Hello all,

New here, although I've been lurking around in the shadows for a long time. I wasn't sure if this is one of those forums where you have to post here to meet some requirement before posting elsewhere, but I figure there's no harm in introducing myself.

I got really into MINIs a while ago after going with my brother to the local car meet one day. The parking lot was full of Subarus and 90s Camaros. One pretty cool Miata I was really digging, and a handful of other various cars. A rag-tag group of hooligans doing what they could in our little college town. One car caught my eye more than most, however. A 2003 British racing green r53. Sitting down low, the stripes were sticker bombed, roof rack, speakers so loud the windows were visibly vibrating with bass. It was outlandish. Excessively unique. But obviously something loved so much and made into its own thing by the owner.

Fast forward to probably 4 or 5 years ago and against my better judgement, and hardly in the position to be buying a car I took a 2006 r53 out for a test drive. I knew the whole time I couldn't buy it, and the guilt really stepped up when the salesman said he was about to close. But in hopes of making a sale, he gave me the keys and let me take it for a spin. To this day, I tell people that I've never had more fun driving a car than I did that day. I mean wow! Every time I think about a new car to buy, my mind goes straight to MINIs.

Unfortunately I was scared off by worries of reliability and expensive parts, always putting it on the back burner, saying someday. Eventually I went with an automatic Dodge dart and moved on.

Recently I realised that due to my current lifestyle and career, i have enough disposable income to not worry about the price of parts, and would be happy to fix/maintain/modify a MINI.

Currently I don't have a MINI, however I am searching, preferably for a decent r53. I'm sure I'll start off slow, but maybe one day I can do for somebody what that mini did for me all those years ago.

 

Welcome to the forum. I understand the feeling. I drove my first MINI a while back. When it came time to buy a second vehicle, I wanted a sports car that drove like a MINI. I searched high and low until I finally realized that a MINI is the only car that drives like a MINI.

Fast forward to last night. Just before dusk, I finally had some time to take the MINI out of the garage and go for a drive with no place to go. I put the top down and drove west for a while, headed north and circled around until I found a road that I recognized and headed home after a few hours drive. I had a podcast playing that stopped at some point and I never thought to start another one. On top of the great driving dynamics of a first generation MINI with a 6 speed manual transmission, the top down on a R52 adds so much more. I am always amazed at the sounds and smells of nature (and dinner) that you can't get in a car with a roof.

I take my MINI to work on occasion and suffer in the rush hour traffic, but there is nothing like driving a MINI when your only goal is to drive a MINI.

If you can't afford the potential repairs, don't buy a MINI. However, I think the fear outweighs the reality. In 2 years, My MINI has needed very little beyond what you would expect from any 13 year old car in comparable condition.

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like it is time for you to buy your first MINI.

 

Welcome Thats10level.

These cars do get a hook into you. We've got our second one on order now. Our two Jags sit seeping in the garage because we're always choosing the MINI as our daily driver-- around town or out on road trips. It's an itch that only having one will scratch, in our experience.

There are lots of low-mileage, near new MINIs out there and the depreciation curve is steep. Our 2017 had a MSRP of over $42K and, three years later, is worth under $20K wholesale/$23~24K retail, with only 19,000 miles on it and still under original warranty. 2nd Gen cars are way less expensive than that. So, compared to new MSRP, shop hard and drive your dream at the right price. It will happen for you. Or lease a new 2019 for under $300/month with current MINIUSA promotions.

YMMV

 

I am a gen 1 R53 addict and I know what you mean. I dove one, bought it, then two more (All r53's). Then it got really out of control! My daily is an 06 R53 JCW an every time I drive it, it does something to me, that no other car I have own does!
I understand why the newer ones are bigger, but they don't sing to me, when I drive them! The R53 is the one for me! They are getting older, but the serious fun they are to me, keep me sticking to them!

I hope you find the Mini, that suits you!

 

Although I've looked at later models before, I keep coming back to the r53. I've got a deep seated love for superchargers, ever since I watched the mad Max series years ago. Plus the smaller looks and less refined road feel in it just has me hooked. Maybe I wouldn't notice the difference, given that my only experience driving a MINI is just a nostalgic thread of a memory.

In my past any fear of owning a MINi came from my minimum wage lifestyle. Although it's hard to let go of that fear completely, my life has changed dramatically and I know I'm ready to take the next step.