Mini Cooper S reliability...

[Skurj]

Further to my recent post about Miatas..

I have got the competition bug.. I've just been introduced to lapping and did an autoslalom today in the BRZ. I'm not sure I want to continue doing so with my new car..
So I am considering purchasing a second car which would do triple duty as the primary commuter, winter beater and track day car aka.. a car I don't care as much about.

Mini has made the short list, but it sounds like there maybe some reliability issues with the mini cooper s (or at least the cost of maintaining). Any advice as to which year would be the better choice (I'm hearing the end of the 1st gen maybe the better option as opposed to 2007 and newer)?
Atm being first in my class is not the goal, but finishing and still able to drive home is #1

The Miata is ranking high, as I also want to learn the wrench at the same time, just not sure how well a Miata would do in canuck winters..
Mebbe when the BRZ is old, I can replace it with another 'car I care more about' and relegate it to the triple duties..

[Tanuki]

Here are the years to buy if you want a good one:

04.5-06, 09-13

I have no reports on the current remodel, but I have had great luck with mine and they are very easy to work on.

[Thehermdawg]

The Mini is a capable package for sure. My older brother has a modded supercharged Mini that was putting out 230 whp when he bought it. Sadly the bottom end seized and it cost him a lot of money to get everything redone. It runs fine now but be on the look for any potential problems

[speargunsandracecars]

They make good autocross cars. And the older ones looks good. I've heard stories about them however. Some good, some bad. However, if you ever decide to replace the front sway bar, you'll have to drop the front subframe. Complete PITA.

http://personal.stevens.edu/~jdunn/F...l%20How-To.pdf

Mini is a 'premium' brand. So expect premium prices if you ever service them at the dealer.

[Skurj]

While the mini maybe better equipped, more luxurious, and better in the snow.. it sounds like Any Miata is a leap ahead in terms of cost of ownership. Looks like I'm shopping for a decent Miata.

[King Tut]

They look super reliable to me....

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67300

[f0rge]

Don't forget you're going to pay BMW prices for repairs, parts and service.

So why not just buy a BMW? An e36 M3 sounds like it would fit the bill quite well.

Winter is not an issue, I'm also in Toronto and I drove my lowered M3 for 1 winter and my lowered FRS for the last 2, never got stuck.

[strat61caster]

So aside from 'Miata'

How about dropping the Yaris and picking up an RSX-S?

Yes, small sacrifice to practicality, you'll still have four seats and a hatchback, decent mileage, good reliability, only a minor hit to the wallet and they are as capable as any FWD car when pushed to the limit. You can keep your BRZ a garage queen (that's another topic but I won't throw pearls before swine), not have to manage 3 vehicles and get everything you're looking for.

[King Tut]

I think the correct answer is a BMW E30 325ix. Better than a Miata, cheaper, cheap parts, AWD for the winters, an actual roof.

[Mikko]

I remember seeing this few months ago..

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...-cars/3304413/

[Rampage]

Yeah, I read a different article recently that rated the Mini as the worst reliable brand of any major manufacturer. It is made by BMW after all so that is really all you need to know.

[Superhatch]

I had a 05 MCS with the works. It was a really fun car and I did an ECU, header, pulley, P&P head, P&P supercharger and full 3" exhaust. It was a LOT of fun. It ended up blowing a spark plug out of the head on startup one morning but a helicoil insert later it was going again. I had no other issues with it.

That said I would still choose a Miata as a track car. I think overall the costs would be lower both in aftermarket and replacement parts.

I'll also note that the R53 cooper (supercharged version) has a SOHC, non-VVT that was built at a Chrysler plant in Brazil and it shares the same head as the standard cooper. Take that for what you will.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHA7MnKBhSw"]Webb Motorsports Exhaust - YouTube[/ame]

[Skurj]

Yaris is gone as of tomorrow. BRZ may stay as the nice car for a few years and while it ages gracefully, the thoughts are I will buy something else like the mini/Miata whatever and beat the hell out of it and have fun at track events and the like. When the BRZ starts to get aged, it will become the beater and I'll buy something nice to replace it garage queen spot.

My options are all over the place.. been eye'n Miatas, tons up for sale atm, Mini cooper S but sounds like I need to keep my wallet handy for one out of warranty... and Impreza/WRX wagons. Like the idea of the sport wagon. the room in the back for haulin stuff to the track appeals but would really have no other use. The wagons though are a slightly cheaper WRX and that 4wd...

[TemeCal]

I used to track an '05 S, very frequently. My brother, dad and best friend all had the same cars (all tracked). It was one of the most fun cars I ever owned. So much so, that I always regretted selling it for my miata.

I never had a single issue with mine. My brother had zero issues. My dad had zero issues. My best friend still tracks his mini, with 265,000 hard miles on it. He just recently had an issue after a track day at Chuckwalla, which was due to a bad tune. He sorted it out, and is back running again.

I have more confidence in the minis, over my FR-S with a subie engine (wished they had thrown a toyota engine in).