*SOMEONE PLEASE FIX THE THREAD TITLE TO READ R53*
I blanked on the title haha


I have had a Mini for a long time. I have an '02 MC (Currently for sale), had an '04 MC (Sold), and now I have an '03 MCS. I was just wanting some input on my future mini. I plan on keeping the '03 I have til sometime after New Years. Then I will ethier look for a mint '06 or a new '08. I love the style of the R53 so much. The R56 has a major interior apeal to me. I really want to stay with the R53 style. My though is just how hard will it be to find a Mint '06 with the options I want 4-5 months from now? (Options I want are: Xenon,Navi, and No sunroof) I like my '03 right now, but I need something newer. anyone with the 05-06 models chime in on anything majorly improved over the 02-04's? (Obviously the three spoke steering Wheel and the Xenons) Also any R56 owners tell me the advantages they see over the R53 (Besides Turbo) I looked for threads about this, but came up empty.
Thanks,
John

 

i cant say from experience but from what i've seen/heard the gearing on the transmission is a big improvement.

i think it'll be tough for you to find xenons and no sunroof but im sure there are some out there.

 

So far I have found two local (Within' 30 miles) that have no sunroof and Xenons. Only problem I face is there going to be some in 5 months? Also mileage is a big problem. I don't want a Mini with 30k+. I think it will be possible, difficult...yes. I may get a '08 MCSC, but I dont know how I'd look in a Cabrio

 

02-04 --> 05-06 Differences

Different taillights, relocated reverse light and CMSL, 5 more HP (168 hp), 6.8 second 0-60 (Instead of 7.2). The gearing is a LOT shorter on the 05+ models. Test drive the 08, and find a friend with an 06 you can drive .

 

Thanks. More than likely Ill be saving up for the last months producton R52 Cabrio. That way I will get a new Mini with the options I want. Besides I live near the beach, so a Dop top would be pretty sweet.

 

don't you track your MINI on occasion? or are you just autoxing?

i notice on redline and speedventures they dont allow convertibles. i dunno if that matters to you or not

 

My '04 I tracked a fair amout of time. Also did some Auto-X. Right now Im just looking for a Mini that I can pretty much baby. Hopefully, all the performance parts for the R53 still work on the '08 which im sure they will. I have half a dozen parts from M7 that Im saving for the new Mini.

 

why are you not wanting a sunroof?....is it too much light coming in through the mesh, the extra cost, or the extra weight? I love mine, although the sun coming through bothers me, but there are ways to deal with that.

 

Done.

 

Go with the cabrio. I love mine and you get the advantage of the sunroof - plus some - without the perpetual glare. Also, you can order it just how you want in the R53 style with everything you want for several months to come. Seems like a great option to me - but then again I'm biased (see sig)

 

Well, I bought my 06 about 6 mo ago or so... MiniNEXT (CPO)...

It had 8200 mi (in 1.5yrs of prior ownership)
opt. was LSD, Crusie (multi-fxn wheel), and mini-not-so-lite 17s.
From the dealer I spent $20K.

I put a depo on the car and tested the VW GTI and MazdaSpeed3... in the 2 days from when I put the depo down, to sat. am when I brought the rest of the $$, 3 more offers came in

So no, I'd think that those specific cars will not be there in 4-5 mo, let alone 4-5 weeks.

Personally, I'd love to see what the JCW2 package will bring in 08.
Its either that, a used BoxsterS or that Mini Competition that got released at Frankfurt this week.

(seriously, I'd do the test drive thing... its what I did at the Mini dealership when I went used vs new...)

 

Thanks Edge!

I'm pretty sure the Cabrio is going to be my choice, unless I can find an R53 with the options I want. There is no doubt that I could find an R53 with all the options I want, the trouble is finding one with the miles I want. I found one locally that has: Xenons, MFSW, no Sunroof, R90's, Navi, Auto A/C, and two tone leather. All for only $19900, but then again it has 33k. Which to me is out of the question. I'm not a used car type of guy. There is nothing like the feeling of picking it up brand new from the dealer. A virgin Mini

 

You're welcome! For future reference, it's easier just to report your own post using the Report Post icon ().

Reporting a post doesn't always mean it's a "bad" thing. It could simply be a rename request, or "please move to <more relevant forum>", etc.

You'll get a much faster response that way instead of just putting it in your post, because nobody has the time to read every post on NAM... although a few people come close.

 

Thanks for The Tip! Ill be sure to use it next time.