R56 Looking at getting 07 Mini, looks expensive to own!!
#26
03-03-2011, 08:04 PM
This is a good topic. In my case, I was aware of the reliability ratings for the MINIs before I bought my 2010 MCS. It wasn't a huge issue for me, because I just wanted a MINI, and figured I'd cross any reliability hurdles when I came to them. I tend to take good care of cars anyway.
I was very fortunate, in that my MINI's service has been exemplary and I'm nuts about it.
Had another thought - Nobody goes to the doctor just to tell him/her "I'm feeling great! No problems at all!" They go because they're sick, and I suppose a completely blinkered observer hanging around in a doctor's office could conclude that the human race as a whole is a sickly lot, when that's definitely not the case. Likewise with a forum such as this one; folks show up asking about their sick MINIs, while the majority of us (I suspect) are motoring gleefully about with few to no issues. It really is easy to misconstrue all the trouble reports here and apply them to MINIs in general, when that's not necessarily the case. And naturally, just as with human health, the way you drive and maintain the car can contribute to its condition.
Spridget
I was very fortunate, in that my MINI's service has been exemplary and I'm nuts about it.
Had another thought - Nobody goes to the doctor just to tell him/her "I'm feeling great! No problems at all!" They go because they're sick, and I suppose a completely blinkered observer hanging around in a doctor's office could conclude that the human race as a whole is a sickly lot, when that's definitely not the case. Likewise with a forum such as this one; folks show up asking about their sick MINIs, while the majority of us (I suspect) are motoring gleefully about with few to no issues. It really is easy to misconstrue all the trouble reports here and apply them to MINIs in general, when that's not necessarily the case. And naturally, just as with human health, the way you drive and maintain the car can contribute to its condition.
Spridget
I've been around enough forums to understand that the majority of the post are from people who have issues. I know that to the uninitiated, you would never buy any car if the only info you had came from a forum.
The one item that got my attention was when the independent mechanic (who specializes on BMWs and Minis) said to beware or if you must get one, get a low mileage one.
Ken
#27
03-04-2011, 12:44 AM
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Not to dismiss the opinion of a good mechanic, but in a way this is comparable to the sick people at the doctor's office. The vast majority of cars he sees are experiencing a problem. Not many can afford his hourly rate to come in and discuss the weather.
#28
03-04-2011, 05:42 AM
I paid 10K for my 02 mini in 2008 it had 70k miles on it already. I got 100k more miles out of it and it cost me $36k in total ownership in 3 years
Registration, gas, maintenance, repairs, payment, insurance, washes. I tracked everything.
It came out to about $.36/mi to own which is pretty good. of those 100k miles, 44k were for business use at $.50/mi reimbursement, it was a total cost of $.14/mi. Repairs can get quite expensive. If you want a mini, I recommend getting a trade in with less than 20k, buying an extended warranty, and looking to sell it around the 90k mile mark.
Minis over 100k are a time bomb. From 110k-170k, i lost my AC compressor, power steering pump, window motor, alternator, throwout bearing & clutch and eventually engine when an air bubble in my coolant made its way to the engine and caused an overheat and total failure.
Registration, gas, maintenance, repairs, payment, insurance, washes. I tracked everything.
It came out to about $.36/mi to own which is pretty good. of those 100k miles, 44k were for business use at $.50/mi reimbursement, it was a total cost of $.14/mi. Repairs can get quite expensive. If you want a mini, I recommend getting a trade in with less than 20k, buying an extended warranty, and looking to sell it around the 90k mile mark.
Minis over 100k are a time bomb. From 110k-170k, i lost my AC compressor, power steering pump, window motor, alternator, throwout bearing & clutch and eventually engine when an air bubble in my coolant made its way to the engine and caused an overheat and total failure.
#29
03-04-2011, 07:41 AM
I paid 10K for my 02 mini in 2008 it had 70k miles on it already. I got 100k more miles out of it and it cost me $36k in total ownership in 3 years
If you want a mini, I recommend getting a trade in with less than 20k, buying an extended warranty, and looking to sell it around the 90k mile mark.
Minis over 100k are a time bomb. From 110k-170k, i lost my AC compressor, power steering pump, window motor, alternator, throwout bearing & clutch and eventually engine when an air bubble in my coolant made its way to the engine and caused an overheat and total failure.
If you want a mini, I recommend getting a trade in with less than 20k, buying an extended warranty, and looking to sell it around the 90k mile mark.
Minis over 100k are a time bomb. From 110k-170k, i lost my AC compressor, power steering pump, window motor, alternator, throwout bearing & clutch and eventually engine when an air bubble in my coolant made its way to the engine and caused an overheat and total failure.
I'm thinking now, with my budget and no pressing need to act now, I'll start to look at 2007-2008 Mini (non-turbo) with 25K-35K miles and plan on unloading it maybe around 65-75K miles.
We can take our time, look for one that fits the wifes needs and my desires (I like the extra toys... IPod doc, Nav, heated seats, etc.).
Maybe next month or probably early 2010, we shall see.
thanks
Ken
#30
03-04-2011, 09:42 AM
#32
03-04-2011, 12:45 PM
Thats kinda what I thought. I'm guessing they have experience with the older r53 instead of the r56 because most r56's are just now getting out of warranty. From reading on here the r53 had more issues. Not to say the r56 is issue free but I THINK more so. I've had quite a few little things and a few bigger ones that took some time and patience to sort out. I am still driving the car and plan on doing some extended warranty as a safety net.
At risk of sounding like a traitor, have you looked at a GTI? To see what the direct competition is doing?
At risk of sounding like a traitor, have you looked at a GTI? To see what the direct competition is doing?
#33
03-05-2011, 05:52 AM
#34
03-05-2011, 07:13 AM
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