Awesome stereotyping.

 

I don't know how you can stomach the loss you must have taken on turning in brand new car with 5000 miles on it . Even with the MCS' great resale value, I can't see you not eating a large amount of money. Even if I hated every second of driving the MCS (which I don't) I would have held onto it probably at least 2 years just so it's financially responsible/feasible.

And here's a tip for you when driving a manual on hills if you're worried about rolling backwards: Pull up on the e-brake while engaging your clutch, once the clutch grabs and you're moving, gently move the e-brake back down (you need to be holding into the button the whole time of course).

I definitely would buy a Mini again, however I probably won't just because I like variety. But anyways, enjoy the Honda ( I would've at least taken the Si over the hybrid but that's me) .

 

I have to admit that I would also. Those new Si's look really nice in person, and certainly better than the micro-Oddysey look of the last version, although that rally-style shifter was awesome, where it was up on the dash? Yeah, great fun to play with.

 

CooperSigma:

what is your point? read your post one more time very carefully, because you are contradicting yourself.

Yes, there is an attitude here, but at the same talking, these people all know that there are much better cars out there. Keep in mind they all have passion for their Minis.

I guess you are trying to be different but acting meaningless...

 

All cars have a few bad builds. Lemon Laws weren't invented because of the MINI.

Seriously, have fun with the Hybrid. I'm just happy to see smaller cars becoming more popular.

 

Passion's one thing. It's easy to say "Well, sorry it didn't work out for you, enjoy your Honda."

See how easy that was? But noooo, let's try some subtle snark by saying something like "Well, have fun with your boring reliable appliance!"

I mean, it'd be like a bunch of the guys from some Evo site coming in here and laughing about how people here brag about the performance of their cars like it's the best, when a stock Evo will hand *** to nine tenths of the cars here.

It just irritates me to see people being condescending for no reason, and it tends to bring out the jerk in my responses.

 

CooperSigma,

I understand, which is a very valid point. I think the stupidness of the post raised the tension here, which is understandable as well. Mini community will never be like an EVO, STI club, please keep that in mind . The thing that i don't understand why would he post something like that? get a life.... anyways, he is gone, one more less to worry about

 

Honestly? I'm with you. Like I said above, I'm not really sure why he'd not post at all, then come in here and with his first post also make it his last post(as someone else above said). I just wish folks here weren't so quick to slam other peoples' car choices if they aren't a Mini. It's not just here, but in several threads that this sort of thing tends to happen. Hell, remember that thread in Mini Talk where the person was considering going with a Tc instead of a Mini? Man, what a fiasco that was.

In conclusion, Minis are spectacular cars. What they do, they do really, really well. But for some folks, that's not enough, I guess. There's just not a need to slam 'em for it.

 

My mom had a GM EV1. 0-60 in 7 seconds. 1350 ft-lbs of torque at 0 mph. Aint too shabby. She's had a first and second gen Prius. Not sports cars, but competent. The accord hybrid is the quickest honda made. the RX400H gets another 80 hp from the electric boost. The (wrong) trend that the car companies are doing is to enhance power, make a 6 act like an 8 with still getting the 6 milage. What's all your problems with other technology?

The original post was nieve to write what he did and post here. That's like walking into West Point and screaming the military sucks in the middle of a quad. What sane person wouldn't expect flames. At least we aren't armed (exept for LizziBobio, who's out hunting the cyote somewhere around Rochester NY)! His complaints are much less worse than many who have kept their cars, and actually had the dealer work on the issues that he didn't like. If he were a modder and went MTH or GAIC or Unichip, and gotten some good rubber, and learned how to shift on a hill, life would have been different, but it's his choice on what to drive, so fine, more power too him.

While the snide comments from other posters weren't the most mature answers, what should be expected?

As far as some of the issues, I too had a dash rattle that bugged the crap out of me. When I found out that the dash cover comes off with just four screws, I fixed it in less than 1/2 hour (took it off and put some felt there). But obviously he expected perfection, didn't get it (as many of us haven't, but many have) and went on to something else. Fine with me. Seemed like a nice enough person, too bad he didn't get his car fixed and live and motor on. But I have to agree, the convinenience of dealership locations means that any warranty work on a Mini is much more of a hassle than a Honda. Or will I get flamed for heresy?

Matt

 

they actually made those EV1's? i thought it was just a marketinghype for the future of electric cars.....how cool!

