[spindoc]

The first two are a couple of defects awaiting repair. The last two are design deficiencies/compromises.

1. The passenger seat recline mechanism doesn't work. The dealer called me a day before I picked up the car to let me know about it. It's apparently a common problem, for which there's a known fix. They've ordered the necessary part, but it's on back order.

2. The average mph readout on the trip computer is about 4 mph slower than that indicated on the speedometer.

3. Because they're directly under the toggle switches, the front drink holders won't fit any medium or taller drinks (fortunately, the rear one doesn't have that problem, and is easily accessible from the front seats).

4. The sun visors are too short to be of much use when swung to the side.

Umm...that's all I could think of.

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by spindoc
...
2. The average mph readout on the trip computer is about 4 mph slower than that indicated on the speedometer.
...

Well, believe it or not, it's supposed to be that way.

An interesting article in the the April 2002 issue of Car and Driver concerning speedometer accuracy explains why.

The article asks the question why European cars typically have speedometers that do not reflect actual vehicle speed speed as accurately as speedometers in cars from North America or Asia manufacturers (based upon years of Car and Driver test data).

The article specifically mentioned BMW and Porsche speedometers (which seems to include the MINI). Of course having a European car with a less accurate speedometer is counter-intuitive when you consider the high speed autobahn travel possible in parts of Europe.

The upshot: A certain level of inaccuracy is designed in on purpose by the manufacturer in order to meet EU regulation ECE-R39. Mostly this has to do with making sure the speedometer never underreads true speed. This is important, the EU feels, because a car owner may fit a variety of different -- usually larger -- wheel and tire combinations to a car.

Here's the real interesting tidbit: Trip Computers do not have to meet this EU regulation, so they tend to read more accurately. Meaning if your speedometer says you are going 80 mph and you maintain that speed and reset your trip computer to determine your real average speed, the Trip Computer will show the more accurate, (i.e. slightly lower), true vehicle speed.

Ain't the EU wonderful?

[clarus]

Quote:

Originally posted by spindoc
4. The sun visors are too short to be of much use when swung to the side.

Yeah, they really should have made the car wider to accommodate wider sun visors This assumes that when in their original position, the left and right visors almost touch (as in my Outback).

[Addicted_to_S]

These niggles are fairly trivial, are they not (hope you get the seat fixed!)

Great posts, keep 'em coming!

[toomanycarz]

In my experience the Garmin GPS systems, such as the Street Pilot, provide an excellent indication of actual speed. They should give you an independent method to check for accuracy.

[Red & White Cooper 2]

On the Speedo discrepancy. I agree with everything BruceK has posted, but when Autocar tested the Mini Cooper, they found the speedo spot on upto 70 mph. From there on it over-read by 1 mph.