School me on the Mini Cooper S

[tdz123]

EDIT: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1658178-R50-R53-buyers-guide

That's a great thread on this issue.

Cliffs: get a 2005 or 2006.
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My wife wants a Mini Cooper for a DD. Are they crap reliability wise? I'd just as soon get her an S model, but that's no strict necessity.

I know it's no Civic...but its a helluva lot more interesting.

Searching the internet isn't producing much definitive....a bunch of threads from various websites (including here) talking about 1-2 year old Minis...not helpful. I'd probably be getting her one that is 6-11 years old at this point.

[B4SH]

This feels slightly on topic to me. I don't like it.

[tdz123]

Is it? I guess it is made by BMW...

- - - Updated - - -

crap....didn't even know there was a mini subforum here. lol

[MCM97]

Ex wife had the non s. solid car. From what the dealer told me the s isn't worth it - the brakes are the same but have s stamped on the calipers. The s is quicker but it's fwd and driven by your wife so who cares? Save a few bucks and buy the base

[tdz123]

I'm gonna have her drive both before we do anything. She's likes having a fast car so she can pass people so the Non-S might be an issue if its a slug.

[RJLupin]

Subcrizzled, cuz interested :)

[meki22]

I have a good friend (actually at the dealer at this point because of engine issues...) who leased a new 2011 cooper S. He drives on average 10 miles a day. Doesn't beat on his car. Just last month he had engine issues and when he got it checked mini had to basically rebuild his engine. A few days ago his engine light went on again and says he basically only has 80hp available.

But other than that i heard they're pretty reliable.



:shifty

[bimmershark]

Love mine so far and mini/bmw seem to be taking care of known issues with 07 plus cars ....

If she doesnt need the extra power go non s still handles and can be fun modded or not .. after having my s for a bit a non s wouldnt cut it for me

[tdz123]

Subcrizzled, cuz interested :)

Check out the thread I posted in my edited OP.

Honestly, aside from the CVT transmissions, these cars don't sound terrible. Obviously they aren't japanese cars, but it still seems doable.

[ken_vs_ryu]

Fiat C more fun.

[Bear Grylls]

Fiat C more fun.

I raise you a Fiat Abarth

[CirrusSR22]

My R50 MINI is more fun to drive than any BMW I've owned or driven. Not as fast, or refined, or quiet, or well built, just a blast to throw around. I don't really recommend a non-S though (at least the first gen, R50). Supposed to be as fast as my 318ti at 0-60, but it doesn't feel like it. Could be the torque deficit. I find myself needing to be in 2nd vs. 3rd on the same corner vs the 318ti.

[pup]

Don't get the non-s in colorado. You'll want the s. I had one, it was fantastic. A lot of fun to drive.

[Nanniepoo]

Debating getting one for myself. From what I've found they are pretty reliable, but a couple little fixes require removing the front end...

[tmoeller]

if only we had a sub-forum dedicated to questions such as this one. mods, towed from OT...any cursing is on me, I edited it.

[roush611]

Fun little cars to drive. Seem to be pretty safe too. Just witnessed one roll 2 times after being t-boned on the freeway last week. The driver did not have a scratch on him. He was obviously in an ass ton of pain but the cockpit of the car from the inside looked as if nothing had happened.

[Nanniepoo]

if only we had a sub-forum dedicated to questions such as this one. mods, towed from OT...any cursing is on me, I edited it.

If only that sub-forum was more active :(

[///Ficarra]

Yes. Get one. 04-06.

[tmoeller]

I know I know, but I can't let it be inactive because I'm not towing OT threads in it that belong in here.

[TJC1]

My wife has a '09 S that she uses as a DD and she is loving it. I've driven the car once so far and must admit that it is really a lot of fun and quicker than I imagined. As I've mentioned in other threads, we do expect more repairs coming our way compared to our BMWs but feel the car is worth it.

It looks like you're going to be looking for a first generation MINI and I would suggest that you visit the link I provided in Nanniepoo's thread earlier today.

[beaner06]

last version of the R53 (late 04-06) were pretty well sorted cars. I had one as a street/track car and now have a race car. I love 'em.

[AZblackOUT]

HA! Look who I found!

+1 Go for an 04-06 Cooper S. Otherwise if you want something newer.. skip all 07-10 and go for a 2011 Cooper S. The 07-10 had an N14 motor that was plagued with issues. There was a new engine put in for 2011 however some chassis still received the older engine, just double check when your buying. N18 is the newer engine that you want!

[beken]

Sorry, I'm late to the party. But here are my impressions...talking mainly about the hatchbacks. I have a 2005 Cooper S. I bought it new. The cars 2002 to 2006 are different than those from 2007 to 2013. 2014 will bring another generation. Most of the talk on forums are about the Cooper S. They are more powerful, the suspensions are set up more aggressively, and they do contain your money's worth of higher performance equipment. Having said that, Cooper S models are generally also driven more agressively and most of them have had some sort of performance "tweak" done to them by the owners. In the end, most Cooper S models out there have had their balance of reliability to performance altered more towards performance over reliability. Lots of grins, but also slightly higher repair bills.

In the first generation (2002-2006), when I was car shopping, I found the Cooper to be more fun to drive (manual transmission). There is a certain satisfaction to driving with keeping the engine in it's performance band. The car begged to be flogged and it returned exemplary handling, especially for a car in that price range. In the later generation, the 2007-2013 model years, it appears most of the problems that have affected the reliability reputation of MINIs have been with the Cooper S. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. But of almost all the cars I know of that had problems with things like chain guides, carbon build up, etc, they were with the Supercharged cooper S engines.

A MINI will never be Toyota Corolla reliable. MINI owners have too much fun flogging their cars around corners. But driven "normally" as a daily driver, it will return reliable, safe, and economical transportation with a good dose of fun. Especially a Cooper for those where outright performance that will keep up with the megabuck exotics is not an issue .