Which MINI for Me? Suggestions?
#1
Which MINI for Me? Suggestions?
Hi Folks,
I'm in the information gathering stage. I'm a aging motorcycle guy and thinking of parking the bike and going with something else. I've always liked the looks of MINIs and think this may be a fun alternative. Which one and which year? There's a lot to consume and consider. I'm hoping you can shorten the learning curve for me. Here are a few perspectives:
I'm a decent sized guy. 6'4" & 220 lbs. Need some room.
I can wrench some but don't really have a nice shop set up. I'll call myself a shade tree mechanic.
We like to go to the Ozarks and Colorado with the bike. I'd like something fun for the twisties. Not sure on manual vs auto?
Convertible? I like the idea but perhaps a nice big sun roof and the windows down would be more practical
This will not be a daily commuter, just a fun car to run errands and take on trips
Money is a factor and I'm not planning on heading in for a new car. I want to find something used, in good shape that best fits my needs
Hoping to avoid problem years and models with your help
I'm in no hurry and would be willing to wait for the right car if I knew what I was after.
I tried searching this topic but came up empty. I hope you have some ideas. An active forum group is half the fun on these things.
LB
I'm in the information gathering stage. I'm a aging motorcycle guy and thinking of parking the bike and going with something else. I've always liked the looks of MINIs and think this may be a fun alternative. Which one and which year? There's a lot to consume and consider. I'm hoping you can shorten the learning curve for me. Here are a few perspectives:
I'm a decent sized guy. 6'4" & 220 lbs. Need some room.
I can wrench some but don't really have a nice shop set up. I'll call myself a shade tree mechanic.
We like to go to the Ozarks and Colorado with the bike. I'd like something fun for the twisties. Not sure on manual vs auto?
Convertible? I like the idea but perhaps a nice big sun roof and the windows down would be more practical
This will not be a daily commuter, just a fun car to run errands and take on trips
Money is a factor and I'm not planning on heading in for a new car. I want to find something used, in good shape that best fits my needs
Hoping to avoid problem years and models with your help
I'm in no hurry and would be willing to wait for the right car if I knew what I was after.
I tried searching this topic but came up empty. I hope you have some ideas. An active forum group is half the fun on these things.
LB
#2
Hi and welcome to NAM, LB!
I advocate gen 1 Minis' as they are a raw driving experience. Like you, I am a long time motorcycle guy, raced when I was young, toured when my body was done with racing. I tried to race the Iron Butt Rally, but being a type 1 diabetic, made it so I could not keep the 1000 miles each day, for eleven days. Four days was my max! I had set up a ST 1100 Honda for this challenge, with an added 3 gallon fuel tank, to reduce stops. I gave up riding in 2018, as rheumatoid arthritis was getting worse.
3 gal tank on back
Ok, moving on to your question.
I am a guy that loves handling and I want to feel it all! The gen 1 Mini (I have an 06 Mini Cooper S John Cooper works model.) gives me the feel, that I require. These are not the fastest car, on the straights, but the twisties have an amazing feel and the smooth power the supercharger offers, makes it very controllable and won't throw you off the road in a tight fast corner.
There are a few things you will need to adjust, to get it just right for you and the age will add some maintenance, to bring it back to perfect.
I have street driven many models and the 05/06 models are my top choices (leaning at the 06, as you can get them with the factory JCW package. The MCS model is very good also. I had an 05 MCS, which got me into the Mini scene and it changed me!
05 with stripes and chrono pack. This was a great car!
I now daily drive an 06 MCS JCW model and there is no time, I do not smile, when I drive it, which is alot!
I am down to three, but always on the look! The front is my 06 MCS JCW.
Ask any questions you may have, but these are a great alternative to a MC! (for an old fart!)
I wish you the best in your search!
I advocate gen 1 Minis' as they are a raw driving experience. Like you, I am a long time motorcycle guy, raced when I was young, toured when my body was done with racing. I tried to race the Iron Butt Rally, but being a type 1 diabetic, made it so I could not keep the 1000 miles each day, for eleven days. Four days was my max! I had set up a ST 1100 Honda for this challenge, with an added 3 gallon fuel tank, to reduce stops. I gave up riding in 2018, as rheumatoid arthritis was getting worse.
3 gal tank on back
Ok, moving on to your question.
