Well, this is a pretty loaded question, and your going to get a lot of different answers. This is just my opinion, and there will be people that disagree, but here are my thoughts on the Mini-14.
1. Very fun rifle to shoot.
2. Not sub-moa accurate, or even MOA accurate, but good enough for plinking, and I have found that they actually are pretty accurate from a cold barrel.
3. Though I have yet to see one, the new Ruger Target Mini is, by all accounts, extremely accurate.
4. Don't waste your money on anything but Ruger factory mags. Some guys have had success with off-brand mags, but the general consensus (and one that I agree wholeheartedly with from experience) is that non-factory mags blow.
5. I honestly don't know if the new ones are better in the accuracy department than the older ones. There seems to be conflicting opinions on the boards about that. What I will say is that in my opinion, Ruger has went past the price I am willing to pay for what essentially amounts to a blaster for me. $450.00 for a fun and neat little gun I can live with. Past that, I feel like I would be better off just buying something else.
With all that being said, I enjoy my Mini. It's fun to shoot, functions great with Ruger mags, and is adequate for targets under 200 yards. I happen to like the factory sights, but they are nothing special. If you can pick one up used for a good price, and if you are wired such that you can accept a gun that is theoretically a pretty good platform but practically has some flaws, especially when compared to virtually any off the shelf AR or Saiga, you will enjoy it. If you can't, I really don't think I can recommend it.