You know how it looks like so much fun driving the Minis in the movie, The Italian Job? Well, has anyone thought of creating a Mini playground, a sort of obstacle course where you can play around and drive your Mini on a fun, adventuresome course? We don't need actual stairs or a subway rail, but something that simulates the experience would be fun, don't you think?

 

MINI USA will be there, but only to write down plates so to void warranties.

 

Cool idea. Some car clubs sponsor autocross events. Perhaps you'd like to check that out. Also, keep your warranty in mind if you take your MINI to such a track. Happy hunting.

CROC 411

 

Isn't that what the Nüburgring is for?

 

What's with the warranties? Are you not allowed to veer off the road a bit?

 

Whoa, I was just looking around trying to find the warranty info and I found a long list of consumer complaints at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/mini.html . Looks like you really have to tip-toe around in the Mini Coopers. How do I know if I got a CVT transmission? I'm wondering if I really want my car now, I'm supposed to finalize the deal on Saturday. I did my research and found only really good things about the Mini before.... I thought this car was going to last and last, but now it's making sense seeing almost new Mini's for sale. But I don't understand why the resale value is so high.

Yikes!

 

BMW switched to the 6-speed AISIN Automatic Transmission starting with the 2005 models, CVTs were on earlier model MINIs only. Suffice to say if you're buying new you will not have to worry about the CVT problems.

That said, how much shorter does that list on consumeraffairs.com look w/o the CVT issues?

BTW that site was brought up here a while back, to which I responded back then:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/mazda.htm
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/buick.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/kia.htm
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/honda.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/saab.html

The point is, all cars have their problems. Also consider how many Minis have been sold, esp. recently, whose owners haven't had any issues and are in fact quite happy?

 

Generally, NO!

There's a few NAM members who have said that warranty coverage was denied because the dealer said the car was raced, taken to a track day or modified.

So the general rule, at least the way I see it, is to never put yourself into a position that the dealer might deny a warranty repair. So that means no rallies, no competitions, etc.

It's kind of inconsistent because MINI advertises the sportiness of the MINI but then if in it's opinion one has abused the MINI [such as driving it in a rally] they can use that to deny warranty coverage.

Do a search on NAM where one member was even being sponsored by MINI in some type of competitions. When his car failed, MINI said they would not cover it due to his "abuse."

He was so angered that he sold his MINI and swore off the brand.

 

It's only the early models that used the CVT. And they are lemons, IMHO. Other than that MINIs have been very good cars and one suffers problems the same as other brands, no more, no less.

The sad thing is, and about the only thing I don't like about what MINI and BMW has done, is to not own up to the CVT problem and to stick it to those MINI owners who have had to replace the CVT to the tune of $6000 to $8000.

Only thing I can figure is that because MINI has done so well in sales that they figure they don't need to cover the problems with the first models. They figure they can take the hit on the bad publicity.

I do suspect that the CVT issue and all the postings on the Internet have hurt sales, but not enough to where MINI feels they need to do anything about it [other than to discontinue use of the CVT.]

See my thread where I copied and pasted summaries of complaints that people posted elsewhere on the Net, that is, gripes about the MINI CVT.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...25#post2438925

My suspicion is that there are thousands of people who have been hurt by this. It's not an isolated problem and I suspect that if anyone chose to sue MINI for a replacement tranny they would win since a transmission should not fail at 40,000 to 80,000 miles. And for all I know, many people have threatened to sue, but all I have ever seen is people complaining about the $7,000 they had to pay for a new CVT.

 

This goes out to the OP:

Have you read these things? I mean, there are legitimate complaints for vehicles, of course, but there are a lot of this:
-------------------------------------
Gail of Deland FL (08/07/08)
My daughter recently wanted to test drive a used honda at this dealership, and was told she could take the car for a few hours so that she could show it to her family. when she went inside the dealership to provide proof of insurance she was greeted by the manager named bob. He very rudely told her she was not going to be able to test drive the car. When she questioned the reason why, he became loud and told her to leave the dealership and even became louder and told her he would call the cops and have her removed from the dealership. My daughter left the dealership in tears and very upset. I do not feel he could of felt threatened as she is 125 lbs and is on portable oxygen as she suffers from a serious rare lung disease. She is 29 yrs old and a responsible adult.He had no reason to go to such extremes. I feel he owes her an apology. As she left the dealership with portable oxygen and in tears I am sure he felt like a big man for being such a tough guy. I only wish I had been with her as I think things would have gone a bit different. If not being able to test drive a car without a salesman being on board is the policy,they should have said that in the first place. He also told her she must have something to hide. Sounds to me they have something to hide. In the past I have brought cars home for 24 hrs before purchase. Oh well! they lost a sale and we will take our business elsewhere.
--------------------------------

I just don't know what to say about that. There are only so many "I have a 98 Honda with 157000 miles and I had to change my oil the other day and it wasn't covered under warranty" posts I can read without rolling my eyes just a little.

Having said that, I hope everything goes well with my new MC, which I'm picking up later today!

 

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I'll be on tip toe in my new MINI. If I hadn't already sold my Camry, I'd stick with that, it was a great car. I've got two small kids and travel across the country frequently, I'm feeling awfully unsure about the MINI, but I guess I'll go ahead and risk it. Hopefully it'll be one of the ones that needs no work... and no exploding sunroofs or airbags....