[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

Fun to maintain? I'd rather self-operate on one of my body parts with a rusty spoon.
You need to cut the car in half to do practically anything... All the convenient stuff is behind body bracing or flat inaccessible without lifting the motor out (I've had 4, I'm a slow learner OK? and most were newish)
Recently I shopped around for a clutch (my kid's car, 117K mi) and 3 independent Mini shops flat out told me "Nah we do not even do clutches on these anymore, it costs too much and pisses people off, thye thing we're stealing from them".

The dealer wanted over $4000 before taxes - for a clutch job !!!

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My buddy bought a new Mini Cooper S. It was a fun car, he liked but after just one year, the clutch had to be replaced. The god news is it was under warranty. He drove it another year and the clutch needed to be replaced a second time. He got it fix again under warranty, and sold the Mini ASAP.

Originally Posted by astrochex

Original owner if a 2006 R53 with 220k + miles. Original supercharger, 15% pulley with tune.

It is a fun car but sure it has its weak spots. Windshields can be prone to cracking from debris impact. Biggest bugger for me is the water pump driven off the supercharger. You also have to watch the belt tensioner. Fluid filled upper motor mounts can fail.

Fuel economy is good, ~30 highway, mid 20s city.

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

We have a 2004 R53 Cooper S JCW. Had it for 13 years. It has been a great car, strangely reliable. It is now modified for track use, big brakes, suspension, aftermarket ECU, E85, more boost, big intercooler, custom exhaust, big cam etc.... Race seats and welded in roll bar. We drive it 1000 miles a year, and now it really only sees track time with my son behind the wheel.

These are the stories that I feel like I always hear when I see Minis and BMWs (and somewhat, Audi's too) discussed. Either folks get a dead nuts reliable car or they get what is practically a lemon. There doesn't seem to be much middle of the road, and the split seems to be 50/50. I suspect I'd really enjoy a BMW, Mini, or Audi, but I'm going to stay away.