I too traded a "toyota" for my MINI. They NEVER saw the inside of a shop... just change the oil.

 

Very true. My 05 build has had zero mechanical problems and very, very few other issues (speaker grill rattle, etc). Knock on wood I think the difference between made in Japan and made in Europe/US built cars is consistency.

 

Well, let's be fair. Part of the reason Honda and Toyota have such great reliability is because they never change their platforms. The Corolla is virtually unchanged since like 1992. Sure the sheetmetal changes, and the interior, but the engine and tranny are very similar to the ones they were using 15 years ago (why this didn't work for the Chevy Cavalier, I don't know). They made a bunch of minor tweaks over the years. Of course, the Mini was a toatlly new venture for BMW when it came out in 2002. And now 5 years later, they revamped the whole package.

 

dont know if this had been mentioned but mine is an early 02 build one of the first right after the suspention change, and my car has never had an issue so sometimes its really the luck of the draw, yes improvments are made but that keeps people employed, its not like ok the new minis done your all free to leave always working to improve the product, not saying its a darn fine one to start of with!!!!!

 

I have been reading the faults and fixes forum for the R56 back at MINI2.com and it doesn't look good guys. Good thing I am waiting a good while to jump on the R56 because initial QC is lacking on the new car.

 

yea i geuss when you cheapen something so much your gonna get alot of bad eggs.......maybe bmw will see they made auch a bad mistake theyll go and rethink their desitions who knows!

 

Do you have this on "autopost" or somthing. I swear you throw that out there every 3 or 4 days! I've seen it in at least 3, 4 maybe 5 other threads?

Just poking fun. I'm sure I'm just as giulty of repeating myself again and again.

Seriously though, take a look at:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=91476

or, maybe:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-f...sted-here.html

Ken Cooper put some time and effert going through it all and summarizing what is there on MINI2.

In comparison, the R53 doesn't seem to fair any better on MINI2. On the first page alone today, I see:

-Clutch gone at 6000 miles
-a coolant problem
-warning lights on (several)
-ENGINE BAY ON FIRE!!!
-audio/stero problems (a few)
-bouncing speedos
-one DOA car
-corrosion
-various rattles
-interior falling apart
-no power stearing in reverse
-engine knocks and pings
-keys not turning
-squeeky seats
-horns failing
-traction control issues
-engines mission, stumbling and surging
-faulty airbag lights

My point in this is just to reitterate what has been said: Posts in "faults and fixes" are relevant concerns and should be addressed. Taken out of context however (reading through a couple pages of complaints), NO MINI looks great as far as enginering or reliability. A quick glance through either the R50/53 or the R56 threads leads one to wonder about the brand alltoghter. It's doom & gloom and I don't believe it's a fair representation of either generation of MINI.

 

Not the RAV4. Entirely new design not based on anything from the past.

The fact is ... Toyota knows how to build quality cars through years of experience. Its what they do. The place an emphasis on it. Does MINI?

 

naaaa i think they just do that on design ! hehehe


the rual goes if it looks like vanilla it will last forever if it looks hot then your gonna have problems up the wazoooo , hehe its a give and take, still quality or no their isnt a toyota made that i would buy .......ever

 

I had a 100% made in Japan Celica (2003)
Fun car but I had to have the Gas tank replaced...(tank used to spit up gas when filling up creating a "fire hazard".
all replaced under warranty...
No car is immune to problems, however the MINI is by far one of the funnest car I have ever owned...
I agree though, I have owned many Toyo's (even modded ones) and never had the issues I have had with the MINI, but I don't miss the Toyota one bit...(Hell, I traded in my 2003 celica for the MINI and I don't regret it one bit)...I traded for a 2002 MCS but "knock on wood" it has been a fairly "reliable" ride.

 

 

I can't count the cars I've owned. I tried, during a long drive, to remember all the girlfriends I've had, and couldn't. From this I've determined I'd have even less chance to remember all the cars, since I think there were more of them. The MINI has been more trouble free than any of them. That said I have had a squeeky door, a convertible top replaced (not because it seemed bad to me, but the dealer didn't like the wear), an adjustment to the top mechanism and a mushroomed strut mount. I didn't engage the dealer with the strut mount, rather I used a hammer and an M7 strut brace. On the other issues the dealer responded quite unlike any other I've ever encountered. Although the door took three visits, at each visit they improved the situation and they kept working on the problem, cheerfully, until they found the ultimate solution. At other dealers the ultimate solution has been more along the lines of "It isn't covered by the warrenty."

So if you do have problems with an Ought Seven MINI, you won't be left alone with it. Oh, then, there is the joy of the car. I look forward to driving to work. This is not because of my work.

 

My 1999 4-Runner had constant problems with the brakes from day 1. It was a very well known issue and talked about constantly on forums. One brake light went out very early and seemed to be a problem on other 4-runners because I started seeing many of them with only one brake light working.

We just had to have the engine replaced on our 2002 Camry because of a stripped head bolt that was (quote from the dealer) overtorqued at the factory and a problem he was seeing more and more of in the 2002 models. The engine would start to rattle and the dealer could take the valve cover off and pull (without turning) one headbolt straight out.

I sent back my 98 (bought new) C5 Corvette under the lemon law: 2 clutches, both gas tanks, fuel sending unit, windows leaked, stranded me twice (once in Vegas) due to a "steering column lock" error...... only had 18,000 miles on it. The above issues were talked about on forums also.

No manufacturer is immune.

 

I too have a Celica. A '95 with 114K miles. Most reliable car ever! Oh wait, I repaced a blinker bulb once. Above all else I want reliability. Toyota does that in spades. I want a 2 door sporty car and the MC is what I came up with.

 

OMG, you replaced a bulb