[Stiggy]

http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-...285&EL=3223737

MINI 5th of 26
2006 position 3rd of 26
Claims per 100 vehicles 23.9
Average age 3.8 years
Average mileage 32,500
Average repair cost £340
Average repair time 2.3 hours
Best model na
Worst model na

Mini is down from third last year, but this is still an encouraging result. Electrics remain the most likely thing to go wrong, with the suspension the next weakest area.

Mini's average labour rates were the highest of any manufacturer, but it didn't take too long to put the cars right, so the repair bills shouldn't turn your hair white.

What Car? Verdict: 4/5

[Paul]

Almost a one in four chance of problems and it finishes fifth. I think that's a sad reflection on what customers can expect from probably the second most expensive thing they will ever buy (next to a house).

[Stiggy]

Yes, I thought the same. 24% is not great. However, it's better than the Jaguar XK8 with 62% faults! (I won't even mention Alfa or Renault)

It's interesting that most of this data must be based on the 1st generation model. It will be interesting to see how the 2nd generation fares - hopefully better!

A ray of hope was their comment on the BMW

Quote:

So who was the star performer? In our view, the BMW 3 Series Compact takes some beating.

[devaisl]

Quote:

Electrics remain the most likely thing to go wrong, with the suspension the next weakest area.

I would have thought the gearbox would have been one of the things most likely to go wrong

[Paul]

Power steering, airbag warning light, warning lights in general?

[caesar]

Don't know whether I have posted this thread in the correct place, but the following link might be of interest: -


PistonHeads Headlines

[Paul]

Merged two threads for you.

[*Vikki*]

i dont think minis are that well built really...

[theskipper]

it is more likely that as the information is supplied by warranty direct and not Mini, that it will refer to R50/52 & 53 models as all other warranty claims would have been swept up by mini tlc. however doesnt bode well for long term ownership.

Quote:

Getting information from manufacturers about what's going wrong with their cars is like getting blood out of a stone. They strive to keep such information firmly under wraps.

Instead, we team up with independent warranty provider Warranty Direct (Warranty Direct :: The UK's leading car warranty & household warranty supplier. Providing used car warranties, new car warranties, and household protection for your TV, washing machine and other products., 0800 731 7001) and access detailed data on tens of thousands of cars.

There's plenty of information on offer here. As well as discovering what goes wrong, and how often, our Reliability Survey pinpoints the average length of time that it takes to get cars back on the road again and how much garages charge to put them right.

[Stiggy]

Manufacturer league table

1 Honda
2 Toyota
3 Subaru
4 Lexus
5 Mini
6 Nissan
7 Ford
8 Citroën
9 Rover
10 BMW
11 Peugeot
12 Mercedes
13= Fiat
13= Vauxhall
15 Volkswagen
16 MG
17 Jaguar
18 Volvo
19 Skoda
20 Audi
21 Saab
22 Chrysler
23 Seat
24 Alfa Romeo
25 Renault
26 Land Rover

['COOPERMAN']

Wheres Mitsubishi on there?!

[mikbmini]

I'm quite surprised about Seat, Audi and Skoda. How come Volkswagen are so much better, they're pretty much the same cars underneath I thought?
Also how come BMW are worse than MINI? You'd think that BMW would be at least as reliable as MINI!

[Ramon]

I agree with CHILLI21; the MINI is not that well built; so many funny squeaks, but I still love it as does my wife. It has CHARACTER!. My other car is a BMW Series 3 convertible with over 90k miles and its MUCH better than our 2006 MINI, nothing rattles and nothing leaks. However over 37K miles we have only had 2 problems withe MINI, a leaking passenger door seal and a lambda sensor both sixed under warranty. Also the 5 year TLC XTRA is well worth the cash.

[Stiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by 'COOPERMAN' (original)

Wheres Mitsubishi on there?!

There's lots of manufacturers missing; Daewoo/Chevrolet, Hyundai etc. I guess they only include manufacturers with numbers of cars high enough in the survey to be statistically meaningful.

Interestingly, the piece in PistonHeads makes the point that it's Japanese cars built in British factories that are the most reliable.

[Philr]

I recently bought a TT, early days yet but it seems fine, I have had three problems with the Park Lane in 18 months: 'clicking from steering column (they cant locate the problem), leaking damper (now) fixed and I have just noticed that the ave' speed display is faulty.

Compared to the TT forum there seems to be far more issue raised on this forum, but perhaps it relates to the number of sales?

[Tracie]

I had my Cooper for exactly 3 years and 4 days from new, till I sold it, in that time it had
steering column
new gearbox
3 trims around screen
rev counter
brake caliper sticking
breather pipe renewed
water coming in through screen
driveshaft
drive belt and tensioners
Clutch bearing
..and those are the faults I can remember!

cracking car to drive, but too many problems to put up with Im afraid. All done under warranty though.

[oldnell]

Sounds like a nightmare, Tracie. What are you driving now? I've had the dilemma of whether to get rid of mine and replace it, or whether to get another less practical car to go alongside my current car, but I just don't know what I would get.

If MINI hadn't made such a hash of the R56, I'd probably be driving one.

Oli

[Cooper"S"]

Quote: Originally Posted by Philr (original)

I recently bought a TT, early days yet but it seems fine, I have had three problems with the Park Lane in 18 months: 'clicking from steering column (they cant locate the problem), leaking damper (now) fixed and I have just noticed that the ave' speed display is faulty.

Compared to the TT forum there seems to be far more issue raised on this forum, but perhaps it relates to the number of sales?

Be careful when buying a TT. I used to have one and they either need no work or a lot of work. Common things to go are MAF meters, Springs, ARB's and bushings, Dashpods.

Its a Myth that they handle well, yeah they give loads of grip in the we due to the haldex 4 wd drive system but overall the Mini I now have is a much better handling car.

The TT forum is very good and there are lots of helpful people over there.

I would advise you to buy one with a full Audi history and check it back with the dealer to see if the advised work on a service was carried out. A lot of owners get them serviced at Audi and never take note of the advisory work. The result is a car with a "full service history" but a lot of worn parts.

[Cooper"S"]

Oops I didn't realise you had actually bought one, ignore my advice then and have fun