Mini Cooper opinions?

Boondox · Apr 2, 2005

Now that we have a truck to haul hay, shavings, manure etc we find we don't really use all that cargo space in the back of our Subaru Outback...so we've been looking for something that gets good mileage. And frankly, at this point in our life together, Tamara and I want something fun to drive.

She's long made happy squeally sounds at the sight of Mini Coopers driving down the road, and yesterday we saw one at a car dealer. Gently used, with only 7k miles on it. The salesman tossed the key at us and we figured what the heck, let's see if it might meet our needs.

Wow! That thing handles just like a small Beemer! And it was surprisingly roomy and comfortable. Room for only one dog in the back, maybe two if they're young, but we rarely take more than two at a time anymore.

It even handled the muddy ruts of our road well. So far from proving to the wife that a Mini would be entirely unsatisfactory for us, it looks like we might have found our next little car.

Has anybody had a bad personal experience with the little fella?

Pete

Darren · Apr 2, 2005

If you believe in "you only go around once" why not? There's something to be said for a fun car. In this neck of the woods with log trucks, quad and triaxle dumps, and oil well service rigs that look like highway freight trains, I like a little more metal between me and them. Not that it would do all that good that if 60,000 lbs met 5,000lbs. But ...

The other issue around here is the large number of senior citizens. I'm always amazed at the number of fender benders listed in the weekly newsrag. If one of them comes at me, I've got enough metal for protection.

There is one mini that's leased by the local ISP owner. One of his sons drives it around town. I've never seen it out in the county. I know some of the more rural roads around here would eat that thing. If the potholes didn't get it, the deer would. In a head on with a mature deer, the animals body would probably be sliding along the hood and through the windshield before the driver could say Sh....

For a city car where tight parkings spots were an issue, a mini would be great.

deereman63 · Apr 2, 2005

I'm biased, but go for it. My brother and I used go rallying in one many years ago. Great fun, many a times we used to go into a bend sure that we would never see the other side,but always would /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Now its made to German standards probably will hold together as well

GerardC · Apr 2, 2005

Maybe the attachment will help. No experience with them but this is from the April 2005 Consumer Reports.

SnowRidge · Apr 2, 2005

Hmm, requires premium fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We just looked into the VW diesel bug and decided not to buy, but when doing the research, I recall coming across something about the Minis being sold with diesels in Europe. I think that article said the diesel version was going to become available in the US in the next year or two.

Food for thought, perhaps.

graybeard451 · Apr 2, 2005

I know a couple from CT that got one of the first "S" models. They have almost 40,000 miles without a bit of trouble. They love it and even use it in the snow. Mostly highway driving, I don't think they have many dirt roads in CT. But they do leave the Suburu at home and drive the Mini Cooper in bad weather! If it makes you happy, go for it.
RP

sneaky_pete · Apr 2, 2005

( Now its made to German standards probably will hold together as well)

Hopefully those standards are improved over the English version - Mith or someone in the UK can correct me, but when I lived in the UK 25 years ago Cooper Mini's were el cheapo economy cars that you saw a lot of because they were cheap, and didn't have a great reputation for reliability.

I notice in the Consumer Reports link that Gerard posted they list the reliability as below average, FWIW.

tracdoc · Apr 2, 2005

( Has anybody had a bad personal experience with the little fella? )
Hi Boondox,

We love our little beast. It eats BMW 3-series for lunch at the track. Details and a couple of pics are in an earlier thread {HERE}

The LSD made a world of difference in reducing wheelspin. Mini is now offering it as an option on their 2005 models. Since last season, we have also replaced all the suspension and engine mount bushings with urethane ones. That has also resulted in improved lap times.

The first iteration of our race car was constructed by Mini of Scottsdale, AZ before we ever took delivery. Mini has been trying to develop a race image, so they set up interested dealers with the equipment to take a brand new stock car and prepare a racer. When we went to buy our Mini, the dealer told us it would be 6-7 month wait. Once he found out we wanted it for racing, the wait was miraculously reduced to a mere 3 weeks. The car was already at the dealership, and the 3 weeks time was what was required to make the conversion.

We have been exceptionally pleased with the car. A race car takes a whale more stress than a street car, and we have not as yet had any mechanical failures on any OEM part.

This season, we have opted to de-register the vehicle, so it will be used exclusively for road racing. A tuned header which necessitated removal of the catalytic conv helped in the decision process.

These cars are a blast, even if you don't go whole hog racing as we did. Try one, and if you like it, go for it. You won't be disappointed

deereman63 · Apr 2, 2005

At the time English car making was in a serious decline. We had a Triumph 7 which generated a sound that was similar to someone knitting under the dash board. Also the headlights used to pop up alternately. I think BMW was well aware of its history and have done a good job in making sure that this car is not tainted.

Richard · Apr 2, 2005

Not to mooch in on the topic, but if you are looking for a fun, economical, and (in my experience) HIGHLY reliable car (not to suggest others aren't), but go look at a Miata.

I bought one used in 1994. Was a 1992 version, had 40,000 miles on it.

I just sold it with over 200,000 miles and the only repairs I did to it were (with miles approx)

120,000 miles timing belt
120,000 miles new brake pads (same rotors)
160,000 miles, water pump. Seems I had a "squeel" and with help of this site, deduced my water pump was going bad. It WASNT the pump, but a MIS-adjustment on the BELT of the air conditioner

Couple sets of plugs, tires...

Had it for 11 years and other than the above, pretty much was a change oil & put gas in & GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

when I was at dealer getting part once (battery I think), I mentioned that it was just as reliable as a rock. (and LOADS of fun too).

Guy at dealership told me that the Miata along with the (forget) were the two most INFREQUENT cars they saw in the shop because they just held up so well. Was that a sales pitch? (ie, if I'd said I had diff model, would IT have replaced Miata in his commentary), I don't know. My real world experience is, reliable as a rock and a lot of fun.

Gotta leave the dog(s) or the wife at home though /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Only room for 1 other than driver.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif