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Mini Coopers are SEXY.
- Thread starter Kebric
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The Shadow
Member
I thought Mini Coopers were cool looking cars but nothing I'd drive. That is, until I saw a Mini Cooper S convertable when I was waiting for a bus. I wanted to have sex with it.
F
Folder
Unconfirmed Member
The new Minis are a bastardisation.
This:
Was sexy.
And they suffer the same reliability issues as all BMW-manufactured cars.
"Sorry sir, your 13-month old car needs a new engine. $4,000 please."
This:
And they suffer the same reliability issues as all BMW-manufactured cars.
"Sorry sir, your 13-month old car needs a new engine. $4,000 please."
Folder said:The new Minis are a bastardisation.
This:Was sexy.
And they suffer the same reliability issues as all BMW-manufactured cars.
"Sorry sir, your 13-month old car needs a new engine. $4,000 please."
No.
FYI, all BMW's sold in North America come with a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty that covers everything (including normal wear and tear). I don't know if Mini's are sold with the same warranty but I would imagine they offer something very similar.
To answer Kebric's question, I don't think you have much to worry about as far as the Mini's reliability issues are concerned but you should get a warranty from the dealership that will cover you incase anything does go wrong.
We're the co-workers jinx mentioned, and yes, we love our Mini Coopers. 
We originally bought the red Cooper just over a year ago. At the time, we also had a Chrysler 300M. We intended for the Mini to be the commute car, with its good gas mileage, and the 300M to be the weekend car. Well, we soon became addicted to the Mini's handling, and ended up never driving the Chrysler. So what could we do, but get another Mini? We just picked up the S in December.
The warranty is all maintenance for the first 36,000 miles, and limited warranty through 50,000. So far though, we've had no issues with ours. You only have to change the oil about every 10,000-15,000 miles, which is nice. And the handling and sheer fun factor can't be beat. Let's Motor!
We originally bought the red Cooper just over a year ago. At the time, we also had a Chrysler 300M. We intended for the Mini to be the commute car, with its good gas mileage, and the 300M to be the weekend car. Well, we soon became addicted to the Mini's handling, and ended up never driving the Chrysler. So what could we do, but get another Mini? We just picked up the S in December.
The warranty is all maintenance for the first 36,000 miles, and limited warranty through 50,000. So far though, we've had no issues with ours. You only have to change the oil about every 10,000-15,000 miles, which is nice. And the handling and sheer fun factor can't be beat.
Let's Motor!
F
Folder
Unconfirmed Member
Oh the shame!Cooper said:We're the co-workers jinx mentioned, and yes, we love our Mini Coopers.
We originally bought the red Cooper just over a year ago. At the time, we also had a Chrysler 300M. We intended for the Mini to be the commute car, with its good gas mileage, and the 300M to be the weekend car. Well, we soon became addicted to the Mini's handling, and ended up never driving the Chrysler. So what could we do, but get another Mini? We just picked up the S in December.
The warranty is all maintenance for the first 36,000 miles, and limited warranty through 50,000. So far though, we've had no issues with ours. You only have to change the oil about every 10,000-15,000 miles, which is nice. And the handling and sheer fun factor can't be beat.
explodet said:Forget the Mini, get one of these!
Seriously though, I haven't heard many bad things about the Mini Cooper.
Those cars, the Smart, are all over Madrid. Surprisingly popular over there....as well as the Mini Coopers, but I didn't see quite as many when I was there. As for the Coopers, they're very nice cars, particularly on the inside. I actually considered getting one when I traded in my Grand Prix, but they don't sell them in Austin unfortunately. That and since I frequently have more than two people in the car, my current car made more sense. I'd personally recommend them though, they're great cars.
Prospero said:
It works fine for what we have to haul, which usually isn't too much more than a week's worth of groceries for two people. For larger objects like golf clubs, you might have to fold the rear seats down. Basically, if the Mini will usually be used for 1 or 2 people, you should be able to fit the same things that you can put in your average passenger car. It'll be a bit of a squeeze if you plan to regularly carry 3 to 4 people though.
