Okay, First major issue with the 2003 Mini since we purchased it for my Stepson. He came home on Saturday morning and said that while he was driving, the RPMs are high. So I took it out and at idle, the RPMs are at normal range. When I take off, the RPMs are high throughout the time driving. Shifting into gears feels normal and there is no smells or grinding noises. Wondering if anyone else has had this issue. Am I looking at a clutch replacement or something slightly more costly? Thanks in advance

 

If it's a manual trans, take it out on an open road without traffic, put it in 5th gear at about 2500rpm and floor it. If the engine revs without the car getting commensurately faster, you need a clutch assembly.

 

Wife took it out today and said that she was able to get to 70 MPH on the highway, but sucked on any incline. Said the RPMs were higher at cruising and wasn't overly quick to get to that 70 MPH.

 

Ok....CVT AUTO or a 5 speed manual..

 

Guessing from your statements it a 5 speed stick....so a slipping clutch...
Hopefully the stepson knew how to drive one....driven wrong, you can blow a $1500 cluch in a day....

 

Does it seem to slip at all on the incline?

 

Sorry, yeah it is a manual. He was "learning" to drive a manual and drives it pretty well. We got the car used with 88K on it and knew there were going to be things coming up. Didn't think to check strut mounts which i'll be replacing. Now it'll be a clutch too.