2008 MINI Cooper S - Long-Term Conclusion

A last look at Kelley Blue Book's long term MINI Cooper S before it exits the fleet.
FOR MORE CAR VIDEOS & REVIEWS VISIT:
www.kbb.com/videos
For more new car reviews, interviews and automotive news visit www.kbb.com today.

[@RonFella]

I've had my MINI S for almost 6 years now. I still LOVE it. It has had zero problems (with exception of the ones caused by the dealer avoid Morristown MINI in NJ at all costs) and with 90,000 miles on it still drives like new. I also still get turned on every time I look at it. It has almost no door dings as no parking spot at the mall is to small and the paint job hasn't faded in the least. My only complaint is with the run flat tires. Get the rim insurance you'll be bending them for sure!

[@auggiedoggie21]

I picked up my Cooper S just after Christmas, 2007. Best car I've ever owned, and by far the fastest! When I finally wear this one out I'm placing my order for the next one! Absolutely love driving it flat out and never have to worry about fuel milage (still in the mid-30s mpg). Do yourself a favor and go to the nearest dealer!

[@NowellHolmes]

I do enjoy R53's as well. Their character and responsiveness is pretty awesome.

[@GinoJerry86]

iv had my mini since 2003, and i still love it like the day i bought it!!!

[@EricGreenCooper]

Very true on the good MPG, I have a 2003 S and on highway I can get 42+ in the city I get on it more on and off so I get down to 28 MPG for in town...but I have a heavy foot also :-). Handles amazingly and feels amazingly well planted to the road.

[@AW-xv7dq]

Agreed on the Sport Mode I simply look at it as Non Sport mode = Econ mode

[@gw819]

@AshtonPhoto I think what was meant by "change the sport button to a comfort button" was that you should be driving the cooper in sport mode all the time, since that's how it should be driven, and push the comfort button to remove sport mode.

[@CoyoteMan50]

They had to say something bad so it was the interior room. But you are right. Ever notice the negatives for these auto fan tests is lack of room and a bumpy ride. Nothing on the costs to keep it up.

[@Jerubei]

Very cool review!

[@all4golf]

I can't wait until I get one.

[@AMPATL]

It's simple: Pushing a button labelled 'Sport' is a positive. Pushing a button labelled 'Comfort' is a negative.

[@Dovesrock]

@AshtonPhoto What they meant was that the car should be in sport mode all the time and then have a button to make it more comfortable if you felt so inclined. "The Mini is meant to be driven with the Sport button pushed." 0:46

[@bestcarreview5021]

Awesome 👍 👍 2008 Mini Cooper S review .

[@SGSUPERMAN105]

I have a MINI, albeit brand new, but it is already the second best thing in my life right now. It hasnt put a tire wrong and it looks like it wont any time soon.

[@email9354]

@Nortonski92 Agreed. The volume knob gets you for the first 2 days and then you're over it. It's just a car. No massive "brain power" required.

[@joshuadkuhn]

I don't understand the constant complaints about this car's controls and interior layout...I've owned a 2009 S for 9 months and 10000 miles, and there's nothing confusing about it. I got used to it in a couple of days, coming from a '97 Jeep Wrangler. If the MINI's controls require "too much brain power" like this narrator suggests, driving a car period might be too taxing as well. No, it's not a Toyota or Honda inside. But if that's what you want, buy one of those instead.

[@charleschenhua]

Haha... you are obviously a MINI lover. I have a lot of problems with my R55, but I love the little thing and just kept throwing money on it.

[@joshuadkuhn]

Yes. It's a small-displacement, high-compression, direct-injected turbo engine that makes almost 200 hp out of 1.6 liters. What would you expect?

[@BRIANBOBCHAPMAN]

NICE 2008 MINI Cooper S Long-Term Wrap-Up - Kelley Blue Book

[@JamesLStapleton]

I really need to know if the reliability is good on these. I'm looking at a base 2008 Cooper right now with the 6 speed manual; I absolutely love Mini's, I always have. But I've read so many mixed reviews about good or bad these cars are. I want a Mini, but I don't want it to end up being a lemon. I need help.

[@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel]

My sister bought a 2008 Mini Cooper S with 60,000 miles on it. Less than three months later the engine has siezed. They have major problems with timing chain tensioners, vacuum pumps, water pumps, oil consumption. Mini originally recommended oil changes at a ridiculous 15,000 miles. Recently revised to 10,000. If you wait more then 5,000 miles and don't keep a very close eye on the oil you will be in for an expensive engine replacement. Google Mini Cooper class action lawsuits.

[@waskus]

Thats with any car: If you dont check your oil lvl, engine will die.. And 15.000 miles per oil change and if you dont raise the oil pen even once in that interval your just a dumb.

[@marcelantenbrink6363]

A nice car to drive, but the reliability is very poor. I have to refill the oil every 2000 km.

