Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
MINI Cooper
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Alanmini
I'd give the gearbox another few thousand, but then compare it to a demo at the dealer.
- Mark
Around town I get less. Mid to high twenties up into low thirties IF and only IF I'm very light. When having fun the mileage definitely drops.
Paul, Alohaaaaaaaaaaa !
Been to your great state half a dozen times and waiting to get there again to North Shore for surf competitions (when my wallet dictates of course) Last time there was in 96/97 Xmas/New Years. Had friends who lived in Waimaeha? (did I spell that right)
Being in decent weather out there makes it tough every day you don't have the Mini, what did the price work out to on the 2004 comperably equipped? 2004 base S is 19400.00 plus options. 70 miles on odo means some ones been test driving it around. Even if you decide to buy it the warranty starts from the day you buy it so don't worry to much about it sitting on lot it hasn't done it any harm. The registration and document fees are typical with dealers, they don't seem to want to bargain with that.
Good Luck on your decision, and as Mini says Let's Motor !
Ma halo
Ray T.
Are Minis 50 state emissions, or do I *have* to buy the CA-spec model?
- Mark
The dealership, the only one on Oahu, is actually pretty good (are you on Oahu?). They replaced the front bumper turn signal for free when I mentioned it was cracked (possibly by a stone) when I took it in for two very minor items (missing nuts on air intake, rattle in hatch area). They also reprogrammed the key remote to my specifications at no charge. Plus, they wash the car after every service call if time permits. They have had my car twice (oil change and the visit mentioned above) and have taken very good care of me. I think, considering the quality of the vehicle, that your price is pretty reasonable. We could be on the west coast waiting several months and paying a premium for the same cars.
If you don't want to wait for a special order and the car on the lot is what you want, then grab it. If it's not what you want, place the order. Meanwhile, you're missing great driving! Best of luck to you.
Mike
Anyway, A car that's a year old will have depreciated, so I'm still not sure why it should only be MSRP, except that you can get it a few months earlier as you've noticed.
There might be more problems, but early 2003's didn't have many more issues then current cars, so its not a huge difference. I'd say make them tell you how old the car is (The dealership can also tell its build month through the computer)and if you get a good enough deal, but it. You won't be dissapointed, but you also won't be if you wait a few months, depends on what you want to do.
All MINIs are 50 state legal. People have imported them from many different states to CA with no problems not just states like NY with strict emissions, just keep track of any fees and such, and try to find a dealer who has worked with CA buyers and you should be fine. With the waiting lists (or lack of sane prices), its quite a common car to import.
Has any one had a buying experience
with Mini of Pittsburgh Pa?
Do they typically get MSRP for non S
Mini's on the lot?
Has any one purcased one for less than MSRP?
What other experience can you relate?
Robert LUgg
Lock Haven Pa
I purchased my Cooper in April and only option was paint color (Indi Blue) I paid MSRP, $17375 + 7 1/4 sales tax(1259.69)+$130 clerical exp. + $65 registration fee = $18799.69 total for the car off the lot. That same dealer, Prestige Mini, Ramsey N.J.,now has nothing on lot for sale other than the ordered cars coming in for the patiently waitng owners.
Supply and Demand is the order of the day with Mini's right now.
Ray T.
I am considering a trade in for the "S" possibly in the spring but it's a "thought" right now.
Ray T.
KarenS/Senior Host/Owners Clubs
The Cooper CVT is my wife's daily driver...the car has been rock solid. We have done several roadtrips in it, including a 2,800 mile jaunt from Miami, FL to Williamsburg, VA and back in mid October. We drove it all over the place, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and the CVT was fantastic...the most fun "Automatic" we have ever owned barnone. The car has been great, no rattles, no squeaks, no electrical problems, nothing. Highway mileage is in the 37MPG ballpark and we have noticed that these cars after 12,000 miles the engine runs better and turbine smooth with excellent acceleration. Our Cooper CVT kept up with 18-wheel rigs and traffic throught the trip and in different terrains with absolutely no problems. These car's engines and transmissions seem to be fully broken in by 20K miles.
