Someobody say a few bad things about new MINIs.

confuZion3 wrote: I don't think of it as a "gay" car either.

Of course you don't. You drive a Miata.

there were some issues , from what ive read, with 02/03 models, used prices still pretty high... ive talked to a bunch of mini owners, nothin but love for em... and i tst drove an 08 "s" , even with the auto, it was pretty kick ass, handled great!...

Aren't they selling for about $20 to $25,000? That sure isn't much car for the money. One big diesel 4x4 pickup would squoosh one of those things and keep going. For the price of one new Mini, you could purchase a used V-8 Mustang, an old Miata, and a pickup truck to haul them around on a trailer with. I'd be a touch nervous anywhere near a tractor trailer in one of those rolling sardine cans. John Wayne or Clint Eastwood would never be caught dead driving a car like that.

"someone say a few bad things about new MINIs"

um, I don't have one.

The 02s eat transmissions left and right from what people have told me. If you want the S, 05 and up is the way to go since it has the limited slip. They are a blast to drive even though the sport seats aren't that comfortable. I don't think i'll ever own one since they never made a model with crank windows and locks. I bet they would sell a ton more if they did..!

I've had my MINI since August of 2003. 78000 miles on it. Ordered it new, it's the non-S. Daily driver.

Problems: 1) Back seat is small, however, I have yet to have someone ride in the front seats that had to push it all the way back. I'm 5'11" and can barely reach the pedals when the seats all the way back.

2) I have had a stumble when it's hot with the A/C on. Car just drops to 500 rpms and shudders. Several software revisions never fixed it. There may be a new one out, but I'm out of warranty and was never bothered by it.

3) It's small and SUV's don't see you. I grew up with British sports cars, so I learned to drive defensively, if you are accustom to big cars, you will need to adjust

4) Radiator popped and puked fluid about a year ago and I had to replace it. Took all day, but did it myself without too much trouble. New rad was $450, but that was from the dealer (needed it quickly). Aftermarket was under $200, but I needed it that day.

5) A/C fan doesn't seem to blow as hard as it once did, so I'll probably replace it soon

6) My transmission is still fine (it's the notoriously bad Midlands 5-speed) but needs a fluid change soon

7) I have the vinyl seats and they are starting to wear

For a daily driving/fun car, it's hard to beat (even in the un-boosted version)

-Rob

They aren't true to the original Austin Mini concept. The interior in the original was much larger proportionately to the size of the exterior.

Does that help?

93celicaGT2 wrote:

awebb wrote: They do the exact same thing that a Civic hatch does for FIVE times the price. Think about it, you could buy FIVE CIVIC's. You'd be half way to making your own Fast and Furious movie.

I'd like to see this quote in the magazine. Just sayin'.

I won't lie, it's been a lifelong goal. Well, at least 4 years, since I found out the magazine existed.

awebb wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote:

awebb wrote: They do the exact same thing that a Civic hatch does for FIVE times the price. Think about it, you could buy FIVE CIVIC's. You'd be half way to making your own Fast and Furious movie.

I'd like to see this quote in the magazine. Just sayin'.

I won't lie, it's been a lifelong goal. Well, at least 4 years, since I found out the magazine existed.

It took me about 6 months? The key word is "Bacon."

The key to getting in the magazine is buying Margie gift certificates to Cement City.

John Brown wrote: The key to getting in the magazine is buying Margie gift certificates to Cement City.

Now that's a "Say What?" line if I ever heard one.

I drove a Cooper S. Hate to say it but when the pedal hit the floor, not much happened. On the highway it needed a 7th gear. I expected more power and it just wasn't there, even when I wound it up. Overall not impressed. The only one I'd have is a JCW edition.

Ok... I've had probably more experience with MINI's that just about anyone who doesn't own one... I've spent a good portion of time fixing and modifiying them... by coincidence, I'm installing poly LCA bushings and a 15% pulley on an R53 tomorrow... My experience is with the R50/52/53 models. For comparison, my daily driver is a '03 Jetta TDI wagon.

Yet for all of the time I've spent with them and the local clubs, I don't own one... Why?

