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MINI Cooper
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However, my wife researched them and came upon $47000.00 to replace trans mission because car was 5000 mi over 48 monmany women were replacing clutches at 5K a pop. Then alot of guys were complaining too.
A volvo is a nice car,but there upkeep is expensive also.
I'd really do my homework go into the mini forums type in class action and check out the repair forum.Lifes short get what you want,but get alot of advice Mini 's are in demand so you will pay MSRP or more.
What did it was, she was having her BMW service and ask the technician about the Mini and he said to move on to something else.
However, the Germans are making them now and the resale seems high. I' d drive it 50 K then dump it,if you really want it. :shades:
Yup, just don't keep it beyond the warranty, for peace of mind. For us, our Minis (we're on our second one) have been as trouble-free as any Japanese car that we've had. (Knock on wood)
FWIW, my Mini has been trouble free. Best car I've owned in years.
Sell your car yourself. You really get taken if you trade.
The salesman will say we have to detail it, put brakes on it,fix this or that(Rubbish) no one knows your car better than you. Do the maintenance and the do the math. Go to Kelly's Bluebook.NADA etc.Like Helen Reddy sang in the song" I'am woman,I'am strong"
Keep all your records to show the buyer. :shades:
The British flag is nice,but I'd stay away from S. Boston and Irish pubs. :shades:
I thought the paddle shifter was okay if you like that sort of thing. As you say, it's not a "real" manual transmission controlled by electronics, it's still an automatic and you aren't doing anything much different than the person with the 1965 Buick shoving the gear lever from L to D.
The British flag is okay because as the driver you don't have to look at it every day. Graphics can get "old" and you can't ever sell it to a Frenchman.
So I get a cooper automatic with no frills. Is the S worth sacrificing the gas mileage to get it instead?
If you don't get an -S-, I recommend the sport seats as an option for $250 (standard on the -S-).
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Depends on several factors. Are you an aggressive driver? Do you regularly carry more than 1 passenger? Do you carry heavy cargo? Are there hills where you drive? If you say no to all, or even most, of the above, then the Base would probably be ok.
long term test and try to get a long drive before deciding.
This car is definitely on my shopping list, I'm certain you could learn to drive it it certain ways to counter the defects of the drivetrain and get used to the fairly idiosyncratic controls and instruments (no temp guage in a Supercharged car?) I found it fling-able in the way that my '83 GTI was something I doubt you could say about many modern cars.
FWIW, I found it easier to use the lever rather than the paddles even though the up/down shift positions are backwards of what they should be.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Id consider a base model 6 speed, but the base model automatic did nothing for me. Also the older base model engine is rough and weak, I didn't like it at all. (pre vanos)
Turbo cars are not everyone's cup of tea. I really liked the older supercharged engine better, especially at lower speeds.
If the Cooper feels rough, try a Clubman. You'll be amazed at the difference in how the car handles bad roads compared to the Cooper.
A lot of people might tire of that jiggly ride but old sports car guys like me accept it as the price you pay for really athletic handling.
Did I tell you I really liked the steering and cornering? :shades:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
BMW has no idea how they've ruined their cars off-the-lot with RFTs.
I did the same with my 06 BMW. I've got roadside assistance through Amex, so if all goes wrong I call Amex to get me towed.
This technology has been developed from open-wheel racing. And is currently the fasted way to shift a transmission. In hundreds of milliseconds... I am NOT implying that the MINI shifter is racing equipment, rather, it is proven technology...
Here is my take...
I drove, just last week, an 06' S with paddles.
At low speed and low RPM's-yes it could shift a bit faster. But above 4,000 RPM and shifting near redline, this vehicle ROCKED! I had all I could do to keep it on the road! All my attention was devoted to where I was going and having both hands on the steering wheel allowed me to drive it hard. I have an '06 6-speed and i can't come close to driving it like I did w/ the paddles.
All I can say is that the naysayers are ill-informed, have NEVER driven the paddles and I may very well order an '08 with paddles.
Catch me if you can!
This technology has been developed from open-wheel racing. And is currently the fasted way to shift a transmission. In hundreds of milliseconds... I am NOT implying that the MINI...
