I've owned my 03' R53 for going on 6 year now. It's been a fantastic car.....it's been my daily driver every single day (except in bad winter weather).

Lately I've been going back and forth on wanting to sell it, and get another car to "build up". I love turning wrenches on cars...putting new parts on them, and just tinkering. My mini is pretty tinkered out....it's just the way I want it.

Anyone ever sold their MINI, and then regretted it later? I'm afraid that I'm going to miss the small car feel, awesome handling, and fun factor of my R53.

 

yes, sold my r56 in 2008, did not get another mini until 2016 when I found an R53 I liked.

sticking with R53 now, it's not a daily driver just used for track and autocross

 

I doesn't owe you a dime except continued good times. Set it aside for the weekends and bring in a stablemate replacement daily driver.

 

I still regret selling my 06 JCW. And I sold it for an 08 R52, also a JCW. Sold that 8 mos ago and just bought an 03 R53. So yeah, you'll regret selling it.

 

Sold my R53 and bought a Corvette. Had the Corvette for just over a year and then bought my current JCW. If I lived somewhere with only flat roads and straight rivers (like Florida) would most likely still have the Vet but as I live a couple hours away from the Blue Ridge Parkway (aka MINI Heaven) the straight line Vet went and a curve cutting MINI was back.

 

Yes :( Sold a nearly pristine 2005 R53 about 4 years ago. I've been itching to get back into one ever since despite having a heavily modified 300ZX as my 'fun' car. The 300 is great, but I haven't found anything that compares to the mini.

I found a 100k mile R53 that needed a clutch for $800. I refreshed everything I felt necessary and its been great for 1500 miles so far. So happy to be back!

 

Just noticed your post.

My in-laws just bought a place that is 7 minutes off the blue ridge parkway and 20 minutes off 'The Diamondback'. We're taking a road trip down there this fall with a collection of exciting and high HP cars, somehow I think I'll have the most fun

 

Feel free to tinker on my car! I'm only a half day drive from MO.

 

Just thought I throw in a splash of cold water in this thread. I came across this photo on Jalopnik and cannot resist.

The title is A Third Of Car Trade-Ins Are Now Utterly Worthless On Paper and they used this photo for the lead-in to the article. I am going to slit my wrist now for my bad investment of the money that I recently putting into the Mini hog.

But wait. Look closer at those prices on the windows.

 

Without the date of the photo the prices are somewhat meaningless.

 

I sold a 2004 JCW with low miles last year and regretted it immediately! Luckily I came across an even better super low mileage R53 and I bought it without hesitation, love it, not selling this one! Like others have said, keep it!

 

Interesting. I bought an 05 Hardtop brought up to JCW specs, +. Liked is so much I got an R52 JCW.

The convertible is a bit more versatile as an extra car, so eventually I will sell the hardtop ( at least that is what I have been promising to the SO for at least a year!! )

Regards,
Jerry

 

NEVER sell them.....NEVER........

WAY too much fun

 

I just hate paying insurance on mine. That and knowing that if anything ever did happen to it, the insurance company would total it out. That would suck financially.