Hey guys,

It's been a while since I posted on here, but I was reeeally into MINIs just a few years ago. Anyway, I'm about to graduate from college (woohoo!) and I've got a couple months before my start date at my new CONFIRMED job (double woohoo!), so I was thinking about doing a road trip. Across the country. With the girlfriend.

Hopefully I don't run out of money here. But anyways:

The question is, what car should I take on a semi-tight budget?? Right now I have a 97 Subie Legacy (definitely not going... I get 23 mpg if I'm lucky) and a 99 BMW M3 (On the highway going 70 I can squeeze out 28-29 mpg). I was thinking about taking the M3, but then my dad planted a genius idea in my head to sell both cars, get a MINI like I wanted a while back, use that as a DD once I start working, and then get the '05 STi I've been wanting for rallyx racing. The idea bit me hard. Given that I can sell the bimmer for around 10-11k (79k miles adds to the value a bit) as quoted on NADA, I'm thinking about getting a MINI on the cheap (8-9k).

Another question: given that I get a cheap Cooper S (probably with 100k+ miles on it), how much work do you think I'll have to put into it to make it reliable? Would I have to source a new SC? What bushings would be shot most likely, and how much would it cost to replace (I do all my own labor)?

A R53 MCS would be an awesome cross-country car, in my eyes. For two people it's got plenty of cargo space, it's very fun to drive, and it's also very efficient.

What do you guys think? Dumb idea or genius plan?

note: I wouldn't get a 2002. Too many issues. We're talking 2003+.

 

Good plan.
I would suggest you look at NAM Marketplace for a used Mini.
The cars listed on the forum are generally in better condition than those on a car lot.
Nothing like a road trip.
Have fun!

 

Thanks for the tip! I checked em out and was surprised to find a couple that were in my price range. Hat tip to you sir!

Anyone else's opinions??

 

Reliable low milage R53's do exist! I just bought my 2004 Cooper S five months ago with only 44,000 miles on it. Everything checked out so I couldn't pass it up as I too dreamed of one in college. Now I am hooked and have never driven anything so fun. Can't wait to road trip! I am going to do 101 from Seattle to LA this year. You just have to dedicate yourself to finding the right car.

 

Did the cross country and back roadtrip for my 30th bday back in 09 in my 05 MCS, MAN that was an experience I made sure to take my car into the closest MINI dealership and told my MA what I was going to do an for them to check everything for long distance driving.

 

Yeah, I'll find the right car. Right now my gf and I are just trying to figure out how we're going to scrape up the coin to make it. This is (almost) a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a month and just go explore the country, so we're going to make it happen. Here's our map right now...



Should be a lot of fun! We're literally thinking of every fun place we can go and putting it on a map. Bonneville salt flats, area 51, yellowstone, the Boeing plant (I'm an aero engineer so it's kind of a mecca), you name it and we probably have at least thought about it!

Very nice! Yeah I do all of my own car work so I'll be going through it myself before we take off. Any particular things to look for when shopping? I was going to stay away from 2002 models (I'm only considering R53s, mind you) because they're the first year of the run. Is that warranted ya think?

 

Congratz on school and life. I had a trip like that planned but got a job right after school and it never happened. Whatever you buy spend the money and get a MINI dealership to do an inspection it could be money well spent if you find the right or wrong car.

 

LOL, was kinda similar to my trip but I didn't plan as many diversions as you, kinda wish I went up to Seattle sometimes!


Yeah, sounds warranted. I would just guess the later models, primarily the 05-06's are the ones you want to shoot for if you can. Apparently, they worked out most of the kinks by then. At the very least invest in a pair of strut reinforcement plates to protect your strut mounts, you can search on these forums its a notorious problem with the 1st Gens.

 

Thanks man

It's definitely nice to know that I'll be walking into a job after all this.

Nice trip! Yeah, that's our ideal map, but I have to plan out how much it's going to cost first, so we might be hacking a leg off (Seattle would probably be the first to go). I might have to take out a small personal loan to do it, but seeing how it's the one time in my life when I can do this, I'd say it will be worth it.

I will if I can, but honestly I'm having trouble seeing me getting a later model R53 on the cheap. We'll see! Thanks for the advice though man, it's good to hear from someone whose been through it!

 

why don't you also just divert through the tail of the dragon? if you're driving that much you might as well, and it's not too far off from your current route

 

I hadn't caught that... thanks for the tip! I'll see if I can throw it on the list.

 

SO. If I do take a MINI I'm going to need a list of things I'm going to have to do to make it road-trip reliable. Here's what I immediately think of:

1) Engine: Air filter inspection/replace as necessary, Oil change (what's a good weight in these cars for moderately hot weather?), Check the OBDII for codes, diff oil flush?, radiator coolant flush

2) Brakes: fluid flush, pad/rotor inspection and replace as necessary

3) Steering: check fluid level, check for signs of underbody PS fluid leaking

4) A/C: recharge, I figure it's better just to make sure it's topped off...

5) Suspension: Check the towers for mushrooming, check tie rods for play, ball joints, check bushings for cracks, etc

Anything else you guys can think of?

 

just wanted to update everyone... I ended up going with a MK4 Jetta TDI 5 spd. 50 mpg on the highway and it handles pretty darn good! I'm completely refreshing all the suspension before the trip. It's gonna be gooood.

 

I would highly advise that you change your route going from San Francisco to LA. You want to take the pacific coast highway through Monterey. The drive down the coast is one of the most amazing drives you'll ever make.

 

agreed

 

good choice on the MK4 they're damn good cars. just make sure the timing belt and water pump have been done if the car has more than 80k miles on it otherwise you could risk destroying you valves/pistons and needing a new engine rebuild which = $$$

 

Yup, take the drive down through Monterey and go past it too. You MUST go down past Carmel and through Big Sur on the 1 along the coast. LOTS of twisties on the roads, didn't have my mini back then Needless to say I will be returning in a few weeks

Pics from last summer in that area

 

It appears you're heading through Knoxville, TN. You can pick up 129 there, drop south and Slay the Dragon and then head Northeast again on the other side. It won't be as much fun as it would have been in a MINI, but you'll have done it.

 

I kinda wish I did the PCH on my drive down Cali. Can't remember off the top of my head but I came in through Oregon wanting to drive through Redwood NP and hit the 101 around Crescent City and drove that down to 'Frisco. I then took I-5(?) down to LA due to time constraints :(