2009 MINI Cooper Hardtop User Reviews

Pros

Curb appeal, Handling,Service

Cons

Hate those potholes even more

Purchased As New

Traded 1998 BMW 3 for MCS and haven't looked back. This car is so much more responsive and fun to drive. A real road hugger!

Pros

Good Fuel Economy, Resale value, Reliability

Cons

Feels all of the bump on the road and dashboard

Purchased As New

I'm so excited about getting the 2010 model sometime within a few months. I was thinking about getting the Lexus IS 250 for some time- but as a college student, the MINI won me over for its price, unique appearance, much better fuel economy, resale value, and reliability (Don't get me wrong, The IS 250 is wonderful in its own way but IMO, the MINI seems a lot better for a student like me). The only thing I don't like about the MINI is the crazy looking dashboard and that I can feel all the bumps on the road. Other than that, everything's perfect.. Now, I just need to decide which color I want!...read morehide

Pros

FUN! Quick, great handling (espcially in sport mode), great MPGs

Cons

headlights could be brighter and wiper speeds were confusing at first

Purchased As New

I LOVE MY 2009 MINI! I get 34mpg average with the 6 speed manual. Everyone stops and asks me about it and wants to drive. When I let them they get jealous. hehe. Cute sporty little car for a great value (BMW makes them). The headlights could be better, but I don't have perfect night vision. High beams are powerful. The manual gives you plenty of power especially in the sport mode even if it burns more gas.

I've had friends sit in the back seat and they were perfectly comfortable, but they are all under 6 ft. Backseats fold down to plenty of cargo room if you only want to drive around 1 passenger.

Ride is very smooth and comfy in the front seat. the two moon roofs make it feel very open and big inside. I spend a lot of time in my car and the mini makes it really enjoyable....read morehide

Pros

it's fun to drive,excellent gas mileage and it's a perfect size for a petite woman like me

Cons

i love everything i see in this car...

Purchased As New

It's the best car ever!...I bought my mini cooper S in February 14, 2008. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. I really really love it...Go mini!!

Pros

A real head turning automobile

Cons

Haven't found any yet

Purchased As New

Bought my MCS new in 05 and haven't looked back. This is by far the best new car I have ever owned. I have had over 20 cars in my time. I was so inspired by my MCS, that I bought a Classic Mini just to discover the roots of this new MINI. I am so pleased with this car that I'm currently considering adding a new 2010 MINI to the driveway. I won't be trading in, as I fully plan to keep my 05 MCS forever. You won't go wrong buying the new MINI Cooper....read morehide

Pros

Good Gas Milage, Fun to drive, I am in love with my Mini Cooper S :)

Cons

No cons for me! Love it :)

Purchased As Used

I bought my mini cooper s 2006 used and had only 19,000 miles , got a great warranty with a tire warranty. I love to drive my car every where. My gas mileage on the highway is 37 mpg.

Pros

tons of fun to drive, unique, many options, great gas mileage

Cons

does not handle bumps well at all, cargo room is minimal, backseat uncomfortable for passengers

Purchased As New

This car is so much fun to drive. It is zippy, has go-kart handling, and is a powerful little thing. I bought mine with the cold weather package (well worth it for the upcoming cold New England winter- the heated seats work great!), and the premium package. Love the bluetooth that syncs my car and phone. I find the sound system to be fine, but if you put the volume up too high, it does start to get more muffled.

The worst thing about this car is that it does not handle bumps very well. Where I live, many of the side streets are poorly paved, which makes me nervous driving down them because the tires are so small! Also, I go about 4 miles per hour over speed bumps because literally anything over 6 mph is too much for the car to handle. Not sure if this is a tire issue or not, but the tires are quite small!

Overall, this is the best car I have ever owned. I am so possessive of it, I love it. Everyone wants to drive it, but that won't happen :)...read morehide

Pros

Zippy, fuel-efficient, technology; maintenance; FUN.

