I have the option to get rid of my car right now, and a buyer who's offering 14k for it. (I paid 13k almost 2 years ago). Financially it makes all the sense in the world to can my car and buy a new one in a few years, but there is something about the 1st gen (esp mine being in cherry shape) that seems so special......even though the flywheel/clutch is going to be going out sometime...and the airbag light is on....and I need new control arm bushings......I still can't seem to let it go

Is it strange I want to keep this thing for many many years and just keep it as a weekend type car? I am only in college but I just can't see myself canning this thing.....I feel like the new ones simply aren't like the R53s and that these are somehow "classic"...if that makes any sense.....

What would you do if given the option?

I'd say sell it man. As the car gets older more problems come out... sell it before you regret!

Keep it now, or pay bigger $$ when you want to buy a good one back in 10 years!!
Only you know your car mechanically to know if it has been relilable and well cared for...if it has, it is a keeper!! So many mini's have been abused, run out of oil (how mant threads do we see?!l), or improperly matained.......

$14k for an R53?? thats awesome lol.. I paid $9k for mine with 90k miles back in December..

All I can say is that if you don't do your own maintenance it's gets a little risky running an R53 past 100k miles. Even though you might take proper care of it, most parts at one point will wear out, and if you don't have all those fancy special tools it gets really pricey..

I bought my car "as is".. As soon as registered it I took it to my buddy's garage to have my bypass valve replaced along with the control arm bushings. God forbid, but if I have to do this again chances are that there will be one more R53 up on craigslist...

I perfer the 1 gen. It seems the new they are the bigger they get. Pretty soon they well have to call them a Medium not a Mini.

Sell it! Get a countryman...wife had an 07 r52 with 50k...sold it last week for 13k bc warranty was up

Must be slim pickins in HI for your MINI to fetch for $14k, especially with expensive maintenance stuff coming up.

If you can see yourself holding on to it for a long time then I would suggest that you keep it. However, if you could see yourself in another car in the near future, I would sell it. You may not see an offer like this for a very long time.

the car is in california, I am back for 2 months here...figuring out if i should leave it here sitting or sell it. I come back over the summers for breaks...KBB values it right around $13,900...only 50k on it. I guess if I get rid of it I will not have a car to drive when I am back here over summers on break from school.....

it sucks the maintenance is so crappy on these things...but when I am out of college and have a REAL job....(not living off of odd jobs and parents!) I think I will be able to afford 3-4k worth of repairs to get it running in top shape again. I feel like it's a car worth keeping, but we'll see. decisions !

Hard to pass up a good offer, but in regards to your question - I'd keep it.

There things I like about the 2nd gen, seats, more power, simpler exhaust. But overall I would not buy one. If the 2nd gen came out first, I wouldn't have been interested in the MINI.

It seems from what I've read on a lot of forums, and conversations, the R53 has become the new E30 - and I really miss my E30 so I'm hanging onto the R53 for as long as I can.

I get the maintenance is a pain, but if you have a good independent shop then it's so so bad. And my shop has been doing a lot more repairs lately on the 2nd gen (i.e. timing chains) and just oil changes and mods on the 1st gen.

Sounds like you might need to subtract for repais to get it "in running condition".....remember kbb assumes it is 100%

Sell it.

I definitely prefer the first gen. I quickly ruled out the second gen shortly into my search and ended up with an '04. The second gen interior is the main problem for me, it looks cheaper and uglier imo. Also like the exterior styling of the older ones better as well.

Second gen sure does have a lot of power though! I test drove a laser blue JCW, I think an 08 or 09... and sport mode turned that car into a monster but I still disliked it compared to the R53's I drove.

definitely agree with the interior....the interior of the first gen looks much higher quality. I had a rental 2nd gen when my car was at BMW for work and that things interior was night and day compared to mine. was not pleased

+1

definitely. I have 2 shops I choose between to take it to. both are pretty reasonable compared to the dealer. I think it's worth keeping and fixing up after college. the clutch is still almost perfect, just small warning signs that show in the future it will be on its way out. same with CABs...wearing, but definitely not necessary ATM.

If the plan is to replace it with another MINI, I'd say just keep it. If you want a different car, heck yes, take the money and run.

R53 all the way! I have driven several R56 and just don't fell as connected to the car as I do in my R53.

I agree with this. You've already got a great MINI, so hang onto it if that's what you like. If you're going to try something completely different, then by all means, sell it now while you've got a great offer.

I'm contemplating something faster in the near future. My '06 Cooper is great, I'd never bother selling/trading it for an R53 or R56. I am consider trading it for a GTI/WRX/Lancer/etc though.