current engine VS. 2007 engine

[mini vanilli]

i am actually considering getting a 2006 MCS so i can get the last of the current engines (in that awesome new space blue or a 2005 in the soon to be departed jet black). they have proven in my opinion to be problem free. i need a car thats going to go 200,000+ and i feel these engines could do it and then some. the next engine (in the 2007) worries me because it has not been tested in the real world like the current ones have, and there is a chance for some major problems. they seem alittle OVER engineered. more chances for something to go wrong. the cuirrent engines are simple in design and just work. what advantage could the next engines have over the current? maybe alittle torqe or litttle HP. alittle more fuel efficient by a gallon or two (i am aware of all the current info available for the new engine range as posted on motoringfile). but where i choose my engine is reliabilty and the current one is a tought act to follow. i have to admit the only reason i would consider the 2007 is for majors changes in looks or options. what do you guys think. we are talking strictly engines here.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

This seems a nice easy choice.

The current MINI engine is known to be pretty bomb proof and has been tuned to some outrageous power outputs and it still never seems to fail. If you want the sort of reliability and longevity that this unit provides, buy it.

The new engine could be good. It will certainly be lighter, will probably be no more powerful, will be a bit more fuel efficient and will be capable of meeting emmission controls for years to come. It is unlikely to be any more robust and will have to prove itself for some time before it can be considered as strong as the old unit. What is almost certain is that there will be a period of problem solving, modifications, dealer service bulletins and recalls before it is running perfectly.

You seem to have made the right choice already, go with an '06 or wait another 2 years and buy if the engine proves itself.

Tigger

PS Please could you add the option:

I will consider a new MINI when the engine has been in production for a year or to and I can get the sorted version

Tigger.

PS Please would you add the option:

I will consider a new MINI when it's had a year or two in production

[mini vanilli]

thanks for your great insight. and i tried to add it just now but it wont let me alter the poll at this point. sorry, that would have been a good addition.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by mini vanilli

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo

Please could you add the option:

I will consider a new MINI when the engine has been in production for a year or to and I can get the sorted version

... tried to add it just now but it wont let me alter the poll at this point. sorry, that would have been a good addition.

Done

[mini vanilli]

thanks

[Paul]

I've been pondering this myself lately too.

No closer to having any real opinion though.

[dansmini]

Not trying to be a trouble-maker, but what if one plans to keep their current MINI for a good while? Can that be an option. Or is it irrelevant to this thread if that is what one is going to do?

[SteveM3]

I'm going to keep my old car going until I see what people think of the new engine. In
my case though it's not reliability that influences me but the fact I have a supercharger
which I love and the new has a turbo which I hate in every application I have personally
tried.

[Johnny L]

Thoughts about the last Supercharged MCS:

I believe that the '07 Cooper and Cooper S will signify a completely different product focus. The current models offer many things to enthusiasts that many other makes do not. The modification possibilities have become one of the true joys of MINI ownership; this is kind of a throw-back to when just about everyone who learned to drive dreamed of owning a real, honest-to-god sports car. In the U.S., there really isn't anything else that can compare for the bank.

The '07 rollout is supposed to more than double in size, and, with that, I fear, there will be a loss in exclusivity; it'll go the way of the Miata. Sure, quality control, safety, and long-term reliability may rise, but will overall customer satisfaction? Probably yes, but the customers will be different. The slightly larger size and different model options (wagons and such) will attract the otherwise squeamish.

And changing to turbos won't necessarily interest too many enthusiasts. Turbos used to be associated with fantastic high-performance sports cars (Porsche, Lotus) with crazy high-end outputs. Now, low-pressure turbos are so common and refined, you barely notice that your engine is pressurized. The real reason to wait a few years, I think, is to determine if MINI/BMW really plans on continuing to make cars that appeal to those who REALLY love to drive and have fun driving and will do anything to have more fun driving. Or will the next generation MINI really mark the beginning of an ever-watered down product line designed for broad appeal?

[snuffy]

I'm going to buy what I can afford when the new model is released. I was going to change my car this year, but have decided to save some cash and wait a year or two till the new one comes out. The MINI is great - I'm sure the next one will be :-) However, the exclusiveness of the car was always going to be a problem...

[twouptons]

One of the reasons we bought a MINI to begin with was that the (then) current VW products offered little to really differentiate them from our existing Golf.

As a current MINI owner (and I may feel differently if our car were a few years older), buying a 2006 wouldn't give me much that I don't already have (unless we went with an S...).

With the new motor, there may also be other features that would make me want to switch. Otherwise, as long as it runs, why get a new one?

As for engines, I can't imagine BMW selling an engine that couldn't make it 200,000 miles, even if it is developed with Peugeot (heck, the current motor comes out of a Neon, for goodness sake). Selling cars (and motorcycles) with mechanically robust motors has always been a BMW hallmark. That being said, I also can't imagine BMW selling an engine that didn't have some sort of teething problems (particularly with electronics/software) in its first few years.

-Eric

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by twouptons

(heck, the current motor comes out of a Neon, for goodness sake).

A version of the Tritec engine was put in the Neon, the unit wasn't a Neon unit they decided to fit in the MINI, I hate to think people might believe the engine was an off the shelf package they just stuffed under the bonnet.

[Eelke]

FWIW, I like the fact the new engine is entirely designed by BMW, as opposed to the current one where only the head (?) has BMW-influence. I am fairly certain the French will be able to put together an engine, I do not put as much trust into their ability to engineer an engine (current Peugeot unit I'm running is really quite pathetic).

Ala, I do not have any choice as I need to order between now and a month. Who's complaining, when you can order a car to your spec and someone else is paying the bill (Company car)

[Johnny L]

Pray, tell! For what company do you work???

Quote: Originally Posted by Eelke

Who's complaining, when you can order a car to your spec and someone else is paying the bill (Company car)

[Eelke]

Well, company car isn't unfamiliar to anyone, I suppose; job requires lots of travel, your company supplies you with a car. In Holland it's pretty common that you actually just get a budget and you can shop around for that yourself (you won't be the owner, the lease company will, and your own company pays a monthly fee to the lease company). No idea how that compares to the rest of the world.