Kebric said:
http://www.nctd.com/review-intro.cfm?Vehicle=2005_Mini_Cooper&ReviewID=1621
Some biggies are:
115hp vs 168hp
naturally aspirated vs supercharged
five speed vs six speed manual
15" wheels vs 16" wheels
single exhaust vs dual exhaust
and the S has a firmer sportier suspension
Worth noting: MINI keeps getting J.D. Power awards as far as being the Most Appealing Compact Car, but its IQS scores are the lowest in the industry right now. Some known problems:
- Some Minis are suffering from cracked engine blocks, which means the engine needs to be replaced, from relatively minor flooding, i.e. water damage.
- Leather and trim on the interior comes apart rapidly
- Run-flat tires cost $200 a pop
- Some annoying electrical issues, some small, some major like ABS failing
- The usual rattles/squeaks associated with poor build quality
But it's sure better than the VW New Beetle.
- Some Minis are suffering from cracked engine blocks, which means the engine needs to be replaced, from relatively minor flooding, i.e. water damage.
- Leather and trim on the interior comes apart rapidly
- Run-flat tires cost $200 a pop
- Some annoying electrical issues, some small, some major like ABS failing
- The usual rattles/squeaks associated with poor build quality
But it's sure better than the VW New Beetle.
The VW New Beetle is the most unreliable car on sale today, bar none. The car's dismal reputation was pretty much summed up by a white Beetle I saw sitting in a corner at a VW dealership with the words "DO NOT START" scribbled in white marker across the windshield.
Hey, that would be a good tag..
Hey, that would be a good tag..
GamePnoy74
Member
I was reading the new Motor Trend...the 05 Cooper S seems to be a little more powerful (168hp I think) than the 04 model...the extra power makes it go 0-60 in 6.4 seconds compared to 7.4 in the 04 and earlier Cooper S. That's dang fast for a little car like that =)
And if anything, no matter how pretty the 17" wheels are, it's kinda known that you should stick to the 15" or 16" wheels...the 17" wheels actually make the car's overall handling worse.
And if anything, no matter how pretty the 17" wheels are, it's kinda known that you should stick to the 15" or 16" wheels...the 17" wheels actually make the car's overall handling worse.
Kola said:
This kind of comment is so misinformed. If you check the IIHS and NHTSA, you will see the Mini gets very good marks.
Most accidents involve a single car. With the Mini's agile handling, I'm much more likely to be able to avoid such an accident than if I was in a larger, less responsive vehicle. Smaller vehicles also have less force to redistribute on impact.
Also, while rollovers are only 2% of total accidents, they are over 50% of fatal accidents. And again, with my Mini's handling and stability control, I'm confident that my wheels will stay on the street.
Now if I have a head-on with a big SUV, yes, I'll probably be in trouble. However, the chances of this type of accident aren't very likely. And even if I am in a big car, there are still plenty of bigger vehicles out there, like 18-wheelers and busses. If the only way you feel safe is to have the biggest car on the road, I'm afraid it's an arms race you can't win.
I was looking at a Mini at the start of last year. Got preapproved for a loan and everything. Was gonna go with this gorgeous dark silver. Anyway, the reason I passed on it is a few reasons. It's not exactly the best car to work on. Who would dream of breaking that warranty? that BMW warranty is pretty bomb-proof. It's reliable as hell to begin with, but with that great warranty, anything goes wrong and it'll be fixed. But I'm gonna do a lot of work on my car, so I passed. Also, bless BMW, but this car is a porker. It's way too heavy for such a small car. The original Mini was the original pocket rocket. This new Mini is no rocket. The Cooper S (which I ws gonna get) is quick enough, but not for my tastes. Ironically, it's probably as quick as my Spyder in 0-60, but not when I drop in a turbo. The power to weight ratio really tilts in my favor at that point. My car's relatively easy to get an 11s 1/4-mile out of now. The turbo kits that came out last year are awesome.
