Posted this on vwvortex... with not entirely favorable results.

So I've always been into Vw's. It all started with my Uncle's mk2 Montana Green Gti back when I was 11 years old or so. I'm 18 years old, and am on my second Vw. I got a job back when I was 14 years old at a supermarket just to fund a future Vw. First car was a loaded 2003 Jetta, which got old and started falling apart so I sold it and bought my current 2011 Golf. Fast forward one year and I am now really thinking of trading my Golf in because it's too boring and too bandwagon for me, and it's not holding up too fantastically at only 40,000 miles with proper maintenance. My girlfriend's father has a red Mini Cooper S, and I think it is that car that has me kinda falling in love with Minis. I love hatchbacks, forced induction, European refinement, manual transmissions, and unique cars, all which the mini is perfect at! I really like the BRG green cars, and want an S. So what to should I watch out for in 10k-13k price range for an S? Comments on turbo vs. supercharged engines? Other cars to consider?

TL/DR Long time Vw guy wants to trade an '11 Golf for a cheap and decent BRG Cooper S. What to should I watch out for in 10k-13k price range for an S? Comments on turbo vs. supercharged engines? Other cars to consider?

This is my current car:


Also, for fun I built on the Mini website what I would likely want to buy if I suddenly won the lottery! Perfect Mini IMO.

 

I have owned a bunch of the VW cars over the years.
Including the 1st year the then New Beetle was brought back.
It was a Black on Black with Turbo.
Loaded-up.

The MCS 2011 we just purchased is Super Fun Machine !!!
In our case with traffic being what it is we went for the Auto Tranny.
Works perfect for us.
I have driven the Manual MINI also.
They are really fun to play around with.

Here are some Pics. I took of it a few weeks back.
I think you will Luv the MINNI and I would suggest going for the MCS.

 

Well first of all I will never suggest any other car . It's all about preference really. I'v owned an r53 ( 2004 supercharger) and my current R56 (Turbocharged). Because of my experience with both,the turbo is a little more reliable IMO. Also a liitle more horsepower, as well as fun turbo noises if you do CAI (Unless you prefer the whine of a supercharger).

But There are some really cool mods you can do to r53 ( Pulley reductions ETC). Just dont do Automatic in the r56. There unreliable and kinda boring IMO. For the amount your looking to spend you might get a lower miliage r53 S than if you bought a newer car. There both great. No car is more fun! Let us know what you decide to do.

 

Just to play a VW fanboy's advocate, have you considered stepping up to a GTI? Your Golf, while refined, may seem boring because, well, how do I put this delicately? It kind of is just that; boring.

Full disclosure; I owned a '96 GTI and a '00 Golf before getting my MINI Cooper S in '04. Both of those VW's had the identical and pathetic 115 bhp 2.0 liter fourbanger under the hood. You could make it act "peppy" with a manual transmission, bouncing it off the rev-limiter, but it was a chore. Be glad you didn't have that anemic engine...

The GTI's for the past 2 generations have been amazing cars. They're the best hot hatch out there, (with perhaps the exception being the Ford Focus ST, if you're into domestics).

But while the GTI is truly a great car, I would agree with you in saying that MINI still has the uniqueness and character that trump it. Look at how many thousands, if not millions of ways you can configure a MINI to be your own.

The GTI's have very few options and colors available. In fact, I read that the MKVII GTI will only be offered in 3 colors, Tornado Red, White and Black! That's a bit limiting, isn't it?

I'm torn; I've always loved GTI's, and probably always will. Every so often, I think I should go back to VW, and get a new GTI. But my MINI is such a part of me after 9.5 years! For now, and likely until I drive my MINI into the ground, I'm sticking with it.

 

In the 10-13k range you will be looking for clean 1st gens. '05-'06 is the preferred years but you might be right in the '03-'05 range with price. Do some reading and see the common issues with 1st gens. Nothing you probably cant handle if you know how to turn some wrenches and maintain it.

You will not really be able to get a turboed car ('07+) in the price range. Plus you really don't want an '07 or even some '08s as they had some bugs to work out the first year or so of the 2nd gen.

 

How come no one ever mentions the are thirty two?

 

I ditched my fully loaded 2012 GTI, with Xenon's and Nav for a 2013 Copper S Hardtop, and love it! The Cooper provided the "rawness" that was missing from the GTI.

 

Rawness is a great observation. The Mini S certainly isn't a grocery getter and The harshness of the ride isn't for everyone. If you want something more practical, the GTI is a much better daily driver

 

You want to ditch your VW for a MINI? Stop procrastinating and just do it. I have owned VWs for the last 15 years. With some of the generic styling and production changes, it just wasn't the same product any longer. I switched and have never been happier. Love, love, love my Roadster.

 

I ditched my 07 Rabbit for a 13 Countryman S. DH has an 11 GTI. I thought the GTI was super fun to drive until I drove the CM.

 

I had a pretty nice old Scirocco in the early 1990's. I had done lots of mods before I had to trade into something more practical.... Family and all you know.

My 2005 MINI Cooper S is the absolute funnest car I've ever owned. In its mostly stock form, it reminds me of how my VW was after I put about 2 grand into the suspension.

So I'm biased and I say R53 is better than R56. I had test driven a 2007 r56 MINI Cooper S. I heard the timing chain rattle during the test drive, and that scared me away I guess.

I think the brakes on the r56 may have had a little more bite, but it's not hard to upgrade r53 brakes. I've become accustomed to the effort needed to press on the r53 brake petal, a little more than that of the r56, but now i think i like it better; and my r53 definitely slows quick and well when needed. If I were racing on a track, i may look for something that can dissipate heat better than the stock brakes, but their performance is actually awesome.

Things to watch out for in your price range. Look for a 2005 or 2006 MINI Cooper S. There are typical places to look for rust. Lower Control Arm Bushings are expensive to pay someone else labor, but if you're capable it's a big job and less than $200 for parts. The serpentine belt is good for about 60k miles. There's a special tool needed to compress the spring in the tensioner, about $80ish, belt around $30. The tensioner itself may be $240 or a little more if needed, but the Origional manufacturer of the OEM part (gates) sells a generic identical part for less than $100 I've heard. Hmmm so, belt, tensioner, LCA Bushing, what else -oh. Power Steering, power steering fan, cooling fan low speed resistor, thermostat housing, coolant reservoir, crank shaft pulley.

...So there's a handful of known issues, and I hope not to scare you off. I did lots of research about the cars, known issues, etc. then lots of research (shopped Craig's list and auto trader obsessively for 4 months) found a decent 2005 MCS with 72k miles, $2k less than KBB. After looking at it, I knew it would need a belt, motor mount (stock ones fail, leak hydraulic fluid on the frame rail -passenger side) and LCA Bushings. I thought the throw out bearing was on its way out, but it's just the noisy dual mass flywheel. -not a big deal.

Here the dealership will give you what they call a complete prepurchase inspection for $250. It may be good for peace of mind.

Go test drive both. R53 is just more fun in my opinion, and better looking too.

Check out this article:

http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/

 

I traded my '02 VW Golf for my '09 MINI Clubman S. Driving went from a necessity to a joy. 'Nuff said.