2008 MINI Cooper consumer reviews

Thought I wanted to join the MINI club so I bought a Clubman S to see what the craze was all about. I like the interior design but for 30K the materials should be nicer. The flimsy radio knob is a joke and type of plastic that it uses is also used in Lil Tyke toys. Cheap, cheap. The center mounted speedo is never used. I just use the digital speedo on the gage in front of the steering wheel where God intends it to be. Suspension is stiff but it corners far better than you will ever normally take adavntage of. The 6 speed shifts smooth and easy. The turbo engine pulls good with lots of low torque throughout the rev band. The engine at startup and at idle sounds like my old model year 2000 Dodge Neon. It just putters with a wheezy rackety clatter. Doesn't have the sound of precision engine at all. For a 17k car I can forgive that. For a 30K car it smacks of lousy engineering. BMW had a clean sheet when they engineered that engine and they gave us this? Tell me somebody didn't get fired over this. Even at speed, the engine is soul less with very little exhaust note. The front brakes blow the worst brake dust I have ever seen. After 2 months I just had to throw away the factory pads and get aftermarket ceramic pads. Much improvement. Seems the engineers at BMW don't mind their front wheels turning solid black every 2 months from brake dust or they would just put ceramic pads on at the factory and be done with it. Maybe they have someone wash their cars so they never have to deal with it. Requires premium fuel but that goes with territory when you get a turbo engine. But premium fuel is also required even on the slow normally aspirated base engine. Now that is stupid. Premium fuel for a 120 HP engine? Get real. Dealers are few and far between so you will want to keep a good road service memebership if the thing ever has to be hauled back a couple hundred miles to the nearest dealer after the warranty expires. Not much piece of mind with that deal. Fun car, but terrible value for the dollar. I would never own a MINI again. If the Clubman is terrible value for the dollar, the larger, heavier, much more expensive Countryman using the same wheezy sleezy 1.6 liter engine is the stupid purchase of the century if you were considering one of those. Run away fast from that engineering marvel. There are far better choices out there people.

Car is slow at the start; i.e. no Turbo. But once on the road the car is responsive. Down side is the iPhone connections. Mine is equipped with a center console and has limitations for full iPhone use. Newer cars no longer have this issue. Suggest you buy a car with warranty in effect (If buying used) and consider extended Warranty. The Clubman has enough room with the seats down for two suit cases. The rear seats are fine for children but not for adults. It fits my needs and is easy to drive.

I have only owned this car for five months, and it's the best little car I've ever driven. It's a fun car to drive. Picks up speed well, easy to park, makes U-turns easy. I bought a Mini with dual sun/moon roof. The roof can be left partly open to help vent heat while sitting in your driveway etc. So far I have not had any problems, and hope to own this car for many years. I wouldn't think of owning any other car since buying the Mini.

Driving my 2008 Mini Cooper is the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel. It has very good handling with very quick response. Also, I was able to "build" it myself at their website. The only trouble that I've experienced so far is that the Sport Seats are not the most comfortable on long drives (over 700 miles). My only other complaint is that I think the speedometer (located in the middle of the dashboard) should be canted towards the driver so that you can read your speed more acurately. All in all, it's been great fun and a real enjoyable ride.

I have driven fords most of my life, but I am in love with my Mini. I traded a Mustang in on this and don't regret it. Power is actually more than the Mustang and the gas milage and comfort can't be touched. I have more room in my Mini than I had in the much larger v8 Mustang. Get one!

This is my third MINI. I have tried the Cooper, moved up to the Supercharged model, then traded the S for a 2008 MINI. I find the acceleration and power in the newly engineered engine and transmission to be perfectly adequate. I had bought the original S after my 2003 Cooper felt underpowered. The car handles like a dream. It truly is 'a legalized go kart.' Also love the storage area when back seats are lowered. It is a super car for the city. You can make a U turn in an alley if you need to. Mileage is excellent I get 44 on the road and 34 in town, averages 40. My only complaint is the in the rain, the car seems vulnerable to wheel spray from SUVs and bigger cars.

This car (S model) is feature rich and very zippy. The design is one of a kind. You dont feel like you are in a small car.

With gas prices escalating at a record pace, I wanted to trade my Subaru Outback XT wagon for something more fuel efficient. Top of my list was the Toyota Prius, but after a poor first encounter with a less than knowledgeable salesperson, and seeing the OBC (on board computer) report that the Prius had just achieved 28.6 mpg in a test drive in downtown Annapolis, I was completely convinced that this car is NOT the solution to being green or achieving higher fuel economy, no matter how much hype it received. Next on the list was the 6 spd standard hardtop MINI Cooper. I expected an uncomfortable econobox, but much to my pleasant surprise, what I discovered was a very comfortable, spirited, fun car that made me want to keep on driving it. After about 15,000 miles, I routinely achieve 38+ mpg in the city, and 42+ on the highway. In 30+ years of driving and owning lots of terrific cars, I can say without hesitation that this is the most guilt-free fun I've EVER had in a car! In summary... terrific handling, superior fuel mileage, spectacular brakes, and a fun-to-drive factor that is off the charts, in a car that won't break the bank. If you're looking for a new car to replace your gas guzzler, you owe it to yourself to check out a MINI.

i love it. a lot. it is the most awesome care ever. i love to go drifting with it. i always have a blast when i am in this car. if i could recoment any car to anyone...and i could only choose one to give to someone in the whole world...i would choose the mini cooper with out a second thought.