So I bought this a few weeks ago and I've had some *** time in the car and I wanted to give my opinion on what it is like to own a mini in the "honeymoon" phase.

I have owned the car for a few weeks now and have been driving it a lot putting over 800 miles on it so far. I bought a highly optioned 06 R53 JCW with only 10,200 miles on it. I finally got my paperwork from the transfer of warranty you can see what it covers here http://gosunpath.com/elements/pdf/SAPlatinum.pdf . When something breaks I'll write up my thoughts on it and if it was worth the previous buyers (and my premium I paid) investment of $3300.

So I came from high horsepower cars (jb4 tt 135, worked up AMG C55, Toyota Avalon V6 ) and I am greatly underwhelmed by the power. When I test drove the car, my driver at the time was a 4 cylinder Toyota Camry, so a bicycle seemed fast. Now that I have been driving it a bit and now that I am pretty decent at driving stick, the car seems slow. I understand that when the car was developed, 0-60 times were not their top priority but is my only real beef with the car. To anyone reading these forums thinking about buying one, don't think you will pull away from a BRZ with some mods...

Also, when I purchased the Mini, I thought the fuel economy would be half way decent, it is not. And I can't believe how big the gas tank is. I was so shocked the first time I filled it up and it took 12-13 gallons. Not a real complaint, just more of an observation. It doesn't help that it is my first supercharged car and I love hearing it scream.

I do love the way the car looks. It by far, hands down is my favorite feature of the car. The $2100 or $2300 JCW wheels, the chrono package, the way the headlights light up at night, the red lights in the cockpit. The toggle switches are a real nice touch. I even like the HK system, now that I have a bluetooth module tucked in the glove box. My next step is to add the OEM phone bluetooth setup and have Mini install it (I think).

I constantly go back and forth (and I've done the same with all my toys) if I keep it or lose some money and get a Porsche and be afraid to drive it anywhere because of the miles. I could make it faster with some things but I think that would ruin the fact that I have a seriously optioned, fully serviced record, mint little mini.

In the meantime, I plan to keep driving it until I decide. I have a cheap leased Camry that has been seeing its fair share of the driveway since I bought this Mini to drive.

I just thought I would share some thoughts I had, remember, I have never driven a Mini before I bought this car, so this is my opinion of 800 miles behind the Mini for the first time.

I look forward to hearing what you guys think!



Of course a pic outside my office.

 

Good to hear your feedback, typically my mpg is a combined 28 with aggressive town driving. If you can't pull away from a brz your mini is broken, I find the brz to be sloooowwwww, at least every time they are beside me.

 

Stock 0-60 are both Are close, mini 5.9 brz 6.4, like I said, add some toys and it's close... At least that's what the Internet says.

 

Man my thoughts right on. I own a Bmw 330i and the 2006 Mini cooper s. I bought the mini as a run around car and was hoping to get better gas milage and performance. I get neither. Its fun as hell to drive and I have to come to love the little car, but for being supercharged and being light it should have way better performance out of the box. I don't rag the car at all and i am lucky to get 26mpg my bummer with the 3.0l engine gets that. I think with a few tweaks like intake, pulley, better ignition and the sprint booster for the pedal and maybe an exhaust the little car could grow up to be the car it needs to be. I also find the reliability to be an issue ex: plugs come undone, parts are extremely expensive and things break all the time. I find the clutch to be a real piece of crap also its hard, awkward and i think it takes away from the driving experience of the car. I bought the car as a daily driver to keep the miles off the bmw thinking i would save gas and have a reliable little car. Thinking it was a bmw product which i have owned only Bmws for ages with no real issues. Well that thought was completely wrong. Besides all my negative stuff I LOVE THE CAR and i don't know why?

 

you guys are harsh, a supercharged car isn't going to be fuel efficient, it runs off the crank for one. As far as performance it's only 168 hp and the car isn't that light for its size. The clutch is great on these cars Never really heard any complaints about it.

 

Really clutch is great? And you haven't heard any complaints ? What planet have you been on. It's all over the next people complaining about how hard the clutch is and transmission issues and early wear. As far as performance I guess you never driven any other 1.6l specially others that are turbo?. Again I LOVE THE CAR but it could be better. And as far as weight ITS A MINI it's suppose to be light and handle.

 

I haven't really driven any other sticks before so I don't have a baseline. I feel like my clutch isn't smooth and isn't very forgiving. I had an old man that has a turbo Sky try out the mini and said it felt beautiful.

Also, the window sticker said something like 32 mpgs highway. Cruising at 72 mph in flat Florida, I get 25-26. I am sure those figures are for highway speeds of 55 mphs.

For what it is, it is a performance car so it shouldn't be economical, I sold the idea to my wife telling her it would b a great commuter car because it's small and light(ish).

 

The r53 manual trans and clutch aside from the throwout bearing, are known for being quite bulletproof, what planet are you on?

 

Put a can of BG44K in the fuel. You should see a difference in performance.

 

My friend has an FR-S (same power as BRZ) and we were dead even from about 40 to third gear redline. Both cars are stock. These cars can make 200+whp very easily and a simple pulley swap would be all I need to pull on a BRZ.

I have had my R53 for about a year and have never had a single issue. I know that's entirely subjective, but I've had no problems. I love the transmission and clutch feel.

When I first started driving the R53, the clutch felt pretty stiff, but I've adapted and it feels great to me now. My dad's clutch feels broken by comparison. My mileage isn't great, I get 22-24 city and 28 highway.

 

Highway mileage is just adequate in part because of the stiff gearing. 70 is 3000 rpm. Maybe OK with 115 hp, but on a JCW with almost twice that, it is way over geared. About 23 mph per 1000 rpm Unfortunately, no one makes options for a different ring and/or pinion gear.


On straight highway driving at 70, I get 27 mpg in my 05 R53 hardtop with a bunch of speedparts and 30 mpg in my factory JCW R52.


Both cars are relatively quick even when compared to my worked on M5.


Regards,
Jerry

 

Hi mintmini, welcome to NAM!

Congrats on your beautiful purchase. Can't believe you could find one with such low mileage. My '04 R53 I recently picked up, with 79,000 miles, averages about 29 miles per gallon.

We have lot's of articles, application guides, and performance upgrades available at our website, so please stop by to visit, and ask any and all questions.

Here's our performance upgrade guide that should help:

http://new.minimania.com/Mini_Cooper..._for_your_Mini

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.