We, being urban dwellers, can appreciate the sentiment. Having traded my '02 Dodge Ram needless to say I'm thrilled with the gas milage. Either the mechanic broke something, or I have a serious problem, possibly the timing belt. I have no problem getting around in the wisconsin winters. Resale value is excellent and everyone loves it.
Another detail we found pleasing appeared when we took the Mini out at night. Good job to Mini on a new platform success. We first looked up the specs on the car to get its length, which is a little more than 12 feet. However, the back portion of the top can be unlatched by reaching inside the trunk and then lifting it up and out of the way, and that makes loading much easier. Those riding in the front seats enjoy excellent head and legroom. The car is fun to drive extreamly reliable.
I also found that this car holds a lot more than one would believe. The new prince engine is very peppy and economical at the same time. Its only drawback was the tradeoff of good fuel economy for the performance aspect I so much enjoyed. The Mini is still a lot of fun to drive. I also felt confident in the elements in this car - snow, rain, etc wasn't a major problem. Many rusty spots due to poor water drainage and leaks.
In addition the Twin-Scroll Turbo has much less lag than expected. Around town, I enjoy a more spirited ride, operating in Sport Mode most of the time, and yet still averaging around 35 mpg. The pumps in the second Mini we own have gone out 3 times the same one each time. Peak torque is available at only 1600 rpm, resulting in quick and worry-free merging or passing maneuvers. Im a 20 yoer old working class male and wanted to buy something not everyone had.
Plus, the car's design compromises practicality with its tiny rear seat and small trunk. Having traded my '02 Dodge Ram needless to say I'm thrilled with the gas milage. The car ran low on oil as there was an initial undetected leak in the oil pan gasket. That was then, this is now, and these are disproportionate afterthoughts. The on-center feel of the steering is the best part of the overall handling feel.
Perfect fit form my self and small family. The bass and high end aren't as extreme as on more premium systems, but we couldn't overwhelm the speakers at high volume, attesting to the Mini's all-encompassing engineering quality. It handles like a go-kart, gets excellent fuel economy, and goes well in Mid-Atlantic winter weather Lots of snow last year. This aux jack is hidden below a row of toggle switches at the bottom of the stack. But the ride in our S model was very stiff.
It looks small, but put the back seats down and you could do some reasonable hauling. Clutch was replaced, but not the slave cylinder. We used pylons to mark the four corners of the parking spot. Would I recommend them - oh yes! Judging from Wayne's final parking job, the car could have fit into an even smaller spot without touching the fore and aft pylons, but both competitors were happy to end it at this point. Since the car is a re-design of course not much stayed the same.
But if the changes don't show, why make a new model of something that has been such a success? At 57K, new plugs took care of the issue. I filled out paperwork for a class action settlement for water pump problems but they denied it because it was the housing not the actual pump My mechanic said they had several other Minis with the same problem. The rearview mirror shakes until it is useless. This features tighter springs and a heavy duty anti-roll bar. Everything is exaggerated for effect-acceleration, braking, cornering, and bumps in the road. The transmission had to be replaced because of this. Plus, the car's design compromises practicality with its tiny rear seat and small trunk.
It's fully automatic, requiring only the push of a button to stow it, and has a glass window. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. The cost to repair is exorbitant! The result: only an occasional whimper, rather than frequent cries, of protest from the cowl and the body over rough pavement. Some stations didn't bother to show song or artist names. Plus, the car's design compromises practicality with its tiny rear seat and small trunk.
Many of the Mini's controls are also very confusing or overly complicated. This includes the exterior which now features a better looking grill and detached headlights but on the downside has a non-functional hood scoop due to relocation of the intercooler. There are lavender accent lights on the rear-view mirror mount and on the B pillars, which add a nice little glow that doesn't interfere with night vision. There is a handful of cars that look very different from anything else on the road. Also, with a higher performance car, if not driven properly the clutch can wear quickly, my clutch seems to be worn but ok. The latest stability control and associated electronic safety systems allow a driver to corner hard without getting into trouble.