Spotted a link to the subject new article on R53 OC (Facebook) just now and figured I'd post it here. Not much new content for R53 enthusiasts other than the rising valuation trend over there as is same here, however I enjoyed the author's mention of "giggles" with which I think others here might well agree.

Car & Classic --MINI COOPER S (R53) – THE TIME IS NOW

 

Cool article, and accurate. I concur (2004 MC40). I get up every day anxious to drive it and my other car that sits is a Jaguar.

 

Yup, low mileage cars have been selling at a significant premium over KBB on BAT for a while now...

 

Almost done with everything on my wish list for my pre-facelift '04 R53. Odometer just ticked over to 90k last weekend.
Time to retire my Mini. Keep it safe from harm. I'm looking to get a POS as my daily driver. Inconsiderate, reckless "A-Whole" drivers - Bring it on!

 

@Here2Go where will you sell it? Here? BAT? Carsandbids?

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, Sorry - You Misunderstood me.
I have no intention to sell my MINI. As a mater of fact I hope to make arrangements to be buried in it. Seriously though - I really just want to take it off the road (before some bonehead crashes into me), store and perhaps, drive it occasionally.
Withdrawals will not be easy as giving up cigarettes but...
Honestly, I don't think I have never loved a car as much as I do my R53.

 

PHEW! That's a relief! I do plan on being buried in my 02 R53 if they can't fit my stiff body into my Classic Mini. 😉

 

Crazy how much r53s have gone up in even past 3x years. I'm SO lucky I bought mine when I did..
i really REALLY foresee these getting only more and more popular and sought after.
just stock , these cars come set... lsd,sc,6spd manual,low weight and compact but yet comfortable...I mean, cmon now !
now that i think about it i got my car for a GREAT deal...
and as of 2x years ago seeing the direction these cars were going is big reason I chose to no longer dailydrive the car and really began putting time and money into it.

 

Have loved R53's since they were new and it's nice to see them start to appreciate and fall into enthusiast hands again. Can't wait to start seeing some R53's at the local car meets!

 

Ugh. I have an R53 with a dead engine sitting under a canopy for the last year.
Pretty sure I don't want to invest more money into it with a new engine and supercharger.
(My mechanic said the common shaft from the water pump and supercharger failed and I didn't notice it till too late on the freeway.)
Kind of hate to see another relatively good R53 taken forever off the road but I would love to have the hood as an awning on my yet to be built garage.
Such a dilemma.

 

There's an RMW engine up for sale in the Marketplace right now!

 

Thanks, I saw it.
Kind of out of my price range and to be honest, I'm kind of done supporting my MINI habit.
Too many projects as we hope to build a house, garage and ADU in the next year.

 

Always love reading about R53!

Thanks for the article link.

Had a look through the classifieds at the linked article and found a GP in Italy with great spec --- Recaro seats, upgrade brakes, rare JCW shift light, reminded me how much I'd love to own one!

Ask is around $26,000

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1443212

 

It took me some time to find a low mile and in good shape/clean R53.

The hardest part is when you originally had one since brand new and in showroom condition until the day it was totaled in an accident . You have almost an unrealistic expectations.

 

@Oldboy Speedwell Welcome back!

The fun to cost ratio is very high on these cars -- higher than any other car I've owned.

 

That’s not a bad engine, just a bad supercharger. Easy fix.

 

@Oldboy Speedwell that GP is a steal at that price compared to what they go for on BAT! Worth it to fly to Italy and drive it back😉

 

Would be totally epic!

I've always wanted to visit northern Italy and that dealer is right outside of Brescia at the foothills of the Alps --- bucket list stuff for me to drive over there!





Although it may not be as fun as some of our more isolated East Coast mountain roads, but I'd like to find out!

Found this video:

 

I've seen that video posted on another NAM thread not that long ago. I'm going to Spain next spring and plan on renting a MINI to motor around in. Then will be heading to Germany to drive the Ring 😁

 

I rode that entire area on my then-new 1981 BMW R100RS moto during 3 weeks tour of the Alps (Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Lichtenstein plus 1 day in France on Mt Blanc). Within Italy included the Garda area (Lago di Garda with Riva at the north end where I bought me a full set of Dainese leathers nearly 41 yrs ago to the day) and of course the Stelvio (Passo di Stelvio). That pass was more tiring to ride than one might think on the R100RS due to its low stubby handlebars which didn't provide much countersteer leverage on such tight hairpins at slow speeds. Ah, the memories...