That said, these Minis are still awesome. Handles like a go-kart, which is what I was looking for. It will make you a very confident driver, believe me. And it rides like a BMW, very solid-feeling. But at the weight penalty, I couldn't bite the bullet. If you don't want to mod the shit out of it, get one. If you do, you're better served looking for something cheaper and lighter. but goddamn if the Mini doesn't have hands-down the best moonroof ever. Even better than the Tc's equally brilliant moonroof. PEACE.
That said, these Minis are still awesome. Handles like a go-kart, which is what I was looking for. It will make you a very confident driver, believe me. And it rides like a BMW, very solid-feeling. But at the weight penalty, I couldn't bite the bullet. If you don't want to mod the shit out of it, get one. If you do, you're better served looking for something cheaper and lighter. but goddamn if the Mini doesn't have hands-down the best moonroof ever. Even better than the Tc's equally brilliant moonroof. PEACE.
Drensch said:
Actually, one of the reasons we got the Mini is because it is such a good car for tall people. There's far more head room in the Mini than in the 300M. Just ask NBA star Dirk Nowitzki
And what cars are better values than the Minis? The base Cooper cost us $18,000, and the S about $23,000. Yeah, there are cheaper cars, but they're usually not as well equiped.
you can feel however you want, the mini cooper is quite safe.Kola said:
and on JD power, they're really a big marketing agency. i don't wholly trust their scores (especially the IQS), but if there is merit to the cracked engine blocks, that would be an issue. it's hard to say because there isn't a huge volume of these cars being sold, and their owners tend to expect a lot from them.
Duane, what did you end up buying?
01 MR2 Spyder.fart said:
I know I'm pretty shameless with my whoring of this car, but I love it to death. The mid-engine really shows itself on turn-in. The car's so light and the weight so focused that you'll hit apexes early until you get used to it. Telepathic is how I describe turn-in. But then, this car's also hung me out to dry a few times thanks to the mid-engine. Don't lift mid-turn. :lol Really, it came down to this and the WRX. This is 2200lb, the WRX 3300lb? The WRX is brilliant and offers a great upgrade path, and is cheaper to get that power from, but I settled on the mid-engine layout. I won't ever have a Porsche or Ferrari, so this is probably as close as I get until I get a Speedster or Elise years down the line.
But if there was a Lancer Evo anywhere near the same price, I would have gotten that in a heartbeat. There's really nothing I want more than that car, but it's currently out of my range.
I'd want the active diffs with it.The Minis at the last autox were tearing it up. I loved the Getrag 6-speed shifter in the Cooper S. It is so buttery smooth. The car just feels so high-quality when you get in it. And that moonroof...God, it's no coincidence I went with a convertible instead. :lol You get used to the great view in the Mini quick. I'm holding out hope that BMW eventually comes to its senses and releases a stripped-down Cooper R or something. Drop 400-500lbs off the Cooper, and it will be a force to be reckoned with. That suspension is already perfect. It would have to do less work with less weight, and then the p/w ratio can finally bump it back to pocket rocket status. Even without the moonroof, the car's just too heavy. A car that small shouldn't weigh as much as my 4-door Corolla.
And for people worried about a small car, I feel safer in one. My visibility is so poor, I can't see around a Civic in front of me. :lol But the car is so responsive and so easy to maneuver that I know I can get out of any bad situation I get in. I can outbrake almost anything under $60K, and if I need to make an emergency lane change, the car'll go where I want. I never worry when driving my car. The only thing I worry about is some SUV driver not paying attention, and moving over on me. But it hasn't been a problem yet. PEACE.
Yeah, lots of room in the Mini. The salesman at the dealership was like 6'3" and fit in there esaily. Lots of head and leg room. Not so much for passengers in the "back seat" though. :lol For the price range, it's got some stiff competition. A WRX can be had around the same price as the S. Not as well equipped, but much more sports car than the Mini. The SRT/4 is awesome for kids looking to just drag race all day long. It can handle tons of power, is fast as hell when modded right and is cheap. But that gets clobbered in amenities and reliability. :lol A Miata is still a hell of a car, as I discovered. Besides looking gay as hell, it'll still rock and roll through the twisties, put down lots of power with a few cheap mods, and it gets the power down extremely well with the limited-slip diff that's on the recent models. The Mazdaspeed version is cheap, comes with a 200hp super (I think) and a LSD. :O I'd wager it's the best bang for buck...again, assuming you can get over the fact that you're driving a fucking Miata.Cooper said:Actually, one of the reasons we got the Mini is because it is such a good car for tall people. There's far more head room in the Mini than in the 300M. Just ask NBA star Dirk Nowitzki
And what cars are better values than the Minis? The base Cooper cost us $18,000, and the S about $23,000. Yeah, there are cheaper cars, but they're usually not as well equiped.
