then you can fairly say its a premium vehicle.

 

If $21k is a premium price for a brand new car where you live, I want to go car shopping there.

 

I know you guys get ripped on car pricing in Canada, I'm from Toronto. My car would BE about 32,000 in CANADA. But you would know better what is the price of this MINI in BC?

 

I feel your pain. When I bought my Pontiac Aztek, I was told that the car would have tremendous resale value because it was a premium vehicle.

 

not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wow that was funny sht man I had a good laugh
Thx

 

Congrats, you own a classic. Not everyone can own one of TIMES worst cars ever made ever. :P

 

Man that was fuggly

In the mid-1990s, then-General Motors Corp. Chairman John G. Smale decided to bring the world's biggest automaker a dose of the give-the-people-what-they-want ethic that had animated Smale's old company, Procter & Gamble Co. And what the people wanted was sexy, edgy and a bit off-key; in short, a head-turner. General Motors' culture took over from there. Design would be by committee, the focus groups extensive. And production would have to stick to a tight budget, with all that sex appeal packed onto an existing minivan platform. The result rolled off the assembly line in 2000: the Pontiac Aztek, considered by many to be one of the ugliest cars produced in decades and a flop from Day One.

 

Wow, my little base model 2011 doesn't stall, doesn't rattle, nothing has broken on it... didn't get the HK so can't speak to that, but I thought that $21,000 was about right for what she is. I've had a Nissan and it was okay but Winnie is far nicer. Sorry you got the dud! 15,000 happy, good mileage, smiley miles with all parts intact and quiet....

 

Seriously, I thought that you were trolling. I have owned many cars in my 60 years ( never a Pontiac Aztek ) and my experience with Mini with my '08 S and my current '12 have been very good. Many of the much more expensive cars that I have owned have had vastly more problems. I like reading about the mods and wheel and tire stuff, but the complaints get really old.

 

Funny, my 2012 Justa doesn't have any of those faults. The transmission has been better and easier shifting so far than any Porsche transmissions through 1986 (at least in the air-cooled cars), and also better than that of my Honda CRX, even after I replaced the bushings in the latter.

The 120+ HP is quite enough for the car to get out of its way; in fact it is the most powerful car that I have ever owned. And I really do not have any difficulty taking off from a stop. You might want to have the car looked at, or drive a different MINI with the same drivetrain, and see if you still have problems with it. If so, I'd guess that the problem is you, not the car.

 

Doubt it's user error, check my bros collection www.microcarmuseum.com
I've driven a lot those cars, and like I said I valet for years. But thanks for the insight. Question at what rpm do you shift into 3rd. Just curious.

 

So you have an automatic? And none of the options I mentioned?
Ok thanks for the insight.

 

I was thinking about my '12 S's horse power and torque. Both numbers are higher than my '84 Carrera coupe and my mini is slightly lighter. Porsche fanatics will cringe, but my current Mini is faster, handling is better, uses less gas, and is far more more user friendly on longer drives and changing weather conditions. Bottom line, Minis are great drivers' cars. Top that with my percepton of quality( much higher than my Porsches of old), they're just great automobiles.

 

Well, the rattling shouldn't have anything to do with the options, or things breaking off. And if my AT is better than your manual, that's a darned shame... We took Winnie to Death Valley, a/c full blast, went on a run up a mountain, kept up with the turbos... and she didn't stall and die. She ran like a Champ. So, your snark aside, seriously, it's a good car for twenty grand.

 

84? So a brand new MINI is better than a 28 year old Porsche. Agreed.
Does anyone actually want to discus any number of the points I brought up?
Anyone?

 

Sell the Mini - go buy a Civic - then go troll the 9th Civic Forum

 

no

 

I couldn't say exactly off the top of my head, but I believe a new base Cooper with some packages is pushing $30k at the dealership.

I paid $16,800 for my '06 in 2010 and that was a bargain. Comparable models were listing for low 20's at MINI dealerships in the region.