[@emotionalintelligence776]

That's bullshit. It said do the interval at 15k miles so why would I be checking it at 10k or 5k when it clearly says change at 15k! That's like refilling the fuel tank at the half way mark because surely I should not wait for the low fuel light say hey dude low fuel I would flash like how the Engineers designed me to, but since you don't trust how they built the car to work i'll just be quiet and let you continue to think you're smarter than you actually are...

[@belovedLion80]

They are good if only you give a lot of attention but be smart get a Toyota or Honda

[@cubbiotti1980]

I have an 04- s and i still love it . great looks fun to drive. Just think twice before you go on a 12 hr straight drive to yellowstone park. ouch. I got there quick and cheap but my body paid for it.

[@oliviastevens8390]

What do the knobs on the string wheel mean

[@krimson122]

is that roundabout the one on Sand Canyon in Irvine?

[@musclerent]

I wonder if any of you guys reading this are aware of the Mini's history ?

[@chrisc8944]

DO THE SAME REVIEW NOW AND SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT!

[@coopersport1275]

i have drove the new one and own an old one. i prefer to drive the old one as it has more character and is a lot more fun to drive, its an icon

[@krazypeople4]

Reviews like this remind me of why I never use kelly blue book. The mini cooper has small back seats... do you even listen to your self speak?

[@AMPATL]

@killercrx91 You're not buying one because of the great resale value??

[@jorgeespinoza1740]

Tengo un mini Cooper 2010 porque no me funciona el aire acondicionado me puedes ayudar gracias

[@johnbaldock6353]

Wow $4 a gallon of fuel! Were paying about $7 a gallon in Britain!!

[@deweys]

@DJTEVAdotCOM Status symbol? It's a 30K car tops new... A 7 series BMW is a status symbol

[@franktaku9121]

Low 3 dollar gallon range??

[@TheNicksterminator]

how much?

[@coopersport1275]

i have two. a 1973 cooper 998 and a 1992 cooper 1.3i

[@SGSUPERMAN105]

Whats funny is that I havent had my car more than 8 months and i can run the entire onboard computer with my eyes closed.

[@mattysenpai]

@tedb545 Well the reliability is questionable, you may be lucky and get a reliable one. But maintenance is nonetheless going to be pricy since it is bmw, and to add on top of that; it uses special parts which are rare or have to be ordered. Regular stores/shops always had to order my tire size, brake pad size, or brake sensors. Routine oil changes are $100+. But everything can be done at the official dealer since they have parts on hand, but you'll end up paying more of course since it's dealer

[@Kev50027]

@auggiedoggie21 fastest? I love MINIs as much as anyone, but they're actually really heavy cars for their size, and 0-60 times are about average for a sporty hatchback. I think most MINI drivers love their cars for their handling more than flat out acceleration.

[@underwoof13]

cant wait to get mine next week!

[@Rickardio_]

@IMEECHI Word.

[@coopersport1275]

i dont have anything against the new ones all im saying is i prefer the old one

[@sergsrt8]

@all4golf i wanted one but my mom said it was too small :(

[@jeffmullinix7916]

LOL minor hiccup . Stranded KBB out of town . Just being stranded in town is bad enough especially only being a year old . I would be furious over it . Yes it is cute but that cuteness wont get you vary far if this happen to you and it could cost you a day of work or it strands you 200 or more miles from the closes stealership . I would not be a happy camper .

[@AMPATL]

@killercrx91 Look at resale value from both sides of ownership. If you buy a car like the Mini you'll pay more, but then when you go to sell it you'll get more for it. So it evens out. And in between you'll be bopping around in a chick magnet like no other.

[@mikel1982]

I don't have that stripe problem on my '05 S

[@pragmadev]

"We didn't take care of it and it didn't treat us fairly." Well done KBB. Next time give it to someone literate.

[@TheNicksterminator]

@MyBlackhawks88 why?

[@CASSINOx]

whys that?

[@FeefTheSloth]

mini coopers require midgrade [in most states] or higher. i think its E87

[@pouncey007]

@maybeiloveyou absolutely, its a functional car!!!!

[@TheNicksterminator]

@killercrx91 ???

[@apricotsnms516]

gas prices in mid utah are about $1.95 yay. and i have a moped :P

[@TwoWheelWarrior]

Mmmmmm.....I love the KBB Girls.

[@AMPATL]

@killercrx91 Ok, without being rude, have you driven either? Aside from both being small European cars the two are not comparable. If, like most Americans, you're going to get the automatic then the Fiat will be fine. If you are a driving enthusiast, get the Mini.

