Overall reliability - getting better or worse?

[Aaronfreeman]

First off I apologize if I'm bringing up a sore subject or one that's been covered to death, but I've done some searching and still can't seem to find an answer to my question.

As I'm sure you're all aware, there are conflicting opinions as to where the Mini is a "reliable" car. I understand that any new model of car is going to have kinks to be worked out as the model matures and the manufacturing process improves. However, my question is this: Is it generally agreed upon that the Mini is "maturing" in this way, I.E. needing less and less work with each year's release?

What are my chances that my new 05 MC will put me in a first-name-basis relationship with the dealership's mechanic?

[fred3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Aaronfreeman

First off I apologize if I'm bringing up a sore subject or one that's been covered to death, but I've done some searching and still can't seem to find an answer to my question.

As I'm sure you're all aware, there are conflicting opinions as to where the Mini is a "reliable" car. I understand that any new model of car is going to have kinks to be worked out as the model matures and the manufacturing process improves. However, my question is this: Is it generally agreed upon that the Mini is "maturing" in this way, I.E. needing less and less work with each year's release?

What are my chances that my new 05 MC will put me in a first-name-basis relationship with the dealership's mechanic?

with you if you've developed your buying a mini phobia from reading all the negative things you're read on sites such as this, northamericanmotoring, etc. What you have to concentrate on are 1) the reason you want one-it's the coolist car around for the price 2) what's not said-all the good things don't get mentioned.

Most of the people I know have to travel quite a ways and that can always make one second guess themselves. All I can say is if your fear is that great that it will not be reliable enough then you shouldn't get it. I bought mine and have 82 miles one way to get service, but my wife also has a car. It's a Civic and been super reliable so far. So was our Caravan('91-youngest daughter still drives it). So while it might be an inconvience it won't stop me from getting to work. If you add to that the fact that if the car breaks down in the (correct me if I'm wrong please) the first 3 or 4 years you have a toll free number to call and they tow it/fix if free. If that isn't enough if I'm more than 100 miles from home they'll take care of the hotel and meals.

Cars today, on the whole, have very few of the problems cars did in the past. They are just that much better built. There is the human varible so they aren't 100 percent, but they are darned close. So either jump in and enjoy the water, or do not. But you won't be able to get anyone to convince you something may not go wrong. That's life and you either deal or you drive what everyone else is driving.

[MrV]

I doubt that you will be on a first name basis. I was looking at an issue of Consumer Reports recently. Now I know that CR isn't the best judge of cars or their reliability, and I certainly didn't let it stop me from my buying a MINI. But I thought this was interesting:

In this particular car issue, they had the reliability ratings for the last three years. You may or may not know the rating system that CR uses. Circles of various colors are used to designate how bad / good something is.

Full Red - Best
Half Red
Empty
Half Black
Full Black - Worst.

The 02 MINIs had maybe 1/2 of the categories filled with Full red, a couple of half red, couple of empty's and a couple of blacks.

The 03's had about the same amount of full red, but no blacks, and only a few of emptys or half reds.

The 04's had all full red dots, except the two or three categories, which were half red. No emptys, no black dots.

05s were not reported yet. I think there were a total of about 10 categories. Seen over time, it was obvious that consumers were reporting less and less problems as the car has matured.

I read over at Motoringfile that the 2004 MINI came in 9th place in CR's reliability ratings (out of 28 cars manufacturers). Specifically, there were only 13 problems in 100 vehicles. Much better than the previous year. (In contrast, the best (subaru) had 8 problems, Toyota placed 4th, with 10 problems - Mercedes and Lincoln placed last with 25 and 26 problems respectively).

Obviously the MINI could be a bit better and more reliable. On the other hand, you must make a trade-off between something like the MINIs performance and fun vs. a car like a Beige Toyota Corrola.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

[justbob]

Great answers, and this was a factor for me, too. But after driving interesting but unreliable (and cheap, usually rides bought cheap--less than $1000), which always became disposable cars (drive it for a few months and then part it out at a junk yard), I had one Honda Civic DL that I drove for 10 years and over 200,000 miles. Always got 40 mpg or better, always fun to drive, changed the oil, the plugs and the tires., and that was it.

So, I did have issues with the reliability of the MINI--particularly in light of my 67 MGB GT, which was mint but required the Shade Tree Mechanic every Sunday, in between wild blasts through the countryside. (It eventually lost a fight with a Pontiac Bonneville...). It was however, the best car I ever owned. Up until now.

I really wanted a MINI, so I took the plunge and just bought one. Other than some minor issues, it has been utterly reliable, and has not cost me a dime or any time in 20,000 miles of...spirited...driving. It's a hoot, and the most fun I've had driving a car since I had the MG--the only reason I open the hood, however, is to put more window washing fluid into those two too-small vessels.

And, I look forward to driving to work each morning, which is the biggest plus.

[RenaultF1]

Having just come from owning a car (99.5 Audi A4) that not only put me on a first-name basis with the service advisors and mechanics, but also with the parts people, I can tell you that the issues with MINIs were a HUGE concern with me prior to purchase.

I lurked on the various forums (here, motoringfile, NAM) and also checked out the NHTSA website for bulletins, etc. After the front suspension failed on the Audi (happened the day following a 6+ hour drive to Canada...not good) I took the test drive the following weekend and fell in love with the MCS.

I went home (wanted to think it over) and called the service department at the dealership where I took the test drive (80+ miles away) and went over the various/most common issues I had read about. They took the time to explain everything. I ordered my 2005 MCS 4 days later.

I've had the car since October, I have 7300 miles on it, not one rattle, not one problem. I am a total car girl...I've NEVER loved a car like I love this one.

[SoggyCornFlakes]

On my second Cooper, both proved problem free, the second one was an improvement on the first - jsut felt etter all round. I've recently driven a newer Cooper and it is an even better improvement now - the gear ratios are slicker and sweeter, it just feels a damn good drive. Go get one - you wont regret it

[Richard Crofts]

30k miles and still no mechanical faults. I had a gearbox replaced becuse it was whiny but it never gave any trouble, the niose just irritated me. Reliabilty is not an issue with my Cooper, and I drive it very hard.

R

[Johnny L]

I have owned an e36 3 Series for 7 1/2 years now. I drove an '04 MCS last summer, and I was a little disappointed (gearing, gearing, gearing--and the cheap interior). Well, after a couple turns behind the wheel of an '05, my impressions have changed completely. Not only do I like the revised gearing MUCH better than before; I also believe that the '05 is better built (i.e., quality controlled). I am won over, and I don't expect that there'll be a lot of problems. Probably none.

I AM a little curious about that windscreen issue, however!

[lightbody]

I've had my Sept 04 build Cooper for 6 months now.

I've not been back once to the dealer and it has been 100% reliable (except for a couple of *very* minor irritations)