Or someone who has driven the Cooper (R56) and Cooper S (R56) with the silly 6 speed automatic (an automatic with a torque converter - power sapping, slow to respond). It's a cheeseball system designed for average drivers to suffer from the delusion that they have some kind of automatic with manual abilities. The 6 speed automatic in the Cooper adds weight, cost to the car, complexity, maintenance issues and removes the driver from really controlling the engine. There's a reason BMW's sloppy 6 speed automatic is not on the M cars and there's also a reason all of today's performance cars are shifting to computer operated twin clutches; BMW's upcoming variation on the dual clutch automated tranny concept, the Evo's new twin-clutch, Nissan's twin-clutch in the GT-R, Audi/VW's DSG, Bugatti's DSG, Ferrari F1, Porsche's take on the DSG - yes Porsche's finally ditching their horrible Tiptronic.
I drove, just last week, an 06' S with paddles.
At low speed and low RPM's-yes it could shift a bit faster. But above 4,000 RPM and shifting near redline, this vehicle ROCKED! I had all I could do to keep it on the road! All my attention was devoted to where I was going and having both hands on the steering wheel allowed me to drive it hard. I have an '06 6-speed and i can't come close to driving it like I did w/ the paddles.
All I can say is that the naysayers are ill-informed, have NEVER driven the paddles and I may very well order an '08 with paddles.
Catch me if you can!
That's adorable and very misinformed. We have a DSG - a real manual with computer controlled clutches - in one of our cars. Even that system, which can shift faster than a human, still suffers from adding weight, complexity and extra maintenance.
If you like it and believe it somehow is superior to an automatic, go for it. But don't roll up and pass on this marketing garbage about race-developed transmissions. It's a straight up automatic tranny - just like the kind found in every manumatic for the last 10 years.
All I know is I drove one and I liked it.
I doubt you have...
I think you might know too much for your own good...
I wish mine was capable of that! :P
One advantage of torque converters - probably low on the list of MINI owners - is the relatively safer going on icy/snow conditions. Unless you are very good with a manual & know how to drive on ice/snow, the auto trans torque converter allows gentle power transitions to the road, while allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel where they belong under these conditions!!! From my limited experience with dual clutch shifters, this is NOT the situations where they shine....
Whatever you choose, have fun & stay alive !!!!
Regarding never buying a Turbo - the MINI S is different, usually no turbo lag. Driven carefully, I get 33+ mpg mixed driving on the Clubman S automatic (the worst mpg combination for a MINI). But I can choose to mash the gas pedal and IT GOES!!!! Of course the mpg also goes (down) too!!! Still, with occassional blasts, I'm easily getting 31+ mpg per tankful in mixed driving. JUST GREAT!!!
Many have written everything from horrible to just few minutes to get used to the center blind spot. For me, it was the latter, not as much a problem that I thought it would be. HOWEVER, this doesn't change my (and most others) opinions that a hatch would have been far better!!
I tell you what IS a bigger visibility problem that I haven't seen mentioned: the right rear HEADREST. Yeah, the headrest!!! It blocks rear quarter vision a lot when positioned for an adult (the angle depending on the driver's seat position, of course..... I'm 5'8"). Since I put my booster seat there, I simply took off the headrest and put it in the underfloor cargo area. But this is poorly designed. More than a dozen annoying problems with the Clubman S, but ya gotta live with them if you want a "sports car" with utility, great gas mileage, and most "smiles per gallon".
Re: Clubman S vs low-end Bimmer - See the Edmunds Inside Line bizzare comparison of BMW 128i vs Clubman S. Reviewer says MINI loses, but make sure you also read the Exec.Editor (Michael Jordan) Second Opinion that goes with it. For me, my next car was REQUIRED to get real-life 30mpg or better, so the Bimmers were never in the running. In fact, almost nothing except econo-boxes, hybrids (but I already have one), and diesels were in the running; and certainly nothing with the sporty attributes and power of the MINI "S" lineup.
It shouldn't be a problem w properly adjusted side mirrors.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93