Lots of cars give the Mini competition. But I think the Mini caters to a specific crowd, so it'll fit someone's bill. It's a more refined, yet still peppy experience. Find the twistiest stretch of road you know and enjoy. Unfortunately, there's no cure for permagrin. PEACE.Pimpwerx said:For the price range, it's got some stiff competition. A WRX can be had around the same price as the S. Not as well equipped, but much more sports car than the Mini. The SRT/4 is awesome for kids looking to just drag race all day long. It can handle tons of power, is fast as hell when modded right and is cheap. But that gets clobbered in amenities and reliability. :lol A Miata is still a hell of a car, as I discovered. Besides looking gay as hell, it'll still rock and roll through the twisties, put down lots of power with a few cheap mods, and it gets the power down extremely well with the limited-slip diff that's on the recent models. The Mazdaspeed version is cheap, comes with a 200hp super (I think) and a LSD. :O I'd wager it's the best bang for buck...again, assuming you can get over the fact that you're driving a fucking Miata.
Yeah, there are certainly other nice cars out there around the Mini's price. I was just objecting to the comment that "there are an awful lot of better cars to choose from." None of the other cars you mentioned interest me, for various reasons. Clearly, no car is right for every buyer, but for me, the Mini is perfect.
sweet car duane. i was looking for a mk1 mister at one point but i gave it up pretty quickly when i realized that i would shit out of luck if anything broke.
yah, there are better sports cars for the price of a mini, but nothing else really offers the look and stateliness of a mini for the price (although the 1-series might challenge it when those start shipping).
yah, there are better sports cars for the price of a mini, but nothing else really offers the look and stateliness of a mini for the price (although the 1-series might challenge it when those start shipping).
Maxwell House
Member
I personally think it looks funny when a male drives a Mini Cooper. They are nice cars but definitely have the look of a "girl car" in my eye. It just looks so feminine.
AlphaSnake
...and that, kids, was the first time I sucked a dick for crack
Cooper: Are those pictures of a MINI caravan? That's the coolest thing ever.
AlphaSnake said:Cooper: Are those pictures of a MINI caravan? That's the coolest thing ever.
Those are from the most recent Long Beach MINI Poker Rally. And yeah, it was a blast for all us Mini nuts.
Minis as far as the eye can see! *swoon*BigJonsson
Member
Smart cars are in Canada
They are so tiny, I want one!
They are so tiny, I want one!
as i understand it you're not going to get a base cooper for 18k. more like 20k and up, maybe 25 for the S. so in many ways no they're not the best value, but they're quite unique in that there aren't many "mature" cars that size on the us market, so it's really a perceived value thing
Drensch said:
Well, we custom ordered both of ours. Dealers can load the models on the lot with a lot of extra junk that drives up the cost, and some still price gouge. Miniusa.com has a really good configuration setup if you're curious.
fart said:
I rebuilt my Cooper model just as I configured it, and with the model year price increases, it now comes out to $19,400 MSRP. The options I added were the sports seats, stability control, computer, climate control and 16" wheels with run flat tires. Now that I've had a year of experience with the car, there are probably a couple more options I would have added if I rebuilt it, which would probably bring it to just over $20K. And we just bought the S in December, so I know we paid $23K.
I think they're very nicely equipped for their price, with lots of good standard features like ABS, side-impact and head protection airbags, a CD player, and speed-sensitive windshield wipers and radio volume. But yeah, in many ways, Minis are in their own niche, and not really in direct competition with most other cars.- Status