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You could trade the Mini in for a ZOK Solstice (RPO code is the same for GXP/non-GXP). GM brought a nice truck to support the GM drivers last year :)

I would see if it was possible to sue Mini for the value of the warranty (or perceived value) as it is a feature of the car included in the sales price. You didn't even own the car for 4 months (I assume the warranty is 36 months) before they voided it. By my calculations they owe you for at least 88.9% of the value of the warranty. It seems that they sold you the car with the intent to never warranty the car. In my opinion it's like selling you the car without seats.

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Chapter 11 Racing
Win or Go Broke Tryin'
www.chapter11racing.com

So if you do a road rally (timed event) your car is no longer covered under warranty.  That's great PR, advertise your car as a performance car, but void the warranty at the first sign of using it as such.

 

marka:

Howdy,

Does the warranty say it will cover autocross competition?  I expect it says that "any timed event" or something like that isn't covered... Right?

If so, sounds like you're the one stabbing someone in the back, not the Mini folks.

Look folks, its pretty easy.  If the warranty says it won't cover something and you do it anyway, the only person to get pissed at when they, you know, actually don't cover something, is you.
 

If you don't like that, autocross a different vehicle.


Mark

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Jeff in Colorado
1998 Omni-Fab Cheetah SR-1
66 BM

Well, I had a very positive conversation with Brad Davis today, he is looking into the situation and will be getting back with me in the next few days.  I also received a positive email from Mini USA Motorsports today as well.  I am hoping that this is just a situation where 1 or 2 individuals within MiniUSA made some very very bad decisions.  We will find out in the coming days, but, I am now at least a bit more optimistic. 

 

 

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2006 GS National Champion
2007 GS National Champion....Runner up lol
2008 GS National Champion
2009 BSP National Champion....Runner up, lol again, although, not so funny lol

Let's relax and give this a few days to resolve itself. I suspect there is an overzealous/new employee somewhere that stuck his nose where it didn't belong. There was a similar situation a few weeks back with a Pontiac Solstice that got resolved once it came to the attention of the right people. I know Brad, and I'm sure the right people will hear/have heard about this by now. 

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TEAM DYNAMICS

03 GSL, 05 HSL Nat Champ
AS 07 Solstice GXP

G1:

Let's relax and give this a few days to resolve itself. I suspect there is an overzealous/new employee somewhere that stuck his nose where it didn't belong. There was a similar situation a few weeks back with a Pontiac Solstice that got resolved once it came to the attention of the right people. I know Brad, and I'm sure the right people will hear/have heard about this by now. 

 

Thats what Brad seems to think, hopefully that is the case.

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2006 GS National Champion
2007 GS National Champion....Runner up lol
2008 GS National Champion
2009 BSP National Champion....Runner up, lol again, although, not so funny lol

OasisTan:

G1:

Let's relax and give this a few days to resolve itself. I suspect there is an overzealous/new employee somewhere that stuck his nose where it didn't belong. There was a similar situation a few weeks back with a Pontiac Solstice that got resolved once it came to the attention of the right people. I know Brad, and I'm sure the right people will hear/have heard about this by now. 

 

Thats what Brad seems to think, hopefully that is the case.

That's the only logical option. It would seem bizzare for a company that encourages their owners to play with their cars to have such a complete about face, espicially with someone who has done so much to advance the image of the car.

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Bryan S.
StL. Solo School Chair
91 Miata ES
2010 plans: few events on rock hard street tires to teach the 15 year old how to drive : )
04 Forester XT, 00 Golf, 08 Scott Speedster S30

My plans where to buy an 08 Cooper S and race GS.  That decision will soley rest on Mini's Solo support.  Sounds like my alternative will be a Solstice or Miata.  I had hoped that Mitsubishi would have changed their position by now and started showing more factory support.

OasisTan:

G1:

Let's relax and give this a few days to resolve itself. I suspect there is an overzealous/new employee somewhere that stuck his nose where it didn't belong. There was a similar situation a few weeks back with a Pontiac Solstice that got resolved once it came to the attention of the right people. I know Brad, and I'm sure the right people will hear/have heard about this by now. 

 

Thats what Brad seems to think, hopefully that is the case.

 

Craig,

 If anyone can help out, it will be Brad.  Having him as my local dealer contact has alieved any fear I might have had about the blanket denial of waranty on my MINI. 

If something should be replaced under waranty like my fuel pump was at MINI of Charleston, it gets done.  If I abuse something and it breaks, like when I completely melted my front pads around my caliper pistons at CMP, it is on me and I don't even bother to call the dealership.

I have recommended MINI's and specifically MINI of Charleston to dozens upon dozens of people that have questioned me about the car at autocrosses, in restaurant parking lots, in rest areas, and even dropping off trash at the dump.  I'll continue to do so without fear that their waranty will be treated in the same manner that I have experienced in the past from other companies like VW.  I had a shifter fork waranty claim denied by VW because the car had Konis installed.  I asked where those parts bolted together.  They were not amused.

 Good luck Craig, I know this will work out for you now that you have the right help.

Joe

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Joe

As autocrossing becomes more and more well known and popular (car mags like R & T talk about it routinely these days) I believe more manufacturers will embrace us.  But it will take time. 

