I'm considering buying my first Mini. My ex wife is on her third, but they were all under warranty. I''ve heard the supercharged models are to be avoided as are the automatics of this era. No matter on that score as Auto was never a consideration.

 

The supercharged model are great, but look for a 2005-2006 year, find a GP if you can. Avoid the CVT automatic transmissions while the 6-speed automatics are ok.

 

On the contrary, R53s are pretty solid once you've addressed all the known nagging issues w/ the proper upgrades. Among the 3 generations, Gen1s are the least dealership dependent, the most DIYable & the easiest to mod. Parts new & used are aplenty & reasonable. Electronics are at its simplest. Above all, they're known for their road connectedness, raw handling & pleasing aesthetic proportions.

Do stay away from the Non-S CVT & early Midlands 5speed stick. The 05 up Non-S have the Getrag 5.
The S models have either the solid Getrag6 stick or the pretty reliable Aisin(Toyota) auto tranny.

For the most fun, get the ultimate MINI. The 2006 JCW GP1!
& to answer your question, YES, I would buy an R53 over any other generation MINI.

 

All day, every day. The R53 supercharged MINIs are the most reliable. and fun.
The only issue I'm aware of on 1st gen is the power steering pump, which Mini will replace if it fails. They are mostly bulletproof.

 

Don't worry about the pump. Replace that under warranty & wait for the coming delete kit like that of e30s:



It will be under development soon. Steering feel will be between a good & dead pump, but you'll have 1 thing less to worry about. E30 & Miata guys have long been doing this to make their steering feel more connected.

 

I appreciate the advice. I have been driving 3 series BMW coupes since 1987, and always loved the gas mileage and feel of my wife's Minis. I don't know how I am going to work golf clubs, but it's only me so seats down I suppose.

So as I understand you gents are suggesting 2005-2006 supercharged cars? As I said, I don't do automatics of any shape of form. I'm a control freak.

CT

 

2006 JCW GP is ideal for control freaks + Comes w/o rear seats for your golf set. Can it get any better than that?

 

Well said!!
Mine has had minimal work outside of regular matainance and "upgrades".....
Relilibility comes down to the prior owners(s) and how they drove and matained the car....
Driven well with occasional bursts of fun and curves, a gen1 sc mini is pretty solid....
Some have been " used up" and are little more than hoopties....
Look for the non-flashly repairs and updates IMO to know the owner spent $$ on the hidden stuff....like good newer struts, etc....many folks get things like blinggy coilovers that are cheap Chinese made unadjustable junk cause they can say "hey man look what I got".... Good one are great on a race car....but few folks spend $$$ on 3 way adjustable coilovers on a mini...most get ones that do little more than lower the car, then the owner gets vibrations from the CV joints, strut tower deformation, and obsenene tire wear, and start a thread cause they went cheap and did not get the adjustable end links to adjust the alignment....
So look carefully.....lots of good cars around...fewer owners the better IMO!!! Folks keep a good car....and sell " issue cars".....

 

For a daily the gp might be a bit rough for some....
Minimal options to keep the weight down, less, almost zero sound insulation.....think of it as s preptepped track car....
A standard 2005+2006 gives you more options...things like xenon headlights, etc, not found on the gp....with a slight difference in HP....many gp's WERE stored for years as collector cars....in hopes it would go up in price....more low mile ones around.....
Drive a go...see if you can live with the highway sounds/ride....great weekend/2nd car IMO...slightly rough for multi hour commutes and visits to grandma's house!!

 

Zippy is spot on. A bit harsh but the GP won't ride too differently from the early pre-spec'd, pre-softened suspension pre-facelifts. Those are 02-early 04s. They'd be noisier, but sportier.
Aside from collectibility & value, there are a number of low mile ones in the market to choose from.