I am a guy that loves handling and I want to feel it all! The gen 1 Mini (I have an 06 Mini Cooper S John Cooper works model.) gives me the feel, that I require. These are not the fastest car, on the straights, but the twisties have an amazing feel and the smooth power the supercharger offers, makes it very controllable and won't throw you off the road in a tight fast corner.
There are a few things you will need to adjust, to get it just right for you and the age will add some maintenance, to bring it back to perfect.
I have street driven many models and the 05/06 models are my top choices (leaning at the 06, as you can get them with the factory JCW package. The MCS model is very good also. I had an 05 MCS, which got me into the Mini scene and it changed me!
05 with stripes and chrono pack. This was a great car!
I now daily drive an 06 MCS JCW model and there is no time, I do not smile, when I drive it, which is alot!
I am down to three, but always on the look! The front is my 06 MCS JCW.
Ask any questions you may have, but these are a great alternative to a MC! (for an old fart!)
I wish you the best in your search!
#3
Hi and welcome to NAM, LB!
I advocate gen 1 Minis' as they are a raw driving experience. Like you, I am a long time motorcycle guy, raced when I was young, toured when my body was done with racing. I tried to race the Iron Butt Rally, but being a type 1 diabetic, made it so I could not keep the 1000 miles each day, for eleven days. Four days was my max! I had set up a ST 1100 Honda for this challenge, with an added 3 gallon fuel tank, to reduce stops. I gave up riding in 2018, as rheumatoid arthritis was getting worse.
3 gal tank on back
Ok, moving on to your question.
I am a guy that loves handling and I want to feel it all! The gen 1 Mini (I have an 06 Mini Cooper S John Cooper works model.) gives me the feel, that I require. These are not the fastest car, on the straights, but the twisties have an amazing feel and the smooth power the supercharger offers, makes it very controllable and won't throw you off the road in a tight fast corner.
There are a few things you will need to adjust, to get it just right for you and the age will add some maintenance, to bring it back to perfect.
I have street driven many models and the 05/06 models are my top choices (leaning at the 06, as you can get them with the factory JCW package. The MCS model is very good also. I had an 05 MCS, which got me into the Mini scene and it changed me!
05 with stripes and chrono pack. This was a great car!
I now daily drive an 06 MCS JCW model and there is no time, I do not smile, when I drive it, which is alot!
I am down to three, but always on the look! The front is my 06 MCS JCW.
Ask any questions you may have, but these are a great alternative to a MC! (for an old fart!)
I wish you the best in your search!
I advocate gen 1 Minis' as they are a raw driving experience. Like you, I am a long time motorcycle guy, raced when I was young, toured when my body was done with racing. I tried to race the Iron Butt Rally, but being a type 1 diabetic, made it so I could not keep the 1000 miles each day, for eleven days. Four days was my max! I had set up a ST 1100 Honda for this challenge, with an added 3 gallon fuel tank, to reduce stops. I gave up riding in 2018, as rheumatoid arthritis was getting worse.
3 gal tank on back
Ok, moving on to your question.
I am a guy that loves handling and I want to feel it all! The gen 1 Mini (I have an 06 Mini Cooper S John Cooper works model.) gives me the feel, that I require. These are not the fastest car, on the straights, but the twisties have an amazing feel and the smooth power the supercharger offers, makes it very controllable and won't throw you off the road in a tight fast corner.
There are a few things you will need to adjust, to get it just right for you and the age will add some maintenance, to bring it back to perfect.
I have street driven many models and the 05/06 models are my top choices (leaning at the 06, as you can get them with the factory JCW package. The MCS model is very good also. I had an 05 MCS, which got me into the Mini scene and it changed me!
05 with stripes and chrono pack. This was a great car!
I now daily drive an 06 MCS JCW model and there is no time, I do not smile, when I drive it, which is alot!
I am down to three, but always on the look! The front is my 06 MCS JCW.
Ask any questions you may have, but these are a great alternative to a MC! (for an old fart!)
I wish you the best in your search!
#4
As a second car, especially coming from a motorcycle, I would recommend sticking to the first generation. The second and third are progressively more civilized and slightly larger. The first generation are the most pure MINI driving experience.
From everything I have heard, the first generation are more reliable than the second, and should hold up well with regular maintenance.
I think the first generation should be big enough for you and another passenger of the same size. The back seat will be useless. I predict you will say that you were shocked at how big it is for two people if you have not driven one yet. I am a little shorter and a little wider then you and have plenty of room. I probably have 3 inches of extra headroom.
The later years of each generation are the most reliable 2005/2006 and 2012/2013 for the hardtops. The first generation convertible goes to 2008.
