Way back I’d purchased a 2003 Cooper new then traded for a 2005 S convertible.
loved the supercharger, but by then I was kinda done with ragtops. The hatchback is a wonderful use of space, the convertible was about as useful as a Miata.
So this week a friend suddenly asks I was interested in the ‘04 MINI he’d bought a few years ago. Seems he bought it from the first owner, his neighbor, as a first car for when his son was old enough to drive. That didn’t work out.
Good for me, the price was right, clean, all records, well maintained.

Just a base level Cooper cvt, 117k miles. I’d forgotten how well these things handle. Although coming from a 2010 Ford Flex, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Now searching for a good repair shop or independent garage in upstate S.C.
my friend just got it back from Bimmer Specialists in Greenville after 4 weeks to replace an oil pan gasket and some minor services for $2k.

 

Hello and welcome. Just watch on the CVT as they can fail and be $$$. I have seen people that change the fluid and easy on them and they lasted. If the the CVT fails you can always do a 5 speed swap.

Check out the local MINI clubs as they have places they use down there.