2004 MINI Cooper S consumer reviews

I have owned it for 5 years and the only problem I have had is the recall on the oxygen sensor. That's it! The ride very stiff (a nice way of saying rough) and it handles crisply, but 37 MPG highway makes up for that. GREAT exterior finish. It still looks new after 8 years. The interior is very well done with REAL leather and all controls within easy reach. The only minor annoying problems there are the tiny cup holders the won't hold a coffee cup and the wiper control arm that gets turned on occasionally while trying to put the key in the ignition. Over all it's a great car and I would buy another if this one ever wears out.

Pro's- Small, maneuverable, quick, harmonkardon sound system, large sunroof, responsive traction control and styling. Con's- Back seat contours make seating a car or booster seat on them difficult, many trim pieces need to be replace with new ones once removed, reliability, prices of parts and the sparsity of dealers. Be warned, although these cars are lots of fun and have relatively high marks, you could end up with what seems like a "lemon". I have had nothing but trouble with my 04 Cooper S and the maintenance and repairs are not cheap. I have about surpassed the purchase price of my car in repair costs alone. I have replaced 2 O2 sensors, catalytic converter, DME computer, both window motors, rear wiper motor, engine pulleys and tensioner, the entire parking brake system, starter, 2 power steering pumps, clutch switch and a door lock actuator all before 100,000 miles, not to mention the 3 rims I've replaced since they are more malleable then clay and get bent very easily. I always miss my MINI when I'm not driving it but it spends too much time in the shop for any practical use. After this last trip to the shop I'm calling it quits and trading it in.

I bought my 2004 MINI Cooper S used with 70,000 miles on it. It now has 95,000 miles and I generally run it pretty hard at times. I have never had any major issues other than my clutch needing replaced which is typical with this many miles. Starts and runs great every time. The car looks fantastic and has endless customization capabilities. The interior is also very pleasant. The car handles insanely good and is also great for zipping around city streets. The car is comfortable overall but long trips can be a little hard on the back with the firm sport seats. The it is supercharged and has plenty of power, I personally think it could use a little more. I have personally tuned mine a little for some extra go. I guarantee this will be one of the funnest cars you will ever own.

I'm 65 years of age and bought my 2004 Works S new and it's the most fun car I have ever owned. The performance is breathtaking along with great fuel economy. I have now owned my pride and joy for six years and the fit and finish is still faultless with no rattles or squeaks and great handling.

Great car, but is a police magnet. I've been stopped twice. Lucky so far, no ticket. Car is a conversation piece.

LOTS of mechanical issues with car from $150. oil changes to $1100. power steering pumps(2 of them!). just do a search on mini cooper problems,or check consumer reports this car is so overrated!

Yellow with white stripe, it's so cute, you just want to kiss it. I have as much fun driving this as my Speed Triple, and the mileage is great. This is the first car I have been able to get in my garage, because of all of the junk. And it must be garaged, cause it is just too cute.

This is the best car I have ever owned. I have had it for a year and a half. It is definitely mightier than the Suzuki SX4.

Overall this has been a fantastic car. It's fun to drive, looks great, performs well, get's decent gas mileage, and even after 5 years still makes me smile everytime I look at it. There are a couple of negatives. First, tires are very expensive ($250 to $300 each) and they are soft run flats which don't last long. Second, the power steering pump is a piece of garbage. I orginally said cr a p but apparently cars.com considers that to be profanity. If you keep the car outside of warranty, expect to have to replace it. Other than those two things, I've driven over 100k miles on my mini with no problems. My next car will be another mini s without question.

This car has been my baby! She has been such an amazing car to own and would recommend it to anyone looking for a sporty 2 door car. The gas mileage is fantastic, and most importantly she is fun to drive!