[jopang]

I love to own a Mini; I ordered a MCSa 2006 last week. But i can't make up my mind yet; whenever i read consumer reports on it i get confused. It's cute and everything.. but i am very ambivalent about its reliability. i spoke to my friend who leased a MC 2004 manual at the end of 2003; he had to take it to the dealer 3 or 4 times in 2 years due to major mechanical failures. i need help

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Don't panic!

Mine's been bomb proof over the last 14 months and 15,000 miles and so have a lot of others here. I'm a member of an active local club with around 15-20 regular members and that's pretty much the experience of everyone else there.

I spent my own money on the MINI (not my employer's) and I would do it all over again if I have the opportunity.

Stick with it, you'll love it.

Tigger.

PS Put it another way it's about as well built and reliable as the Company Volvo V70.

[rsinsheimer]

That's a tough one. I picked up my '05 last April, I've had no reason to go to the dealer --- a good thing, since it's a 90 mile drive. Knock on plastic, it's been a very good little car, and I love it. That's not to say they're perfect, if you look around these forums you'll see that people have issues with them, no doubt about it.

Perhaps another way to look at it -- I also have an '05 Acura -- it's been in the shop. So nobody makes a perfect car.

-- Roger

[ceddyluv82]

Theres 2 ways you can look at it man. 1) read these forums and look only for the problems these cars can have... and you will probably never buy one. 2) Look at both the good and the bad things, and you will see the little problems these cars can potentially have will not outweigh the huge fun this mini will give you and it is a great car to own.

[pyratio]

--I understand your trepidation in investing into a car like the Mini Cooper. It is a lot of money for such a small little car. One of my former girlfriends once told me that a relationship should only continue if the good times outnumber the bad times you have together. Your relationship with a car should probably be treated the same. If the car turns out to be a lemon you have a few months to either get a refund or get a whole new car. So you're probably covered by your local lemon law.

What really matters is how many times a day does the car bring a smile to your face? If it is always breaking down on you then you probably won't have many smiles from being in or looking at your car. But if it runs like the wind and never lets you down and it gives you giggles everytime you floor it, then it will more than likely be the love of your life.

I guess what I'm trying to say is getting any car is like being with the opposite sex. You never know what's deep down beneath her or his hood. She or he could have mechanical problems or psychological (ahem!) I mean software problems. Nothing in life is certain. But are you willing to risk the love of your life simply because you're afraid?

Don't be. The car is a great investment and even used it sells for a very good change. The one thing I really trust about Mini as a corporation is that they are very innovative and they fix things very quickly once they find a problem. They aren't like the larger corporations who will leave you out to hang while they calculate the cost ratio between lawsuits and the cost of a recall.

It's a solid car and it's a solid company. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If not divorce em. =)

--pyratio