MINI Cooper

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.60 of 5, 10.00 votes

Price Paid:  $36000.00 from Baron MINI, KS

Year / Model Reviewed:
2009 Cooper S

Strengths:
The car drives well and is fun. Gas mileage is great and when everything is good it's a great car.

Weaknesses:
SERVICING is the WORST!!!!!! Based on the fact that when you buy a car the next group of people you will see are going to be the service department, make sure you ask around! These guys at Baron MINI in Merriam, Kansas are horrible! Firstly if you get Run Flat tires, make sure they schedule servicing for those because they don't tell you that your tires need to be rotated every 6000-8000 Miles. Because run flats are low profile they burn rubber quickly which make them very easy to go through. I brought in my car 5-6 times over the course of 8 months, and once at 9000 miles and they said my tires didn't needed to be rotated. These safe but a over priced tires costed me $250 each! And when I pay for tire road hazard protection they don't cover the tire unless it's within a certain tread depth. Besides the tires, these guys are just plain cocky jerks that are on the BMW stiff upper lip! They give you attitude and tell you nothing is wrong, but when your car needs something replaced they say nothing is wrong. Then when you get towed back, they look harder and finally find something wrong because they are in the clouds. My GF has a Jeep, she never has problems like this with her car. Heck, my brother has a GEO, I mean a crappy GEO, and they never have problems with their car like I do and it's not even 1 year old! You got to be kidding me.

PEOPLE, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU DON"T BUY A MINI! GO BUY SOMETHING ELSE.... SOMETHING like a VW or a HONDA or a TOYOTA! Just don't buy a MINI!

Summary:
DON'T BUY A MINI COOPER from BARON MINI in Merriam, Kansas!

Price Paid:  $32000.00 from Dreyer & Reinbold BM

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Mini Cooper S

Strengths:
Curbing, ride, feel 5 stars
look 4 stars
great mileage 5 stars

Weaknesses:
stripes show bugs, dirt
poor service (lots of promises no follow through)
New model/ LOTS OF PROBLEMS/recalls IN FIRST YEAR
Transmissions slips/hesitates on hills
Gear shift locks up when parked on hills
stalls in cold weather (not a fuel problem, I use suggested fuel)
leather seats scratched up, discolored
Tires get minimum wear before they need replaced (15,000- 20,000 on a supposedly 50,000 tire) blamed me!

Summary:
I love my Mini.I DETEST the service.
I love the looks and style as well as the camaraderie extended by other owners I meet from time to time. I am very happy with my car.
Having said that,however, I must address the issues with the extended(premier) warranty I purchased with the car. The dealer I purchased the car from refuses to do any repairs that are not reimbursed by Mini. I drive my car in the city which requires more frequent oil changes than a car that is driven on the highway. Although my owners manual states that this is covered my dealer wanted me to pay $120 and when I refused, the mechanic told me that they RESET the codes. I THOUGHT THAT WAS ILLEGAL. THEY ALSO PERFORMED SERVICE THAT I HADN'T ASKED THEM TO DO (they were due, but I was never consulted)

Similar Products Used:
I once drove a BMW while on vacation which led me to try the MINI

Price Paid:  $24000.00 from Hendrick of Charlott

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Mini

Weaknesses:
The roadside assistance offered as part of the warranty is horible. My Battery died while on vacation and I have been wating for 3 days to get them to coorinate a serviec to come tow it 70 miles to the closest dealer. I was told it sounds like th battery, but if I go to a local BMW dealer, the warranty does not cover this repair. A huge waste of my time and I have been in a strange town without a working vehicle for three days. All they can say is I'm sorry.

Summary:
Rating roadside assistance offered with purchase. D

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $32.00 from CA

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Cooper S Convertible

Strengths:
Cute and fun to drive

Weaknesses:
SERVICE!!! 29K. Car has a broken motor mount. Broken thermostat. $450 (for what?) 30K service! Crap. Service guys says sometimes they come in at $4k for service. DONT BUY ONE WHATEVER YOU DO!!!!

Summary:
SERVICE

Price Paid:  $28000.00 from Ramsey Prestige Mini

Year / Model Reviewed:
2005 Mini Cooper S

Strengths:
Real Cute Looking! Great handling! Six speed manual transmission! Beautiful dashboard with the large speedometer in the middle. Great gas mileage! Goes from 0 to 50 in no time!

Weaknesses:
Where do I begin? The run flat tires. The oil pan.The extremely expensive service dept.The struts! Did I say the Run Flat tires? The gaskets on the oil pan!

Summary:
Well I want to say that I LOVE my MINI! It really handles well in New Jersey traffic however those Run Flat Tires have to go!!! The day after I left the shop I ran over a roofing nail and they wouldn't fix it they said they would have to replace the 275.00 tire @ my expense.YIKES! My car has 80,000 miles on it and I have replaced the tires 4 times on it. Mostly for the potholes that you are not supposed to run over no matter how small. I just took it into the shop after it was all paid off. I told them to give it a once over and an oil change. The said I need a bunch of light bulbs $110,both strut tops are "domed" $799,valve cover gasket leaking $265,(this is after the oil pan was replaced a few months ago) 4 new tires $1120, and the recommendation for repairs also says "engine for stage one inp" What the heck is that for $699. Plus all the services( oil change,brake flush,coolant flush,fuel inj service,+Insp 2???? for $535?? The total equalling $3977 plus tax!! And I didn't think anything was wrong with it! Just needed an oil change.
I have know idea what it is with the oil(the pan and the gasket) The pan was near dry when I brought it in the other time. However we couldn't find a spot in the driveway to tell us it was leaking. And now the gasket?! What next? We are actually taking it to a private mechanic so I can order the REGULAR tires for a discount from TireRack.com and have them delivered for $37! And he will fix whatever has to be fixed and "flush" whatever needs to be flushed! HaHa!

Similar Products Used:
Traded in my gas guzzling Ford Explorer SportTrac. Also had a 5 speed Nissan Maxima.My best running car I ever owned was my 1983 Chevy Cavalier! It lasted me 10 years and I sold it to a friend. Very low maintenance and great in the snow!