What Mini should have the best long term reliability? Cooper 5-spd, CVT, or Cooper S?

[johnsocal]

Will any of these be anymore reliable or are the all about the same?

[Johnny225]

About the same, but the S is the most fun!

[moorlockx]

I've seen too many threads on broken 5 spds. Until the new gearbox comes out, I'd have to choose betwwen the CVT or the 6 spd Getrag. That said, reliability is dependent on initial build quality and how you go about taking care of the car. It's a pain that you only have control over one of those.

[Red Dwarf]

Quote: Originally Posted by moorlockx

I've seen too many threads on broken 5 spds. Until the new gearbox comes out, I'd have to choose betwwen the CVT or the 6 spd Getrag. That said, reliability is dependent on initial build quality and how you go about taking care of the car. It's a pain that you only have control over one of those.

I know that I've read the odd comment about the 5 speed rover box, but are there really that many? From the things I've read over the last four months, it seems to me that most problems are the cracking windscreens and the yo-yo/stumbles problem on MCS'? (Just thinking out loud)

[Johnny225]

But you see, almost all of your problems could have happened with a cooper or one. But I'm surprised your dealer hasn't fixed all of those!

[Paul]

If treated with respect and care, I would think they'd all last much the same time, the 6 speed on the S should be more solid, but there's more parts and extra "bits" on the S to go wrong over time.... Not much in it is my vague answer I suppose!

[CooperS4us]

'02 Cooper CVT = 23,000 trouble free miles
'04 Cooper S = 8,000 troublefree miles.