What's everyone's experience with the first year of a model? I'm told by everyone to wait and never buy the first year. Is there much difference in the second year? More models or other changes that they might make?
I'm waiting anyways cause of pricing but just curious, while I impatiently twiddle my thumbs.
I base a lot on the brands history and the components used.
With that said, I've only owned one first full model change vehicle. My 1991 Toyota Landcruiser was a first year total redesign model. Never had a single issue with it, but at the first upgrade 2-3 years into that redesign they improved all the known things that needed it. In that case it was larger front rotors and an engine power upgrade of some type.
IMHO it's the first model upgrade year that is best to buy, after doing your research on the couple years prior known issues.
With my 2012 Mini Cooper I watched them for years and only bought into the second generation R56 6th year! I specifically stuck with the non-turbo for reliability. The new Mini Cooper was a very unique vehicle. It's second generation heritage was British and the new design was Bavarian (BMW) like the first generation, but the engine was French and automatic transmission was Japanese. You don't get much more diverse than that; four countries engineering designed into one vehicle.
It was basically a reasonably priced small BMW in my eyes and one of the best things BMW made since the 2002 and 320i. My diligent research paid off. It was a wonderful car for what is was. Many of the R56 "S" models with turbo had major issues due to the extra power of the turbo stretching the timing chain and an inadequate spring tensioner, which caused the timing chain to skip and implode the motor. The other issue was that French motor appeared to use engine oil to assist with cooling (I think by design, but don't quote me on that). People that didn't manually check their oil levels regularly as required and relied on the technology to tell them when oil was low sometimes suffered engine seizure due to inadequate oil level. The base R56 non-S without turbo is super reliable if maintained properly as mine was, but you still had to watch the oil level carefully. The "S" turbo models required more diligent maintenance to insure reliability. Manufacturer oil change intervals (thus computer aided maintenance) really needed to be shortened as well.
As for the Santa Cruz, I'm jumping into the first year SE/SEL non-turbo/non-DCT for several reasons. First off I've been waiting for this vehicle for 6+ years and just love the design. I'm getting older now and don't require adrenaline pumping acceleration. Second is I like the standard analog gauge cluster and knobbed center console best. Third is the somewhat proven MPI/GDI and the standard automatic combination already used in the Tucson (others?). That's not to say the Turbo/DCT isn't also already somewhat proven too, but I do plan to do some minor off-roading at slow speeds and don't need the extra power, so the slush-box works for me best.
Now if I was in Canada or could get Canadian build specs here in America, I'd be hard pressed to go with the Canadian base Preferred trim level and get the Turbo/DCT with the analog gauge cluster and knobbed center console.
That said, I'm not opposed to upgrading to a Santa Cruz N-Line if built, after the first upgrade year hits if my current needs/desires change. I'd like to see a sport model with traditional separate analog gauges and a manual transmission while keeping the AWD; a Porsche Turbo Carrera 4 Santa Cruz if you will. Now that might get my blood pumping and wallet opening wide!
