Having been a prior owner of a 2008 Mini I have been bitten by the bug again. The quandary I am in is do I buy a 2013 Justa Hardtop automatic (one is coming into the dealership in the color I like) or do I wait for the 2014. It's my understanding from reading posts here ,and on other sites, that the base level Mini comes with the BMW sourced 1.5 liter turbo 3 cylinder engine putting out about 134 hp, which seems a fairly low output for a 1.5 liter turbo. Additionally I'm reading about a ZF 9 speed automatic coming probably for the 2015 model year. I'm tempted by getting a good deal on the 2013 but am hoping the 2014-2015 will be more advanced, get better mileage, and hopefully more reliable. But I'm not quite feeling the looks of the 2014 from the spy photos I've seen. Suggestions?

 

If your concern is reliability, the final year of the R56 is probably going to be more reliable than the first year of F56. If I was currently looking for a car, I'd get the '13 mini, something non-mini, or I'd wait a few years. I wouldn't bother with the '14.

 

I'm going to wait. The F56 is unveiled 11/18 in London/Oxford. I'm not as much curious about the engine and exterior as I am the interior and electronics. The F56 won't ship to the US until probably March or April but I can wait. Both models are supposed to get better mileage. I'm liking the head up display and active suspension option (I think). It's first redesign in 7 years. I can wait, and in the meantime you can follow what the Europeans think of it. As I recall they have their own forum. I think it is called Mini 2 or something. I don't fret too much about new models' potential reliability problems. That's what you get a warranty for.

 

We didn't wait. We got a 2013 because we know we like them. I'm also wary of the first year of a new model, Tristan was the first year, and had a few issues.

However, now there's more details about the new models, they do sound very attractive. I'm waiting to see one in person before making up my mind. I wouldn't buy one till 2015 if we did want one.

 

Same here, we just traded our 2005 MCS on a 2013 MCS. I prefer to go with the proven design...

 

I don't believe the 3 cylinder Justa will be turbo charged, just the S will and it will have 184 or so hp. I would wait and take a look at it. I've been reading 45mpg on the highway.

 

You've had more Minis than anyone I've ever seen. 6 of the ten model years (and counting). In a way I can't believe you didn't wait to try the newest one. Last update in 2007 they replaced something like 85% of the parts I think I read. I'm not saying I'm gonna get one, I just want to see what they're like before I decide on that or a Coupe. The JCW Coupe talks to me sometimes lol.

 

Here is the update from motoringfile, it looks like the Justa may be turbocharged with 134hp.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2013/09/...e-go-hands-on/

 

I got one of the first 2011 Countrymans. New design, etc, and have had NO problems whatsover. I have 23,000 miles, and the car has only had a couple of updates and oil changes. Not even needing brakes yet. So, this "I would not buy the first model year thing" is beginning to be a thing of the past in my opinion. I have had many new bodystyles of cars, including a 2010 Shelby GT500, a 2007 Audi Q7 SUV, etc, and they had no problems either.

 

Yeah, I forgot about that article. The Justa engine sound very cool with the turbo. Many new suspension aspects, rev matching manual tranny, adjustable dampers, and improved steering. Add in the revamped interior and I'm stoked to see the F56. To me it isn't about HP/acceleration, I'm fine with mine for that. I'm not a track guy. It's all about the handling/steering for me. And the comfort of course.
Edit: the Countryman came out in 2008 or 2009 and it was just an different body on the R56 design. The F56 is all new, motor, susp, steering, seats, guages, body panels, everything from the ground up.

 

It's been my experience that the first model year of ANY car is not a smart buy. In the cases where significant mechanical changes are announced (new engines), the first model year becomes even less desirable.
Not only will the inevitable "glitches" occur as the new model is "sorted out" by the public, but each successive year of that particular model will gain reliability and features the first model year will not have.
Following that logic...probably the best model year to buy is the LAST in the series. It's fully developed, refined, and proven.
A 2013 MINI R56 is a much smarter buy than a 2014 MINI F56...in my opinion.
Doesn't mean a 2014 F56 won't be a great car; it probably will. It just means a 2015 or 2016 F56 will be a better car and a more desirable "used car" down the line.

 

I definitely want to try the new one. But by that time it'd be too late if we didn't like it. I'm also not going to be buying next year in any case.

 

You must be thinking of the Clubman. The Countryman came out in 2011 and was all new aside from the engine.

 

We took a chance on the 2005 Scion tC (first gen, first year). Platform was already in use in Europe, Camry engine, Matrix/Celica hybrid suspension, refundable warranty, it's a Toyota, why not? We ended up getting two due to unforseen circumstances and one was definitely 'put together better' than the other. BUT the one that was 'falling apart' had a much stronger engine, noticeably so. Never had to use the warranties, got them refunded, got rid of the 'bad' one, only maintenance done on the 'good' one (with the slightly less spirited engine) is fluid changes and the obligatory water pump.

So, bottom line is you never can tell. Maybe you'll get a good one, maybe not. I think the Mini warranty is crazy stupidly priced (tC was ~$2000 for 7 yr/70,000 mi). When I bought my '12 S hardtop I remember the warranty prices being almost double that. I had to hold my tongue while politely declining it. Now I've just gotten OCD with fluid changes hoping to stave off any negligence related issues.

 

Sorry, that was the Clubman not the Countryman in 2008 you're right. I still say it's reasonable to assume they don't sell a new batch of cars under warranty unless everything is readly to go. Sure stuff goes wrong but I doubt there's any data saying the first year cars fail more than the subsequent years. Plus you get the latest stuff.

 

I decided to wait and get a 2014-2015 (whenever the 9 speed ZF automatic comes out). It seems that the advances would be better as well as the BMW sourced engine. Just hope the quality and reliability are improved as well.