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MINI Cooper - READ ONLY

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Messages Page 247 of 268

#2458 of 2671 Test Drove 2 Minis by jaxs1

Aug 01, 2007 (5:21 pm)

I recently test drove 2 automatic Minis. A Cooper and a Cooper S. I was disappointed by several things.
The Cooper had just adequate power with one person. Maybe 2 at most.
I don't think people who plan on buying the new stretched Clubman because they want to carry passengers in the back seat will want this engine. I doubt it can safely accelerate with the weight of a full load of passengers.
Since I will be driving with no more than 1 passenger and mostly with no passengers, I think a base Mini automatic would be "livable." Maybe it would be a bit quicker with the 6-speed stick.
 
The Cooper S automatic was way faster. It had so much power that it caused torque steer and was jumpy and difficult to drive smoothly. You can avoid the torque steer by not using all the power, but the car was still jumpy even with light throttle.
The ride of the S was hard and bumpy and the engine was too loud at cruising speed. Everything seemed louder in the Cooper S, even the tires and road noise.
 
The worst aspects of the cars were the quality or the "quality control." The first car had the airbag light on and the salesman said don't worry about it, it's just a light that has to be reset.
Both the base Cooper and the Cooper S had power side view mirrors that seemed to stick and jam in certain positions when you try to adjust them.
The Cooper S passenger seat had a very loud rattle over ever little bump in the road. I thought the door wasn't shut properly, so I stopped and reslammed the passenger door and then realized it was the passenger seat making all that noise.
 
The manual A/C on the Cooper S seemed stronger than the automatic A/C on the base Cooper. I'm not sure if it is because an S has a more powerful A/C unit than the base Cooper or if something was just set differently.
They cars looked very nice. The interiors looked great with the optional $1900 lounge leather, chrome trim and piano black trim (except for some cheap gray plastic pieces that do not get upgraded with the optional trims and end up looking even cheaper in comparison to the upgraded trim around it).
 
It's probably not a good idea to buy a 2007 or maybe any new Mini unless you have the time to take it back to the dealer a few times to fix various problems that will very likely come up.
 
Some of these problems should have been found when the vehicles were inspected at the factory and then again at the dealer. Who knows what other problems would turn up after a few days of driving.

#2459 of 2671 Re: Test Drove 2 Minis [jaxs1] by bodble2

Aug 01, 2007 (8:50 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Aug 01, 2007 5:21 pm)
I think, for some reason, the new 6-speed steptronic does not pair well with the Base Cooper. We have a '05 Base Cooper with the CVT, which is sluggish off the line. But once it gets going, it's actually quite lively. We drive it mostly in the city, but from the limited time we've had it on the highway, I think it would do quite well on the highway, as long as there aren't big hills to climb! Also, I find it very quiet on the highway, compared to other small cars such as the Civic. The CVT's biggest flaws are low-speed lurchiness and sluggishness off the line. But other than that, I actually think it is a better match for the base engine than the steptronic. I find the steptronic has very short gearing in 1st gear, and it tends to hold on too long before upshifting. You almost have to lift off the gas to induce upshift, which is not exactly conducive to good acceleration.

#2460 of 2671 Re: Test Drove 2 Minis [bodble2] by jaxs1

Aug 01, 2007 (9:23 pm)

Replying to: bodble2 (Aug 01, 2007 8:50 pm)
I drove both cars with the A/C on. Maybe the base will feel much faster without the A/C. I have heard people say the A/C is a huge power drain on the base Cooper. However, I need the A/C most of the year, so turning it off is not a solution.
Even then, I still found it adequate driving by myself. I was able to get on the freeway quickly enough with the A/C on, but no power to spare.
The quality issues are a bigger problem.
I thought the quality control was sloppy and an embarrassment to all who were involved in first causing and then not finding and correcting the issues.

#2461 of 2671 Re: Test Drove 2 Minis by paul_devil

Aug 01, 2007 (9:36 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Aug 01, 2007 9:23 pm)
So as long as I have read you guyz mention about MINI, it made me think as twice seriously. But I doont really know why I really love MINI eventhough I never own one. It is really into me now. However, I dont wanna be the one who keep getting it fixed. As long as it will be my first car, I want to feel confident and more relie on.
 
