Bozz10mm
US Veteran
Or, as the Germans call them: Bavarian Mist Wagon.
Questions about Mini Coopers
- Thread starter lihpster
- Start date
Or, as the Germans call them: Bavarian Mist Wagon.
Bozz10mm
US Veteran
Isn't it the man's job to tell her when to change the oil, renew the registration, and when to put gas in it?
Jon651
Member
(With apologies to all the Mini Cooper lovers out there...) About 20 years ago we babysat my sister-in-law's Mini Cooper for two years as she was being deployed to the Middle East. We drove it about once a week just to keep it running and I did some routine maintenance. I'm sure this problem has been resolved, but her driver's door window would randomly freeze at the most inopportune times and it was quite aggravating.
In an attempt to be helpful, I brought it to the dealership in Orlando to get it fixed for her, but was told by the technician that it was a known problem with no fix at that time. Then he showed me exactly where to thump it on the interior door panel to get it to work!
Aside from that it perpetually got poor gas mileage, the transmission was horrid, the interior fit and finish was worse, and the maintenance was either crazy expensive or nearly impossible to do at home. At that time the Mini brand was owned by BMW, but the engineering and quality control were far from BMW standards.
Like I said, I'm sure things have changed but I don't do small cars regardless - and after those two years with her car it would never even make my last-resort list even if I did.
My wife bought a new John Cooper Works Countryman. It was pretty tricked out. It was a manual which she prefers, and the only problem we had in 145K miles is two clutches/flywheel at 4K a pop. Yes that is insane, but not a single other failure in 145K miles. Other than maintenance.
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OP
Narrowed it down to Honda and Toyota/Lexus. Just trying to find that sweet spot. Where condition, mileage, color, model, location and price come together. I've also decided to spend a little more money and get something a little nicer rather than someone's "commute of death" high miler. Still can't believe these prices though. I have come to greatly loathe those whose career path led them to writing used car ads. "No major dents or dings." Really? What about the clearly visible from space, 8" long crease in the back quarter panel? What is a major ding? Actual penetration of the body panel?
Dave_ QUOTE"... young good looking female "members of the constabulary" were the drivers. Once over taken at speed said:
smoothshooter
Member
A friend of mine’s wife has had one for 2 years.
Their Cooper has the annoying and mystifying habit of opening the sun roof on it’s own about twice a month or more when it is parked. If it happens in the garage, it is not too big a deal. Outside, it has let rain in that got the seats and carpet wet, which is a bigger deal.
Friend says there doesn’t seem to be any pattern of timing when it happens except it takes place after the car has been shut off for several hours.
They have taken it to several garages, and one shop that only does electrical repairs on cars and no one has been able to figure out the cause. He found out that Mini Coopers are known for having this problem, along with several others.
With shop rates being what they are, I would buy something else and avoid the potential hassles and maintenance costs.
Their Cooper has the annoying and mystifying habit of opening the sun roof on it’s own about twice a month or more when it is parked. If it happens in the garage, it is not too big a deal. Outside, it has let rain in that got the seats and carpet wet, which is a bigger deal.
Friend says there doesn’t seem to be any pattern of timing when it happens except it takes place after the car has been shut off for several hours.
They have taken it to several garages, and one shop that only does electrical repairs on cars and no one has been able to figure out the cause. He found out that Mini Coopers are known for having this problem, along with several others.
With shop rates being what they are, I would buy something else and avoid the potential hassles and maintenance costs.
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smoothshooter
Member
The thought of driving or riding any distance in any Mini Cooper or similar sized car scares me.
Crash protection must be almost non-existent, and they sit so low that visibility is limited somewhat for the driver as well as other drivers driving much larger vehicles seeing them in heavy traffic and/or bad weather.
The interior is so cramped that transporting any cargo larger than 3 bags of groceries and a couple of coats is tough.
Crash protection must be almost non-existent, and they sit so low that visibility is limited somewhat for the driver as well as other drivers driving much larger vehicles seeing them in heavy traffic and/or bad weather.
The interior is so cramped that transporting any cargo larger than 3 bags of groceries and a couple of coats is tough.
smoothshooter
Member
The thought of driving or riding any distance in any Mini Cooper or similar sized car scares me.
Crash protection must be almost non-existent, and they sit so low that visibility is limited somewhat for the driver as well as other drivers driving much larger vehicles seeing them in heavy traffic and/or bad weather.
The interior is so cramped that transporting any cargo larger than 3 bags of groceries and a couple of coats is tough.
Crash protection must be almost non-existent, and they sit so low that visibility is limited somewhat for the driver as well as other drivers driving much larger vehicles seeing them in heavy traffic and/or bad weather.
The interior is so cramped that transporting any cargo larger than 3 bags of groceries and a couple of coats is tough.
smoothshooter
Member
Except for Land Rovers ( and their jacked up electrical systems) I am hard put to think of anything off the top of my head that they export any meaningful amount of. It’s a shame that the UK has devolved to a point that they can barely produce enough at reasonable prices to take care of their own needs (if even that). Their citizens vote in socialist politicians at every turn, and so a significant number of them are basically wards of the state in some form or other, and most of them have voluntarily surrendered their basic freedoms to achieve that end.
Sad, really knowing what a world power Britain used to be.
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Jon651
Member
This was an old saying we had in the fire department about small cars:
"They all look the same after they've been broadsided by a Suburban!"
OP
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