Dang, bummer about the engine light and the mileage. I have a 2006 Cooper with 5 speed and my city average is 27-30 and 35 highway.

This is my 2nd Cooper, my 1st was an 03 Cooper.


I have had nothing but good luck with both of my MINI's

Hang in there,


Dave

E-mail sent. Here it is for all MCofWNYers and Guests [with commercial name removed so as not to sound like a commerial].

Greetings to the proud owner of Olive.

DoctorWho (i.e., MINI Club of WNY "handle") here. We picked up our "Tardis", a 2006 MINI Cooper Sport automatic (MCSa), from Towne MINI in early April. We now now have 8300+ miles "of smiles" on it "time warping" all across NYS.

There is quite a lot that can be asked and said about MINI gas milage (and any car's for that matter). I was going to do a little gas milage spreadsheet on the Tardis in October when we reach 6 months of "attachment".

Here is what I have experienced in that time and I have watched my milage, not our "enjoyment" (i.e., spirited driving, not aggressive), closely. Every time I fill up I calculate the milage based on the odometer's milage and gas pump's quantity.

As you can imagine, most of our milage is highway. Reason: We have a daughter at UB, who competes with all the "boys" in the WNY SCCA autocross events. We went to many of those events this summer [as spectators, for now]).

On the highway I have constantly been getting 29-30 MPG and ~24 if we have not been on a "road trip". The Tardis' computer says we have an average MPG of 27. From all reports, the on-board computers are always a little low, sometimes more so.

No problems with Tardis of any kind. Have not used the heater much, if any, so far. I ordered a set of wheels (i.e., non-OEM, european alloy rims and "one size down" run-flat Pirelli snow tires) from the [on-line retailer] http://www.[on-line retailer].com/.

They are coming mounted and balanced at a great price. Plus, our daughter gets her competition tires from the [on-line retailer] and their service and price have been great. I understand that they have local installers all around, if you do not want to install them yourself.

Every WNY MINI owner who drives their "pride and joy" thru the winter says they are great in the snow (not too deep, of course). I did a lot of research on snow tires and rims including MINI rims and Towne MINI "winter wheel package".

The Tardis has the John Cooper Works Brakes, so it can not use 15" or most 16" rims. I stepped down from my 17" summer wheel size to 16" to get a little more "sidewall" pothole protection. The Tardis has Pirelli summer performance tires on it now.

The "one size down" does not refer to the rim size, but the tire's width (i.e., 205s down to 195s). That a standard practice for better foul weather traction. The Pirelli's [non-run-flats] have very good customer ratings and testing results on the [on-line retailer].

I can go on about gas milage, tires and wheels, our MINI experience, our daughter's autocross... OK, enough.

DoctorWho

Thanks for responding. I wish I knew how to drive a standard. After replacing the thermostat two weeks ago, the check engine light went on again. I believe I purchased a lemon and they don't know how to fix it.

rizzoll wrote:

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I don't know much about cars, but I know a lemon when I see one!

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You should look into the NY State lemon law. The are instances of other MINI owners who had their car replaced when recurrent problems couldn't be fixed. Be sure to document everything, including conversations with the dealer, plus keep all paperwork, copies of correspondance, etc.

Check out http://www.oag.state.ny.us/consumer/cars/newcarlemon.html for details on the NY lemon law. Good luck.


Also here's a link ( http://tinyurl.com/ll6p6 ) to some conversations on mini2.com specifically discussing mileage on the MCS with the auto tranny. If you're getting 22 mpg on the highway it sounds like you are below what others are getting.

-- Edited by Pamlico at 10:55, 2006-09-28

I just wanted you to know that the check engine light was a major problem and they had to replace the heat senser. I understand the check engine light comes on for a variety of reasons but it should not come on every month for 7 months straight without the dealership finding out what's wrong. I would like to have fun motering with the car but 19 miles city and 22-23 highway is not right for a 2006 mini cooper s automatic. Unless they can find out why it is getting such poor mileage, I feel I will loose out when I try to sell it. Thanks for responding.

