Comments on: MINI Almost Killed My Enthusiasm. http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/ One geeky girl set loose upon the world. Sat, 12 May 2012 13:42:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Random Gemini http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6175 Random Gemini Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:48:13 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6175 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. 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.

]]> By: Jarel http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6174 Jarel Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:43:04 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6174 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. ;-) 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 http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6173 Random Gemini Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:14:45 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6173 Not for warranty repairs they don't. MINI will not pay for them if they're not done at a MINI Dealership, period. Not for warranty repairs they don’t. MINI will not pay for them if they’re not done at a MINI Dealership, period.

]]> By: tsykoduk http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6172 tsykoduk Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:09:10 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6172 My mini freinds in seattle go to the BMW dealership. just sayin My mini freinds in seattle go to the BMW dealership.

just sayin

]]> By: Random Gemini http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6171 Random Gemini Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:58:38 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6171 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. 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: Jarel http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6170 Jarel Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:37:45 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6170 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. 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 http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6169 Random Gemini Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:52:52 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6169 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/ 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: Paul http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6168 Paul Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:51:16 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6168 Six hours to the dealer - yikes!! I used to bitch about my 3 hr drive, and they at least always treated me nice. 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 http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6167 Random Gemini Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:42:03 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6167 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. 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: db http://randomgemini.com/2009/12/mini-almost-killed-my-enthusiasm/#comment-6166 db Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:26:52 +0000 http://randomgemini.com/?p=1270#comment-6166 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! 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!

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