We own a 2003 MC. It is Pepper White / Black Top. Bought it New. It now has 18,400 trouble free Miles on it. Has CVT, Sunroof, Auto A/C & an Aftermarket Spoiler. We love it.After looking at the Photos of the New 2007,s
our 2003 looks better & better each day.

HAFPINT

 

i agree....i like the 06 better then the 07!

 

I definetly like my 04 better than the new ones.


Art

 

Only 18,400 miles on an 03 You need to get out more often, and then you will be even happier

 

Put me on the happy list.

 

Happy, happy, joy, joy......

 

I have an '03 Indi Blue/Black MC. (Nov. '02 build)
It'll have only 97,000 miles on it by the end of this week.

I definitely agree with asodestrom, you need to get out more often!

-Juan

 

Well, I'd have to say I like the R56 Cooper just as much as my R50. I mean, there's things I love about both, but R56, I have to admit, is an improvement/refinement. Still, there's something very pure and very cheeky about R50, and I love that. My Cooper (1/03 build) has been awesome...I feel like I can actually use (and play with) everything the Cooper engine delivers. All in all....considering brakes and suspension....it is very well-balanced car. If fact, in this regard I think it's best. I also vastly prefer Cooper styling. The MCS has always been the "on steroids" sibling and that really isn't the best fit for me personally. I've test driven many MCSs and even JCWs and I'm always quite glad to get back to my Cooper. It fits my motoring preferences like a glove. I look forward to the prospect of getting an R56 and it will most definitely be a Cooper, which (to me) looks much, much better. (MCS owners don't be insulted...this is an MC thread...and I only scratched the surface.)

 

Very happy MC owner here - '06 I've had since December '05 & already 16K miles - no problems. I drove the MCS as well, and could have afforded either. Chose the Cooper for overall balance and appearance. It is plenty quick for me and it always passes the "look back" test - meaning, that when I arrive at work and park, I always look back to get a look at my car just sitting there - styling is just right. Handling is wonderful. MPG avg. about 30. Haven't seen the '07 in person as yet, but from pix and description of changes, I am glad I got my '06.

 

It's been a blast! But I just wish the motor had a little more potential. Add a little power, you have to worry about the tranny... (and it went on me after my warranty ran out ) and add some more power with my uprated gearbox I got, I have to worry about casted engine internals...

But besides that, I just love how the car just grips through corners like nothing! One time, my friend (RSX Type S) was tailing me just for fun, but when it came to tight corners, I started hearing his tires screaching, I looked up at the rear view mirror and it looked like he was really fighting hard to keep up! Ahhh... yes definately made me feel really good about my underdog car...


On top of that, the car has personality! I get quite a few comments about the Mini...

 

No doubt, I love chucking my Cooper round the corners like a mad man, it's been great fun especially after I got some sticky tires for street use, pulling 0.95g in the corners is just awesome.

I don't know about you, but I plan on keeping my MINI for a while still. It's not the fastest thing around, but I really don't care about speed all that much, I mean, how fast can you REALLY go on a public road before risking being in jail? The way the Cooper feels, so solid, composed, agile, and the way it looks, really make every commute a fun event!

 

Happy Happy Happy!
I bought our June of 02' used last year and could not be happier with it! I've taken it to the track twice and can't believe what I was doing :-)
I'd have to agree with just about everyone in one way or another. I love my MC but I have no problems w/ the R56, the power is just enough that I can get around "cars" with no problem :-) but slow enough that I don't get a ticket. The list keeps on going....

 

for Asodestrom & Juan. Well you may have a point re us having to get out more. Our 2003 Mini only has those 18,400 miles on it because Winters here in NH can be Harsh. So we rarely use it for outings during the Winter.
Also my Wife I work at the same location. Round trip is only 7 Miles.
Our Mini also has DSC & and aftermarket Door armrests & Center armrest.
Re Performance. I have always used K&N Air Filters in my Vehicles.I feel they make a big difference in the way the vehicle performs. Happy Motoring.
Our License Plate is HAFPINT.

 

You have me beat, I JUST passed 18,000 miles on it this week, and mine is an '03 as well.

All trouble free miles, super fun miles, big smile miles. It is my fun toy car, not my daily driver, so like you, I don't drive it unless I am out for fun or on dates with my wife

 

Nice to hear from another 03 MC owner with LOW Miles.It is the Best Vehicle we have owned & we have owned many. This still brings Smiles to us every time we use it & the comments from our friends & others we meet on trips are amazing.

 

I have also owned a ton of vehicles, over 25 to date. My daily driver is an impreza 2.5i sport wagon, great for the long commutes and the all wheel drive is added security for Colorado. The MINI is just our toy, as I said, but we, my wife and I, love it so much. I also get comments everywhere we go, and in the condition it is in, it amazes people that an almost 4 year old car can look so good.

I LOVE the character of the R50, and also like the new versions, R56. But I plan on having this car forever, so treating it as my baby comes easy!!!!

 

My 2003 Cooper has 22,000 miles on it, not a single problem to date. I really have enjoyed the car for the 3 plus years I've had it now. I wish there were some more low dollar mods to do to increase performance, but over-all I'm happy. I've been toying with selling it just to get something different, but I don't think anything could replace it. It's been so reliable, more so than my wife's Toyota. Once I've paid it off, I may have to go out and get something to go with it. Something with two seats.

 

Lame excuse.

Northern Vermont, and over 100,000 miles on my 2003. Try again.

If I could drive a second car in the winter, I probably would. But, since I only own the MINI, it gets to enjoy the snow, salt, sand, etc.

 

I have a 2003 MC, yellow with white top and white rims. My complaints are basically the same list as most. Window motors break, steering wheel leather peeling off, glove box door latch busted (currently held closed with double sided tape), and most recently, busted throwout bearing on clutch. Other than the window motors and glove box door, the other things are basically my fault...driving it like a race car on the streets. I have had many cars and even though only one of them had less power than a mini, I have NEVER had more fun driving a car than with this one. It handles so good and corners so well that it definitely makes up for the problems.

 

my Mini has been in the family for 2 years but it was officially deemed MINE last year June

it's a PS/B 02 MC CVT i love it to bits!

 

My 03 MC is great....but, I think I'd be even happier with an 07 MC.

 

Perfect world I'd have an '07 engine/tranny in my '06. Luckily there were enough spy shots out to help me decide and order an '06 in time. Love it!
After watching the 5th Gear review of the '07, the scrunched windows really look off. His comment on the mini wing shaped climate controls was something like "enngh". Both are great but the '06 style is greater however.
Aren't we preaching to the choir here?

 

Got my MC in February 2003 (January build). Just under 50,000 miles. Some problems - window motor, sticking door handles in cold weather, transmission replacement, replaced the boot latch/motor just this month and the rear wiper motor/assembly too - but I still would not trade her for anything else in the world. I will drive this car into the ground. My husband owns an 04 MCS. I like his car - but my Isabelle is "me" to a tee.

 

Dido.

DOHC, 6 speed gearbox... I think the new car might be more mod friendly. If you choose to add more power, you won't have to worry about breaking something in the process.

 

I have an 03 MC (Nov 02 build). I now have 74,000 miles on her and I am a little nervous about the CVT. So she is no longer my daily driver and spends most of her time in the garage waiting for the weekend or some fun MINI event to come up!