are mini coopers (bmw) good cars?

Question

im in the market for a mini cooper, if you have/had one, were there any problems? if not, any friends with problems?

Answer 1

So speaking from experience here.
I've had quite a few cars in my life time. Chevy Cameros, Jeep Cherokees, BMW 325is, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Ford Mustang, Toyota Corolla and a Datsun B210 when I first learned how to drive.
I can honestly say that I love each one for different reasons. Of course the Camero and the Mustang were fast cars and the Jeep I could take every where. Hondas are always reliable. But hands down the 2 MINI Coopers I have now are by far the funnest and greatest cars I've ever owned.
Like i said I have two of them ( 2006 MINI Cooper S JCW and a 2006 MINI Cooper automatic) My girlfriend and I can't see ourself driving anything else. Well, not till we start a family, then we may get the new MINI Cooper S Clubman.
Anyways, they are fun, safe, wonderfully different cars to drive. The warranty is awesome ( free maintinance for 3 years or 36k miles, 4 year or 50k miles of bumper to bumper warranty and free roadside assistance for 4 years or 50k). And thier not so vanilla like 90% of the other cars out there. I think everyone shoulld own at least one MINI in thier life.
All this fun in a tiny BMW.
Keep in mind no car is perfect. I remember back to 2003 (i think it was Motor trend) interviewed alot of people and asked if they would ever buy another MINI, even tho they had problems with them, 80% said they would.
Stay away from 2002 and 2003 models. 2005 and 2006 are the better verisons from the older body style and the new 2007's has some really nice improvments all over it.
Take you time test drive everything and go from there. Oh and don't pay that rediculious mark up that most MINI Cooper dealerships are charging out there.

Good luck :)

Answer 2

GET THE BMW - I bought the car and im in love with it, its the best car ive ever had, the best car ive ever driven and its amazing. Mini coopers are 'cute' but you want to drive something special, you want to walk out in that driveway and lay eyes on a piece of metal that everyday of your life that you own it makes you feel good due to the driving xperience,construction, beauty, the work of art that it is, then go for BMW , you wont be disapointed. Also Mini Coopers are a lot cheaper and easier to get than a BMW. Theyre trendy but a BMW is classic elegance and to me its worth the price tag. These cars come with the works. Go for the BMW

Answer 3

Pay no attention to "Charley J." He's over-compensating for something "tiny."

My 2006 MCS-JCW "Clown Car" just blew away some RX8's and Nissan 350's at the last autocross.

It's a great car. It's not an everything car however. Just because there's seating for four, think of it as a two seater, like a Porsche 911.

Very fast, very nimble. Safer than most cars on the road. True, the run flats suck, so replace those as soon as is practical. Chuck them in the garage for emergency purposes, and get a set of Falken or Hankooks.

Check out this forum for the best information:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/index.php

And you can go MINIUSA to build your own. http://www.miniusa.com/

Mini's have outperformed Ford F-150 trucks in head to head crash tests.

The "fire" issues were solved a few years ago, and it had to go with the wrong fuse being installed at the factory.

Answer 4

They feel a lot like driving a rice rocket Acura or Honda really. If you're committed to the car, style and price the ONLY one worthwhile is the Cooper S model and even then for the money I don't think it's worth it.
Get the new BMW 135i with the 300hp engine for only a few thousand more. Or buy a Subura WX.

Answer 5

Yeah, pretty good but not perfect.

Avoid the run-flat tires like the plague!!

The "base" model without the supercharger, that is, the non-S model has been much improved for 2007 so I'd recommend it over the earlier base models.

I also prefer the earlier supercharged "S" to the new 2007 turbocharged "S".

If you buy an S with sport suspension and run-flat tires, you are definitely not going to like how it rides.

Answer 6

Mini's are excellent cars when it comes to usability and MPG. Check out this review of Mini Cooper S
http://www.forbesautos.com/reviews/2007/mini/cooper_s/?partner=yahooa

Answer 7

I would think that BMW makes excellent Mini's as well as their other vehicles, and I'd buy one if I were in the market for another BMW product.

Answer 8

Have'nt heard any thing bad about the new coopers, but by god were the old 1970's lot a load of sh./';'[;. Were always over heating. But okay build in the UK and driven in South Africa is a major climate change.

Answer 9

If you are under 5'10" tall,,never plan on putting any adult in the back seat, don't mind the jokes about a wanta be car, and pray every night you are not in an accident with the over 50% of the cars on the road called SUV's.
Yeah,,not bad.
I am 6'4" tall. Road in one once.NEVER AGAIN!!

Answer 10

Here're a bunch of complaints:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/mini.html

Recalls: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu4_CDOdGw04A75JXNyoA?p=mini+cooper+recall&fr=yfp-t-471

Apparently, some of cars have a habit of overheating and catching on fire!
Mini spontaneously goes on fire:
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69106&highlight=MINI+Recall
http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-faults-fixes/145932-fire-fire-fire.html