The MINI Cooper Roadster Years to Avoid
MINI Cooper Roadster by DiverDan1981 - CC-BY-SA-4.0
The MINI Cooper Roadster is a two-seater sports car that was manufactured between 2012 and 2015. Although it had only a short manufacturing lifespan, it quickly became popular thanks to its comfort, sporty design, and convertible top. If you’re in the market for a used MINI Cooper Roadster, you’ll want to know which MINI Cooper Roadster years to avoid to prevent wasting your cash.
Fortunately, we’ve broken down the best and worst years of the MINI Cooper Roadster in detail below. Read on to learn more.
MINI Cooper Roadster Years to Avoid
When it comes to determining the MINI Cooper Roadster years to avoid, you should remember that there are only a handful of model years to potentially buy. The earlier years tend to have more owner complaints and less overall owner satisfaction, including the:
- 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster
- 2013 MINI Cooper Roadster
However, even these vehicles were not hounded by constant recall reports or owner complaints regarding engine failure or other potentially dangerous problems on the road. Instead, most of the issues were relatively minor (see more below).
What Was the Worst Year for the MINI Cooper Roadster?
There were only a few manufacturing years for the MINI Cooper Roadster overall. However, the earlier years were known to have more problems than the later years. Whatcar.com indicates that the used 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster is overall the most important year to avoid.
This is partially because of issues like:
- Low pressure in the fuel pump
- Oil leaks from the timing chain tensioner
That said, these are overall minor problems, and even the 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster is unlikely to experience catastrophic failure, provided you maintain it regularly. Any used MINI Cooper Roadster should come with a vehicle history report and a list of any previous maintenance efforts. That way, you can make the wisest decision possible for your upcoming purchase.
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Best MINI Cooper Roadster Years
To really get the best bang for your buck, you should aim to purchase one of the MINI Cooper Roadsters from the later manufacturing years, such as 2014 to 2015. That’s because these later Roadsters had fewer problems with the oil tensioner and fuel pumps, so they provided not only better fuel mileage for their owners but also fewer maintenance problems.
Furthermore, the MINI Cooper Roadsters in 2014 and 2015 had more space, better responses to owner requests, and overall higher performance. Considering that these sporty cars are primarily enjoyed because of how nimble and responsive they feel on the road, that’s a big element to think about!
Even better, you’ll be more likely to find a 2014 or 2015 MINI Cooper Roadster in used condition. These cars were made in larger numbers than their earlier counterparts. Given this fact, you may be able to buy the MINI Cooper Roadster of your dreams without spending as much money as you originally anticipated.
How Many Miles Does a MINI Cooper Roadster Last?
Like all MINI Cooper models, the average MINI Cooper Roadster should last anywhere between 200,000 miles and 250,000 miles, at least when properly cared for. According to enginepatrol.com, this is partially because of the quality of each vehicle, as well as European manufacturing standards.
That said, the older your vehicle becomes, the more likely you are to experience problems with your MINI Cooper Roadster. Getjerry.com indicates that the most common problems with this vehicle include transmission issues, clutch damage, and so on.
Usually, you should expect to take your vehicle in for maintenance once per year, if not more. Since the MINI Cooper Roadster is a European vehicle, you may need to take it to a specialty shop. This is the best strategy to make sure your car gets the attention and specific parts it may need to run smoothly.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE MINI COOPER ROADSTER
You’ll want to know about the most reliable MINI Cooper Roadsters, however, before spending any money on this car.
Common Issues with the MINI Cooper Roadster
What if you pick up a vehicle from one of the MINI Cooper Roadster years to avoid? In that case, you may find that you encounter certain common issues. Kbb.com indicates that the Cooper Roadster has a medium risk of major repair, with annual repair forecasts hovering around $1200 for the average user.
That’s because of common problems and owner complaints like:
- The engine diagnostic light not turning off
- Engine failure
- Oil changes or oil dripping from the car
On the plus side, MINI Cooper Roadster recalls have historically been very rare, even among the MINI Cooper Roadster years to avoid. Fortunately, this could allow you to avoid having to purchase a completely new vehicle entirely, even if you pick one of these cars or a used vehicle with no problems.
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How Reliable is the MINI Cooper Roadster?
Even though the MINI Cooper Roadster didn’t get stellar or standout reliability ratings from testers or early adopters, most owners find the vehicle to be very satisfactory and reliable.
Carbuyer.co.uk indicates that 100% of people would recommend the MINI Cooper Roadster to a friend, and owners give it a five out of five rating overall. These light, fun-to-drive, and great-looking cars are particularly enjoyable on warm days when you can move the convertible roof down and back.
This is true for any model year of the MINI Cooper Roadster, including 2012 and 2013 MINI Cooper Roadster. It goes to show that each vehicle needs to be looked at and assessed independently rather than assuming that an earlier MINI Cooper Roadster will automatically be rife with difficulties.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the MINI Cooper Roadster is a fantastic used European car to target, especially if you want something fun and flexible for cruising on a warm day. If you have to pick, we’d recommend the 2014 or 2015 MINI Cooper Roadsters, as these are a little more likely to be even more reliable and worth your time and money.
However, keep in mind that any issues you do encounter will need to be tackled by a specialized maintenance shop. Be sure there’s a good auto repair location in your area before splurging on one of these cars!
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