Was driving south on the AZ-51 near Thomas Rd. today around 1pm and saw a super clean Liquid Yellow R53 (I wasn't in a MINI though)!

Figured I'd start one of these spotting threads...for science!

 

Are they on the endangered species list? :D

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

At this point, definitely seems like it!

 

Welp, this got about as much traction as my inside wheel..

 

For Science!


Motor On!

 

I see at least 10 Minis a day here in Phoenix. I wouldn't call that endangered. lol

 

R53's most certainly are endangered! Especially in good condition. All you see nowadays is R56+! And R56+ owners usually don't wave back, because now I guess owning a MINI is a popular thing to do

R53's are super expensive to fix if you can't wrench. Last summer, I got quoted almost $7k for a heat exhanger, axles, LCAB's, ball joints, motor mounts, gaskets, and a transmission flush. I promptly nope'd the hell out of there and learned how to do everything myself.

 

Saw a gorgeous matte red heavily modified R53 on the I10W exit ramp for 7th Street! Whoever you are, your car is beautiful!!