Cons

Cheap sound system, interior materials

Purchased As New

PROS: 1) Fast, zippy ride. In the mean streets of L.A., you need a car with power and pick-up to get through traffic, and the S-model does the trick. It takes awhile to get the shifting down (manual trans.) because the acceleration is very responsive. 2) Before the MINI, I drove a bigger car with less horsepower. The MINI is surprisingly great on gas mileage given how powerful its engine is. The clever thing about this car is that once it hits "E" for fuel, it counts down how many miles you have left on the fuel you have. VERY handy, especially on road trips or in general forgetful moments in a busy life. 3) I really enjoy the integrated Bluetooth phone function and the USB port. I loaded all my music on an 8GB flash drive and leave it in its discreet port in the dash; no need to worry about the car getting broken into and getting your iPod stolen. 4) I have a 3-year lease, and with the 3-year/36k free maintenance schedule, it's a win-win situation for me. 5) I have fun driving this car. Some people may not like its bouncy handling, but I think it great because it reminds me how fast and fun it is. I look forward to driving to/from work, which is something I never thought I would say.

CONS: 1) If I had built my MINI, I would have paid for the upgraded sound system. (Unfortunately, the Hardon Karmans were not available for 2009, but will be back for 2010.) If listening to music is important for you like it is for me, you will be disappointed in the sound quality. I'm no expert, but I can say that the sound isn't as rich or deep with these speakers than in other cars. Listening to the radio is the worst- everything sounds "tinny". Quality improves when listening to a CD or music through the AUX/USB ports, but not by much. I am leasing my MINI, so I'm not sure at this point if it's worth the investment to put in better speakers. 2) I don't like the look or feel of the gray plastic knobs and trim on the center console....read morehide

Purchased As New

the best car ive ever had. gets grear milage and it is much bigger then one would think, i fit two chars and table and my mom in it

Pros

Good fuel economy, Awesome Turbo, Great maneuverability

Cons

Summer tires, visibility by other cars

Purchased As New

This is my second MINI- My first was a 2003 base model, the absolute cheapest that was available. My second and current MINI, the JCW is the best that comes out of the factory, and I have very few complaints.

Pros:
I adore the speed that this little car has- it doesn't weigh much, so the 208hp can really slam you back in the seat, compared to what 208hp would do in other, heavier cars. The sport setting is my favorite- with a push of a button, the steering is tighter and more precise, shifting and clutch are much more responsive, as are brakes (it's like getting a whole other car). I have the built in computer/GPS, which is awesome- keeps me up to date on current traffic, locates businesses and public transportation locations, and does a great job keeping me on track. I can also plug my iPod/iPhone in and navigate my playlists through the display on the dash, which is really great for those long road trips. The JCW comes with Brembo performance breaks, which are a good bit more sensitive than standard breaks. It takes a little while to get used to, but they greatly increase the maneuverability of the vehicle, and the stopping power is unequaled by any other brake systems I've experienced.

Cons:
Torque steer can be a pain, but it's not hard to get used to. The low sidewall on the tires makes tire repair more expensive. Summer performance tires come with the vehicle, and while they are really great, their handling on wet and snowy surfaces leaves much to be desired. My 2003 MINI handled much more reliably in inclement weather than this JCW, and I suspect much of that is to do with the tires. I also have problems with visibility by other vehicles- driving a car this small requires that you be a very good defensive driver, as I've had multiple vehicles try to run me off the road, as they're not paying adequate attention. It helps to have the daytime running lights on to increase visibility, or to just use the extra power the car offers to get away from the idiots on the road.

FAIR WARNING: If you enjoy driving, and love to drive fast- this car WILL get you speeding tickets. It's very easy to go above and beyond the speed limit without noticing. You have been warned.

Go to a dealership and give this car a spin, if only for thrills. It's so much fun to drive, it's more of a treat than a chore. I look forward to getting in it every day....read morehide