Can you point me to any reports of engine failures that were a result of the chain tensioner problem?

 

I like the smaller/different body of the first gen compared to the second...of course, I like the new factors of the newer ones. After sitting in a couple at the auto show here a few days ago, I'd buy one. The interior of the newer ones is a little more involved, I love my simple huge '02 speedometer. If I had the money for a new one though, I'd just get the new one.

 

The 05-06 ones are clearly better looking than any others, but if you have the money go from something with a full, new warranty. Even though the second gen ones are ugly, built cheaply, and so UN-clever as the first ones were.

 

 

lol, yea I was suprised to have someone up when I was at work. ^_^

 

This forum is bias lol. 1st. Gen owners are gunna tell you there the best and the 2nd. Gen owners are gunna tell you those are the best. I've done mods on both and I've been able to Auto-X both. They are both great handling cars and both respond pretty well to any mods you may do. On terms of a European car they are very reliable. Coming from BMW's and VW's. I'd rate the mini's quality better. The R53 would be more of along the lines of comfort of the STi you had. The R56 is definitely more a long the lines of the BMW in comfort. Just go out to any dealer that has an R53 and an R56 and drive both. I suggest you don't get the Base Non-s Cooper. If your used to fast cars the cooper will be a snail. Best of luck!

 

I've had both and 05 and an 08, I could be happy with either. The R56 is much more civilised, that can be seen as a plus or minus point to taste.

Apart from that the most obvious difference is the gas mileage, about 30% better for me in the R56. I'm pretty sure the R56 is a faster car, the R53 may seem faster.

 

I agree with Jtrem, but I also have to point out a few things, this is coming from a R53 owner's view

The R56 is flatout a faster car no doubt, drive both a R53 and R56 stock vs. stock, I can tell you that a R53 will require $$$ to be faster than a R56, but after driving both, I am sure no doubt a lot of people will tell you a R53 is more of a 'driver's' car but if you want a fun reliable daily then a R56 out of the box is a quick car

 

Of course I'm biased, but aside from reliability, the 1g Minis are more of a throwback to the original. The dash layout and overall contour of the body. The 2nd gens just seem too......Fisher Price on the inside (moreso around the center dash).

 

I've got a 2006 with Supercharger. Mileage is close to 50,000. No major problems and almost no minor problems. Only minor problem I can think of: coolant thermostat sprung a leak a few months ago. No biggie. Other than that, it's been nothing except fun.

The following mods were made around 300 miles, except where noted.
- smaller Supercharger pulley and cooler range spark plugs
- installed JCW air box
- installed Ian's circuit(s) to keep traction control turned off and roll windows up with one touch of switch
- installed braided stainless steel brake lines
- installed Texas Speed Works slotted rotors (from Way Motorworks) and EBC green pads
- larger diameter sway bar (think it is 22mm)
- change from 17-inch run flat tires (awful) to conventional 17-inch tires by Falken (forgot which one)
- guarranteed unbreakable oil dipstick
- installed factory mud flaps on front and rear
- (at 40 miles) installed clear bra on front, mirrors, inside door handle wells, and on rear bumper at hatch entrance and "installed" magnetic quarter panel guards

 

wow this thread was moving today! Thanks for all the info. I test drove a couple R53's in the closest town we have, but the suspension was horrid on one and the other felt like it was only putting down half its power. It felt more like a base then a S. I will most likely head out deeper into VA and maybe Maryland tomorrow to see if I can snag a couple test drives on the R56. I'm thinking I may go for the R56 but it all depends on that drive! Thanks all!

 

I have driven the new 2010 GTI and loved it. It would make for a great daily. It was far more spacious inside vs the MINI. It was comfortable. But, I think it lacks the charm, character and smile factor that the MINI delivers.

I currenlty have an 02MC and love it! However, I'm looking for more performance so I'm trading it in for an 04 MCS. I can't afford an 06MCS otherwise I would buy one of those.
I've driven an 04MCS, 05MCS, 09MC. Have not driven 2ndgen MCS so no comment.

That being said, the newer MINIs (2nd gen) feel much more refined and solid. The new BMW engine feels snappier and crisper compared to the Tritec engine of my 02MC. Some say the newer ones are inferior in handling compared to the older ones. Not true! They don't feel as raw but the much desired go-kart feel is still there more than ever.

I would think the newer ones would make for a much better daily driver, assuming you don't have issues with the timing chain, etc that plague the newer ones. They are more fuel efficient and comfortable. I like the redesigned interior as well (larger speedo, push-button for glove-box, etc) I even prefer the newer seats.
However, I love and prefer the exterior of the 1st gen coopers compared to the newer ones. The newer ones aren't as true to original Mini look as they are more bulb-ous and BMWish. Preference really. I still think they look good though!

As some one previous stated, the MINI is as unique as the person that buys it. There is so much modding potential as the aftermarket is huge with many mini options. You'll just have to driver several till you find one that calls you.

 

I would say get one with a warranty. I lucked out and got an '06 R53 with about 1 yr left on the warranty. I'll soon be extending that for another 2 yrs. Right now the '06 is in the shop. Why? It's leaking something. Pretty sure it's oil or possibly coolant. Do I care? No. I'm rolling around in a new '10 MC with 500 mile on it, courtesy of MINI. Comparing the 06 MCS with the '10 MC is a bit biased, especially since the '10 is a non-s and an auto. The instrument panel on the '10 I'm driving is a little weird. I miss the analog fuel and temp gauges. Also the thermostat controls are in the console pillars, and the radio volume is in a weird location away from the head unit.

Even though my car is currently in the shop, I still love it. If it didn't have the warranty I would be a little more stressed. Either way I'm sure you will be happy and having a full warranty will keep you feeling warm at night.

 

You have some disdain for the r56. I am not even quite sure you are even talking about the same company.

 

I've put 172,000 miles on my 04 MCS, and am now awaiting delivery of an MCS Mayfair. The new car is far more 'finished' than the old one in so many ways. Still, I suspect I am gonna miss the old one a lot when it is gone.

The one thing that really bothers me about the R56, and kept me wondering if I should try and wait for a Gen3, is the clown-sized speedo and the general weirdness of the center stack. Yes, the center stack now does more and is more intuitively obvious to use than on the R53, but it just does not look all that good in the R56 version.