I fear the convertible top will be expensive to repair if it ever goes bad. It is a bigger decision than I would have guessed going in. You also give up a lot of viability with the top up or down. I learned the first day to always back into parking spaces. You have to be 4 feet in the road before you can see anything backing out of a space. That said. I think the MINI convertible is the best convertible on the market. Other cars have the windshield sloped so far back that looking forward, you can barely tell you are in a convertible. In the MINI, you know you are in a convertible.
I would also recommend that you go with an S over the base MINI. The extra power is great and as a second car, the lower gas mileage is not as big of a factor.
The extra money spent on lower mileage, better condition and documented maintenance should be money well spent.
Good luck with the search and let us know what you decide.
From everything I have heard, the first generation are more reliable than the second, and should hold up well with regular maintenance.
I think the first generation should be big enough for you and another passenger of the same size. The back seat will be useless. I predict you will say that you were shocked at how big it is for two people if you have not driven one yet. I am a little shorter and a little wider then you and have plenty of room. I probably have 3 inches of extra headroom.
The later years of each generation are the most reliable 2005/2006 and 2012/2013 for the hardtops. The first generation convertible goes to 2008.
I fear the convertible top will be expensive to repair if it ever goes bad. It is a bigger decision than I would have guessed going in. You also give up a lot of viability with the top up or down. I learned the first day to always back into parking spaces. You have to be 4 feet in the road before you can see anything backing out of a space. That said. I think the MINI convertible is the best convertible on the market. Other cars have the windshield sloped so far back that looking forward, you can barely tell you are in a convertible. In the MINI, you know you are in a convertible.
I would also recommend that you go with an S over the base MINI. The extra power is great and as a second car, the lower gas mileage is not as big of a factor.
The extra money spent on lower mileage, better condition and documented maintenance should be money well spent.
Good luck with the search and let us know what you decide.
#5
I'm looking for a 2005-2006 R53. I see some Models with the huge sun roof. Was this an option in the R53? It seems to me that if the roof is open and the windows are down, it world be close to a convertible.
I really want the car for evening cruises through the park and weekend trips to the curvy roads in the Ozarks. I've heard the the clutch is weak on these. Any advice on figuring out if it good or not? Or, what would it cost to replace one? I'm thinking a manual tranny.
I really want the car for evening cruises through the park and weekend trips to the curvy roads in the Ozarks. I've heard the the clutch is weak on these. Any advice on figuring out if it good or not? Or, what would it cost to replace one? I'm thinking a manual tranny.
#6
Actually, most of the R53 models had the sunroofs.
The clutches are not weak, but at their age, it may be time for a new one, so keep that in mind.
These cars were made for the curves, so any model S and even the Justa will have that ability.
The R53 came in 6 speed and 6 speed auto in 05/06. I highly recommend the 6 speed manual.
Be prepared to replace engine and trans/diff with synthetic oils.
I like the ones with the chrono package, so I have gauges that I can see. May people seem to think they are not very accurate, as they come from the ecu, but I have checked mine many times and believe it is more of an old wives tale. Maybe not for the hardened racer, but quite good enough for a street rod!
Chrono package in a 2006 JCW
chrono in 05 Mini S
A way to see if the clutch is slipping would be to accelerate fast in the lower gears and see, if the tach jumps up quickly, without the car doing the same. Of course this will not tell you how worn it is, so you hope to get paperwork to show it was changed, or something like that. Again, they are not weak, if in good shape. Clutches do wear out! (just like brakes!
The clutches are not weak, but at their age, it may be time for a new one, so keep that in mind.
These cars were made for the curves, so any model S and even the Justa will have that ability.
The R53 came in 6 speed and 6 speed auto in 05/06. I highly recommend the 6 speed manual.
Be prepared to replace engine and trans/diff with synthetic oils.
I like the ones with the chrono package, so I have gauges that I can see. May people seem to think they are not very accurate, as they come from the ecu, but I have checked mine many times and believe it is more of an old wives tale. Maybe not for the hardened racer, but quite good enough for a street rod!
Chrono package in a 2006 JCW
chrono in 05 Mini S
A way to see if the clutch is slipping would be to accelerate fast in the lower gears and see, if the tach jumps up quickly, without the car doing the same. Of course this will not tell you how worn it is, so you hope to get paperwork to show it was changed, or something like that. Again, they are not weak, if in good shape. Clutches do wear out! (just like brakes!
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