2002 mini cooper

[Tractorat]

Im thinking about taking a look at a 2002 mini cooper 5 speed. Anyone have any experience with them, good or bad ?

 

[BIGNASTY]

Trat just got back from a road trip with the FIL and 15 head of BEEF to Sheridan WY. We ran across a BAD WRECK it involved one of those MIRCO CARS It was a Smart car according to the Hwy Patrol. I think ill stick to paying higher prices for fuel and more of it rather than drive one of those.



According to the BULL WAGON that passed it and subsequently BLEW IT OFF THE ROAD just by passing it. The car could have been going no faster than 60 or 65 when the truck went by at 75 TO 80 and the little car became AIRBORNE.

 

[goodguys75]

my partner at work just bought a 2008 mini turbo... and it is cool... . after learning all the stuff it has and seeing one after he bought... I like them... dont know if i would by one. . buy they are neat... . and as far as I know, they are good. . at least the 2008, dont know about the early ones like you are looking at...

 

[Bill Lins]

Like any other BMW (& that's what they are), you will become good friends with your mechanic & he will become good friends with your wallet.

 

[Grizzly]

Consumer Report thinks very highly of them. Me, I don't believe I'd have one because they're too small. I'd feel like a bull in a china closet in one.

 

[rscurtis]

I just checked their 2011 buying guide, and none of the Mini's are recommended used cars. There are, however, a number of them in the "used cars to avoid" section. The only one in the "worst of the worst" section is the converbible. The reliability section shows that the newer models are improved, however.

 

[AMink]

We just got a 2005 Mini Cooper S convertible. LOVE IT! Go to North American Motoring. It's free to join and has a boatload of real world info on these cars. It's TDR for Minis. I know there have been issues with the cvt transmission but I don't know about the 5 speed. Ours is a 6 speed manual.

 

[Tractorat]

I just checked their 2011 buying guide, and none of the Mini's are recommended used cars. There are, however, a number of them in the "used cars to avoid" section. The only one in the "worst of the worst" section is the converbible. The reliability section shows that the newer models are improved, however.

Was it consumer reports where you saw that ? MSN Auto actually has them rated quite high for reliability and everything else. (I do know that their auto trans is supposed to be a problem. But why would anyone buy a car like that with an auto traans)



I dont have a membership to consumer reports, but I guess I can run over to barnes and noble and pick up a copy. Maybe a couple of edmunds as well.

 

[rscurtis]

It was their 2011 buying guide. I just got their new automotive edition today and there are still Mini's in the "used cars to avoid" section. There are some Ram HD's in there also as a point of comparison.

 

[Grizzly]

The new issue of Consumer Reports actually recommends the Mini Cooper, but there maintainance record for the the older models show a bad review. I don't believe I'd buy one.



Dodge Ram, 1500 and 2500 with a turbo diesel, look very bad also. They seem to like Chevy with a turbo diesel. Go figure.

 

[dresslered]

I have several friends that have them from the first years up thru the newest--they all love them and have had minimal problems (all bought as new). The oldest has a few rattles here and there. I have a problem sitting up straight because of my height (6'2") but they are pretty roomy for a small car. They are a small car (definitely NOT a Smart car) and I would be a little leery about driving them in heavy traffic areas—regardless of how safe it is, mass wins!