looking for a new DD and autox car

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:38 pm

Doing my best in place of VK.... :twisted:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316036

That's for 2010 models....

Edit: it's only brand- related quality issues. I'm sure individual cars do just fine...right Maria?
Double edit: just giving you a hard time b/c I'm a bit envious about geting new wheels...it's all in good fun!

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

I've been away from the forum for a few days, and you guys let Rodney buy a Mini?

The shame is, I saw a great DD for Rodney yesterday. Passed it on NC 147 in front of the DBAP .. in the rain. A pea-green six-window 1959 Sedan deVille like this:

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 6:45 am

RodneyWright wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

It's a Chrysler/Brazilian MPFI SOHC engine with little to no aftermarket support other than charger pulleys. Plus the car overall is made by BMW, how can it be reliable?

Oh, insert knife, break off handle. I've been shanked. Talked to my mechanic and he states he's heard no major negatives w/ the car. Again, head room is my nemesis and limits my choices.

Having had them since 2002 I will tell you they are as good as anything out there. Just bought my 7 th one. While the major part of the decision is due to my advertising (to note on that my current one does not have graphics yet but people are already calling be because a new mini in Greenville must mean CHA has a new one) I wouldn't continue to buy them if they were anywhere near problematic. I do think the r53 is the best one, they have been dumbed down and marketized more to have a broader appeal (guess it works because the new one in an r60)

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

We had the flywheel break on my wife's, but that was a pretty isolated incident from what I hear (since I've never heard of it happening to any other MINI). Other than that, we had a motor mount fail (seems like a pretty standard failure on FWD cars with R comps these days).

The '06 R53 I would argue is more reliable than an '07 R56. They had all the bugs worked out by then.

Don't worry about what people are telling you here Rodney. Its not a Toyota Corolla, no, but its probably more reliable than your E36. The R53 doesn't have anything major that breaks thats a huge problem (like the R56 does). It doesn't have a fragile transmission like the R50 (ask Gwen about that), it doesn't have anything like the ringland failures on the STi's. There are no huge design flaws to worry about, just the usual crap that breaks on non-boring cars from time to time.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:02 am

What Brice and Cline said. I've had 2 Minis and the only major issue was the tranny in the '04 until they finally switched to the current "brand". Even that, admittedly was more driver than tranny.....sorry, Bernie, :oops:

and the dealership switched out transmissions with no hassle and no charge. The current Tiny Blue is seeing LOTS of serious driving by not one, but 3 drivers who are asking her for all she's got with no serious issues. Your new toy will be fine. Heck, even after I wrapped the '04 around a tree she still had plenty to spunk.

Sorta thought you'd get an '07 or later so you could add more cool autocross upgrades and stay in stock, but that's a whole different story, and you're gonna have a blast anyway.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:55 am

you could let me drive it Rodney. i can break anything. :lol:

JohnByers · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:56 am

Happy you were able to get what you wanted and what makes you happy, thats all that matters!

<--why I bought the RX8

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:48 pm

you have some competition in DS this weekend i think Rodney. I have been coerced by some on nasioc to go autocrossing in laurinburg this weekend. i would be back in my wrx, in dstire.
my father might even bring his z3 out to play. i am pretty sure it is DS as well. so your class might get interesting. probably if the course is tight, you will clobber me.. my wrx handles well but not on asphalt.. in dirt it is soooooo much fun, on asphalt it is just clumsy.

if the course is open we will have a race on! straight line the cars are similar...the mini s and the wrx 2l. i like the room in my wrx.. but i must say after looking at Gwen's car, you really can get alot in one.
The agility of a mini is far above my wrx, alot of that is due to ride height i think. The subie is way up in the air and the mini is very low. have fun rodney i may just see you in DS this weekend and some :sing:

next year.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:07 pm

Pete Guthrie wrote:

you have some competition in DS this weekend i think Rodney. I have been coerced by some on nasioc to go autocrossing in laurinburg this weekend. i would be back in my wrx, in dstire.
my father might even bring his z3 out to play. i am pretty sure it is DS as well. so your class might get interesting. probably if the course is tight, you will clobber me.. my wrx handles well but not on asphalt.. in dirt it is soooooo much fun, on asphalt it is just clumsy.

if the course is open we will have a race on! straight line the cars are similar...the mini s and the wrx 2l. i like the room in my wrx.. but i must say after looking at Gwen's car, you really can get alot in one.
The agility of a mini is far above my wrx, alot of that is due to ride height i think. The subie is way up in the air and the mini is very low. have fun rodney i may just see you in DS this weekend and some :sing:

next year.

I think you'll do fine in the WRX. Jordan will be there testing out his mini and hopefully Nelson will be there as well. If I don't give mine back to carmax, it should be a good showing this weekend for DS.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:22 pm

your talking to someone who has had 10 yrs fwd experience as well. 5th in sts in fwd if i recall correctly.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:57 pm

So I'm sitting here at crabtree mall waiting on a ride home. Seems carmax didn't have the same opinion I had about repairing the car. Needless to say the mini is back in the hands of Carmax and I'm starting my search over again. This sucks. Nice car and very fun to drive. Oh well. Life happens...

JamesShort · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:59 pm

C5 Z06 time me thinks :mrgreen:

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:05 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

So I'm sitting here at crabtree mall waiting on a ride home. Seems carmax didn't have the same opinion I had about repairing the car. Needless to say the mini is back in the hands of Carmax and I'm starting my search over again. This sucks. Nice car and very fun to drive. Oh well. Life happens...

Bummer. At least it gave you some data to help with the decision process.

clinehall · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:14 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

I've been away from the forum for a few days, and you guys let Rodney buy a Mini?

The shame is, I saw a great DD for Rodney yesterday. Passed it on NC 147 in front of the DBAP .. in the rain. A pea-green six-window 1959 Sedan deVille like this:

based off of you signature, thought you might be interesed in this

http://eastnc.craigslist.org/cto/2659383173.html

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:40 pm

Bummer! Honestly, I would feel less comfortable buying from Carmax than I would an original (or even second) owner with service records. If the E90's have more headroom (since it has a sunroof) this looks gorgeous with relatively low mileage but probably wouldn't be as much fun to autocross as a MCS.

http://roadraceautox.com/showthread.php?t=37006

THSCC Forums

looking for a new DD and autox car

Who is online