Which Years of Used MINI Cooper Roadsters Are Most Reliable?
MINI Cooper Roadster by DiverDan1981 - CC-BY-SA-4.0
The MINI Cooper Roadster is the convertible variation of the earlier MINI Coupe. First released in January 2012, this convertible vehicle is stylish, sleek, and highly popular in European markets and America alike. You’ll want to know about the most reliable MINI Cooper Roadsters, however, before spending any money on this car.
The answer to that question can heavily depend on the markets you frequent and how much money you want to spend on regular maintenance. Let’s dive deeper for more details.
Most Reliable Years for the MINI Cooper Roadster
To really get the most bang for your buck, you should purchase a used MINI Cooper Roadster from one of the most reliable manufacturing years. For this particular car, those are the last two years of its manufacturing history: 2014 and 2015.
Indeed, the 2014 and 2015 used MINI Cooper Roadsters are excellent vehicles that provide a lot of value for money and a ton of fun, especially if you maintain them regularly. They get good fuel mileage and are pretty comfortable and luxurious on the interior, often featuring leather upholsteries.
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Are MINI Cooper Roadsters Generally Reliable?
Even though there are some good years for a given used MINI Cooper Roadster, most prospective buyers want to know whether the car overall is worth their time and money. According to Kelley Blue Book, the MINI Cooper Roadster has a medium risk of major repair, especially earlier models like the 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster. Given this fact, purchasing a used MINI Cooper Roadster could run you more money than you initially anticipated.
However, other sources, including previous car owners, vouch for the MINI Cooper Roadster’s reliability more readily. Whatcar.com indicates that even though the car is sold in limited numbers, it scores well in reliability surveys, usually over 80%. Compared to other manufacturers, MINI as a brand is 17th in reliability out of 32 manufacturers.
In general, you can take this to mean that the MINI Cooper Roadster is generally reliable, although your mileage may vary depending on the make and model you purchase.
Which MINI Cooper Roadsters Are the Least Reliable?
On the flip side, the MINI Cooper Roadsters from the following years are known to be a little less reliable and potentially quite finicky:
- 2012 MINI Cooper Roadster
- 2013 MINI Cooper Roadster
- 2014 MINI Cooper Roadster
Reliability issues with these model years largely revolved around major component failures, such as issues with the power steering pump. Since these are not insignificant errors, you’d be best staying away from used vehicles from these model years in favor of different European cars.
Are MINI Cooper Roadsters Expensive to Maintain?
Because purchasing a used MINI Cooper Roadster from a great year can run you quite a bit of cash, you should always budget for regular maintenance fees as well. According to repairpal.com, you should expect to spend an average of $846 per year on your repair costs for a MINI Cooper Roadster.
This is pretty expensive, especially compared to the costs of similarly sized vehicles. The most expensive repairs include:
- AC compressor replacements
- Fuel injector replacements
- Oil pump replacements
That said, if you don’t run into any of these issues, your maintenance costs might not be as high as feared. Again, this highlights the importance of purchasing one of the most reliable MINI Cooper Roadster years instead of just any used MINI Cooper Roadster you can find on the market.
Which MINI Cooper Roadster is Most Reliable?
While later years of the MINI Cooper Roadster are broadly considered to be the most reliable, the overall most reliable variation of this vehicle is the 2015 MINI Cooper Roadster. A 2015 used MINI Cooper Roadster will be a great addition to your garage, particularly if you are a fan of comfortable European cars.
THE MINI COOPER ROADSTER YEARS TO AVOID
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.
Annual mileage is usually quite high, sometimes up to $250,000, and many owners rate it quite highly. According to carbuyer.co.uk, the average used 2015 MINI Cooper Roadster owner rated at five out of five stars, clearly showing overall satisfaction and great value for money.
What Are the Most Common MINI Cooper Roadster Problems?
Whether you buy one of the most reliable MINI Cooper Roadster years or another year, you should keep an eye out for common maintenance concerns and issues. According to getjerry.com, some of the most frequent problems that previous owners have had with the MINI Cooper Roadster include:
- Power steering pump failures
- Water pump leaks
- Transmission problems
It’s crucial to know how to recognize these faults before buying a used MINI Cooper Roadster. That way, you’ll be able to spot them quickly and take your vehicle in for a repair before a small maintenance issue spirals and develops into something much worse and potentially more dangerous. If you pick one of the most reliable MINI Cooper Roadster years, you’ll be less likely to run into these breaks.
What Reddit Says About the Best Year of the MINI Cooper Roadster:
MINI Coopers, including the Roadster, are all about stylish charm and fun driving dynamics, but what about reliability? Below, some Redditors have weighed in on the reliability of the MINI Roadster:
On how the later Roadster years are likely more reliable than older ones:
Comment
byu/VitaniCosmic from discussion
inMINI
As we’ve recommended above, buyers should avoid the 2013 MINI Roadster:
Comment
byu/moonkitty8 from discussion
inMINI
On how MINI Coopers are not the most reliable, but are certainly fun to drive:
Comment
byu/ChemicalAlchemists from discussion
inMINI
A solid advice from a former MINI employee:
Comment
byu/VitaniCosmic from discussion
inMINI
Overall, the MINI Roadster has numerous problematic years related to the engine. Despite its relative lack of reliability, many owners still enjoy their Roadsters.
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Is the MINI Cooper Roadster Worth It?
Given the above possible problems, a used MINI Cooper Roadster is only worth it if you can find one for a good price and from one of the best model years: 2014 and 2015. This can be tricky, as the MINI Cooper Roadster was discontinued in 2015, and the car was only made in very limited numbers.
That said, this could still be a very fun car to purchase, especially if you are a fan of convertible vehicles that feel super fun to drive and that are perfect for cruising around town on a hot summer day.
Final Thoughts
In the end, the most reliable MINI Cooper Roadster years include 2014 and 2015. On average, however, the MINI Cooper Roadster is a fairly reliable vehicle overall, so you shouldn’t hesitate to purchase one if you get a vehicle history report.
Always get a vehicle history report so you know what you’re buying and so you ensure you don’t purchase a car that has a major pre-existing issue. Otherwise, you could be on the hook for major repair bills later on and put yourself at risk of an accident.
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