 

OK CooperSigma, you're a troll. You're not a real MINI owner. If you were, you would know that there is simply no other automobile worth driving. Get with the program, or stop posting here.

Face it kids, it's a big world and we're lucky there are lots of choices. If not we'd all be forced to drive Toyotas and Hondas. By and large, they really are perfect transportation appliances. I'm glad the guy found a car he likes. I feel the same way about the SUV crowd. More power to 'em.

In a free society, it's just as stupid for us to try to convince them to drive MINI's as for them to try to convince us to drive whatever it is they're driving. Go ahead and enjoy your free speech, but try to remember that no car is perfect, not even our MINI's.

For the record, my MCS gives me more pleasure than my M3 did, and it was darn near perfect for 100K miles. Sure I'd buy a MINI again. I'd love to have another one right now to build into a dedicated track car.

 

I bought an all-Pure Silver Cooper in August 2002 and was very happy with her until I saw the first 2003 all-Jet Black MCSs! HAD TO GET ONE! Traded in my Cooper for Wanda in April 2003.

She's had a few issues with her interior doorhandles (due to brutal passengers), a dash rattle which was fixed, and a malfunctioning passenger door window which was just fixed 2 weeks ago. Despite these little imperfections, I love her more than ever.

Not only is she the most fun daily driver, she's a great cross-country travelling appliance!

But a huge part of the MINI experience is the fantastic community of other owners and enthusiasts. I have literally made some of the best friends imaginable because of having a MINI and being active here on NAM.

Would I buy another MINI? YES. I would love to get another MINI so I can have two of them.

minimam, sorry you were not content with the MINI ownership experience. Best of luck to you with the new hybrid.

 

Years ago, while in college i got my first BMW, a 1976 - 2002 model, those were the days before BMW became a Preppy mobile,.. when it was rare to see one on the road and the ones who knew what they had was special - we would flash our high beams to each other as a sort of acknowledgement to being a member of a special community,... now BMWS are every where and that sense of community is gone,.. time to maybe try to bring back that community feeling with the MINI.. hell they have honk if you love Jesus,,,

lets Flash ( our headlights) when you see another Mini.....


they

 

My goodness, I am far from naive As I said, I've hung around here for a year and I know the flurry of defensive flames launched by many when someone plays the heretic and disagrees that the MINI is not the be all end all to some. I'm a thick-skinned ole gal.

I'm not a "guy". I'm the mother of a 24 year old and a 21 year old, and facing my 5th decade of life happily. As I said, I love cars. I've had all kinds and shapes...sports cars and appliance types (cool term, by the way!). I don't bash the MINI. As I said, she was a beauty. I guess I didn't know myself very well in this instance and what my tolerance level was for its imperfections. That does feel like egg on the face

But, the central question I posted remains the core point of my post. And, that is my niggling concern that the quality issues I had were symptomatic of larger issues with the MINI. Again, what others see as "quirks" or worth the hassle, weren't to me in the long run. In my younger days, my tolerance level for the quirks in my Fiat Spyder, Super Beetle, 65 'Stang, 84 BMW, Volkswagen vans, etc were higher. The MINI was my daily driver, my only transportation. I had to depend on her 100%, as most of you do I am sure. Yes, it's possible that the "waiting for it to happen" psychology played a part. But, there are so many posts here about MINI owners wanting to get rid of their rides before the warranty runs out because of the fear of opening up deep pocketbooks due to the number of dealer repair visits done under warranty. And, yes, the Honda dealer is close and has a top notch service department for the few times I've ever had to take my previous Hondas in.

I actually didn't take a financial bath, which is a testimony to the demand of MINIs in the NW. I lost tax $ to the state, but I chalked that up to part of my experience.

I've always been one of the early adopters of technology and "different" style. The MINI has all of that in spades and buckets. And, so does the Honda Hybrid. Honda engineers are brilliant, and the car has the soul of a front-runner in technology and aero-dynamic design. Just another kind of soul. And, fun is obviously in the eye of the beholder! That Si is gorgeous, by the way, I agree.

Let's all be thankful we have great auto choices in this country. I lived in Berlin, Germany for years and in Communist East Germany one was lucky to have 45 HP, two-stroke Trabant. Those little smoky things polluted the air like crazy.

Enjoy and cherish your MINIs. I still hold hopes of having one again someday as a "second driver".

