Currently my mother has a 2001 325i with about 90k miles. Yesterday when we were coming home I pointed out this new mini and she asked how much they cost. Long story short, she is going to test drive a Cooper S next week.

For you mini owners, are there any things we should look out for? How reliable is the CVT?

Its brand new, with warrant what are you worried about?

Its brand new, with warrant what are you worried about?

True. All the previous cars I have purchased were used:devillook I guess what I was asking was for any known defects in the car?

I think the cvt is too new for tons of evidence...otherwise, I had a Mini for a year. If she's looking at the new new ones...the next model, then maybe.

The other ones were just a buttload of money for the ubiquitous plastic everywhere inside.

Oh yeah, and mine broke down after 18,000k's on the clock. Wouldn't start for 2 hours and then magically did.

Didn't trust it...got my Mazda.

WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY overpriced.

Tell her to get a Mazdaspeed 3. Cheaper, more HP, more torque, more doors.

Does she like shitty music?

Does she like shitty music?

If you consider David Bowie shitty.

WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY overpriced.

Tell her to get a Mazdaspeed 3. Cheaper, more HP, more torque, more doors.

Way to corroborate my post!!!!

As well, I was told that Mazda checks the panel gaps in 300 locations to see if the fitment is up to par. Quality car.

If you consider David Bowie shitty.

OMG I love David Bowie!

I'd wait for the next gen, or get a used '06 330i.

Alot of people get concerned with the fact that the rear seats are so close to the rear of the car... but otherwise, the car is an awesome little car. Drives great!

imo they have the shittest seats but other then that and the candyland interior i like them

Alot of people get concerned with the fact that the rear seats are so close to the rear of the car... but otherwise, the car is an awesome little car. Drives great!

Never heard that before...I guess the same people would not like Jeeps either.

I freak out when I sit in the back of my friends Mini. If a truck rear ended us, BAM! Dead. But wow do they take a beating when you give it to them.

How reliable is the CVT?
If your mom is test driving a Cooper S automatic, she won't be driving a CVT. The Cooper S auto is a traditional automatic gearbox with shift paddles on the steering wheel.

If your mom decides she wants a Cooper with CVT, she should be aware that if the CVT fails after the warranty has expired, the repair will be very expensive. $6,000 to $10,000 initial dealer quotes are not uncommon. Search MINI2 and North American Motoring for the terms "CVT failure" to learn more.

If your mom is test driving a Cooper S automatic, she won't be driving a CVT. The Cooper S auto is a traditional automatic gearbox with shift paddles on the steering wheel.

If your mom decides she wants a Cooper with CVT, she should be aware that if the CVT fails after the warranty has expired, the repair will be very expensive. $6,000 to $10,000 initial dealer quotes are not uncommon. Search MINI2 and North American Motoring for the terms "CVT failure" to learn more.

yeah the CVTs are not exactly common in a lot of production cars, the less common it is, the higher the costs get.

Tell her that the car is a freakin blast to drive, the engineering and parts sharing with BMW is all over the place, tons of parts are shared, the warranty is 4 years 50K and extended warranties are relatively cheap, the sticker price is cheap, the car is fun to simply look at, and it has the highest resale value of any vehicle made. Get a stick and the 05-06 model.

Being that if she orders now, she will get one of the completely redesigned 07 models... there isn't much we can tell you. I mean we can tell the issues the 02-06 models had but I don't think that means much in reference to an 07 car.

I've had two, loved them both but I will tell you that my 06 will be my last MINI. I can't afford this car out of warranty (well, I technically could but don't want to) and I'm really not sold on the 07's.

Umm where should I start. I'm 6'7 and I fit in the rear seat, and MINI's will no longer be available in with the CVT transmission. They will all be 6 speed automatics now. Customers were complaining about that transmission alot. If you were going towards any model with an automatic transmission. I'd tell you to get a used 2006 MCS with automatic transmission. I would rather have a supercharger than turbo. If you have any questions let me know. My buddy sells MINI's.

I freak out when I sit in the back of my friends Mini. If a truck rear ended us, BAM! Dead. But wow do they take a beating when you give it to them.

I would be afraid to carry my children in the back seat. There is no trunk space. It will be me only car.

Being that if she orders now, she will get one of the completely redesigned 07 models... there isn't much we can tell you. I mean we can tell the issues the 02-06 models had but I don't think that means much in reference to an 07 car.

I've had two, loved them both but I will tell you that my 06 will be my last MINI. I can't afford this car out of warranty (well, I technically could but don't want to) and I'm really not sold on the 07's.

What other cars did you or are you going to look at?

You won't need to tell her how well it handles because 5 seconds behind the wheel will tell her that but you should make sure she test drives one with 16" and not 17" wheels and tell her that changing the tires to non run flats will make it ride considerably smoother (she'll just need a can of flat fixer and/or a cel phone). If she is your average mom she will care about ride comfort at least as much as performance and the MINI is not really as comfortable as many other cars of a similar size...but C'mon a Mazda 3??? Butt Ugly IMO.

As for all the safety issues people are raising I don't buy any of it. 4 stars in every category every year and more airbags than feet of length. I put my daughter in the back seat with total confidence that it is one of the safest small cars on the road. Is it as safe as a bigger car? No but it does have to obey the laws of physics:)

http://www.automobilemag.com/am/2003/mini/cooper/safety.html

And check this out, the driver walked away;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPkKvaXIdjM

T<