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Jer
1993 MR2 #196 ES
2005 Lotus Elise (retired)
2002 diesel Ford Excursion 4X4 tow vehicle
1993 Miata (future LeMons car)
1987 Corolla Lemons car
1984 Citation Lemons car

If these companies really wanted to create good will and sell a ton of cars they would look at the results from nationals, both Solo and ProSolo, find the top 10-20 drivers of their cars in stock classes and send them a letter saying that any and all repair and routine work on their cars would be paid for by the racing division for the next year.  Drivers would flock to these cars with this kind of support, and the good drivers wouldn't switch cars next year.  And the dealer who does the work could get the rear quarter panel display at all 2008 events!

Now that would be a good marketing plan...everybody wins.

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Ted

2003 C5 AE Coupe AS
2004 Z16/Z06 SS

Surferjer:

Lotus says right in their manual that to best appreciate the car's attributes, it should be driven on a track.  Yet they voided my warranty on a synchro issue for autoxing.  f*ckers. 

 I think if you buy a car and decide to autox, you are on your own for drivetrain issues.  I know I basically don't have one, and that is that.  But it pisses me off when they encourage you to participate in any form of motorsports and then f*ck you over when you do.  The fact that Mini has a motorsports division is encouragement to participate.  How many f*cking Minis do you think you've sold for them?  Probably quite a few. 

How did they find out you were autocrossing? ECU dump for standing starts?  I bought an 06 with quite some warranty left and I need to know before I decide to autocross it.  It seems to me that an HPDE (non timed) would be at least as much wear and tear on your car than a low speed autocross.

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-2006 Lotus Elise- SS
-2000 Honda S2000- AS
-2009 Mini Cooper S- GS

If you read through the thread (only 3 pages) you see that they found out from his Mini contingency form.  (you submit them to the SCCA at NT or Pro events to receive contingency money from the manufactures)

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1999 Miata 10AE (C-stock)

mitchman:

If you read through the thread (only 3 pages) you see that they found out from his Mini contingency form.  (you submit them to the SCCA at NT or Pro events to receive contingency money from the manufactures)

 If you read my question I was quoting a Lotus Elise owner not Mini owner.  I drove an 06 Elise and was wondeirng how a fellow Elise owner had his warranty voided on the drivetrain due to autocross.

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-2006 Lotus Elise- SS
-2000 Honda S2000- AS
-2009 Mini Cooper S- GS

mitchman:

If you read through the thread (only 3 pages) you see that they found out from his Mini contingency form.  (you submit them to the SCCA at NT or Pro events to receive contingency money from the manufactures)

 If you read my question I was quoting a Lotus Elise owner not Mini owner.  I drive an 06 Elise and was wondeirng how a fellow Elise owner had his warranty voided on the drivetrain due to autocross.

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-2006 Lotus Elise- SS
-2000 Honda S2000- AS
-2009 Mini Cooper S- GS

Tirewarmer:

OasisTan:

G1:

Let's relax and give this a few days to resolve itself. I suspect there is an overzealous/new employee somewhere that stuck his nose where it didn't belong. There was a similar situation a few weeks back with a Pontiac Solstice that got resolved once it came to the attention of the right people. I know Brad, and I'm sure the right people will hear/have heard about this by now. 

 

Thats what Brad seems to think, hopefully that is the case.

 

Craig,

 If anyone can help out, it will be Brad.  Having him as my local dealer contact has alieved any fear I might have had about the blanket denial of waranty on my MINI. 

If something should be replaced under waranty like my fuel pump was at MINI of Charleston, it gets done.  If I abuse something and it breaks, like when I completely melted my front pads around my caliper pistons at CMP, it is on me and I don't even bother to call the dealership.

I have recommended MINI's and specifically MINI of Charleston to dozens upon dozens of people that have questioned me about the car at autocrosses, in restaurant parking lots, in rest areas, and even dropping off trash at the dump.  I'll continue to do so without fear that their waranty will be treated in the same manner that I have experienced in the past from other companies like VW.  I had a shifter fork waranty claim denied by VW because the car had Konis installed.  I asked where those parts bolted together.  They were not amused.

 Good luck Craig, I know this will work out for you now that you have the right help.

Joe

 

Joe

Yeah, I'm glad that Brad is helping.  As well as Brad, Vincent K at the Mini USA Motorsports dept, he is also working on this as well and seems to be 100% behind me on this now.  Now I just need my dealer along with the Warranty guys to realize what they did is wrong.

It appears that there may have just been a lack of communication between Vincent at Mini USA Motorsports and myself with a forgotten phone call by Vincent after he was suppose to meet with the Mini USA warranty guy regarding my issue.  I then left a couple messages with Vincent and then he went out of town.  After Vincent didn't call me back as planned, 2 negative emails were sent by the warranty dept to my dealer, then there were the autocross results were emailed to my dealer.  Was he forced to send the results?  Who knows, but, it shouldn't matter regardless, I am going to give Mini USA Motorsports the benefit on this now that they are being active in helping and supportive of my issue. 

Anyway, it appears Mini USA Motorsports is 100% behind me now, and, that makes me feel 500% better(although, I will obviously never feel good about this issue).  Like I said, now its just up to the warranty guys to make this right, at the moment, they are doing me wrong as well as tainting Mini USA Motorsports and the Mini brand that I have grown to love over the last several years.... 

Craig

 

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2006 GS National Champion
2007 GS National Champion....Runner up lol
2008 GS National Champion
2009 BSP National Champion....Runner up, lol again, although, not so funny lol