Buying a Mini-

I love my 96 civic hatch, and the theft problem in simply not worth the divine little machines numerous charms.

Would you be so kind as to point me towards a good mini forum resourse or two for a spate of research? It will be an S if that matters.

Thanks!

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/index.php

MINI or Mini? I'm assuming you meant MINI, and second DeadSkunk's recommendation.

Just don't read up on common problems, because problems are common with these cars.

http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/

http://www.metroplexmini.org/forum/

http://www.mini2.com

www.motoringfile.com

Just had one with a stupid key-not-really-a-key stuck in the dash. These cars are a lot like the originals in that regard: they are way cool fun, but they make you work for it by trying your patience.

I haven't had any problems with ours... other than brakes. I'd be more than willing to answer your questions...

Also, the door pulls on the inside are absolute garbage. Broken both sides off the door panel, twice. Gave up.

Tyler H wrote: Just don't read up on common problems, because problems are common with these cars.

+1.

But the wife "Just had to have it" because "It's the cutest damn car EVER"

She's regretting that now as she has to pay for parts.

I enjoy mine, but you have to be willing to let it be imperfect or you'll drive yourself nuts.

mndsm wrote: I haven't had any problems with ours... other than brakes. I'd be more than willing to answer your questions... Also, the door pulls on the inside are absolute garbage. Broken both sides off the door panel, twice. Gave up.

But you haven't had any problems with yours.....

bravenrace wrote:

mndsm wrote: I haven't had any problems with ours... other than brakes. I'd be more than willing to answer your questions... Also, the door pulls on the inside are absolute garbage. Broken both sides off the door panel, twice. Gave up.

But you haven't had any problems with yours.....

Yet. I don't have little problems with cars, I have BIG problems with cars. I'm kinda hoping a tree falls on it before we get there.

kevinSC1 wrote: She's regretting that now as she has to pay for parts.

On the plus side, they're fairly easy to work on, as modern cars go...

We have two; both purchased new.

A '03 MCS that is my g/f's daily driver and currently has about 86K miles, most of them with common S mods (CAI, 15% pulley, Helix SSK, IE camber plates, RSB, Koni FSD struts, poly LCA bushings, 16" Panasport wheels and non-RF tires). I've done most of the work on the car.

The other one is a '07 Cooper convertible "Sidewalk" package car that isn't driven much (under 20K) and may (hopefully?) be for sale soon. Mods to it are mainly cosmetic (custom interior painting, factory aero kit, Helix SSK, Star Spec tires)

The '03 had some annoying warranty issues in the first couple of years, but has since been reasonably good. I'm currently chasing a front end noise that we think is wheels bearings. The only annoying problem with the '07 is a wonky rear hatch open sensor.

As stated, http://www.northamericanmotoring.com is the main forum for the Mini.

After watching Consumer Reports for a year or so I leased a 2006 Cooper S. I liked it so much I bought it off of lease--especially since I didn't want to lose my mods. The only problem not caused by my track wear was the fan (it only worked on high) which was repaired by the dealer. I just hit 50K miles last week and can now do with the engine without running afoul of the warranty.

That being said, the brakes were my biggest complaint. I've heard that professional series cars stick with the stock rotors and calipers, but I wanted more. I picked up a set of 2009 front calipers and rotors (which are the same as the 2006 JCW's brakes) off of NAM and have been pleased with them ever since. I do have a Wilwood 13" brake kit (also bought off of NAM) that I may end up selling.

Shaun wrote: I love my 96 civic hatch, and the theft problem in simply not worth the divine little machines numerous charms. Would you be so kind as to point me towards a good mini forum resourse or two for a spate of research? It will be an S if that matters. Thanks!

Unfortunately NAM is mostly full of people who publicly wonder what to name their cars and/or debate which street poser mods are going to look rad at the mall. The complainers are loud and mostly clueless. I would take anything stated on that board with a boulder sized grain of salt.

I bought an '07 S new and now have 60K on it. It had 2 warranty issues (bad vanos solenoid & a coolant leak), and recently needed a thermostat heater, my only out of pocket expense beside brakes & tires. The car is very fun to drive, economical, and makes every other newish car out there feel like a Buick.

Dashpot wrote:

Shaun wrote: I love my 96 civic hatch, and the theft problem in simply not worth the divine little machines numerous charms. Would you be so kind as to point me towards a good mini forum resourse or two for a spate of research? It will be an S if that matters. Thanks!

Unfortunately NAM is mostly full of people who publicly wonder what to name their cars and/or debate which street poser mods are going to look rad at the mall. The complainers are loud and mostly clueless. I would take anything stated on that board with a boulder sized grain of salt.

Agreed. That applies to many forums actually...

We have a 2006 Cooper S bought new. 58k on it now. Stock except for K&N replacement air filter. Problems have been: - plastic thermostat housing warped and leaked. Replaced under warranty - Oil pan leak. Replaced under warranty twice. Same dealer. Must of berkeleyed up the first time. - Passenger side motor mount. Replaced 3 times under warranty. - One lower control arm bushing failed. Replaced under warranty. Might have been caused by a parking lot accident.

