Picked up my first MINI last week and am finally posting here. First, I'd like to thank all the existing members for all the help you've already given me. I've been on NAM, pretty much, constantly for the past few days.

Loving the car so far but I'll admit, it's growing on me. I've never been too sure about MINIs but after my first test drive I was pleasantly surprised. I've owned 7 cars in 11 years and they've only been Audis and old Toyota pick-up's. I was in the market for an 00-03 manual TDI Jetta Wagon for almost 6 months (most of which I was car-less) and trying to find the right one became a terrible experience of false CL adds, shady brokers, and shitty examples of a "near perfect" wagon under 150k miles. Most sellers of those cars are getting above asking price because they start a bidding war. Sellers market for sure.

Finally, I threw in the towel and started searching elsewhere. I'll spare you that story. I landed on this 6-speed R53 MCS:



I'm stoked to have a base model. Car is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical shape (esp. for a 97k mile car). However, the passenger door lock actuator went out yesterday and I already have a new rock chip in my windshield, but stuff like that always happens to me in the first week. No mods planned for the near future (starting a business/trying to move aboard a boat) but will do what I can as maintenance requires. Except, of course, SC pully and new plugs planned for spring time!

Again, thanks everyone for your help and I look forward to being a contributing member of NAM.

Mitch

 

As a pretty noobie myself, I know it's confusing. If it's an "S" then it's not a "base". I think

 

"Base model S" means that it is supercharged but has no extra stuff like cruise control, steering wheel controls, auto dimming mirrors, pano roof, etc. A base model Cooper means no supercharger and the manual gearbox has only 5 gears, not 6, among other bits. I'm rolling with a supercharger and 6 gears, that's about as 'tricked out' as my car gets.

 

Well, there ya' go. Since I've been on the forum (not long, admittedly) this is the first reference I've seen to any S as being Base, just S or Base. Thought the options were just options.

 

Fair enough. 05 S, no options.