Honestly I can't say much about your issues with the car because I have a 1st gen and my experience is pretty limited regarding the 2nd gen cars. My R50 is quick though, I hit 130kmh (by the somewhat optimistic speedo, anyway.) on on-ramps in 3rd gear no problem. The R56 has more power on paper, so it really shouldn't feel like a dog. My 5spd getrag is really easy to drive... I really like the tranny. The only car I liked the shifting on better was the 2011 GTI I test drove. Maybe your car needs to be looked at?

Also no stall issues or anything like that. Definitely some squeaks and rattles, but since I have a modded suspension it is stiffer than stock... can't really complain about it.

 

I think you have to re-evaluate your definition of Premium...
At $21K for a new car, it's a bargain. What else cost $21K that really isn't a POS?

Fiat? It's a cute POS. Talk about cheap materials.

As for the HK, it's worlds better than the stock pos.

Rattles? Have them fixed, it's under warranty. Mine really doesn't have any rattles... But it's a premium car and I paid closer to $30K for it...lol

As for underpowered, well, you're the one that bought the Justa... I have no issues.

My manual tranny is just fine thank you... And why would you ever drive without the sport mode on? That's why FES makes the Autosport module.

 

Thanks for some honest feedback, I bought the stainless Steel pedals yesterday and actually expected them to be steel. When I got em I was way disappointed and decided I would post up and include some past issues. Never imagined all the negativity people would throw my way, cause I had the nerve to post issues on a forum to discuss with other members. You are the only member who has actually attempted to contribute in a positive way. Must be cause your Canadian we are just polite people. By the way the factory JCW was 29K new on the lot, sticker price when I bought the MC. I wish there was an easy way to bring em up north id be rich if I could sell up there.

 

I really don't like that it's often called a premium car. It really is not. It's a FWD BMW that happens to be 100 tons of fun in a 12oz. can. If you're not happy, just get rid of it. Sounds like you've made up your mind.

 

I bought the MC for price and value. Which means I feel at this price I'm getting a fair value. That didn't happen, I never said the MINI was a POS my 91 civic hatch was and would never buy Honda again. I said MINI WAS FUN TO DRIVE.
Then i proceeded to list abunch of BS issues I've had. After a year of ownership it's obvious at $23500 a VW turbo beetle or GTI would be a considerable better value. In both fit and performance. I feel the MINI is about $5000 over priced, if i had paid 16g's i would have felt that was a good value.

 

Then you clearly haven't owned a VAG product. Resale value sucks, it will be in the shop, a lot...lol but they are really nice cars when they work...

 

[QUOTE=sk8njames;3564441]Let me get the positive out the way 1st, MINI is the most fun you will ever have driving a car. No doubt about it. MINI takes your boring commute and turns it into an exciting fun filled adventure.

Now on to the BS it's priced and marketed as a premium car, that makes me think it's on par with other premium vehicles. unfortunately this has not been the case.

I bought my MINI new in April 2011 I paid about 21,000 for manual with premium package (I use the word premium loosely)



I have a 2009 Justa with a 22k sticker price (I have the premium package which is just sunroof,steering wheel controls and auto ac) I'm coming from a 2006 Lexus IS with a 42k sticker prices. The lexus had higher quality interior plastic, but overall for 20k less my mini is very high quality. Stronger interior plastic is not high on my wish list though. The rest of the mini especially the doors are higher quality than the Lexus. I'll admit, i have the hifi sound system and it's not great but I have no rattles anywhere when i drive. As for power my Justa moves real nice and I have never touched the sport mode, I forgot it's there actually. My car is like a little rocket and I love the way it shifts, I drive fast and hard all the time and I have never had a power issue, I love my AC too, almost always at full blast. My Lexus had over 200hp but was an automatic, I'm sure it's perception but my mini seems faster. Overall though I can overlook the small things for 20k less, you get what you pay for and for 22k I was never too surprised that some of my Mini is not top premium quality.