New Mini F66

[Iceblue]

Can any owners share their experience of owning the new 2024/25 F66 Mini regarding reliability, problems etc thinking of going back to a Mini after owning new Cooper S and JCWs R56 models 10 years ago, both cars suffered from numerous faults from build issues/panel alignment to annoying dash rattles, seats creaking, sunroof motor failure, engine overheating and more, both spent many days in the workshop.

[Zetec-S]

Can't comment on the F66, but in terms of reliability we've had a few different MINI's in recent years. All from new, kept for a couple of years, but without wishing to tempt fate, none have caused any issues so far and build quality is pretty good...

2017 F56 Cooper SD
2019 F54 Clubman Cooper S
2021 F56 JCW Hatch
2023 F60 Countryman Cooper S Sport

Not entirely convinced by the styling, but will probably have a look at the F66 JCW at some point and see if I like it "in the flesh"

[Alex Z]

I doubt there are many high mileage F66 owners yet, but they are mechanically very close to the F56 which seems to have been a big step up over the previous models.

[s-x-i]

As others have mentioned, mechanically the F66 is very similar to the F56 which itself was seen as a massive improvement over the R53 in terms of build quality.

The major change for the F66 is the interior with most of the functions now housed within the central screen rather than having physical buttons.

[Iceblue]

Thanks for the reply's everyone after dealership matching the current dtd discount have decided to order a new JCW bit of advice anyone considering a S (level 2) sport there's very little difference in price.

[AndyDubbya]

Very happy with my JCW level 3 - seems very solid & well built, fast enough, the tech which has trickled down from high-end BMWs is great (AR satnav, adaptive cruise, adaptive lights, HK stereo, topdown view when parking, massage seat!), quite darty but a very firm ride.

It’s the only warm hatchback I could think of with a feeling of decent build quality (some scratchy plastics notwithstanding). Only a month in, but it’s been faultless & great fun!

Be careful about ordering the £800 sporty tyres - apart from being expensive in themselves, they push the car over a CO2 threshold and make the rfl c£400 more for the first year too!

Edited by AndyDubbya on Tuesday 7th January 23:10

[Iceblue]

AndyDubbya said:

Very happy with my JCW level 3 - seems very solid & well built, fast enough, the tech which has trickled down from high-end BMWs is great (AR satnav, adaptive cruise, adaptive lights, HK stereo, topdown view when parking, massage seat!), quite darty but a very firm ride.

It’s the only warm hatchback I could think of with a feeling of decent build quality (some scratchy plastics notwithstanding). Only a month in, but it’s been faultless & great fun!

Be careful about ordering the £800 sporty tyres - apart from being expensive in themselves, they push the car over a CO2 threshold and make the rfl c£400 more for the first year too!

Edited by AndyDubbya on Tuesday 7th January 23:10

Thanks for the info: Andy
Been a Mini fan all my life having owned at least four variations of the original Mini and avidly followed the design and launch of the BMW version ordering a Cooper S. 12 months before being released and then another S and JCWs which were both very problematic, JCW order is now in for March delivery, White/Red (level 2) Lap Spokes without the £800 tyre option its more for the wife as already drive a RS Audi but fingers crossed its a good one this time.

Edited by Iceblue on Friday 10th January 18:10

[AndyDubbya]

No worries

If it’s not too late, there are plenty of new cars available immediately here: https://stock.mini.co.uk/results?f=ZmFsc2U=&v%...

That’s how I got mine - ordered on a Wednesday, picked up on the Saturday!

[AndyDubbya]

There’s also this brand new red JCW, which is suspiciously cheap (£4,668 off!) for a level 3 and doesn’t appear in the official Mini stock list for that dealer as far as I can tell. Might be a way of getting calls - “sorry sir, that car’s sold but we have other slightly more expensive ones”…

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025010777...

[Iceblue]

AndyDubbya said:

No worries

If it’s not too late, there are plenty of new cars available immediately here: https://stock.mini.co.uk/results?f=ZmFsc2U=&v%...

That’s how I got mine - ordered on a Wednesday, picked up on the Saturday!

Was offered a stock car same spec. but decided to wait till March with the sh--- weather at the minute, seems a ridiculously good discount on the other one I would be very wary why or like you say just to get interest negotiated 8.5% on mine.

[Sim75]

TRL and David King (RIP x) used to get you 12-13% of an F56 JCW. No idea of the levels of discount on offer with the new one.

[Sim75]

Any discounts surfacing since mini went 'agency'?

[Iceblue]

Sim75 said:

Any discounts surfacing since mini went 'agency'?

Understood prices are now set by Mini to save the haggle of negotiations with the dealer obviously to increase their profit margins, in my opinion customers are going to walk away if they can't get a deal.

[Sim75]

I put out a CARWOW request in Jan and had around 10 decent responses - £2.5k off, there or thereabouts. Put another out last week and not one dealer has even responded.

[Iceblue]

Collected ours 1st March ordered early Jan. with dealership price matching DTD quote, Mini not even listed on their site now though, list price also increased by £1500 on a petrol (level 2) JCW. March 1st so suspect no discounting.