Cars.com was asked by Roger of Sacramento California whether he should wait a year or two before buying a MINI Countryman since it is now in its first model year.
Cars.com advises:
First-year models often have more safety recalls than later versions and usually receive more technical service bulletins from manufacturers alerting dealers to adjustments and parts replacements they should make if owners complain about problems. Such issues typically include things such as rough idling, poor shift quality, excessive wind noise and squeaks and rattles.
Owners’ experiences with the last new Mini model, the 2008 Clubman wagon, indicate the 2011 Mini Countryman is a risky choice in that regard. Consumer Reports magazine rates the reliability of the base 2008 Clubman as worse than average and the 2009 model as average. The Clubman S model was rated much worse than average for both years. The ratings are based on reports filed by owners of these models.
Could the 2011 Countryman be different and earn impressive ratings for quality and reliability? Sure, but recent history for Mini and the auto industry in general says you would be better off to wait a year or two for the manufacturer to sort out early problems.