My '04 Cooper S has been awesome. It is my daily driver (My wife does not drive manual transmission cars, yet). It is a different drive from the regular Cooper CVT. The Cooper S feels "Torquier" from the get go, while the Cooper CVT is quick and peppy from a dead stop. Sometimes I think it outaccelerates my Cooper S when I am following my wife, but after 40MPH or so, my Cooper S takes over and rules...the supercharger whine is sweet music to my ears!.
The 6-speed Getrag transmission is firm but precise and the cluth pedal effort is excellent. My Cooper S hasn't had any issues with engine stumble and it accelerates from a dead stop out of 1st gear with gusto. I haven't done any pulley or intake upgrades yet, I think I will wait a bit longer to jump into the mods bandwagon. The car is bank vault SOLID..it feels like a pure breed German car!
I ordered my Cooper S (I was in a 10 month waiting list) with the Harmon Kardon Stereo upgrade, MFSW, Anthracite trim, 16" Silver V-spoke wheels, Trip Computer, Rain Sensing Wipers, Automatic rearview mirror (A must have in the MINI), front fog lights, chrome exterior mirror caps and Cooper S OEM Chrome 3 slats front grille treatment.
I highly recommend the MINI Cooper in either one of its 3 available flavors....5-speed, CVT or Cooper S. The most fun, best built, best looking, coolest cars on the road today.
If any one has any questions about the Cooper (Specially the CVT) and the Cooper S, I will be more than glad to answer these for you. Since I own both cars, I am more than qualify to give you a honest and unbiased opinion about them.
I will post a link to pics of my MINIs later on.
So, how do the little buggers go in the snow??
Sticking with the 16's is a good move, not only for better snow traction, but for a more reasonable ride in the rough conditions in the midwest. I'm going with the 17's, mostly because they come in a package I wanted for other reasons, but I'm expecting a VERY rough ride and I may drop back to 1) non runflats or even 2) 16's later.
- Mark
I have a 2003 Cooper w/no frills. The car absoloutely stinks on the stock 15" all-season tires in the snow. We just had 18" during our first snowstorm a week ago, even after the roads were plowed, so this is first hand knowledge. My buddy has the "S" and runflat 16's and he said it also was terrible. I just bought 4 Dunlop SP Wintersport M2 and had them installed last night. We have another storm forecast for Sunday/Monday so I'll see how much difference they make, I expect a huge difference !
I will be upgrading in spring to 16" wheels and performance tires.
The 16 & 17" runflat/performance tires we can equip. our Mini's with are just that and should not be used in the winter. IMHO
Ray T.
www.minifini.com
They just released their award winning center armrest for the MINI Cooper. I had the opportunity to see a prototype installed in a Cooper S a few months ago and was impressed with the quality of materials and overall fit.
It is pricey...retails for about $250, but worth every penny of it IMO. It is only available at MINI dealers in the USA. It can't be bought directly from MINIFINI unless you live overseas.
Anyone: I need help in deciding between white vs. silver 15" wheels. And--talk about nitpicking--does a chrome exhaust tip matter? (I mean on a MINI, of course.) Do those white bonnet stripes fray or peel in a car wash? Thanks, guys.
Ray T.
On smooth pavement, the MCS handling is sublime, but it really gets skittery if the pavement is broken or rough.
I'm going to be looking at replacing my nearly new runflats with non-runflats to try and get a little more compliance - I'm hoping the local tire dealer will give me some credit for the tires. Maybe I'm a wimp, but I can't imagine living in an area of rough roads and putting up with the ride of the car with the stock 17-inch wheel/runflat package.
If I had to do it over again, I think I'd just go with the 16-inch package.
On DSC, it's a nice safety option, but I've been driving my car pretty aggressively and that grip is so good that you really would have to be doing some pretty outrageous things on dry pavement and public roads to ever have the DSC engage. So I think DSC would mainly be a comfort on slick roads. If you were anticipating driving your Mini in snow/ice or lots of wet pavement, then I'd go for it, but otherwise, I could see letting it go.