Peace

 

I was thinking about it when I first saw photos of the Space Blue, but after seeing it person, Nah....

But I think I'd move on not because Minis are bad, it's just that there are so many interesting cars, and you can only drive one at at time. I'd love to have a 944 Turbo, and I was looking on the web, and get this, a 2002 XKR convertable with 1800 miles for $41k, or a 2001 XKR coupe with 60k on it for $22k. 370-390 HP, lines to die for, and the 02 was still under warranty for over 50% off new!

I also want a Lotus 7 or clone, to build a Cobra, tha Ariel Atom looked like a gas, and the old Mercedes UniMog are all on the wish list. Along with a Healy 3000 MkIII, Lotus Elan (early one), TR3 and one and one and on. So while I really like my Mini, it's got 62k on it, I drive it tons, beat it hard, and in a year or two I'll have to decide to keep her and add to the fleet, or just move on. I'm thinking of starting an aftermarket parts effort, and if I do that, I'll need the Mini (R&D lab), but I'll also need a new one to make parts for it. So many cars, so little time (and money).

Matt

 

This is a HIJACK..., the single thing that concerns me about hybrids is the reliance on this massive battery. My experience with sailboats, motorcycles, RVs and autos is that all batteries go bad one day. Anyone know the actual replacement costs for these batteries? Less or more ( like, I think) than a motor rebuild. Is there an aftermarket, yet? Going to have to roll that cost into the total cost to operate the car, 40 to 60 mpg is always attractive, BUT. I know they give you a 100k warranty, but I'll bet it's pro-rated...

 

Minimam, your first post to start off this thread was very well thought out and very well written. But one thing about it confuses me a lot...

You've lurked here on NAM for a year by your own admission, you had all these problems with the car over that year, yet you never signed up or posted.

It wasn't until after you had been lurking here for a year, and even stranger after you got rid of your MINI that you decided to register on NAM and make your first post, and not just make one post detailing your experience either, from your posting history it's obvious that you are definately making your rounds through the forums here.

It just seems unusual to me that somebody would decide to join a MINI owners community after getting rid of their MINI, and then not just join the community but become active in it...

I could understand it if you had come up here and made posts detailing all the problems with your car over the past year as they happened, but coming up and taking an active part in the forums after you get rid of the car just seems a little unusual to me...

So my question to you is why now? Why after lurking for a year did you decide to join NAM? Why after you chose to replace your MINI did you decide you wanted to be a member of NAM and take part in the community?

Those questions aren't to deter you from taking part in the community. You're very welcome here, as I'm sure you know we have many non-MINI owners active here on the forums, I'm just confused as to why you've now decided to become a member.

 

I know I may be paranoid and all, BUT as someone said, "just because you are paranoid, it doesn't mean someone isn't out to get you."

In that vein, does ANYONE know what the history of labor negotiations and contracts is for the manufacturing plant in Oxford. Both before and since they became MINI? I have a sneaking suspicion that some of the quality issues, outlandish posts both here and at MINI2 sound an awful lot like some disgruntled present or former employee.

MINI2 had a post from a supposed "former owner" about nearly burning up in her car, it came out of nowhere and left again nearly as fast. They surmised it just wasn't a true post. Bitter labor battles can bring out a lot of bad blood, and what safer place to tear at a company or their product but behind the anonymity of a computer/internet connection?

I am surmising that even the poor quality builds that do happen could be labor related.

Just a HUNCH... anyone know any facts?

 

QUOTE: You've lurked here on NAM for a year by your own admission, you had all these problems with the car over that year, yet you never signed up or posted.

You ask an honest and fair question, and I'll answer you with an honest answer. First, I didn't have my MINI for a year. She arrived in Jun 05. I have read NAM for a year. I never thought to join because I never intended to post. Sidelines are fine for me. However, I know that, as an avid researcher, I would have liked to have read a post like mine when deciding on the MINI. In fact, I've read similar posts here over the past year, and that kept me on those sidelines months before I ordered my MINI. I was under no illusions that it would stir up the crowd, although that wasn't my intent. I just had another viewpoint I wanted to share.

NAM is a great site, and I'd bet that many lurk and research on it without posting.

As for possible labor malcontents posting here, I can assure everyone I don't work at the MINI factory, althought it would be fun. Honestly, those thoughts about labor unrest did enter my mind as I puzzled through why such a fabulously designed and engineered car could have such niggling imperfections.