Other than that, the car has been very reliable and a ton of fun to drive. It also turned the wife into a car enthusiast which was worth it in and of itself.

Thanks! The provided links and these posts have helped me whittle the choices to a late supercharged S.

northamericanmotoring.com is a MINI site..... who would have thunkit?

Why a MINI?

Hatchback utility

Hot hatch fun

MPG/fun ratio

I am a light car addict, and 2500-2600 is as good as it gets these days outside of a Lotus.

Wife loves the Mini

Sick of Honda/Acura theft issues and everpresent vroom vroom fartcan culture of idiocy. Otherwise, I love their products.

Wife hates the Celica hatches.

turbo 4 banger GTI's are a thought. Kinda big.

15k budget seems to get us into a really good MINI S.

I want a supercharged car because I have not had one and like the throttle response and torque upsides.

Yeah, stay away from the r56 Cooper S (07+) they're mushy and slow. We had ordered one, and turned it down to get a low mile 05 (in 2007) because we found out the redesign sucked so bad.

Don't get an 02 , mine ate transmissions like tic tacs.

And, if you've got a decent set of rims on your Honda, keep them!! The bolt pattern is the same for the MINI although you'll probably have to get a new centering ring for them. (Assuming they are aftermarket).

I loved my '03 and will probably kick myself for years to come that I sold it.

-Rob

mndsm wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

mndsm wrote: I haven't had any problems with ours... other than brakes. I'd be more than willing to answer your questions... Also, the door pulls on the inside are absolute garbage. Broken both sides off the door panel, twice. Gave up.

But you haven't had any problems with yours.....

Yet. I don't have little problems with cars, I have BIG problems with cars. I'm kinda hoping a tree falls on it before we get there.

So broken door pulls are small or big problems?

If your thinking about a MINI you need to learn the language.

MINI = new BMW product. Mini = Classic little car like TJ's and ddavidv's avatars.

It sounds silly but sooner or later a Mini owner voice his opinion forcefully.

I have both, a Classic and a new "Justa" Cooper. I haven't had many problems with my MINI and I pound the crap out of it on track. The only issue was I had to replace the front wheel bearings.

bravenrace wrote:

mndsm wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

mndsm wrote: I haven't had any problems with ours... other than brakes. I'd be more than willing to answer your questions... Also, the door pulls on the inside are absolute garbage. Broken both sides off the door panel, twice. Gave up.

But you haven't had any problems with yours.....

Yet. I don't have little problems with cars, I have BIG problems with cars. I'm kinda hoping a tree falls on it before we get there.

So broken door pulls are small or big problems?

They were someone elses' problem. My wife used to 1 on 1 with an autistic kid and his PITA sister, and was dumb enough to use her car. It got tore up a few times. Fortunately, mommy and daddy had deep pockets.

Well... the R53 vs. R56 debate is one that could go on and on and on... The reality is they are pretty much different cars... drive both with an open mind and decide for yourself which one is best. Don't go into with pre-concieved notions about which engine is better or has more torque off the line. I 'know' the R53 very well, but were I spending my own money right now, I'd look long and hard at a R56...

Broken door-pulls are a small problem and usually attributed to user error. You'll often find it's the passenger door that's broken most often. Many MINI's are programmed so that the first pull unlocks the door and the second pull opens it. The owner knows this and doesn't think twice... and uneducated passenger on the other hand, pulls it once... and the door doesn't open... so he pulls it harder... with predictable results... The body controller can be reprogrammed to unlock the doors upon engine shut down in which case the door will open on the first pull.

Anotehr thing about the MINI is in addition to the broad-based sites and forums, there are also a ton of regional club-based forums.

NAM is filled with gernal bickering and B.S., but buried in there is a lot of great information about the car and working on it. MotoringFile can be the same way... you'd swear the majority of posters there absolutely hate the car... Another forum is the UK-based MINI2.com although many of the regulars there went to Motoring Alliance.

NAM used to be called 'MINI Cooper Online' but got a cease-order from MINI a number of years ago. 'Motoring' is a MINI catch phrase for driving a MINI, hence the name 'North American Motoring' as well as 'MotoringFile'

I have a weird relationship with the MINI. I've spent a huge amount of time around them and working on them, but since it's my g/f's car, very little time behind the wheel of one. And when I do drive one, I'm often left feeling disappointed since the car feels so 'different' than the '03 Mk IV TDI that I drive every day (and IMHO is hands-down a better 'appliance car' than a MINI). My VW has also been far more reliable than the '03 MINI as well... which can mean more to some than others... While I was definitely more competitive in the R52 'vert in auto-x, I was more comfortable in the VW. Of course, the 200K miles difference in seat-time familiarity played a part.

I've mentioned this before, but if looking for an R53, buy the newest one you can as they made a number of changes and improvements through the production cycle.

rob_lewis, the hub diameter on the MINI is the same as a Honda, 56 mm.