Edmunds' Long-Term MCS Writeup

[FC]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..2.*

Hmmm... on the heels of a new onset of waffling about selling the 330i, this review makes me wonder.

[ff]

But, hey, at least the oil change at the dealership, of which the Mini required only one at 17,386 miles, was free.

I'm sorry, but going that long between oil changes is just dumb. Especially when you look at how little it costs to perform them [yourself] on a regular schedule. BMW looks at those change intervals, and sees dollar signs. not only because they don't have to do them as often, but also as the car ages prematurely, they start handing you huge engine repair bills.

[operknockity]

Originally Posted by ff

I'm sorry, but going that long between oil changes is just dumb. Especially when you look at how little it costs to perform them [yourself] on a regular schedule. BMW looks at those change intervals, and sees dollar signs. not only because they don't have to do them as often, but also as the car ages prematurely, they start handing you huge engine repair bills.

10000 x

Even if you pay someone to do the oil change on a more regular basis, it's still cheap insurance.

[JST]

Originally Posted by FC

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..2.*

Hmmm... on the heels of a new onset of waffling about selling the 330i, this review makes me wonder.

Are you kidding? The was the most ridiculous review I've read in a while. The ride is stiff and the Mini doesn't make a good trip car? Uh, yeah, that's not exactly news. There's a hint of torque steer from time to time? Again, its a FWD car with a big hit of torque. What do you expect?

Concerned that the oil change light hasn't gone off? Change the oil. Since the Mini still has a dipstick, that's a 10 minute job with a suction pump (though the filter location is a bit harder to get to than in a BMW).

The lack of a boost gauge is faintly irritating...wait. No it isn't. I don't care when the engine is on boost, and there's an easy way to figure it out, anyway: the car starts going really f'ing fast.

The only really relevant piece of information in this story is that the 17" runflats seem prone to bubbling/bending the wheels. They are right that you should get the 16s.

I mean, seriously. They bitch and moan about things that are either minor or obvious, but they kind of brush past the really interesting thing: Buy this car and MAKE money. Not much money, but how many other cars appreciate in real terms after a year of ownership?

[ff]

Originally Posted by JST

Since the Mini still has a dipstick, that's a 10 minute job with a suction pump

Which reminds me, I really need to pick one of those up someday.

[Plaz]

Originally Posted by JST

Are you kidding? The was the most ridiculous review I've read in a while. The ride is stiff and the Mini doesn't make a good trip car? Uh, yeah, that's not exactly news. There's a hint of torque steer from time to time? Again, its a FWD car with a big hit of torque. What do you expect?

Concerned that the oil change light hasn't gone off? Change the oil. Since the Mini still has a dipstick, that's a 10 minute job with a suction pump (though the filter location is a bit harder to get to than in a BMW).

The lack of a boost gauge is faintly irritating...wait. No it isn't. I don't care when the engine is on boost, and there's an easy way to figure it out, anyway: the car starts going really f'ing fast.

The only really relevant piece of information in this story is that the 17" runflats seem prone to bubbling/bending the wheels. They are right that you should get the 16s.

I mean, seriously. They bitch and moan about things that are either minor or obvious, but they kind of brush past the really interesting thing: Buy this car and MAKE money. Not much money, but how many other cars appreciate in real terms after a year of ownership?

And besides, I think it's a perfectly fine trip car. I did 1600 miles in a weekend a few months ago, and really had no complaints about long-term comfort.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by JST

Are you kidding? The was the most ridiculous review I've read in a while. The ride is stiff and the Mini doesn't make a good trip car? Uh, yeah, that's not exactly news. There's a hint of torque steer from time to time? Again, its a FWD car with a big hit of torque. What do you expect?

Concerned that the oil change light hasn't gone off? Change the oil. Since the Mini still has a dipstick, that's a 10 minute job with a suction pump (though the filter location is a bit harder to get to than in a BMW).

The lack of a boost gauge is faintly irritating...wait. No it isn't. I don't care when the engine is on boost, and there's an easy way to figure it out, anyway: the car starts going really f'ing fast.

The only really relevant piece of information in this story is that the 17" runflats seem prone to bubbling/bending the wheels. They are right that you should get the 16s.

I mean, seriously. They bitch and moan about things that are either minor or obvious, but they kind of brush past the really interesting thing: Buy this car and MAKE money. Not much money, but how many other cars appreciate in real terms after a year of ownership?

i must have ignored all of the negatives mostly because they're so obvious from a brief test drive. i experienced all of those things on my first test drive of the R56.

but a lot depends on point of reference. getting back into my car after the test drive was horrible (CTS-V at the time).



they did gloss over rather quickly at the beginning the logbook describing how fun the car is to drive. overall, i thought it was still pretty positive.

[FC]

Yes, the article seems rather stupid. I still want to get the MCS if only because it reeks of last year of offering an LSD. Also, if not now later but we will own an MCS eventually.

Maybe we should keep the ZHP, buy the MCS and see about the sportscar patiently.