By the time my R53 becomes a rising in value collectable, my car keys will have been confiscated and I will have been isssued some kind of PD to summon an R2D2 chauffeured EV that will transport me either to the jar store or to the dentist to have my remaining two teeth cleaned.

 

We have a completely stock 2002 Dark Silver MCS with around 55k miles on it that we almost never drive anymore. It comes out of the storage over the summer, gets serviced and it is in amazing condition. We bought it when it had 5k miles on it in 2005 and have been with us ever since.

I can not even think about selling it to some teenager or a punk that’s going to beat the crap out it or modify it for $5K.....I would much rather keep it as she is very sorted out and doesn’t require much besides annual oil changes.

So sure, I hope the value goes up.

 

Nope, I don't see them increasing in value at all.

 

I see 06 R53 JCW going from $8K to $15K and any GP going from $10K to $20K
They sort of hold a value!

 

You can get a nice used 2-3yr old Focus St (300hp) for $15k or less........not sure why anyone would pay $10-$20k for a 13yr old mini......

You can get a lot more car for your money than a mini.

 

Unique ones will depreciate at a slower rate, the GPs and factory JCWs cars. Everything else is now in the teenager purchase range now and will be destroyed. Of course that means if you keep a low mileage R53 from getting molested it might be worth more in 20 years.


I'm actually surprised how quickly the ST Focii have been coming down in price. The bottom dropped out of the motorcycle market in the last year as well.

 

Unmolested, low mileage JCW and GP R53 garage queens might climb in value if they are in very good condition. Apart from that, forget about it. And it won't be happening anytime soon either. It's only been 17 years since their widespread release. Give it another 8 to 10 years and... maybe? But I doubt it.

 

I beg to differ. The R53 and R52 will drop until you will have to pay to get rid of them. However, the R50, that will be at Ferrari and Porsche values any day now.

 

I think it depends on the state of the automobile in 10 years time. Right now, classics are highly valued because you can still use them on the road. If self-driving cars take off, as well as "Car As A Service (CaaS)", then no. Younger people are no longer as enamored of the automobile as they used to be and the modding community, the #1 barometer of interest if you ask me, is getting quite small. Then there is the issue of insurance. Insurance companies want to get people out from behind the wheel. Once self driving cars become relatively commonplace, expect them to price insurance out of reach for the vast majority of people. This will cause a mass scrappage of cars that are not self-driving and ensure that the parts supply dries up pretty quickly for those who refuse to give in. For an example, look at 80's and 90's cars and how hard it is to get some parts because of cash for clunkers.

Another thing against older cars is they are not easily tracked. Governments and corporations really want that data stream. The UK MoT just released new rules for manufacturers stating that all new cars must have telemetry that reports to the government by a certain date. This data will then be used to issue traffic citations. Why buy an enthusiast car if you will be fined for enjoying a corner or driving any faster than grandma in her Camry? Sorry, but I see a bleak future as a car person.

 

This will be the same as most fun older cars. They will tank in value, which is probably about where most of them are at. Then 10 years later they will go up slightly and stay there. I used to buy CRX, MR2 and other Japanese sporty cars for a grand a piece. Now any of then in half decent shape are going for over 5k. Nice models as much as 10k, or at least that was asking prices.

 

All I know is that every time our cream puff 6-speed R53 w/79k goes in for service at dealer or any MINI shop we get an offer to buy and advised to never trade in. Have driven new hatchbacks as loaners - would never buy one.

 

Is that information based on a fact or a rectalization?

 

Personally, I feel the R53 will bottom out in value-if it hasn't already, before it does eventually go somewhat up in value. Like others have suggested, the JCW versions, plus the JCW GP will undoubtedly hold their value, and/or go up in time. That being said, the R53 in general will go down as a future classic. We are less than 3 years before the first R53 models will be able to get collector, or hobbyist plates, but there are plenty of other vehicles that are already 20-30 years old, and you can still buy decent example for a pittance.

One thing is for sure though, the R53 will be more of a classic than the R56. Guaranteed. But, I am not keeping my R53 because it may or may not go up in value. I have 163k miles on it, so I could not care less about value. I will replace parts as needed, and continue to motor on like I have for the past 13 years.

