First of all - I am excited to join this unique community! And also excited at the possibility of becoming a Mini owner!!!

I have admired it from a far and have in my younger days had Toyotas - Supra and then an MR2. When my wife & I recently test drove the Minis, they just have that spirited feel to them & I immediately was hooked. And ready to "graduate" to a more sophisticated vehicle.

In the last 3 months or so have been looking, researching etc and have taken some twists and turns on purchase/search direction. We started off with wanting to get something newer - say 2-3 yrs old. After reading, watching, hearing folks with older Minis and the complete pride everyone had it their vehicle I am at a place of looking for a 2nd Gen.

I am hoping to keep, learn and take care of the Mini for a while and as an "entry level".

I have located and making arrangements to view and hopefully buy a 2010 Cooper S with a dealer installed JCW tuning kit in 2012, it's a 6 speed manual with 65k miles on it. I asked the owner and it looks like these have not been done:
- timing chain
- water pump
- carbon blasting

I am definitely no car expert - more like a "have driven cars for the last 30 years" and know minor car needs and function. The car I am looking at is in the country and may have a cahnce that I can't get it to a mechanic. Having said that, from my emails with the owner, it sounds like they take care of the car but some major things have not been done.

Would love any pointers for why I go check the car out, what I should watch out for.

Thanks so much in advance!!