Hi Mini enthusiasts,

I'm looking at buying this Mini as my first car out of college. I've read ScottRiqui's excellent post on maintenance for a mini of this mileage and I've test driven about 12 other minis (R53s/R56s).

I'm going to drive it tomorrow and I'm wondering if you all have any insights to offer.

Thanks!

Edit: here's the autocheck on it

 

Price seems a little high for the mileage. He doesn't go into much detail about options like sunroof, harmon kardon, etc. He does state it has the Checkmate Package, but that package comes with a checkered graphic on the A-Panel, and a bonnet graphic, so if he took those off, the Checkmate Package shouldn't really apply to the price of the car. Do a good test drive, have it checked out by a qualified mechanic, and get any records you can. I can't tell if it's Charcoal Grey, or the rarer Royal Grey. If it's Royal Grey, that's a really hard to find color, and one I wish they had offered for longer in the R53.
I don't know what your driving style is, or what you plan to do with the car, but from a performance standpoint, the JCW is a good way to go for one simple fact - it comes with a limited slip differential. My previous MCS was without LSD, and while it was certainly fun, it wouldn't hold a candle to my current '06 MCS JCW putting the power down out of a corner. That's my .02!

 

Thanks spooled. That was a very valuable .02! Here's a more detailed ad for the car. This ad lists the sunroof and bonnet stripes.

Is that really all the checkmate package is? stripes and checkers?

The LSD is one of my primary reasons for considering this mini over a cheaper R56.

 

Yes, the Checkmate Package is just an appearance package. It had a unique hood graphic, checkered a-panel graphic, and a few interior items like dash panels, and I think it had a unique pattern on the seats. The new link you gave shows the Checkmate hood graphic.
You can always add an LSD, but the amount of work involved is pretty daunting for most people. And if you're paying to have it done, fuggedaboudit! The stock LSD isn't the best, but it's still night and day compared to an open diff.