I sure am aware of the recall of the early 06 Civics. Mine wasn't in the batch, but if it had been, I would have been fine with it. I'd prefer an honest recall over what MINI seems to be doing with cold starts/limp mode/yo-yo issues. Those are huge safety concerns, and no recall? What's with that?

Peace

 

Man, I really loathe you, you know that? I mean, what a spectacular list. Just wow.

 

You know the great and horrible thing about the web is that little is hidden from view. So I figured maybe the mad minimam is right... lets take a look around the web at Honda problems. I won't bore you with the specifics but, my GAWD... you know what. They have problems too! In fact at Edmunds for example, the postings about MINI problems is 232 (10 msgs a page) pages long. The Accord, which admittedly has a far longer history than the Mini and more examples on the road has had over 13000 messages posted. Totally unscientific, but I went to the seventh gen honda site click on the problems section, heres the first meassage I read:

Wonder if this guy is in the market for a lightly used MCS?

Oh and rattles? http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=236632

Hondas, it would appear aren't quite so trouble or rattle free as some might be believe are they? This in no way is meant to knock Honda, rather its a glimpse of reality. Cars aren't perfect. Modern cars are extraordinairily complex and its simply a fact of life that they ain't going to be perfect. Although having owned Healeys, Jags, Loti, MGs (sadly never had a Mini) in my youth, I gotta tell ya that by those standards the modern Mini was clearly concieved, designed and contructed by the Gods.

 

It's possible that some of the issues we've seen could be labor related, but I don't think to the extent that we've seen.

First, the cars are assembled in Oxford, but the components are actually built elsewhere and get shipped in from around the world. While some of the issues like rattles could be related to issues during assembling, other issues seem to be related to either poor design or components (like the dreaded yo-yo) or even engine control software those items are outside the scope of work of the workers assembling the cars in Oxford. Most of the problems are deeper and have been appearing for too long for it to be merely workers in Oxford sabotauging cars because of labor issues...

While I may question Minimam's appearance here on NAM, I'm 99.9% sure she's not a Plant Oxford employee, or an employee at a MINI/BMW VDC...

 

Minimam, this is the key point. This tends to be an enthusiasts board. Take a look at many people's sigs. They have More than one car.

If you need your car as a daily driver, you have every right to have such concerns.

 

I am one of the relatively early adopters of the MCSa (3/2005 build), and quite frankly, have not had any of the problems that have been posted about the MCSa (SES/EML, dropped driveshafts, and, and, and). My only objection has been the ride harshness of the Goodyear RSA runflats, but that problem was solved by going to 16 inch non-runflats. So far (5,000 miles), I haven't even had the dash noise (but then again, I don't have the honking big center speedo either).

I guess my only concern with the first post, was why didn't you try to get resolution of the issues (apart from just bagging it and running)? I might feel differently about the car if I had had some of the issues with my car; but still, when I have had problems with other cars, I worked them out with the dealer.

 

Coming from the other direction...

I've owned so many British Sports Cars that I would probably be qualified for confinement in a mental institution. (Let's see - counting the ones my family owned while I was growing up: two MGTDs, a TR3, two Spitfires, an XKE, and Jag Mk II, a Healey 3000, an MGA... probably missed a couple.)

With that background, I have to laugh sometimes. Is this really a British car? Nothing's fallen off yet. (Touch wood.) It hasn't left me stranded. I haven't had to pull under an overpass and pop off the distributor cap to dry the inside with a paper towel, or bang on the fuel pump with the rubber mallet I kept behind the passenger seat for banging on the fuel pump.

And yet, deep down inside, I know this is a British Sports Car. Every time I push down on the grin pedal. Every time I toss her into a curve. Look at all those smiles and waves from other cars at stoplights!

Quirky cars have quirks. I'm willing to put up with a little frustration (hell, looking at the list above, I'd have to say I'm willing to put up with a LOT of frustration!) in exchange for a lot of personality and fun.

Sorry Minimam's experience didn't work out. We do tend to get spoiled by our Hondas and Toyotas. (A couple of those in my background, too.) But maybe she just wasn't cut out to be a Mini owner.

I had a friend in college who rescued (not "restored," more like "re-incarnated") an old, badly beat-up XKE. Bob took a very philosophical approach to problems with his car. He'd just smile and say, "It's all part of the rich experience of owning a British Sports Car."

My sentiments exactly!