So there we have it, mystery solved. Well, wave to us MINI's that are still motoring around. I am sure a few will wave back, you know the ones not surprised by the wave in the first place, or the ones that are on the cell phone, or just don't care.

 

it's the Human Rights Campaign fka the Human Rights Campaign Fund. My landlord has one on his vehicle (non-MINI). btw, they're pretty mainstream

 

are you being ironic?


(sorry, I can't help it when I'm this tired... step away from the keyboard....)

 

Mike, I hafta say, I am sorry you had this experience: I have done the work + school thing all at once. No one around you seems to get the concept that your life MUST run like a machine in order to maintain the frenetic pace. Anything risking any down time must be eliminated.
I'm glad you got a good deal on your new car.... Maybe a day will come when its not a first year of a redesign, so yu are less likely to have issues.

Oh yeah, my windows moan when wet too. Its LOUD. I wonder if the neighbors wish it would rain for the free entertainment .

 

OK mystery solved, I was wondering myself.

Found this example:

A car displays the human rights campaign sticker which stands for providing equal rights to the LGBTIQ community.

 

Mike - sorry you had such bad luck with your MINI. I'm curious to find out if you tried the corporate route with MINIusa (writing emails to customer service). I had to do that with my first R56 and I was able to get assistance from the Dealer via MINIUSA.

Hopefully we'll see you around in the forums, and I'd encourage you to ride along with someone in your local MINI club if you need a MINI fix.

BTW, HRC (Human Rights Campaign Fund) is having their gala event in my building this Friday - they always have good entertainment. Don't forget to you transfer your sticker from your MINI to your Subie!

 

Sounds to me like the car was hit or damaged and the frame/body is out of alignment prior to delivery. Sounds like nothing fits properly.

I'd have a paint specialist look at it, and see if it had been painted, they can tell.

 

Sorry to hear about the issues. Not the experience that you should have with owning a MINI. It's suppose to be fun... You're right up with the miles in the first week though. 200+ in my first 24hrs of delievery... :D

 

I got rid of the Mini. I'm very happy with my 07 Subaru Legacy, already at 5200 miles. ( I bought it used with 2600 on it)

 

Nice to see ya still checking in Mike !

 

Well of course Ill check in, I still am fond of the classic minis and the R53s , just not the R56s (due to my experience) , its just not practical to own a classic mini for me right now.

 

Just curious...why didn't you replace the R56 with an R53? Needed a complete Mini break? I get that you needed something worry-free...

Threads like this one make me nervous. I'm about to cross 2000 miles on my R56 and so far I can only commiserate on the window noise in the rain (which doesn't really bother me too much since I typically keep my windows up if it's raining ). I keep waiting for the wheels to fall off.

 

Hey don't be nervous---stuff like this happens sometimes. The dealer made a wise business decision writing that check and getting rid of the headache. Mike got rid of his headache and they got rid of theirs. Fair deal

 

I certainly hope EVERYONE has better luck with their R56s.

Well I think the straw that broke the camels back is when the dealer told me all of the troubles I've had so far were "normal" including a slightly different pitched noise in 3rd gear and that is a "noisy car" that I wasnt "used to".

I was very "used to" breaking down as well with my previous commuter car, the 96 Legacy wagon I had (it was a $500 abused special on ebay) , and I wasn't about to put myself at risk again. I needed an economical, reliable, comfortable, and safe (with a dose of fun) daily driver with a factory warranty just in case.

 

I actually didn't deal with the Mini dealer. I traded the car to a GMC dealer where the Legacy was, now the Mini is sitting on their lot next to all the other GM cars. It is ironic, because while it seems Mini and GM are very different, mine must have been built by the same people with the same "outstanding" quality .

Everyone has to admit at least a little bit, that the R56 is built much more cheaply than its predecessor.

(This is not meant to offend anyone, its just from my own experience. I don't want to start a rumble over it.)

 

Actually, no I really do not have to admit that. I have a Lexus IS250 as my other car. While the material quality of the interior parts is not up to Lexus goods, the Wife unit and I both find the Mini (check my sig) to be a rock solid, comfortable, and quiet little car. So much so, we now take it on the long trips, versus the Lexus.

I have some local folks I meet for breakfast's on Sandays which have had older Mini's and now have an R56. They are adamant that the R56 is a better car in all aspects.

Sorry you had such a bad experience.

 

cheaply than its predecessor.

Did you own an R53? How can you be so certain?

 

I own a 04 mcs and an 07 mcs. Bummer that this is my first post but I would have to say the 07 is better than 04 in many aspects overall. I think mike was just given a lemon. it happens sometimes =/

 

From my perspective as a first time Mini owner, I think the car is a great car. Like I said, it is the preferred ride now for those long weekend trips. The Wife unit does not care for the Mini (due to the many stigmas associated with it), but admits the car is a solid and well built car.

You claimed 'everyone' has to admit the car is built more cheaply then its predecessor. I claimed my friends would argue that. They have owned previous generation Mini's.

When you start assuming everyone thinks the same way you do, you tend to lose that argument. You had a bad experience with a car. It happens. Thankfully it is the exception, not the rule.

 

I agree totally with Skuzzy. And no I have not owned a R50/53. I have though spent time behind the wheel of a friends 03 JCW, and another friends 05 MCSa. Both were nice, but rattled my fillings. My R56 MC is so much quieter and smoother. Unlike Skuzzy, my other driver is not a Lexus, but a 04 Accord EX-L. The mini is as quiet and comfortable as that, IMHO. My friend with the 03 JCW went for a ride in my mini after arrival. He was amazed. He said, he'd never take the 03 on a real long trip, it would just beat him up too much, but he said he could see taking an R56 on an extended trip; 'very quiet and comfortable' he remarked. Very rock solid.

You'll also find posts here of people who get earlier model loaners when in for service, and they are very happy to get their R56 back.

 

Heh, well I guess if you love the car, its worth the trouble. I'd never recommend an R56 to a friend based upon my negative experience.
I still enjoy my aunt's R53 Cabrio. The controls and dash have a much more substantial look to them, and its quiet for a roadster! (my R56 had more wind noise than her soft top) I wish it was a manual gearbox (d'oh!). My back hurt after my commute to and from work (30 mi round trip) in the R56 standard leatherette seats. Not a car thats great at handling rt 78 bumps :-P. Maybe it just was such a bad egg all around. I'll wait until I graduate college to get that classic Mini I always wanted so I can have plenty of time to tinker with it.

 

Except for the headliner, I would totally disagree. Pretty much every other surface or component is equal to, or an improvement on the 1st gen car in every way.

Your experience is different from most, that's all. If you would have had a dealer that worked with you to solve your issues, maybe things would have turned out differently.

Enjoy your Subaru.

 

I test drove the new Impreza when I was shopping. The word "agricultural" came to mind.

 

I can understand having a bad experience, and respect the choice made. What I don't understand is the ongoing need to convince us all what a POS the R56 is.

 

Lol. Sounds applicable. They also have less rear seat room than the Mini!

Not a fan of Imprezas. I've always had Legacies or an SVX.