Looking at 2009 Mini Cooper S
 

My wife loves a 2009 Mini we've found. I'm reluctant to pull the trigger on it as it seems to have a loyal following, but horrible reviews concerning maintenance costs. We have a Smart now that is a money pit and I don't want to fall in that again. Will someone tell this Ford guy that owning a Mini is going to pleasant experience.

This forum doesn't seem to have the traffic that my Ford forums have. That's going to be a problem for me as well.

You've done your research. I'd recommend going for a 2011-2013 R56 Cooper S. The 2009 still utilizes the N14 engine, which is riddled with issues. The N18 engine in the 2011-2013 still has it's quirks, but it's much better. If you want a vehicle that will have few maintenance costs, I'd recommend buying a new MINI with a warranty or looking at a different brand. However, if you're mechanically inclined and can work on your own vehicles we can help you keep the repair costs down. We have a whole tech article library on our site for free that walks you through each step to replace an item. This coupled with our cheaper online parts pricing will help keep money in your wallet. Let me know if you have any questions.

MINI R56 (2007-2011) Technical Articles | DIY Guides for maintenance and Repair | Pelican Parts

I never buy new. Right now I don't see any 2011 or later convertibles in our area. The Mini would make a great toad. I do a lot of my own maintenance so I really need a good forum. This is one of 2 I've joined asking this question. So far not much help besides yourself. An answer on the other forum suggested the 2002-2006 models.

Ah, so you're wanting a Cabrio MINI and not a hardtop? Are you wanting specifically a Cooper or Cooper S? If you want a hardtop Cooper S, then yes the first gen MINI (2002-2006) is a great choice. I'd recommend a hardtop Cooper S from 2005-2006 specifically. I'd also recommend reading this buyers guide for the first gen MINI as it highlights a lot of the problem areas with that gen: MINI R50/R53 Buyers Guide - MotoringFile.

The 2009 Cooper S you're looking at, is that a cabrio? If so, that is an R57 and does come with the N14 engine. I'd recommend looking for an R52 Cabrio which is 2008 and older.