How could I do then? If I wait for 2008 MINI, clubman, I dont think I like it. It looks bigger and as jaxs1 said, the power doesn't adequate for sure. Is anybody light me up the way... huh!!

#2462 of 2671 Re: Test Drove 2 Minis [jaxs1] by bodble2

Aug 01, 2007 (9:55 pm)

Replying to: jaxs1 (Aug 01, 2007 9:23 pm)
"The quality issues are a bigger problem."
 
I don't think it is quality issue per se. I just write it off to new model teething problems. The reason why I recommend waiting for the 2nd, or even 3rd year, if you can help it.

#2463 of 2671 Re: Test Drove 2 Minis [paul_devil] by jaxs1

Aug 01, 2007 (10:02 pm)

Replying to: paul_devil (Aug 01, 2007 9:36 pm)
If you don't carry passengers in the back seat, the Clubman probably won't be much slower. However, two 150 lb passengers riding in back will make it a joke with base engine, automatic transmission and the air conditioning running.
You can always get a Clubman S.
Maybe the 2008's will have better quality control and maybe you will be lucky and get everything fixed right the first time in only one or two trips to the dealer.
I guess you just have to consider going to the dealer a few times a year to get problems repaired part of the "experience" of driving a Mini.

#2464 of 2671 Re: Test Drove 2 Minis [paul_devil] by bodble2

Aug 01, 2007 (10:03 pm)

Replying to: paul_devil (Aug 01, 2007 9:36 pm)
It's your first car, you've probably worked hard to save up for it, and as you've stated, reliability is important. The last thing you would want is to end up with a car with gremlins, which would really sour your first-new-car experience, which is always a special experience (sort of like your first girlfriend!). I think you should resist urge to get '07 MINI. Wait a few months (if you can). The '08 would be out. And more importantly, it would give you more time to follow forums such as Edmumds to gauge the reliability of the car.

#2465 of 2671 MINI 2007 (BASE MODEL) BRAKES NOISES by mini0207

Aug 02, 2007 (6:18 am)

I purchased a 2007 Cooper in April and so far I have taken it back to the service department 4 times for the same reason: RATTLING DASH BOARD / DOORS MAKE NOISE WHEN CLOSING
BRAKES GROWLING
I have been told by the Service Advisor that ALL of the above is NORMAL.
I have bought many cars over the years and NEVER have had these problems (specially on a brand new car).
Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Thank you.

#2466 of 2671 Re: MINI 2007 (BASE MODEL) BRAKES NOISES [mini0207] by paul_devil

Aug 02, 2007 (10:02 pm)

Replying to: mini0207 (Aug 02, 2007 6:18 am)
um... nothing to say then since u guyz insist your words. I have to rethink about getting one soon. I just have to wait for a new model coming out soon. Inforamtion here is very useful for me. I've learnt alot since I have no idea about car at all especially European car. I always get used to Japanese car.
 
The thing that I really want to buy MINI is that I love it, and in my country its cost about 80,000 dollars here. but here is what I can effort by myself. I hope to keep track of all new mini launching in the market soon from you guyz.
 
Thank you so much, I appreciated.
 
Paul_MD

#2467 of 2671 "Unknown Code" says dealer. Help. by motoron

Aug 12, 2007 (10:54 pm)

Well, just under 25 miles into my "experience" and my new 2007 MCS check engine light (half solid) displays which reduces engine performance to a crawl. I limp home. Contact BMW who says "bring it for service." I do. Error code resets on Restart (MS Windows 98? so problem can't be detected. I'm sent home. Problem continues and I determine:
Occurs when decellerating through 3000 - 2500 RPM w/o engaging clutch and when engine is warm.
 
Return to Mini of Universal City. Force problem before arriving, they verify. (Dealer is great. Doing what they can!!!, BUT unknown code so need to contact BMW east coast. No one seems to have solution. Dealer has begun to order parts. 3 week old MCS. No driving without malfunction. I refrain from driving. Now 5 days in service at dealer. Do I need to contact CA Atty General's Office re: Song Beverly "lemon law"?
 
Help! I miss my Mini and really want it fixed. So far, car is dangerous to drive (problem could occur at inopportune times, and who knows what the error could create?) I'm not faulting dealer, BMW has manufactured and sold an inoperable vehicle.
 
I want my MCS (working)

Messages Page 247 of 268

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