MINI Almost Killed My Enthusiasm.
Those of you that are regular readers of this blog, or are personal friends, may remember that I had a really horrible service experience with my MINI dealer this past July during which they left me stranded in a motel 6 next door to a greasy spoon for 24 hours after promising me a loaner car on 3 separate occasions. You will also remember that prior to this service experience, all I did was talk about my car and how much I loved it. I’m sure you’ve noticed how much quieter I have been about my MINI lately.
It’s because I was depressed. I cannot think about Viola without thinking of that jerk at the service department now. Especially because he refused to do my warranty service inspection and told me that my car would be fine until March because “You don’t drive it that much.” which is.. a complete load of crap. I’ve never put 15,000 miles on a car in only a year and a half of ownership. NEVER. Hell, my 1999 Toyota Corolla is still sitting in my driveway. It just crossed 64,500 miles. Do the math.
I drive my MINI a hell of a lot more than I have ever driven anything.
My service notification indicator went off two weeks ago. I am NOT driving over to Tacoma in December, which is exactly what I told my SA would happen. At this point, I feel like the dealership should fly a tech out to me to do the inspection. I’m not driving over Snoqualmie pass. It can freakin’ wait. I’d rather stay alive, thanks.
Anyway, you get the point. I was sickened. I was hurt. I was so fed up and so frustrated over dealing with my dealership that I was done with MINI and felt like I should trade Viola in on a C30, or even a Civic. I just didn’t want to have to put up with being treated that way ever again and it sucked the life out of my love for my car.
I have not motored since that day.
I’m never going back there. I’m never going back to that dealership. Their treatment of their customers after purchase is horrible. In fact, it’s so horrible that I actually mentioned that to another MINI owner on twitter yesterday. I have heard from so few people who have been treated well by a MINI dealer after purchase that I’m not sure I will buy a second MINI, even though I already had plans to do so when it was time to retire Viola.
Now… I’m seriously thinking about that C30. Same price range as the MINI. Decent engine (turbocharged 5 cylinder engine). Decent mileage and the dealership is LOCAL and well reviewed. All in all, this looks like a well-rounded car. It’s heavier than the MINI and larger. But there is something very important about it that MINI just can’t beat.
It’s a Volvo.
Do I really have to explain that to you? I mean, really?
This morning though, I was taking the son to school and I had the radio off on the way back. I looked at the roads, which were wet from melting snow. I looked around me at all the other boring cars and then when the light changed, I put my foot on the gas and listened to my engine. It was like Viola spoke to me. It was like she was saying, “Come back. Smile again. I’m not just a car to you. I miss you.”
God I missed her too.
I passed a pepper white clubman S, black roof, with newly installed black stripes and xenon headlights as I was exiting the intersection. I gave him a thumb’s up. I got a thumb’s up in return. I smiled and on the drive home… I felt like I was a part of my car again. It was like coming home after a really, long, really emotionally draining trip.
After this morning… I am again considering the black Clubman S that I’ve been pipe dreaming about custom ordering since about six months after Viola came home. As long as I don’t do business with that dealership again, maybe… it would be ok.
We’ll see how it goes. I’ve got a couple of years before I have to make a real decision about Viola anyway.
Hrm… looks like MINI just put out the real, honest to God black jack mirror caps…
… Later folks. I’ve got an order to place.
Related posts:
Road Trip Hell
December 17, 2009 9:48 am 
Subscribe
By Paul, December 17, 2009 @ 10:06 am
I’ve been lucky to get good service from Brecht in San Diego though they did screw me over on a replacement top for my cabrio.
My biggest deal is that post-warranty the MINI is one expensive car to maintain even at an independent garage.
But like you say, once you get in and start motoring all those thoughts disappear, it’s one hell of a car to enjoy.
By Random Gemini, December 17, 2009 @ 10:10 am
It hasn’t always worked like that for me. It took five months for me to feel better about my car, and I’m STILL angry with the dealership over the treatment I received and their half-baked attempt at an apology.
I haven’t had any problems with my MINI so far that haven’t been covered under warranty other than surface dings. *knock on wood* But… I’m still on the fence about buying a second one. We’ll see how Viola does.
The Volvo C30 does look awfully nice and is well reviewed for the 2010 model year. You should look into them if you’re planning to jump ship.
