A friend just called and is looking at a mini with a CVT transition. Its a 2004 Cooper with a sunroof, leather interior , cruse control. The car has 150K on it he drove it and said it drove well but the sun roof does not work. He said the transition seems to work fine. Also it ideas fine till you put it in gear then it will have a dead miss in it the idea fine for a few seconds. Once you start down the road he said it runs great. The transition fluid has been changed a few times but the dealers service manager said he does not know when it was last done but he sagest it be done every 30K. I warned him about the CVT and told him it may need CAB. What do you guys think?
Offering the CVT in the MINI was not a proud moment for the company... Tell him to avoid it and go with either the Aisin auto or the Getrag, depending on whether he wants to row or not...
He is going to use the car as an airport car. He lives out of town and will only use it when he is stuck here to have a way around. I was not sure sense it had made it 150k if maybe it was one of the few that would be ok
He will only end up being stuck at the airport if he gets the CVT... He will be pumping big $ into it....
If he wants an auto Cooper...get a gen2.... High mile CVT cars on the original CVT are rare...they seem to be 75,000 mile boxes.... If he wants a cheap airport car....there are better options...I used a CRX for years...THAT was a great airport car!! An old pick-up is not bad if you don't mind emptying out trash that folks toss in the back...but the bonus is you have a spare pickup for dump trips!! My fear is he will be driving the CVT to the airport for a flight...have it start misbehaving....and have to have it towed, while jumping into a cab/uber....not a good way to start a trip.