Yay - after almost 4 years, it is going!
Discussion
I made the mistake of buying the wife an R56 Cooper S almost 4 years ago. I have just managed to talk her into replacing it and a new car is on order for September. She has been round all the new car showrooms and made her selection. Should be back to trouble free motoring with a bit of luck.
In 4 years these are the highlights of ownership. Death rattle, drinks oil like a full tapas bar, horrible squeaky electric windows, switches all in the wrong places, handles like a fridge freezer, whistling aircon / heater vents unless on lowest totally useless setting, tyre pressures all over the place, stupid tyre sensor reset process (should be automatic like ancient technology American cars), awful indicator and wiper stalk operation, really poor ride quality (have owned sports cars all my life, but never seen dental bills like this has caused), weak ancillary drive system on the front of the engine and expensive to get at, totally impractical for more than 2 people with a toothbrush each and now even more lumpy power delivery after getting coked up to the hilt in just 50,000 miles. Other than that it has been fine for 4 years. She thinks it's cute! I think it is the worst car I have ever had the misfortune to be involved with.
Couldn't possibly bring myself to sell it to anyone else so chopped it in for the new car. I am sure that not all are like it, but IMO, I have owned some hateful cars in my life and this takes the biscuit.
... Worriedly slopes off to the Clio thread - never had a Renault before either... And it is diesel, another first... What have I done !!!
In 4 years these are the highlights of ownership. Death rattle, drinks oil like a full tapas bar, horrible squeaky electric windows, switches all in the wrong places, handles like a fridge freezer, whistling aircon / heater vents unless on lowest totally useless setting, tyre pressures all over the place, stupid tyre sensor reset process (should be automatic like ancient technology American cars), awful indicator and wiper stalk operation, really poor ride quality (have owned sports cars all my life, but never seen dental bills like this has caused), weak ancillary drive system on the front of the engine and expensive to get at, totally impractical for more than 2 people with a toothbrush each and now even more lumpy power delivery after getting coked up to the hilt in just 50,000 miles. Other than that it has been fine for 4 years. She thinks it's cute! I think it is the worst car I have ever had the misfortune to be involved with.
Couldn't possibly bring myself to sell it to anyone else so chopped it in for the new car. I am sure that not all are like it, but IMO, I have owned some hateful cars in my life and this takes the biscuit.
... Worriedly slopes off to the Clio thread - never had a Renault before either... And it is diesel, another first... What have I done !!!
I bought the wife a 2011 R55 MINI Clubman almost 3 years ago. It was so good, I bought a 2012 R57 MINI Convertible for myself too...
In almost 3 years, these are a few highlights of ownership.
No rattles, drinks no oil at all, lovely smooth & silent electric windows, never get tired of the lovely retro toggle switches all over interesting places, handles like a go kart, silent aircon & heater vents, Michelin tyre pressures never need correcting, hence tyre sensor reset process not needed but laughably simple if required, just like old American cars. Faultless indicator & wiper stalk operation. Faultless ancillary drive system, hence never requiring any expense to get at.
Limo-like ride quality on lightweight 15" wheels, thanks to unticking the awful rockhard sidewall tramlining runflat tyres box, leaving the sport suspension box unticked, and the expensive heavy 17" wheels with rubber band 45 profile tyres option unticked...
Totally practical for 4 people & weekend luggage thanks to the bigger boot and significantly longer wheelbase which really improves the rear room. Extra side door enables my 6ft+ son to enter & exit without me even moving the drivers seat, let alone having to get out.
Smooth torquey BMW diesel power has delivered almost 60mpg every day, over almost 50,000 miles so far.
Other than that, it has needed a wheel bearing. Replaced under warranty. FOC.
Wife thinks it's great! I think it is one of the best, most fun to drive, and most reliable cars we have ever had the good fortune to be involved with.
Couldn't possibly bring myself to sell it, so no need for a new car anytime soon.
I am sure that some others may not be quite so good, but I have owned some unreliable cars in my life, and the Renaults took the biscuit...
Thankfully, I don't need to frequent the Renault threads - I had four Renaults before... All diesels... Decent enough dci engines, particularly the jointly Nissan designed chain-driven cam 2.0 dci 175, when the rest of the cars worked... Never again...
In almost 3 years, these are a few highlights of ownership.
No rattles, drinks no oil at all, lovely smooth & silent electric windows, never get tired of the lovely retro toggle switches all over interesting places, handles like a go kart, silent aircon & heater vents, Michelin tyre pressures never need correcting, hence tyre sensor reset process not needed but laughably simple if required, just like old American cars. Faultless indicator & wiper stalk operation. Faultless ancillary drive system, hence never requiring any expense to get at.
Limo-like ride quality on lightweight 15" wheels, thanks to unticking the awful rockhard sidewall tramlining runflat tyres box, leaving the sport suspension box unticked, and the expensive heavy 17" wheels with rubber band 45 profile tyres option unticked...