Well... if you're kinda skinny like me, the seats are absolute CRAP.

The shifter is kinda balky/notchy... and if you add a short-shift kit, it gets even worse...

The steering... is just... well... weird... hard to explain... but in nearly 6 years of occassional driving, I've never gotten used to it...

16" tire choices are getting slim...

It's amazing how a car that's so small can feel so big when you're dirivng it...

For such a small car, the gas mileage isn't all that good. Of coruse, I drive a TDI, so my opinion here is skewed...

The a/c is very weak compared the "freeze your ass off on the lowest setting" a/c in my VW.

The optional H-K stereo isn't as good as the optional Monsoon in my VW (which I wouldn't exactly consider great either).

The sun-roof is loud as hell when open and hot as hell when closed... Seriously, our '07 'vert with the top down is less noisy at hwy speeds than the coupe with the sunroof open...

The front strut towers will mushroom quickly if not reinforced...

Front LCA rear bushings last about 10 miles before puking their damping oil...

Have to add an aftermarket plug-in to the harness to get the power window auto-up feature most other cars have standard...

I could probably go on... but this post is long enough, I think...

To be honest, I really want to love these cars... seriously... but when I drive one, I'm surprisingly happy to get back in my VW. I plan to test drive an R56 in the near future and hope I like it better...

I hate the way the clutch pedal feels. It's also wrong-wheel-drive.

Had my R56 Cooper S for 8 months and 26k miles. Sold it because I found out a new owner had the the "death rattle" on his 2 week old one and the dealership was still officially denying there was a problem.

Half-way through the warranty + the worst sound I have ever heard a running engine make + the manufacturer playing that no such problem existed + new cars not being fixed yet either = me dumping it like a hot potato.

I'm suprised no one has mentioned the Mini Clubman yet. I think its a really cool concept and they are really practical but the Mini stigma scares me off once again! I'll stick to my dreams of a Yaris or Accent hatch..

I love the outside but can't stand the interior. Those gauges and switches drive me nuts.

I once owned an Austin Mini 850, named Dudley, it was a go kart, loved it to death, gave me no end of electrical issues but it was the purest simplest fun car I have owned outside of my 1st gen RX7s. The only FWD car I every regret giving up.

Can't really comment on the new ones other than they are not a real Mini

The R56 "death rattle" has been finally diagnosed as faulty timing chain tensioners and both MINI and dealers seem to be taking care of the problem. One of our local club members just had the timing chain assembly replaced in his car (R56) under warranty.

Re: the Clubman. It is a really cool concept... My main complaint about it is the price... An R55 S with even a few options becomes a $30K car rather quickly...

FWIW, another club member went through two MINIs (R50 and R53) and is now driving a Yaris... Mainly due to the price...

Which models do R50 and R53 translate to?

R50 - MINI Cooper (01-06)

R52 - MINI Convertible (both S and non-S; '05-08)

R53 - MINI Cooper S (01-06)

R55 - MINI Cooper Clubman (both S and non-S; 08-current)

R56 - MINI Cooper and Cooper S (hardtop, 07-current)

R57 - MINI Convertible (both S and non-S; '09-current)

Ian F wrote: R50 - MINI Cooper (01-06) R52 - MINI Convertible (both S and non-S; '05-08) R53 - MINI Cooper S (01-06) R55 - MINI Cooper Clubman (both S and non-S; 08-current) R56 - MINI Cooper and Cooper S (hardtop, 07-current) R57 - MINI Convertible (both S and non-S; '09-current)

Real Mini's (59-00)

Yeah, yeah... whatever... I love old Mini's as well... but he didn't ask about those...

(I deal with enough of that B.S. attitude at British car shows... )

Keith wrote:

confuZion3 wrote: I don't think of it as a "gay" car either.

Of course you don't. You drive a Miata.

Haha. Yeah. Good point.

I had an original.. or should say my father had an original. An ex-race car we were going to rebuild for the street.. but the periodic removal from the disability rolls he used to go through put paid to that (100% disabled from the military)

Some of you may even know the car. It was called the "Screaming yellow Zonker"