 

I've owned my '05 S for a bit over 7 months now. I've managed to clock 3500 miles on her which isn't bad considering the winter we had in the NE and the fact that my wife will often lobby to take the Subaru for longer trips so she can split driving with me since she doesn't drive a stick. (Not complaining about the split driving bit!!) If it's only one or two in the car, the S 6 speed is a nice vehicle to spend time in. Coming out of an early Miata, the Mini is a luxury car with scads of room inside. I even have a mini spare (PUN!!) in a bag strapped in the rear shoulder belt on the passenger side, just in case. I'll admit to not having done my homework until AFTER I bought, I'm happy to say I feel I made the right decision on the specific model and year.

 

Loving my '06, manual, supercharged Mini for the past 16 months and 20,000 miles. I'm up to 120,000 miles and would buy it again.

 

The cabrio has even less luggage space and I've hauled my clubs cross country with no issues. Driver and 3 wood have to be stashed separately though. You just have to be a creative problem solver. As stated, the Getrag 6 speed is solid and very connected.

 

Have my 3rd MINI (1st an 03 S manual, 2nd was an 04 non S auto [wedding gift to my wife]). My current is an 06 JCW- RECOMMEND. Not quite the GP power, but I'd say more realistic for everyday (mines used all year, incl snow-never needed snow tires) driving. Just added a rack for little more storage with wife+twins.

 

No

 

Would definitely and as a matter of fact just did. Regretted selling my '05 convertible S (supercharged) auto so I just bought an '08 JCW (also supercharged) stick. Nary a problem with either (knocks wood). I would add my name to those who say go for the later 1st generation models of mid '04 onwards.

 

I have to chime in. I wholly agree with the enthusiasm for the R53 over the newer models, primarily because they're the funnest to drive. Being somebody who runs a shop fixing up and repairing MINIs, I'd warn you that any time you're buying a car that's 10 years old, you're going to have to repair stuff. No MINI is bomb-proof, so go into it with your eyes open. Budget for a few repairs over time and enjoy your MINI.

 

^Pure wisdom!

 

This goes for purchasing from MINI dealerships as well. -1yr later on my '06, and $1600 worth of smallish repairs.

 

I often see the recommendation made to look for the 2005 and 2006 over the 2004, but from a reliability standpoint, the available data doesn't support it.



- Mark

 

A more complete legend would be helpful. What does the little dot in the middle of the red ones mean for instance and what is the source of the research that compiled the graph? Otherwise it is just a random graph.

 

Consumer Reports. Black circles are bad, red good, half circles less so, blank circle average. The dot in the red circle means nothing.

- Mark

 

Well I wouldn't take the reports too seriously, especially because the newer cars have had less time and mileage to give quality statistics. Look at the forum and see the model years with frequent issues. For example; walnut blasting, oil loss, power steering pump failure, coolant leaking. That's gonna give you an idea of reliability for particular years. Obviously the newer years of each body style are going to be the most sorted.

 

I bet the newer 1s fare worse. The issues they might have judged on that report have all been known/addressed by now.

 

I just got my third MINI S. My first was an 04 JCW that I went nuts on.I bought the car new when I came off active duty following 3 yrs of 9/11 related tours. I actually picked the car up from the dealer in my MP uniform Wilwood brakes,Alta tm intercooler,6 different exhausts,6 sets of wheels,Bilstein coilovers,every suspension mod out there.I made a huge mistake and sold the MINI JCW to go to a 2009 STI after owning my MINI for 5 yrs to the day from new. Next is my wife's 2010 S con auto with just cosmetics and Breyton wheels which we still have. Now I went back to my roots.I found a 2004 MC40 that only had 24k on the clock. I have never been happier to get in a car for the first time. This car is like a time capsule to me. It is like a brand new car. It was a tough choice between the 2014 S as a lease or buying this 2004 MC40. I made the right choice in the end. Now I have an appointment on June 2nd to go down to Helix to do the control arm bushings(shot by age) 17% pulley, fan mod and a few other things Look around for a low mileage 2003-06 S and have a small cash set aside to bring the car to a reliable standing. I am so damn happy every time I get into this car it is nuts