Totally practical for 4 people & weekend luggage thanks to the bigger boot and significantly longer wheelbase which really improves the rear room. Extra side door enables my 6ft+ son to enter & exit without me even moving the drivers seat, let alone having to get out.
Smooth torquey BMW diesel power has delivered almost 60mpg every day, over almost 50,000 miles so far.
Other than that, it has needed a wheel bearing. Replaced under warranty. FOC.
Wife thinks it's great! I think it is one of the best, most fun to drive, and most reliable cars we have ever had the good fortune to be involved with.
Couldn't possibly bring myself to sell it, so no need for a new car anytime soon.
I am sure that some others may not be quite so good, but I have owned some unreliable cars in my life, and the Renaults took the biscuit...
Thankfully, I don't need to frequent the Renault threads - I had four Renaults before... All diesels... Decent enough dci engines, particularly the jointly Nissan designed chain-driven cam 2.0 dci 175, when the rest of the cars worked... Never again...
TT Tim said:
I do struggle to understand the mentality of someone who posts this kind of thing.
Tim
I've no doubt the OP's comments and frustrations are genuine, just as my own experiences are genuinely the polar opposite to his.Tim
We can all have very different experiences with the same makes of car. I just hope the OP has a better experience with Renault, than I did...
t itself but enjoying the drive in the meantime.Let's face it - every make and model of car has it's good un's and bad 'uns.
I've had a couple of Friday cars in my time but just write it down to experience.
I strongly suspect the Clio will not stay 4 years.
I hardly ever need to sue the switches and I love the row of toggles - one of the best bits of the interior for a sad old git who had an original Mini 850 back in the 70's.
Surely no-one buys a standard Mini hatch as a day to day 4 person car?
I can do a 'two adult couples' trip quite easily if we cram the women in the back but I would never choose to do it regularly. Fine for popping into town though.
I would actually like to see an easily removable rear seat and extended boot cover option so it can be used as a two seater with a big boot most of the time and just slot the seats in when you need them. There is another niche for Mini to exploit (I'll take 10% royalties thanks).
At least provide a clip on boot cover so I can leave the seats down - or does someone already do that?
My wife says I have overdone the gangsta film as it's a bit tricky to see out the back to reverse (she is right but it's too late now) but it's the only way to keep stuff in the boot reasonably secure.
I've had a couple of Friday cars in my time but just write it down to experience.
I strongly suspect the Clio will not stay 4 years.
I hardly ever need to sue the switches and I love the row of toggles - one of the best bits of the interior for a sad old git who had an original Mini 850 back in the 70's.
Surely no-one buys a standard Mini hatch as a day to day 4 person car?
I can do a 'two adult couples' trip quite easily if we cram the women in the back but I would never choose to do it regularly. Fine for popping into town though.
I would actually like to see an easily removable rear seat and extended boot cover option so it can be used as a two seater with a big boot most of the time and just slot the seats in when you need them. There is another niche for Mini to exploit (I'll take 10% royalties thanks).
At least provide a clip on boot cover so I can leave the seats down - or does someone already do that?
My wife says I have overdone the gangsta film as it's a bit tricky to see out the back to reverse (she is right but it's too late now) but it's the only way to keep stuff in the boot reasonably secure.
DavidLScott said:
I hardly ever need to sue the switches and I love the row of toggles - one of the best bits of the interior for a sad old git who had an original Mini 850 back in the 70's.
Surely no-one buys a standard Mini hatch as a day to day 4 person car?
Likewise, the idea was for a bit of RetroSurely no-one buys a standard Mini hatch as a day to day 4 person car?
Regarding using as a 4 seater,
I also have a Jaguar XKR. Even less room in the back seats there !!
NormanD said:
DavidLScott said:
I hardly ever need to sue the switches and I love the row of toggles - one of the best bits of the interior for a sad old git who had an original Mini 850 back in the 70's.
Surely no-one buys a standard Mini hatch as a day to day 4 person car?
Likewise, the idea was for a bit of RetroSurely no-one buys a standard Mini hatch as a day to day 4 person car?
Regarding using as a 4 seater,
I also have a Jaguar XKR. Even less room in the back seats there !!
That's why I also have a 3.0i X3.
DavidLScott said:
...
At least provide a clip on boot cover so I can leave the seats down - or does someone already do that?
...
Mini do a 'protective bootspace cover'; it lines the whole boot (clips through the headrests, suckers to the rear quarterlights and velcros to the rear seatback retainers). There's a flap that covers the bumper while loading too. Keeps the muck off the upholstery as all the small stuff doesn't creep down the crevices. Don't know the part number, but it's on MINI's accessories site at £140.At least provide a clip on boot cover so I can leave the seats down - or does someone already do that?
...
I've combined it with the fitted rear sunblinds to give a van like interior.
Can't remember the last time I had all four seats up. Maybe I should have got the GP
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