 

I remember when E30's were $500 cars at best, even non M3 models seem to have come up quite a bit, my friend was ecstatic and drove down to another state to find one for $5k a few years back. My other car is a Datsun 240z that I paid $500 for, people said that it would never go up in value because there were just too many made, but that seems to have changed. There is one on BaT going for over 70k last time I looked, although that is an immaculate example.

For me, I wanted a small supercharged car. I work downtown and the parking spots and garages are not large car friendly.

Not really many OEM offerings that satisfy those requirements.

I was considering flying to another state and driving one back that was in good condition, but the fuel/airplane/motel/food cost made it easier to add that to the price of the car for a local one.

I paid quite a bit more than what I imagine they go for and this wasn't a perfect example. It was well used, has almost 80k miles and was listed definitely more than what KBB said, but there was a line of people who were willing to fly in to look at it and I've seen how fast they go, so happy to have bought it. There is a market that is forming, I imagine original owners looking into getting that great little whine back into their lives. It hasn't been too problematic and if it gives me a few years of joy, I think it will be money well spent. Eventually as more go to die and as the newer models get bigger and taller, I think there will be a place for them. Maybe nothing remarkable, but maybe a bump for clean low milage examples.

 

That was June 2014... examples pretty much described above are going for an average of $7400. Thats what I paid for mine back in 2015 (ie: values are pretty flat). Hope to check back in 2 years.
I'm thinking these will be more like the 914s. Driven, tracked, and back to a driver. If you love it- you love it. Keep up with preventative maintenance, put more money into it than its worth, fight with old mods occasionally, and drive it when you can.

 

Great reading through these comments especially as the future is now. Long live the R53!

 

I am stunned you neglected to include the R52. The fun quotient of topless motoring far exceeds the humdrum of any other.

 

^^^ Agreed, interesting read in reflection (not genuflection) on prior valuation forecasts that might occur. But who could know back then of Covid-19 effect on the current supply/demand of new and old vehicles - regardless whether commuter or sport-oriented, Those whom monitor Craigslist, leading mega-retailers online and BaT know what's been happening which will likely continue in this highly inflationary economy. Bottom line for me is that I bought mine strictly for grins yet without sufficient total all-in "investment" (oh, that term) to be a factor. This old guy has no plans to sell, even when I become too old to drive...

 

jez even in 2019 values were going up, this thread aged badly.

 

IMHO, as time goes by, the R53 will become the 1965-1966 Mustang of the future. The better the condition, the lower the mileage, the JCW and GP1, the higher the price.

 

I didn't buy either one of mine as investments but I think my R50 will go up in value. The Base model doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles like the R53 but I also think it is under appreciated. I don't think anyone really goes out to buy a base model unless it is for a teenager. Then they get torn up and off to the scrap yard. Low miles and no mods is going to be the way to go for the most money.

 

I think the gen1’s will go up. Not like the 911, but they will do well

 

Shoot I wanted a Bug-Eye Sprite when I was a teen but couldn't afford it....now I really can't afford it. And they were a car with no frills at all.

 

Even on BAT.... adjusted dollars... the highest priced R53's (GP and JCW included) have barely even scratched their original sticker prices.... only one or maybe two have exceeded their original window sticker.

Prime examples of an R53 JCW can be had, even in todays market, at or below $25k regularly... which is WAY below the original sticker price.

For example... An average window sticker on 2006 JCW was $43,000.00 in 2022 dollars. ($31,000 in 2006).

They really haven't gained value compared to other true collectable cars... and even if you bought a new GP1, sat on it for the last 16 years with less than 5k miles, maintained it, insured it, new tires through the years, detailing, registration... you would probably have a better ROI from a savings account.

But... That being said... the 'decent' R53's with low miles and in great shape aren't being had for $5000 any more... more like $8-$10k for a solid car... and $20k plus for a true garage queen that has had ALL of the necessary service on it (due to age from the last 16-20 years of life)

When decent R53's can approach their original sticker prices, even in non-adjusted dollars , then we will have a true collector car !

These things are a blast to drive... What else will give you the fun factor of driving a well sorted R53 for the money?

Heck... a new KIA costs more than most of the really nice R53's out there.


Motor on...Springs a comin!








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The Gen 1 MINI's are in the same life cycle today as the BMW 2002 was in the mid to late '80's. Yes, it was a "cult car" but good ones could be had below what they sold for when new. Now, a nice, original 2002 example will run 4-5 times it's MSRP. Give the Gen 1 MINI 50 years and then let's talk.