[rosmini]

Hi all.

I am currently a 99 Saab 9-3 / 91 Saab 900Turbo owner (have owned Saabs for the last 8 years) and I'm looking for a change.

I've always loved the mini and am toying with the idea a bit... I was wondering if anybody could make recommendations on what to look for when buying a used mini. Things like known issues, most solid production year, "necessary" extras, etc...

I know I want a Cooper S and probably the cold weather package (I live in upstate NY, USA.)

Thanks for any thoughts...
// Ros

[KPKalle]

Hi and welcome

Teething problems with the car were ironed out in later models - say from 03 onwards. Not to say you won't find a good one from earlier.

I'm not too up on the US options but I think the sport package is good to have

[rosmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by KPKalle

Hi and welcome

Teething problems with the car were ironed out in later models - say from 03 onwards. Not to say you won't find a good one from earlier.

I'm not too up on the US options but I think the sport package is good to have

Thanks very much for the confirmation. I've been reading here in the forums and it appears most people feel strongly that the '05 model holds the most promise and appears to be when Mini "hit the mark". Is that something most of you agree with?

I've been reading a little about rattling issues and loud wind noise. Is this something that has been fixed in the more recent models?

Thanks again.
// Ros

[Electric Blue]

They changed a few things in 05 (lights, gear ratios etc) and some believe they improved. I have an 03 and really can`t fault it, BUT, I havent driven a facelifted car so can`t really compare.
Main exterior problem is stone chips, they attract stones like flies!Get a clear car bra fitted to stop having a dimpled front.
Clutches aren`t cheap apparently, so check it well before buying for any signs of slippage.

Buy one, have an insane amount of fun in one, I garauntee you will love it more than any Saab (speaking from personal experience)

[Tio Barry]

I turned in a '02 9-3 lease last year and bought a '03 MC CVT. I have been very happy with the car and find it a really solid piece and of course the handling. I am in Albany NY and bought some add on seat heaters and some snows and used it just like a SAAB thru the winter. The only thing I recall is that the MINI gets frozen up more easily and I've heard that it is difficult to getquick interior heat with the auto climate control - manual would be better.

Early models seem to have more tranny issues. I've only driven an S once but it did not have that turbo rush that was so great.

I still have a '98 NG900 convertible and a '73 96 (El Aguacate!) so I am not SAABless.

[rosmini]

wow. this forum easily rivals Saab forums and I thought those were good. Thanks very much for the insight everyone....

@Tio Barry: it's funny that you mention that the "MINI gets frozen more easily". My introduction to the new MINI was helping a co-worker climb in through the back of her brand new MINI S (with the works) so she could drive home from work -- her doors frozen shut by a bitterly cold Rochester NY winter. She informed me before she brought it back to the dealer she had a morning ritual of running her hair dryer out of the house on a utility extension cord and defrosting her doors so she could drive to work.

As a Saab owner, my number one desire is dependability and a hope for minimal issues. Obviously, owning a Saab has broke me of any desire for cheap repair so I'm at least accustomed to any steep associated costs. I am just hoping that the Mini Cooper model year I choose isn't "prone" to any specific issues. The Saabs all have what we affectionately call "quirks" but actually translate to "annoyingly common issues" (DI cassettes, idle issues, heater box controls, sagging headliners etc...)

I am hoping to look at the '05 year. Does anyone have any insight into any common issues with that model year? I read something about wind noise and rattling. I also read on the forums somewhere that mini is putting turbos into the new model line? Has there been issues with the supercharge setup?

Thanks again all....

[dakini]

If you're looking at an 05, you'll probably find two things to be the case:

1) An 06 is really not going to be much more, plus you can get it preceisely to your specs. And when I say not a lot more, I mean less that 2k. So why not get one without miles and with a full warranty. A mini holds value in the US quite well.

2) You might be able to get a loaner from a dealer for less than a used one. A few of us on here have gone that way. And sometimes loaners can be extremely low mileage.

Good luck looking, and have fun picking out your car

[rosmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by dakini

If you're looking at an 05, you'll probably find two things to be the case:

1) An 06 is really not going to be much more, plus you can get it preceisely to your specs. And when I say not a lot more, I mean less that 2k. So why not get one without miles and with a full warranty. A mini holds value in the US quite well.

2) You might be able to get a loaner from a dealer for less than a used one. A few of us on here have gone that way. And sometimes loaners can be extremely low mileage.

Good luck looking, and have fun picking out your car

forgive my ignorance here but when you say "loaner" you are speaking of the vehicle that customers use when their car is in the shop, correct? Those seem like they may be very difficult to come by considering dealers probably only use 2 or 3 cars for that purpose?

Thanks for the insight!

[Coop-a-Loop]

I had a '79 Saab 900T.....I thought that car was great......180,000 mi later it is gone and I now have an 05 MCS......The Mini is sooooo much more fun.......not as much room tho but who cares......wow the Mini handles grreat, much better than the 900T.
Plus I now have 11,000 mi on it after one year without any trouble at all. Can't say that
about the old Saab. Get the Mini you wont't be dissappointed. Motor On

[rosmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Coop-a-Loop

I had a '79 Saab 900T.....I thought that car was great......180,000 mi later it is gone and I now have an 05 MCS......The Mini is sooooo much more fun.......not as much room tho but who cares......wow the Mini handles grreat, much better than the 900T.
Plus I now have 11,000 mi on it after one year without any trouble at all. Can't say that
about the old Saab. Get the Mini you wont't be dissappointed. Motor On

Yeah. My wife has a 91 900T and it's been great - fast, solid, just wear and tear issues... My 99 9-3SE HOT on the other hand has been less than impressive in terms of simple function and reliability. I blame it on GM.

I'm excited about looking further into the cooper and really looking forward to perhaps being able to join this community in the near future...

Cheers.

[dakini]

Quote: Originally Posted by rosmini

forgive my ignorance here but when you say "loaner" you are speaking of the vehicle that customers use when their car is in the shop, correct? Those seem like they may be very difficult to come by considering dealers probably only use 2 or 3 cars for that purpose?

Thanks for the insight!

Generally, yes, these are the cars that go out when people bring in their cars for service. One member here (somewhere on the east coast, I think,) got $1 off per mile on the car. I got mine with less than 100 miles on it, but with a bunch of extras thrown in, including the loaner warranty (55,000 miles). It might be worth asking. I honestly have no idea how many my dealer has an any time.

[rosmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by dakini

Generally, yes, these are the cars that go out when people bring in their cars for service. One member here (somewhere on the east coast, I think,) got $1 off per mile on the car. I got mine with less than 100 miles on it, but with a bunch of extras thrown in, including the loaner warranty (55,000 miles). It might be worth asking. I honestly have no idea how many my dealer has an any time.

gotcha. thanks.