MINI Scores High in Reliability

Jim Mar 8th, 2005 Link

Thats odd, in this months Consumer Reports car edition they still gave MINI a below average score in reliability.

Chris Mar 8th, 2005 Link

Yeah, Jim I saw that too.

Ken Mar 8th, 2005 Link

YEAH !!!!! GO MiNI GO !!!!! We’ll be number one in no time ! just give it a good 2-4 yrs … !!!

mini vanilli Mar 8th, 2005 Link

thats so great to hear.

i have a side question that relates to this article. can anybody give me their opinion on this. i have a 2005 MC right now. it has been 100% perfect for 9000 miles. i think MINI has all the bugs worked out. but i would like to get the new 2007 model with the new engine and bodystyle (for no other real reason besides the fact i am putting TONS of miles on my car and would like to get a newer one in two years). do any of you think that will negate all the strides MINI has gone through for reliability. since the 2007 will be a revision will new bugs pop up. will the reliability drop down alittle. i know the engines are brand new but im talking about overall reliability and the rest of the cars reliability other than the engine. what do you guys think. and those of you that are thinking of getting the new style, are you going to wait a year (2008) to get it.

and again congrats to MINI for the great reliabilty score.

joe Mar 8th, 2005 Link

maybe off topic, but Subaru number 1?

i didn’t know subaru was known for reliability

and nissan way down on the charts ???
i guess i got lucky or nissan quality has dropped, i had a ‘93 altima that i put over 300K on it, i drove the HELL out of it … gave it away to a friend and he totalled the car, i think it would have kept going

and .. what exactly are these “problems” they are talking about .. theres no inidication of what these problems are (in the article at least), seems a bit arbitrary rankings to me

Gabe Mar 8th, 2005 Link

joe - yeah I’m pretty surprised at some of these scores. Specifically the Suburu and BMW results. Mercedes and VW I can understand but in recent German reliability surveys BMW was far from the back of the pack compared to the other three big German automakers (including Audi).

I do hope that Suburu has a handle on their quality problems though. They’re great cars that often deserve more attention from those buying Accords and Corrollas.

Wraith Mar 8th, 2005 Link

don’t really trust consumer reports that much. when i looked at this months issue and saw that the entire list of cars that received high ratings in all area’s were all japanese. the japanese make some great cars, i won’t deny that, but come on now. they bashed the heck outta the 300C when every other car magazine praised it to high heaven. great magazine if ur looking for a new vacuum cleaner, but not for a car. i’d rather have Motor Trend’s new car issue

Gabe Mar 8th, 2005 Link

I totally agree with your CR assessment.

Eric Mar 8th, 2005 Link

It’s the early X5 returns that lower the BMW results. That’s fixed now but the results haven’t caught up yet…

markjenn Mar 8th, 2005 Link

I have no idea where MSNBC cooked up this list. There is no such list in the CR April 2005 Auto issue I have. It does have a predicted reliabilty score for 2005 autos by makers, and Mini is where it always tends to be: near the bottom.

The only thing I can think is that MSNBC took the detailed year-by-year data and concoted its own list for MY 2004 only. If so, I’m not sure it tells you a whole lot since the data for 2004 MY cars is very limited with the cars only being in the field a year or so.

It’s way too early to be crowing that Mini’s have turned the corner on their below average reliability issues.

• Mark

liz Mar 8th, 2005 Link

It is important to know CR’s methodology; they only poll their readership! One could speculate that there is a certain “type” that subscribes to CR (practicle, cautious?), but it is definately a less random sample then the JD Power survey.

Frank Mar 8th, 2005 Link

I owned a 2004 MCS for 16 months and nearly 18K miles. During that time the car never gave me any problems, and in fact, never once went back to the dealer for any unscheduled warranty repairs. Its only 2 recorded visits were to install the Union jack roof decal, the AUX input jack and the 10K mile service.

It was a solid car. No rattles, no noises, no problems. Ran like a champ and started everytime. It was the equivalent of the finest Rolex Swiss watch.

I hope my upcoming 2005 MCS exhibits even a higher level of quality and reliability.

I think MINI quality improved dramatically during the 2004 model year and CR’s own dot rating system, backs that up fully for the aforementioned model year.

