I am thinking of coming back, I have missed my 05 MCS since I sold it. I had a 2005 MCS JCW that I sold in 2010, I then went to a 08 335i and now I am driving an 09 135i. I like changing cars but something has been missing since the Mini. I have found a possible deal on an 08 Sidewalk Edition and just wonder what you guys think?

 

Good luck on the find , the Sidewalk edition is a nice R52 MINI Convertible, if its one of the "last of the supercharged " you found a rare one. Post up some pics, I am sure other guys will chime in. I really like the malt brown English leather seats.

 

Sidewalks are very cool. It was the first time that White Silver was available, and I love the Toffee Lounge Leather. The wheels for that edition were also very different and very nice. It was the first time that MINI wheels were available with a machined face. I think it's a very classy look overall, and you don't see that many of them.

 

I had an 09 135i, it was good and fast, but I love my MINI!

 

If you do end up getting the Sidewalk , we do have the Sidewalk edition Floor Mats in stock.

They are full velour carpet and have the malt brown stitching to match the malt brown color palate. Some times these were missing or the a dealership did not even know they had there own mats.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3928883




Very nice.

 

The car I am looking at black with the Toffee Lounge Leather.

 

Did you ever buy the Sidewalk Ed? My neighbor has that combination and it is really stunning.

 

I'm with ya! I had an 03 MCS that was just fantastic, the most fun car I ever had! I did sell it when it ran out of warranty as it had lots of issues, and then had a Prius until last November when I just started missing MINIs and driving fun way too much. Enter Tess, my 2013 MCS. I'm sooo glad I'm back in a MINI.
It's been interesting though to compare gens 1, 2 (and 3):
I still think the R53s is quite simply the best enthusiast car. The R56s is nicer in many ways: a bit more refined, a lot more power and a lot better mileage, but the big fly in the R56 ointment is the torque steer. Nothing comes close to the balance and handling neutrality of of the R53s. I still very fondly remember throttle steering Celeste (my ex, the R53s) around a tight race track corner. I like Tess a lot, but in terms of sheer handling Celeste was the valedictorian (but then Tess is the all blacked out Goth girl that takes me for a ride on the wild side)!
Just recently I had a chance to drive an F56s, and I must say I came away from that experience sorely disappointed. Mind you, the F56 is a fantastic car, and very refined: the quality of workmanship is a class above the R56, the seats are simply out of this world, it is refined and quiet, but....
for me it has lost a lot of the essential MINI-ness: it's soft, the handling no longer has that acute crispness of the R53s, nor raw urgency of the R56s. Steering feedback was - how to say - far less emotional than the R56, which was already a step back from the immediacy of the R53. The suspension is comfy but -- somewhat lifeless? All together the F56s is simply too soft and cushy for me. It's comfy, it's quiet, but it is not the fun of R56 and R53. Too much electronics. And I did miss the big center speedo :0
For me, R53 still tops the driving fun, followed by R56 and then at quite some distance F56. However, F56 has most quality and most refined interior, followed by R56 and then R53. For me, I guess the R56s is the best compromise, but the ever-present torque steer (which BTW the F56 also has!!!!) makes me yearn for the R53 every now and then.