Well I have been on the boards here for a while, hiding in the dark, slinking around corners, gleaning information as time and interest allows. I figured I might as well post and make myself known. My ex had a '06 (?) cooper and I used to drive it all the time. I myself am into jeeps but fell in love with her car (not her though). Over the last few years the memories of her fade, but I find myself constantly looking at mini's. I am now getting to the point where my jeep is no longer a practical daily driver, getting ~14mpg and 16 on the highway. The tires are window height on a mini and the idea of a second car is more and more appealing.
I like that the cabin is larger than you would think, at 6 foot 1 and 200lbs this matters. I love the go-cart feel, great speed and handling, it’s just all around fun to drive. Reminds me a lot of my old Audi A4 1.8t, only smaller.
Anyway, I am not going to be buying right around the corner but I am trying to learn what are the good, bad and ugly aspects of the different years, and what will fit my life and wallet the best when I am ready to jump.

thanks


Liam

 

welcome!
I hope your search goes well. Obviously, you will be most convinced by the DRIVES...the first gen and second gen versions of the car are quite different. You have a bit more to choose from these days than some years back: coupe, cabrio, clubman, even countryman, depending on your specific needs.

I had an 06 MCS and now am awaiting delivery on an 11 Clubman S. If you have any specific questions you can PM me or of course post them here.

 

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Yeah I understand that completely. I have a pretty good idea of the things that I want some of them are kinda quirky, I know I want an arm rest for instance. Winter package is also a plus… Basically I have decided on MCS hardtop with a stick. The question is what year color condition and price[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

BRG, any year, and you should buy one today .

 

Just about any color looks great on the Mini. Too bad that they don't have a really nice non metallic Orange. The Spicy Orange is good, but it's metallic and really it's a bronze. Of course I'm partial to Midnight Black with its Chili Red Roof, but that's only in the JCW. BRG ll looks good, and the old standby Chili Red.

 

I'm kinda partial to the dark silver. If I could just walk out and get one today I would. Ah, if life were that simple. Maybe the better question is turbo or supercharger.

 

It's not so this/that as blower/turbo. I mean, in concept it is, you just also have to factor in that the turbos are the newer gen, with general performance, braking, build quality and interior fit/finish upgrades over the first gen (this is a debatable point, as while some of the numbers are better, plenty of first gen drivers, me included, preferred the performance, ride and handling of the stiff r53 over the more civilized r56) and additionally the issue of how used is used: you CAN find some really babied first gens for sale out there, but as a general rule, we're talking 5 year old cars minimum, with the usual rattles and squeaks and wear associated with the mileage. Now, I have to say, I loved my 06 MCS enough that if family space needs weren't an issue, I'd probably have been in the hunt for another 06 (JCW this time) with low miles.

As far as turbo lag vs the whoosh of the blower? Most second gen drivers I talk to say the lag is negligible compared to what we are generally used to...

 

I have had a volvo saab and audi with turbos, before I got into jeeps. The lag was the worst on the volvo, I guess I should drive some of the older mcs and see how I feel about the blower v. The turbo

 

The R53 (2002-06), otherwise known as "Gen 1," happens to be my favorite because they are a bit more raw and less refined than Gen 2, just like a proper British car should be .

Regardless of the year and despite some inherent weaknesses, MINIs are basically solid with an unprecedented motoring heritage built into every car. Read a bit about this here: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...-be-surprised/

In case you decide on a R53, I know of a "like new" 04 MCS with 29K miles that is obsolutely perfect inside and out. This car is available at an independent MINI shop where I have my car maintained. I'd by this car in a heartbeat if I was in the market. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/d1khUb

 

Color picked? Transmission picked? Body Style picked? SC vs TC????? The only way to tell, drive em!

 

Wow, I am blown away by how helpful you guys have all been. Fanboy: unfortunately I am a thousand miles from that mcs. Kind of a long trip for a test drive haha. Thanks for looking out tho. Are there any years, or options/option sets to steer clear of? Things that have been chronic problems for mini owners. Not small things, but larger issues. IE: porsche had problems with their 98-99 911s. Consequently u can get them cheaper than ones that are a few years older and newer, but u don't want them...

 

what is the life expextancy of a blower? i know a turbo is a consumable item.

 

Hi, Liam!

Wishing you the best of luck on your search for the perfect MINI. I feel certain you will find it.

 

Drink the cool aid ! its ok Coopers ROCK !

 

Bunks-TJ:

As your unofficial medical advisor, I advise you to start test-driving. The only cure for what you've got is to adopt a Mini ASAP. The longer you wait, the more intense the craving and the larger the empty void in your happiness will be. You need a big dose of Motoring!

 

I wonder how many consecutive days the dealer will let me test drive everything on the lot before they demand I either buy something or leave them alone

 

Been there, done that!

 

How do you guys feel about the JCW v. the MCS?

i have a pretty good pool here locally to choose from, including a few that are listed in the market place on NAM. in the jeeping community the moto has been "built not bought" buy a jeep build it the way you like it. am i better served buying a MCS and tuning it or buying a JCW tuned set up?

ideas:
05 JCW: http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...&&aff=national
same car herer on NAM: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t/15286/cat/12

06MCS: found on craigs list then found here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t/15452/cat/12

06' MCS:
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...&&aff=national

whats the best deal what are preferences? always love advice

 

All the R53's you highlighted are exceptional. But I think the 05 JCW is really sweet. I would put my money on the JCW, mainly because it's factory quality ZOOT. MINI gets outrageous amounts of cash for JCW trim and parts. The JCW likely sold for over $30K. It will most likely maintain a higher resale value over the MCS assuming equal condition. 50K miles for a 05 is very reasonable. With the 18" wheels and JCW suspension, this car will ride very firm, but the overall perfomance puts this car at the top of its game. Think epic fun .

 

of the 3 i think the JCW is the most attractive, tint the windows and asthetically it would be god like. i just wasnt sure how the community felt about the JCW v MCS.

the pictures of the JCW are also crystal clear, and it appears that they are not hiding anthing from the buyer. knowing the community where it is kept, and seeing the miles on it, it seems to be cared for.