Frank Mar 8th, 2005 Link

I tend to agree on that CR’s statistical data collection methods are far from perfect because their main pool data is taken from their exisiting subscribing base. As far as I can remember, I have never filled out a CR questionnaire (At one time I was also a subscriber)but I have completed a J.D. Powers initial quality index questionnaire when my ‘04 MCS was 3 months old.

The responses themselves could be skewed, biased and inaccurate. I have always have trouble seeing a broken ash tray in the same degree of severity as a blown transmission. I am not sure how they “separate” or categorize those responses but it seems to be a problem in this type of studies.

If there are any statistics experts in here, please feel free to chime in.

F.R Walter Mar 8th, 2005 Link

Personally, I can’t rely on anything Consumer Reports prints. I was in the domestic appliance repair business for over twenty years and one year the magazine reported on refrigerators. They reported brand “A” very good and brand “B” poor. Because of my job experience, I knew that brand “B” owned “A” since the nineteen fifties and the only difference between the two refrigerators was the trim and the name on the door. Makes you wonder.
I’m very glad MINI has been praised almost everywhere. I’m planning to order my MINI this summer.

meanboy Mar 8th, 2005 Link

Our 2004 is pretty mainstream..it’s got a couple of rattles but SF street are rough on cars. The steering column has that had the clicking noise for quite a few miles but now it’s gone because I made a service appt. The same thing happened the last time. Maybe, I need to pretend to make appts so it will be on it’s best behavior! The driver side heated seat switch works intermittently. I’ve made a mpeg to show the service writer because I know it will work when I bring it in.

Great car, I would recommend it to anyone.

Eric Mar 9th, 2005 Link

Yeah, CR is wildly erratic on their scoring. They give “Recommended” to a couple of the Buicks and Lincolns, yet in their paragraph synopsis, do not but spend all seven to eight sentences bashing it to pieces. Then say it’s recommended.

It’s funny too how they said that most of the vehicles that they could not recommend were high or highest in consumer satisfaction and repeat buys.

Maylynn Oswald Mar 15th, 2005 Link

Mini and reliable should not be put in the same sentence unless there is a “not” in front of reliable. I own a 2002 Mini Cooper and it is the worst car ever. Every time I step inside I have to wonder if I’m going to make it to my destination. I can’t count the number of times I’ve broken down. The service man at the dealership knows me when I call and I’ve become friends with all the staff because I’m there all the time. I have had my car for about 3 years now and I have driven it for maybe 2. If it’s not one thing, its another. It’s a good looking car but that is about all it has going for it.

Gabe Mar 15th, 2005 Link

Why haven’t you sold it? I guess I don’t really understand why someone would hold onto a car for three years that they’d consider to be the worst car they’ve owned.

charlie Apr 17th, 2005 Link

I bought a 2005 mini cooper convert about 2 weeks ago. I just drove to Las Vegas and back from s ca . I went 75 mph both ways was a fun drive.

David Aug 3rd, 2006 Link

I plan on getting a 2006 MCS.
Hopefully all the bugs will have been
worked out.
I currently own a 2000 Nissan Maxima and it’s
the worst car I’ve ever owned.
It’s been serviced at a dealer for every
service interval. Dealer service isn’t cheap.
After all that, the ignition coils went out prematurely
at 77000 miles ($750) and the engine wiring harness needed to be replaced at 84000 miles ($400) because
water got in somewhere. It’s currently in the shop again for what might be catalytic converter. I never did anything but drive to and from work so it’s not something I did.
Most manufacturers seem to have problems with totally new
models.
I’m willing to put up with a less than 100% reliable car if it’s fun to drive. That is unless the engine blows up or
something.

sam Sep 19th, 2007 Link

JD Power is a totaly bogus bought award! I can’t believe people don’t know this. You give them x amount of dollars and they make up an award for you. That’s why they have weird awards like “Initial Quality”, what the heck is that? Everything is supposed to work when you drive it off the lot. What I care about is what still works after 5 years and 150k. Doesn’t anyone wonder why Chrysler always gets these JD power awards? Chrysler makes the biggest piles of junk out there (besides VW/audi).

See- http://www.radaronline.com/features/2006/09/jdpowerassociates.php