Quote:
Originally Posted by Indydog812
So my poor old mini needs replacing (2006 r53). I can't exactly trust it to get me to work on time and it's stressing me out. I went to look at new cars cars today and stumbled onto a 2014 frs manual w/ 30,000 mi for $18500. Its a tiny bit more fun to drive then the mini and a lot less practicle.
Slight problem I tested a 2016 Miata and  it's in a whole new league of fun to drive (and impracticality).
So how reliable is the FRS? I keep cars for the long haul and the mini has been a major dissapointment in reliability these past 10yr 110k mi. This site is giving me a bad feeling about reliability especially since there is no real long term history for the frs/brz.
I was thinking with these 2 seater rwd sports cars I could hold on to the mini as a winter beater and hauler but insuring both doesn't look as cheap as I guessed.
The wrx and the Mazda 3 are looking like more practical options but the Mazda isn't as fun and wrx fuel economy is terrible...
Honestly I want to keep my mini but with a so far an undiagnosable issue where on rare occasions it doesn't start in the morning and Increasing demand for general repairs. (Seriously 4 power steering pumps and 3 engine mounts) I'm afraid I have no choice. |
I have an R53 2006 Mini S manual. I am looking for comparison in ride comfort between BRZ 2017 and what I have. So, i found this article in google search. I have a few things that came to mind and cleared up MUCH of my worries concerning which car to buy. But it is not like one would guess...
First, Your 4 power steering pumps dying is a result of VERY BAD MECHANICS. VERY BAD. I am a vague mini problem expert at this point and the solution was to replace the pump, remove the steering rack and objects, and soak them to remove road build up. This caused each pump to keep failing. I am surprised it was not 20 steering assist electric motors (it's not a pump) to fail. THis was the fault of a bad mechanic.
Also, the mechanic should have told you that the upper motor mount never lasts and to never bother replacing it, it only leaks its fluid once, but works fine for 150k miles or more.
So, this person might not even be on forums anymore but it shows me a new lesson today. Vast majority of "issues" with a car is the mechanic. NOt the "dealer" or the "manfacturer" it is just the mechanic. There are few out there who can truly fix an issue or know what really needs to be or not be done. I have a mini s for 10 years and my issues have been quite small and infrequent at 171,000 miles of hard NYC driving.
The ride in a standard 16" wheeled R53 Mini is more jarring than a BRZ/FRS. A 15" reduction size I did with more tire still has more of a jarring ride but made the Mini S tolerable. I wish BRZ would have 16" wheels and the top WRX premium would have 17" wheels. there really is no point to such massive wheel sizes on roads that are terribly paved and have no banks and are filled with crappy drivers and weather.
I did necro this thread yes.