Used 2010 MINI Cooper Hatchback Consumer Reviews

My Mini

Remember it is a sportier car that means more work

Sportier cars always come with a catch usually more expensive maintenance but it being a performance car means dont cheap out on parts thats asking for something to break it handles amazingly and has good power for a car i still get 35+ mpg in yea theres some slight torquesteer and turbo lag but most fwd turbo cars have some form of both the interior controls are kinda annoying until you get used to them but overall its a fun car meant to be fun to drive and they nailed that. That being said of course automatic is going to have some trouble which is why i got a 6 speed manual which is an incredibly strong transmission and would only fail from operator/owner caused issues or a defect from the factory which is not very likely

Interesting...

Well so far I am having fun driving. I am not sure how it handles in the snow or in cold weather yet so I am trying to wait to pass "full" judgment. As far as the way it handles day to day I find it easy to maneuver and great reaction timing.

A brand new MINI with dead USB port

We bought a brand new MINI a few weeks ago. Before we signed the purchased contract, we found the iphone/USB port does not work. The dealer insured us that was just a very minor and common issue in some 2010 mini and could be fixed easily by updating software upgrade or just replacing a small united called ULH box (where all the wires for the usb/ipod connect). He said if we can wait for a few hours they can fix it. We were so stupid and believed his words, and took the car since we run out of the time stay over there. Now it turns out a very serious problem, after I send the car back for them to fix. They cannot fix the USB port in a few hours but request a few days.

Great car, but you need prior knowledge

The N14 engine is the most dreaded engine in Mini history. Engineering-wise, I understand why the engine has won engine of the year awards for consecutive years. When running optimally, they are little beasts. The N14 allows for crazy potential when modded with simple bolt-ons. Getting an intake on it transforms the sound and pulls. A tune is a whole separate story. However, if I had the choice I would go back and find an N18 engine, or even the F series generation would be more reliable. You need to make sure you baby these cars, as they are german sports cars that are a hoot to drive. That being said, getting the engine up in RPMS and spirited driving are musts. Sounds counterintuitive right? But when people are scared to actually drive these cars how they're meant to, that's where the issues arise. Not only that but if you pick up a Mini that was neglected and the oil changed every 10k miles you're signing up for a disaster. You don't buy Minis for the reliability, you buy them for the pure driving experience as well as a huge learning experience for anyone who isn't scared of a wrench. Scared of a wrench and the god-awful work room in the engine bay? I don't blame you, but if you go to the BMW DEALER in order to get repairs, that's on you for wasting your money. You need to find an independent shop that specializes in Mini/BMW. The dealers are a scam, and seeing these reviews complaining about dealership prices is laughable. Even if the repairs are still more than a honda, well, it's a german car! Do your research, find a reputable indy shop near you, and have a blast!