A basic MCS is an awful nice package for $20K. All the good stuff is there. The options are nice, but I think the best value is the basic car.
- Mark
I looked at the SVT in comparison. Ford does not instill a sense of confidence having owned enough of their products, so I went with the better choice IMO
Happy New Year to all...........
Ray T
The SVT won, but it all depends on your priorities. If you want a better all-around car with more room and comfort, the SVT is probably a better choice and it handles superbly. But if you want the go-kart handling and unique look/feel that only the Mini provides, your choice is clear. The Mini is Germand and BMW, for all the good (and bad) that entails. The SVT is an everyday economy hatchback with good selection of tuner performance parts.
In these situations, I recommend you schedule a 45-minute test drive in a Mini. You'll either come away giggling and realize that this car is something very special, or you'll come away wondering what the fuss is about. This is not a car that inspires ambivalence.
- Mark
Now that some of the first year quirks have been worked out I am looking again.
Does the cold weather bring out more rattles and noises in the cooper?
Don
Based on others' reports, I think they've turned the corner with the rattle problems in 2004 Minis, but you do have to have reasonable expectations of how quiet a car is going to be with the suspension settings and low-profile rubber on this beast. It is always going to be noisier and have more creaks than a WRX. Cold weather makes either worse, its just you start out with a stiffer, more-rattle-prone car in the MCS to being with. If this sort of thing really bothers you, I'd get a different car.
- Mark
*Cooper or CooperS? I live in So.CA so weather isn't a big factor and would use the car to drive in the suburbs and commuting.
*Color- Thinking of Indigo w/white top or Anthracite w/black top. Looking for color that won't show dirt or scratches easily.
*Complaints- I've heard some problems with windshield cracking,problems w/run flat, ac/heat not strong enough, makes rattling noises and brake dust.
*How does it compare with a Mazda 3?
curligirl
Follow-Up Test: 2003 Mini Cooper S — John Cooper Works
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/mini/cooper/100167528/roadtestar- ticle.html?articleId=101220
When the day was done, for me, the extra power and better gearbox of the MCS overrode my misgivings about the overdone exterior and increased cost - I got the MCS.
There are a lot of people complaining about various reliability issues with the MC and MCS, above and beyond the noise level stuff you're talking about. I wouldn't get a Mini if you are the sort that expects perfection in your car, but if you are willing to look past an occasional fault and extra service visit, then go for it. But the Mini is not a car for someone who is really picky about having any problems with their car - Hondas and Toyotas are definitely more trouble-free.
The Mazda 3 looks like a very nice car and probably objectively is a better car than the Mini. But the Mini has a unique personality and attitude. Drive both and decide if you want to go competent or funky. The Mini is long on personality, but you've got to be sure that its personality suits you or it can just be annoying.
- Mark
Curligirl
I'm wondering what the build date of the JCW MCS that edmunds.com just tested. My gut feeling for the suspension differences would be that MINI very quietly changed the suspension in the early summer (sometime around May, the exact date eludes me) to make it 'better' but they never exactly explained what they did. They seemed to be pandering to sites like here that called the Sports Suspension + too harsh, so its very logical they would have quietly provided an '03 test vehicle with the new suspension to make everyone happier.
Perhaps someone should contact MINI and find out the real details so the article is more complete?
I am planning to buy Mini Cooper but unfortunately there is no MINI dealerships in New Mexico. Do you guys know if BMW dealerships can service these car under warranty.
Thanks
There have been several threads on Mini2 about BMW relaxing this requirement for owners who live a far distance from an official Mini dealership, but nothing has occurred (yet).
Others would disagree, but at the present time, I would strongly advise against buying a Mini if getting to a dealership is at all difficult for you (you'd have to go to Phoenix right?). While many of these cars are fairly trouble-free, way too many are not and having a problematic car with a distant dealer would turn an annoyance into a nightmare.
- Mark