[I Am Canadian]

My wife and I just finised test driving both a 2003 Cooper and a 2003 Cooper S. Both demo cars had approx 3000 miles. For the most part I was satisfied with the experience although a couple of concerns have left me uneasy about purchasing an otherwise unreal automobile. Please give me your thoughts on what I felt were problems/dislikes. I want to know if I was missing something here or possibly just driving poor versions. Here we go:

1. Interior Plastic, the plastic on the doors and dash feel cheap and not at all durable. We both figured there should be more "BMW" on the inside. Will these stand up to everday abuse/use?

2. Interior buzzes and rattles. Both cars had unique squeaks and buzzes. Is this the norm? We currently own a '99 Contour SVT and we have lived with an onbscene amount of FORD Buzzing. We don't wan't the same problem in our second car.

3. Sunroof was excessively noisy even at speeds of 40km/hr. Seems like a design flaw, and the mesh shade serves little purpose.

4. Lastly, the exhaust note on the S really droned when on the throttle in 5th and 6th gear. It especially bothered me while in the passenger seat. Vibration in the seat and low frequency noise. I understand the premise of performance exhausts but, I found this noise to be too much. Surprisingly, my wife was not bothered.

Now I know this sounds like a negative rant, but this is all I can really pick on the Mini for. Aside from these concerns the cars were fantastic and downright amazing performers. Set me straight please, your thoughts are greatly appreciated...........we want this car.

[Paul]

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1. Interior Plastic, the plastic on the doors and dash feel cheap and not at all durable. We both figured there should be more "BMW" on the inside. Will these stand up to everday abuse/use?

I think it's a matter of taste. I think the silver/brighter MINI dashes are more likely to show scratches than a traditional dark interior, but I really like the MINI interior, I think it's different, and no more cheap looking than any other cars dash. In fact my next door neighbour and I always spoke about why does the interior of both his BMW's look so bland and plasticy! We've had our oldest MINI for about a year, and the dash and door plastic still looks good as new, but some people have reported scratches and especially rubbing on the down tubes by your legs. Depends on the owner and passengers I guess!?

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2. Interior buzzes and rattles. Both cars had unique squeaks and buzzes. Is this the norm? We currently own a '99 Contour SVT and we have lived with an onbscene amount of FORD Buzzing. We don't wan't the same problem in our second car.

Rattles and buzzes have been an ongoing bug-bear for MINI owners! They are getting better no doubt, more cars now on the road, and less complaints in faults and fixes leads me to believe they are improving. Most of the more recent cars I have driven have been buzz free.

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3. Sunroof was excessively noisy even at speeds of 40km/hr. Seems like a design flaw, and the mesh shade serves little purpose.

If it was open, then yes, I think it's noisy. The mesh shade serves a good purpose when the sunroof is closed on a very sunny day, it does keep out more light than you might expect.

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4. Lastly, the exhaust note on the S really droned when on the throttle in 5th and 6th gear. It especially bothered me while in the passenger seat. Vibration in the seat and low frequency noise. I understand the premise of performance exhausts but, I found this noise to be too much. Surprisingly, my wife was not bothered.

Can't agree with that one, but compared to my most recent cars, it's quite quiet! I LOVE the sound of the S exhaust!

[Jimbo_Mini]

I thought the brushed faux aluminum and even the non-brushed faux aluminum interior parts looked a bit plasticky for my taste.

The anthracite interior option looks much better, IMHO.

-Jim

[BillK]

My comments are based on my Sept. 2002 build 2003 Cooper with CVT at a little over 5000 miles . . .

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Originally posted by I Am Canadian

1. Interior Plastic, the plastic on the doors and dash feel cheap and not at all durable. We both figured there should be more "BMW" on the inside. Will these stand up to everday abuse/use?

I felt the same way at first, but after looking at other cars these days and driving my MINI for a few moths now, the interior plastic is just fine. It is much tougher than it looks and seems easy to maintain.

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2. Interior buzzes and rattles. Both cars had unique squeaks and buzzes. Is this the norm? We currently own a '99 Contour SVT and we have lived with an onbscene amount of FORD Buzzing. We don't wan't the same problem in our second car.

As Paul said, their have been several "squeak, buzz, and rattle" complaints. I have not had any problems with my Cooper other than stuff I brought into the car. For example, a CD box or hard glasses case in the map pockets can make a lot of noise. In each case, I have found that by stowing stuff better, the problem goes away. I think MINI is working out the actual car noise issues pretty well by now.

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3. Sunroof was excessively noisy even at speeds of 40km/hr. Seems like a design flaw, and the mesh shade serves little purpose.

Wind noise with an open sunroof is expected as far as I am concerned. I leave the roof in the "vent" possition on the highway without too much bother, but full open at speed is a bit much for me. When closed I have had no noise from the sunroof, in fact it has been quite good.

As to the shade, it actually makes a huge differance. Here in sunny So. Cal. I clearly notice the differance. Also, when I have the sunroof full open, it stops loose paper from flying out.

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4. Lastly, the exhaust note on the S really droned when on the throttle in 5th and 6th gear. It especially bothered me while in the passenger seat. Vibration in the seat and low frequency noise. I understand the premise of performance exhausts but, I found this noise to be too much. Surprisingly, my wife was not bothered.

Some like the drone, others don't. Maybe you will be more comfortable with a Cooper than an "S". Both cars are fun and handle well. If you wantr to go for the sport car racing look, feel, and sound, that would be the "S". If you want a fun car that can still be a family car, I would stay with the Cooper. I am never at a loss for power or handling in the Cooper, but I am not taking it to the track either. On the public roads, I don't see anything I could do in an "S" that I can not do as well in a Cooper .

That is my .02 worth (US, A bit more Canadian )

[aircanuck]

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That is my .02 worth (US, A bit more Canadian )

Your two cents will buy me a coffee here, so thanks for that

1. The mini has a lineage of being a little less extravagent but a lot more fun. So don't expect the doors to be lined with the pelts of some endagered animal . Or the bark from some tree found in the rainforest.

2. The interior buzzes and rattles seem to be easily fixed. But yep, I agree they aren't fun in the meantime.

3. The sunshade will reduce the fade on your interior caused by having such a gigantic sunroof. So I am a big fan. Not sure about the sunroof issue, mine is rather quiet when closed.

4. I guess the exhaust note could be changed and you would be committed for doing so.

Regards,
Neil