Here's a machine that pulled off the same sort of stunt as the VW Beetle- dropping from sight decades earlier to re-emerge as a top-selling automotive fashion statement that combined the cartoony charm of the original with the reliability that today's customers expect.
Of course, an extended absence from the marketplace means a few changes are necessary upon re-entering. The new generation Mini is safer and larger than the original- making it more usable, more practical and even more fun. It's great for folks who don't often need to travel with 4 large adults, or those wanting a quick little runabout for zipping around town or a weekend road course.
The second-generation 'new' Cooper is well on its way to sales success, with a "Clubman" model offering extra room and a newly updated convertible model coming this spring. You're likely to find a great deal on an original new-Mini at your Mini dealership, or an increase in private sales by 02-06 owners looking to upgrade. If you've ever wanted to get into a new-generation Cooper, the time is right.
Just try and find a model closer to 2006 than 2002 if possible- as the original new Coopers had their share of new-model bugs and glitches. Searching of online forums and talking with owners yielded a few concerns and common issues.
A possibly-faulty transmission shift cable can become loose and prevent proper operation of the transmission's shift linkage. The fix here is a simple retaining clip- nothing major. Other owners, however, noted a reputation for some early production models to be prone to CVT transmission failure. Data is inconclusive, but avoiding an earlier CVT-driven model seems in order-, and a manual gearbox was available anyhow.
More serious problems reported by owners included a bogging or stalling problem when the engine is cold. The latter issue is fascinating, as some report proper operation until their machine is taken in for servicing, where an ECU programming "upgrade" is frequently blamed for the intermittent problem. Most say this problem is worst when the engine is cold, or before it's been re-started a few times. This is a common problem which is referred to as the "Mini Flu", but interestingly, there seems to be no concrete fix as of yet.
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| 2002 MINI Cooper |
Of course, an extended absence from the marketplace means a few changes are necessary upon re-entering. The new generation Mini is safer and larger than the original- making it more usable, more practical and even more fun. It's great for folks who don't often need to travel with 4 large adults, or those wanting a quick little runabout for zipping around town or a weekend road course.
The second-generation 'new' Cooper is well on its way to sales success, with a "Clubman" model offering extra room and a newly updated convertible model coming this spring. You're likely to find a great deal on an original new-Mini at your Mini dealership, or an increase in private sales by 02-06 owners looking to upgrade. If you've ever wanted to get into a new-generation Cooper, the time is right.
Just try and find a model closer to 2006 than 2002 if possible- as the original new Coopers had their share of new-model bugs and glitches. Searching of online forums and talking with owners yielded a few concerns and common issues.
A possibly-faulty transmission shift cable can become loose and prevent proper operation of the transmission's shift linkage. The fix here is a simple retaining clip- nothing major. Other owners, however, noted a reputation for some early production models to be prone to CVT transmission failure. Data is inconclusive, but avoiding an earlier CVT-driven model seems in order-, and a manual gearbox was available anyhow.
More serious problems reported by owners included a bogging or stalling problem when the engine is cold. The latter issue is fascinating, as some report proper operation until their machine is taken in for servicing, where an ECU programming "upgrade" is frequently blamed for the intermittent problem. Most say this problem is worst when the engine is cold, or before it's been re-started a few times. This is a common problem which is referred to as the "Mini Flu", but interestingly, there seems to be no concrete fix as of yet.
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| 2004 MINI Cooper |