Hello!
My wife needs a car for short commutes and I thought of MINI cooper as a perfect car for her. Our '11 ML350 used to be her car but I need it for work and my other car(93 Z32TT) used to be my daily but it's now a garage queen that I can't part with for any reason. Is there any model that I should avoid? It has to be an auto and we'd like to get the base model. We'd like to spend around $12K, cheaper the better. At what mileage is major service due such as timing belt and water pump? I've heard reliability isn't great with these cars? Any models we should avoid? Thanks in advance!:D

I'm not sure your budget will allow to buy a base model (Cooper) with a reliable automatic transmission.

First generation automatic Cooper models (hardtops built through November 2006 and convertibles built through July 2008) had a CVT transmission, which costs an arm and leg to replace. An Aisin unit is used in second generation Cooper models and both generation Cooper S models.

This USA Mini Buyers Guide may also help:
MotoringFile MINI R50/R53 Buyers Guide (http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/)

I would avoid the CVT equipped base Minis. My '05 is an S with the Aisin 6 speed auto. I have almost 150,000 miles and other than normal maintenance I haven't had any problems at all. All I've done other than normal maintenance is change the thermostat and housing at about 130,000 The housing is known to leak but really, after 130,000 miles I'd hardly consider that a real problem.

The only recommendation I could give on the Aisin 6 speed is to change the fluid every 50,000. They are "sealed" units with fluid that allegedly is "lifetime". You can have problems over 100,000 miles with hard shifting and the like. So, in my opinion, change out the fluid yourself every 50,000 and you should be fine. It's simple to change the fluid (you actually change 40% at a time) and there are posts about how to do it. Paying someone shouldn't be that much either.

I may get another Mini in a few years because I've had such good luck with mine.