thinking of getting a mini cooper S coupe for the wife

[M3Jokster]

what's the best year to get for the mini? she can drive a manual...so transmission auto or manual..what's better.

Hardtop model not coupe....

any advice would be great.

TIA.

[TJC1]

We recently got an '09 S with the six speed manual for my wife and she's absolutely loving it. The car has a couple of mods and is reasonably quick and handles fantastically. She loves the way it can pick up and squirt away, loves the size and fuel mileage (now that she's somewhat driving normally again as opposed to flogging it just because it's soooo much fun!) and most of all the car fits her needs to a tee.

Now that being said I anticipate that we will possibly be looking at some higher maintenance than we are used to with our BMWs. These cars are not without their issues and I strongly sugggest that you do a bunch of research. A few items of concern for a model like ours are the water pump (engine pump, not the turbo pump which, on our car, was just replaced under a recall program), timing chain issue (which may or may not be subject to a MINI replacement campaign) and leaky thermostat housings. Like all cars these have their foibles and I mentioned just a few but as far as I'm concerned at this point it's worth it to see the smile on her face when she gets in it to go to work in the morning!

[Pyewacket69]

We recently got an '09 S with the six speed manual for my wife and she's absolutely loving it. The car has a couple of mods and is reasonably quick and handles fantastically. She loves the way it can pick up and squirt away, loves the size and fuel mileage (now that she's somewhat driving normally again as opposed to flogging it just because it's soooo much fun!) and most of all the car fits her needs to a tee. Now that being said I anticipate that we will possibly be looking at some higher maintenance than we are used to with our BMWs. These cars are not without their issues and I strongly sugggest that you do a bunch of research. A few items of concern for a model like ours are the water pump (engine pump, not the turbo pump which, on our car, was just replaced under a recall program), timing chain issue (which may or may not be subject to a MINI replacement campaign) and leaky thermostat housings. Like all cars these have their foibles and I mentioned just a few but as far as I'm concerned at this point it's worth it to see the smile on her face when she gets in it to go to work in the morning!

My understanding was the timing chain issues started with the engine change in, I believe the 2007 model year, but was corrected by the 09 models ...

As far as the leaky thermostat housings, I think that applied to the first generation engines, up thru 06.

Of course, I could be mistaken...

[M3Jokster]

thanks guys...

[TJC1]

My understanding was the timing chain issues started with the engine change in, I believe the 2007 model year, but was corrected by the 09 models ...

As far as the leaky thermostat housings, I think that applied to the first generation engines, up thru 06.

Of course, I could be mistaken...

Actually the timing chain issues affect the N14 engines, effectively (NA Models) 2007 through 2010. The N18 engine does not seem to be affected by this problem. Please see below:



http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/257082-mini-has-issued-campaign-recall-to-replace-timing-chains.html

As far as the t-stat housings (actually t-stat component) there has been a big issue with those as well and replacements are just now coming in...please see below:

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/stock-problems-issues/225667-roll-call-have-you-replaced-your-thermostat-housing.html

OP...judging from your experience (assumed only from the two M3's you have listed) I think you and your wife would probably really enjoy the MINI and be able to put up with the isssues that they have. I suggest that you test drive a few examples as you may be quite surprised of their capabilities. I know the brief time I was able to wrestle the car away from my wife for a test drive I certainly was impressed!

[M3Jokster]

thanks guys...what do you guys think about having a automatic for a mini? will try to drag my wife to the local dealer for a test drive...

At TJCI...I also have a 2002 330i....and i used to have a 2004 M3...

[shortkid201]

I currently drive a 2005 Cooper S Stick (First Gen) and my family used to own a 2008 Cooper S Auto (Second Gen) and both are great. When our 08' was in for service a few times they gave us a stick and I thought it was much better then the auto of the same generation. From 2007- they are turbocharged and I felt with the automatic the throttle was very jumpy, either no power or when the turbo kicked in a bunch, immediately. The times we had a rental that was stick I felt a) the throttle response was better and b) the car felt faster. But the auto's do have a mode where you can manually shift with the use of "paddle shifters" or the shifter. I would go with a manual, I personally liked it much better.