When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have an '03 Cooper as a 100+ mile a day commuter. I'm just about at 60 big at 2 years. Since the day I've owned the car, I have become increasingly more in love with "my Baby" and have subsequently started to worry about excessive mileage. I've always heard comments about engines having mostly "freeway miles" and as such having an engine that performs like one with much less "city miles". Checking in to see what mini owners think of this theory?
Signed: "Thinking about taking the bus more often"
Don't do that to yourself. Don't take the bus. Unless of course you are interested in the environmental benefits of mass transportation. In that case, .
Besides the hit you take because you are now outside of the warranty period, I really don't see many problems with your milage. Sure, it would be nice if you lived a little closer to your workplace, but you have to deal with the lot you are given. At least one MINI owner already has over 125K miles. and by your rate, you are at least 2 years away from reaching that milestone.
As long as the car isn't giving you any problems, I wouldn't worry.
I tend to agonize over the mileage on our cars as I drive 60 miles a day and we tend to take my car everywhere else, and my hubby drives 100 miles a day. But then I try to force myself to remember that if we have to do all this driving, it may as well be in a vehicle that we enjoy driving. We have thought about getting some cheap used cars as commuters, but then we would be bored and unhappy. So we tend to have cars that rack up the mileage pretty quickly and that is a fact of our lives
As long as you keep the maintenance up you probably want have any problems with the car. Its probably in better shape than the ones that do a lot city driving/short trips etc. I have almost 200K on my pickup and hoping it will go to 3. Ordered a 05 MCS which I should be picking up in a couple of weeks and I'll put the miles on it too...at least you don't have any moisture building up in the engine on long trips.
same here. i put 14,000 miles on my MC in 6 months. work 80 miles round trip, and my car is the going out/run errands car too. i am trying my best to take care of it. all service checkups, change oil not every 15000 but every 7500. oil is the lifeblood of a car. im hoping to get 200000+ out of my mini (if i keep it that long, might get a revised new mini). the way i think of it is this. a car is not an investment, it is there to get around and get to a job to make more money. so as long as it is fun in the process thats ok with me. and most cars will start to rust and look old after 6-7 years anyway. so just drive it. and 300000 a year at 7 years is 210000 miles. and these cars should do that no problem (i hope).
that leads me to another comment. with the amount of driving people are doing these days (100 mile commutes) getting more common cars lasting 100000 or 150000 is not enough anymore. we should all be able to get 200000 - 300000 out of a car no questions asked. these are considerations auto makers should start taking into account.
Take care of it,Don't abuse it,which does not mean you can't drive it like it was meant to be driven,quickly and with spirit.Thats my plan for alot of miles.
Yep the miles game. I have only had my Mini S for one year and I have 45000 miles on it. By the way Happy Birthday to my Mini 5-14-05. I drive 120 miles round trip to work. Of course the Mini clubs I'm in are at least one hour away too. So I'm in my Mini all the time which is good for me.
The funny thing about the Mini is that it has taken me to places I never thought I would go. In one year time I have been to 7 Different states and on a lot of trips. You can see all the fun I’m having if you check out my website. (My Mini Cooper S needed a website).
My mini is Called Magic Mini because it is magic the fun I have in this car!!!
Back to the point I have heard that Hwy miles are better for any car! Only about 30 miles of my round trip are city miles.
Depending on where you live, it might make more sense to sell a Mini which is headed for high mileage and get a new one. Of course, several requirements must be met in order for this to make economic sense -- you have to live in an area with high Mini resale values (ie, where dealers are still getting away with 3-5K premiums over MSRP), you have to be willing to buy the next one out of state so you can get an MSRP, or better, deal, and you have to have another vehicle to use while you're waiting for the new one to arrive.
If those conditions apply, though, it's hard to beat a brand new MCS with a brand new warranty. And you get to order that option that you wished you had ordered the last time!
On the down side, you'll also get a brand new set of bugs which will have to get sorted...
I drive a minimum of 100 miles per day and 90% of my miles are considered city miles.
The biggest thing to consider, as everyone states, take care of your MINI!
Since I am still under the service policy (a 6 month old '05) I change the oil at least 2 times between regular intervals. What this means is that I am changing it around every 4-5k. It may not really matter but fresh oil is a good thing as well as cleaning other areas to minimize wear over the long haul....
the MINI should last you a minimum of 200,000 unless you really abuse it!
Depending on where you live, it might make more sense to sell a Mini which is headed for high mileage and get a new one. Of course, several requirements must be met in order for this to make economic sense -- you have to live in an area with high Mini resale values (ie, where dealers are still getting away with 3-5K premiums over MSRP), you have to be willing to buy the next one out of state so you can get an MSRP, or better, deal, and you have to have another vehicle to use while you're waiting for the new one to arrive.
If those conditions apply, though, it's hard to beat a brand new MCS with a brand new warranty. And you get to order that option that you wished you had ordered the last time!
On the down side, you'll also get a brand new set of bugs which will have to get sorted...
Since lancelinks lives in one of the prime MSRP+ states this seems an excellent approach. This demand-oriented condition will not last forever so sooner may be better than later.
I was wondering the same thing... I have a 06 Cooper S that I'm completely in love with and I drive 250 miles round trip (all highway miles) on the days I go into the office, which is about two times a week...I put 10k on "Bradley" in three months and he now has 111,000 miles. My plan is to keep him in tip top shape until the wheels fall off and replace with a newer used Mini.
I was wondering the same thing... I have a 06 Cooper S that I'm completely in love with and I drive 250 miles round trip (all highway miles) on the days I go into the office, which is about two times a week...I put 10k on "Bradley" in three months and he now has 111,000 miles. My plan is to keep him in tip top shape until the wheels fall off and replace with a newer used Mini.
There are a more than a few 200,000+ gen1 s's around a I think at least one about 300,000+ ...so do your regular MX..treat it nice...should be fine!!
With all of the aftermarket parts out there for the MINI's.....you can literally make them last forever. I have around 120,000 miles on my 03' R53......and I'm not planning on getting rid of it any time soon. It's the most fun to drive car I have ever had...and I've had a few. As long as you keep up with routine maintenance......it should last you a long time. Like others have said......there are several people out there with 200,000+ miles on there MINI's...and some with 300,000+ miles. Drive it, enjoy it, treat it right, and don't worry about the miles.
My '02 has just over 167k, it runs and looks great. Just like anything else, you must do the maintenance if you want it to last.
Highway miles are considered to easier on the car because it's a steady load, lots of airflow to keep the temps down and usually smoother roads. City miles are lots of stop and go which makes for uneven loads, more transmission, clutch and brake wear. Low speed makes for low airflow= more heat, bumpier streets are hard on the suspension too. I would rather buy a car with 100k highway miles than one with 35k miles that was used for a Chicago, New York or LA city commute.
A testament to the forums staying power. Our 02 has 120K and my wife drives 80 miles round trip to work averaging 34 mpg. I just replaced all of the front steering components, brakes and struts last week and what a difference in handling! I also changed the transmission fluid with Redline MTL and the tranny even shift better.
I got my R50 base Cooper out of Virginia with 216,000 miles in 2014. It had a couple of burnt valves so got a fresh head put together and installed it along with a header and a Scorpion exhaust. It is now well over 235,000 miles and runs like a champ. A couple weeks ago the 5-speed transmission started making some serious gear noise. So for a winter project a JCW 6-speed upgrade will be installed. Just have to keep it going. Can't think of letting it go!
05-10-2005, 11:33 AM
. 