[@charles43110]

Come race me on mid-ohio road race course. Recently I was doing 12 laps, a Porsche Carerra was on at the same time. He would smoke me in the straights. But in every corner I caught him. In the double S I blew by him inside and came out slightly ahead. When I left the course he followed me. (he costs 2 1/2 times) Wanted to know what I had added. "Just tuning, better tires". Plus, let an SUV hit you broadside. I will take my mini. And I get honked, waved, and surrounded by ladies.

[@AMPATL]

Ok. I'm sorry, these guys tested it for a YEAR and still missed the point of this car?! Whenever they tired of normal cars they took a spin in the Mini to reignite their love of driving, but they want to change the Sport button to a comfort button. I knew I should have stopped watching when they complained about the size of the interior of a car named 'Mini'.

[@joshuadkuhn]

Yes, and complaining that the interior required "too much brain power" to operate. Maybe driving requires too much thought too, huh?

[@cpsrcp90]

BUZZ off dude.. the video is right , 2008 mini s console sucks... took me many attempts to do basic radio/media console settings changes

[@charleschenhua]

with gas price so low now, MINI love is fading

[@ilovetofingermyself1]

are mini coopers for girls? im 19 male and want to know if this is a good first car

[@absarin1004]

i'll put in 3 points here, in ascending order of importance- 1. if its a cooper s, that's a pretty good engine you're looking at in a really compact car. That alone defines a hot hatch for you 2. it has a solid heritage of rally and sport racing, even before BMW took over 3. Mr. Bean owned a (Leyland) mini. that's all i gotta say the reason i wrote all this 6 years later is because that's how much i care about this car. its the only reason i would buy it, and theres no reason good enough that you shouldn't.

[@jeffmullinix7916]

no

[@health-vh8ce]

Abhimanyu Sarin yeah but those cooper's are currently going for 3500 usd, It's a tough choice when I could get a 300c, CA corvette , or a swapped Civic for that amt. Of cash

[@rrun13]

SPACE SHUTTLE DOOR GUNNER I want a mini cooper so bad. BUT I am so conflicted. I have read so many bad experiences people have had with the mini's reliability. Then I see comments saying they're great and they have no problems. I don't know what to do...

[@DJTEVAdotCOM]

This car is all about style over substance. I read long owners said that little things fall apart over time. The engine is typical BMW , not as reliable as Japanese and expensive to fix after the warranty. In the end , buy what you really like and your lifestyle and not what other people like . Don't buy a car to be accepted by our image driven society. Remember the HUMMER days (style over substance)??

[@moonlighter6]

Bought the Toyota Yaris Manual Hatchback,for much less than half the price of the MINI S. Added a few of the Many WORLDWIDE mods, more reliable and faster than the best mini. Evaluate EVERYTHING IN DEPTH before you purchase any CAR, resist emotion.

[@rollingparkinglot]

@heartlessvietboy no thanks i like gas guslers and diesel hogs what thay should do is make gas prices go down intel we run out of it then go make electric cars

[@rollingparkinglot]

@heartlessvietboy no

[@bmwmsport11]

Always knew something was up with MINI. Even though mini called a flatbed to pickup the car and fix it for free, it's still not worth it. Cause the car was under 1 year old and it had to get a "minor" repair done.

[@jeffmullinix7916]

This is not a mini as BMW calls it . It dont get good MPG or anything else . It does lack everything that comes to mind in a mini . It is in fact a far cry of an Austin America which is larger than a true mini and would seat 4 adults comfortably . I know I owned both Mini and an Austin America . I did like the America on longer trips than the mini . The only problem I had with both cars is the over heating . The problem was with the size of radiator . They was way to small for the engines in the mid west climates IL , KY, Ind . Mo. But they worked out in the northern climates . The Austin was a 1969 and the mini was a 1964 . The Austin with it's 1275 engine got 45 MPG @ 65 mph and my mini with it's 998 got 48 MPG at the same speed . I call these new mini's a fat pig mini .

[@nuklz]

true, its not that complicated. you should pick up the controls in about a week. unless you voted republican....than just give the car back and take the bus.

[@charleschenhua]

This is hopelessly outdated. LOL. MINI value is not keeping up due to the now public reliability issues with the engine and the expense of fixing them.

[@DJTEVAdotCOM]

people buy mini cooper because of status symbol.

[@rollingparkinglot]

@heartlessvietboy ? y

[@D0VES0AP]

i had my coop for 2 days and its already bad

No you didn't.

[@D0VES0AP]

i had one it sucked

[@osiris1431]

i hate this video , many mini cooper , mini cooper s it's ok for malaysia weather , as u no, malaysia very hot country but no problem with mini cooper..that werid i think this people hate mini's so much

[@Mr48is]

Wrong video booooooo

[@mattysenpai]

@ilovetofingermyself1 They are not reliable and expensive go maintain.

[@DJTEVAdotCOM]

cute car but very impractical. Mini is more of a show and tell than anything else. It's not cool anymore tp have a car that everybody else has.