By db, December 17, 2009 @ 10:26 am
I now you are still under warranty and it always sucks to get crappy service. Have you thought about trying an independant shop? I think you might be kinda close to Alta and those guys are top notch, both on the maintenance and customer service. I’m also not familiar with where you are, but have you thought about trying another dealer?
Finally, a good letter will sometimes do the trick. You could probably call MINIUSA to find out who the regional manager guy is for that dealership and send a letter off to him.
Just some thoughts off the top of my head. I’m know I’m lucky in that I have 3 dealerships in my area that provide very good service. Not just to me because of the show, but to everyone.
Good luck!
By Random Gemini, December 17, 2009 @ 10:42 am
db, thanks for that. No, Alta is actually no closer to me than NW MINI. I’m almost in Idaho.
So far, the repairs I have had done on my car have been covered under warranty (replacement of footwell motors for power windows and re-lubrication and re-alignment of the sunroof) these are repairs that I don’t think any of the independent shops here have done before on a 2nd gen MINI and if they HAD been willing to do them… it would have cost me an arm and a leg to have it done.
At this point, I am debating on weather I should bother to take the car back to NW MINI. They have certainly not made me feel like it was worth the six hour drive to have warranty repair work done.
It might be worth it to drive a further two hours to Rasmussen in Portland.
By Paul, December 17, 2009 @ 10:51 am
Six hours to the dealer – yikes!! I used to bitch about my 3 hr drive, and they at least always treated me nice.
By Random Gemini, December 17, 2009 @ 10:52 am
Yeah Paul, 5.5 to get to Tacoma, another 30 through traffic to get to Fife.
Here’s the story on what they did to me.
http://randomgemini.com/2009/08/road-trip-hell/
By Jarel, December 17, 2009 @ 11:37 am
The C30 looks nice and all, and I’ve always had a bit of a crush on the design of the Mini’s but after driving my girlfriend’s 2004 WRX… I’m a Subie fan all out. I know several other people who bought 08 WRX’s and absolutely love them too.
I looked at the C30 and it does look neat but you get more for the price if you buy a WRX. The C30 has 227hp running 5cyl. while the WRX has 265hp running 4cyl. and it has all wheel drive (obliterates any two wheel drive car in crappy conditions). Plus, they’re almost the same price (24,100 vs 24,995).
Plus, if you really wanted to get into some performance, you could get the STI at 305hp. It’s hard to beat a pure rally bred car like the Impreza.
Anyway, more along the lines of your post. My girlfriends Subie is an 04 (bought it brand new) and Subaru has taken care of her very well. They wash the car for free when you get the oil changed too, lol.
By Random Gemini, December 17, 2009 @ 11:58 am
My Dad builds Subies. I am proud of what he builds, they are great, fun cars for a great price.
However… the WRX really doesn’t compete with the MINI or the C30 on two fronts.
1. Gas mileage. (WRX is 25 mpg highway. MINI and C30 are both at 30 mpg).
2. The WRX does not come with an automatic transmission.
I suspect that the WRX doesn’t come with an automatic tranny because Subaru is well aware of the fact that their automatic tranny sucks and no one in their right mind wants it.
If I liked driving a manual, I’d probably have a WRX. I would happily trade gas mileage for AWD, especially up here.
By tsykoduk, December 17, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
My mini freinds in seattle go to the BMW dealership.
just sayin
By Random Gemini, December 17, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
Not for warranty repairs they don’t. MINI will not pay for them if they’re not done at a MINI Dealership, period.
By Jarel, December 17, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
Ahh, I see. Yeah, I prefer a manual. And, yeah, worse gas mileage – side effect of the increased horse power. What about an Evo? They’re a direct competitor to the WRX’s and I think they come in auto’s. I guess you know your car stuff though so if an Evo fit your bill then you’d already be considering it, lol.
By Random Gemini, December 17, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
You know, it’s really that my needs have changed in the last year. A clubman fits the bill a lot better than an Evo. I now have 2 large dogs to haul around, before I only had one and the MINI was perfect for him.
I love hot hatchbacks, so I want another one, but I want it to have more cargo space than what I have now. What I have now works, but only just. The C30 looks like it might be a good fit, but I haven’t finished researching the car yet. What I don’t like about it is that it’s so new to market, they could still be working out manufacturing kinks with it.
The mileage loss on the WRX is not because of horsepower actually. It’s because of the all wheel drive. If you took that away, Subarus, as a whole, would get a lot better gas mileage. I don’t think Subaru makes a car without it now though.