MINI laughs off last-place quality ranking

[MCS08]

Mini laughs off last-place quality ranking
It calls some features that may be off-putting quirks instead of problems

AP - updated 1:02 p.m. MT, Sun., June 28, 2009
NEW YORK - For Mini, the maker of sporty

[danjmcs]

Yeah, you can see Jim McDowells response here on CNN via Motoringfile.. i thought he played it pretty well...
http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/06/23/ ... ty-survey/

[MCS08]

Good call Dan on posting that link...
I have some thoughts on MINI's placement in the survey myself and I would love to hear what others have to say as well.

I had some quirks with my '08 S. The sun roof is pretty much unusable in the summer months. It sticks and I have problems opening and closing the darn thing anytime the temp. outside reachs 85 degrees or hotter. MINI knows that this is an issue in warmer states and as far as I know there still isn't a fix.

A couple other things came up that I needed service on at the dealership. One, my shift knob starting popping off when I was shifting gears after only having my MINI for a few months. MNS ordered me a replacement and took care of it right away. No problems with it since then. The other is that my plastic hood scoop keeps warping from the heat coming off the turbo. I had it replaced once, but my second is doing the same thing. I've come to the conclusion that it's simply a design flaw and I have to live with it.

I know that it may sound like I'm grumbling a lot, but the fact is I LOVE my MINI. I wanted a MINI from the time they went from Mini to MINI. I've never had more fun behind the wheel of a car. I test drove them for years before I had the chance to snatch it up myself. I feel lucky just to have it. I think that most MINI owners would agree that we have a passion for our cars that others don't. It's fun to have and to be around other MINIs. The culture of MINI you could say.

I do hope though that MINI takes note of the J.D. Power & Associates' annual initial quality study though. The fact is for $25K I don't think I should have had any of those problems. I'm a big fan of MINI, but I think that they can do a little better. You know, the way you would like to see a good friend grow as a person.

[Louie B.]

The "quirks" just help to keep the non-enthusiast "MINI abusers" away!

[danjmcs]

I do hope though that MINI takes note of the J.D. Power & Associates' annual initial quality study though. The fact is for $25K I don't think I should have had any of those problems. I'm a big fan of MINI, but I think that they can do a little better. You know, the way you would like to see a good friend grow as a person.

Yep, totally agree. My biggest complaint with Mini is the lack of fixes during a production year. Waiting until the next production cycle or year is ridiculous to me, but like you, my R53 is the most fun car I've ever owned, and I'll own another one, no question.

I think you'll see Mini address a lot of the R56 issues as mentioned here:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/06/25/ ... g-in-2010/

And they better, as competition is coming...

From Toyota/Aston-Martin
http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/06/29/ ... -for-mini/

And as we already knew, the Fiat 500
http://www.motoringfile.com/2009/06/29/ ... us-market/

[MINImama]

The "quirks" just help to keep the non-enthusiast "MINI abusers" away!

Here, here!!! I get so tired of having to justify my car to people. "Why can't you just have a normal car?" or "why would you want a car so small?" or my personal favorite, "aren't you a bit obsessed?" I simply throw my hands up at these questions because it is not worth my time to try to explain something they just won't understand.
And aside from the "quirks" of the car, where else could I find another group of quirky, fun, and genuinely superior people to motor along with then behind the wheel of a MINI