Thank you so much for responding. After seven months of the check engine light coming on and after saying "Lemon Law", they finally replaced the heat sensor. I hope little Olive gets better mileage now. I kept asking Towne Mini to replace the heat sensor from the very beginning because the check engine light would go on after I turned on the heat and front and rear defrosters. Every time I did that, I had to bring the car in for service. It sounds like you know a lot about cars. I wish I did....that's why I didn't buy a used car.

dedestaud wrote:

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Don't worry about the check engine light so much. It is not going to effect your car. The car will still operate. Just needs to be cleared prior to inspection. I once had a "check engine " light on for a whole year.

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Yes the car will still operate, but since this indicator is involved with those parts of the drivetrain concerned with emissions controls the engine may be running in a less efficient manner than possible with a resulting decrease in mpg as well as an increase in emitted pollutants. Depending upon what is wrong it may in fact have a negative effect on the car in the long run.

Having said that, one of the most common reasons for this lamp to go on is a gas cap that has not been correctly closed. Once the check engine light comes on due to a loose gas cap it takes at least three complete cycles of the engine warming up to normal operating temperature from cold for the lamp to reset itself.

rizzoll wrote:

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.... Any suggestions on snow tires?

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Check out www.tirerack.com for their packages of snow tires mounted on steel wheels. I purchased a set of 15" Blizzaks mounted on black steelies for my '02 MCS and should be able to get one more winter out of them on our current '05. Having the snows on a second set of wheels simplifies things at change over time. The tirerack pacakges show up on your doorstep about 2 days after ordering with the tires mounted, balanced and ready to be installed on the car.

You want to get narrower tires for the winter as the wide, low profile stock tires will tend to ride up and "float" on snow. Narrow tires will cut into the snow. Tires manufactured with a hydrophilic compound (e.g. Blizzaks and others) are better on ice than regular tires.

A snow tire equipped MINI is surprisingly capable in the snow. Chugs right along like a little tank. Only downside is that the car is so low that in deep snow it becomes a snowplow.

I learned to drive standard on my MINI, Little Em'ly. Greg at Towne gave me a lesson in driving standard in the parking lot, and he only looked like he was going to puke once. My wife drove it home for me from Towne (i was not gonna be a new standard driver down Main St in Williamsville on a Friday at 6:00 pm). Coming home, as I live next to a park, drove it around there for a little while. Next morning, Saturday, drove to Tops and back. In 2 weeks I was very comfortable driving standard. My elderly father said, " I would have bet a paycheck you would never learn to drive standard!" I was 45 at the time.

Little Em'ly is an '04 MC. Had I known I was going to be ok driving standard, I would have bought an MCS. She regularly gets 29 mpg in town, and 34 on the highway. My wife says this is because I drive like an old woman. I say it is because I am a superior driver. I rarely drive over 74 mph. I have driven it at 117 mph, but ran out of road.

If you're going to trade it in anyway, get a standard. So what if you get embarrassed a few times? I don't ever want to drive automatic again. All I want to do is go faster!

Thank you so much for responding. I wish I knew as much about cars as you do. I will definitely document everything.

If your poor gas mileage continues by any chance, it is the Oxygen Sensor! Check my reply to your post on "Site News and Issues". The oxygen sensor is solely responsible for how rich or lean your car will run. Rich means too much fuel, and lean the opposite. The temperature sensor if bad will cause your car to never realize it has warmed up, and will maintain a cold start mixture continually (rich mixture). If Towne had a mechanic worth his salt, he would pull a spark plug or two and look at them. If they are black, the mixture is way too rich, if white, way too lean. They should be a light chocolate brown. I have NEVER gotten below 35MPG on my standard 2002 Mini. Your fuel mileages are way out of line for this vehicle, unless you have an extremely heavy foot, especially at lights and stop signs!