I sold my 2004 MCs last year. I bought a Mazdaspeed6, hated it, and sold it last month. I am looking for a new car, and seemed to have came back to where I started over 4 years ago.

If I do decide to get another MINI, it will be an R56. My budget is 25k, so I have some room to work with. I never buy new, so that option is out. An 09 JCW is at the top of my list, but at the same time, I may decide to get a nice low mileage 07/08 MCs and use the savings on additional mods.

My question is, is there a year that is preferred over all the others? Any significant problems or model changes occur from one year to the next? For instance, with R53s, 05 and 06s were the most desirable due to gear ratio adjustments, mechanical improvements, visual updates, etc.

I am looking at a number of different cars including Lancer Ralliart, WRX, Infiniti g35/g37, 128i coupes, genesis 3.6 coupe, and altima 3.5 coupe...

Here is a pic of my old MINI just before I sold it. The buyer is actually a member on this site somewhere.








thanks for your help!

 

Man, that's a good lookin' R53.

 

and I'd blow off the Genisis and Altima coupes. They're OK cars, but not in the league of the rest of your list.

Matt

 

Thank you. I always thought so too

yeah, The only reason I consider them is because they are okay in the speed dept., but shine in the number of features and conveniences available relative to price.

 

but that's on paper. I was totally underwhelmed by the Genisis coupe, but then lots of mags seemed to love it. Why I have no idea. The engine didn't seem that eager to please. I didn't really like the driving dynamics either. When you polish a turd, you just have a shiney turd!

Matt

 

I have a MS6. She is a big girl! Mine has been good to me, sorry you hated yours. Did you have issues?

Its so funny switching between the big Mazda and the small Mini. Turning in the MS6 feels like a Cadillac after driving a Mini.

Good luck finding another vehicle!

 

I don't think there is much difference from year to year. 08 added usb port, 09 DSC standard as well as MFSW. How they bundled packages changed slightly year to year. I'd just find one you like optioned the way you want and go for it. I'd go as new as possible though, 09 if possible, you'd like to have some warranty left. I've seen some JCW go for 25k. One forum member here had trouble unloading his for 25k. One reported buying new discounted from a dealer for 25k.

 

I should rephrase that. The car itself was great. It was fast, comfortable, and had every feature I could want, and then some. I had no serious problems with it, as I bought it with jsut 8,000miles on it and put an additional 6,000 myself. I had a problem with the dealership and MazdaUSA, which is a very long story. That issue coupled with the mystery blowing of the motors, smoking turbos, leaky differential done me in.

That is the kind of information I was looking for. Thank you.

 

I'm about to buy a MINI, also coming from a Mazda. I own a miata. I bought the car certified pre-owned with 7k miles and it now has 12k miles. In an attempt to get my head gasket replaced (yes, it was leaking at just 7k miles) I dealt with 4 separate dealers and MazdaUSA and now for sure know that I will never own a Mazda again.

As far as the cars you've listed, they all seem to be very different from a MINI. Specifically, the 128 is the only one that will give you the tight feeling that the MINI offers. 128 is only one I have considered on the list and think the MINI is much more unique and fun to drive.

 

Sorry OP for this off topic post, but KNuss you do know that MINI is coming out with two new two seat models? One is a coupe the other is a convertible. If you like the layout of your Miata, this may be the car for you Oh and MUShadd, welcome back Maybe you can find and buy your old car back, it looks awesome

 

I've heard and they look great! Unfortunately, I need a little more practicality in my life. Fortunately, that practicality doesn't come at the expense of fun.

 

Mazda service sucks, I'll never go back to them. Anyways, I'd go for an '08+ MCS or any JCW, can't go too wrong.

 

Welcome back MUShadd. I had a feeling you'd be back. Have you looked into a 2006 GP?

 

Since you're going used anyway, look for a low-mileage '07 that hasn't had its ECU flashed. Starting in '08, MCS's have a wimpier tune 'cos BMW thought they were too close to the JCW's. I traded a 07 MCS for a 10 MCS in December and noticed a difference right away; I only recently found out why, and that it wasn't my imagination. Only problem is how to determine if the ECU was flashed or not ... don't know if anybody can chime in here and offer a suggestion on how to tell an original tune from a re-flash?

 

Another option to consider. I think March builds have what BMW says is the final needed fix for the cold start rattle.

I'd give some real thought to staying in my budget and buying a lightly optioned new MCS that had all the fixes in. See motoringfile for the latest.

 

If U go MCS, wait until later this year for the tweaked, all-Valvetronic turbo engines to get on the market. However, it remains to be seen whether they will have cured the "morning sickness" issue

Or if U go Genesis, do the V8 sedan. had one as a rental awhile back and it was the nicest car Ive ever rented, and much MUCH more smooth and powerful than the Gen-coupe.

 

Yes, even better than just the cold start rattle fixes, but also the valvetronic update. I have the MC (Not MCS) which already had the valvetronic engines and it is a very nice smooth engine.

A lightly optioned MCS will be around 24k out the door.

 

No surprise seeing other satisfied former Mazda owners! The "I'll never own a Mazda again" club is quite popular.

Ha, yeah... I made it what...6 months before returning? Although I must confess, I checked in frequently...just never really posted. The GP crossed my mind, but I figured they'd be hard to come by or cost more than a new MINI

 

LOL glad to have you back. The PM you sent me where you told me your getting a mazda 6, i'm like man... he's gonna miss the MINI. I drove my friend's RX8 for a week and I missed the MINI.

GP's aren't too bad, their anywhere from 21K to 25K in the market right now. Should be affordable. Plus, you can keep the factory warranty and don't really need to do any mods.

 

Welcome back man! I had a short lived experience with a Mazda also. Bought an '09 RX-8 R3 and had it a few months until I lent it to a buddy of mine for a trip to NYC and he totaled it. Only had 2500 miles on it.

 

Seriously, I was jerked around during the buying process and during service visits alike. Before buying a new one I had a '91 RX-7 which I did all the work on myself and bought it used, so I never really had the experience with the dealerships...

+1 on the GP idea btw if you can find one in your budget!

 

I am sorry...is that Latin? I have no idea what that means...lol. I found two online but they are 27k and 30k. My price range is 20-30k, but the closer I get to 20k, the more money i'll have extra each month for mods. I guess I just need to find a happy medium.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t/9510/cat/all

I think it's still available and it's Jan tuned!

LOL

 

Nice to see you back Thomas!!

I haven't posted much here, but am always lurking. I did, however, just place an ad for the MINI as we decided to sell (albeit somewhat reluctantly ).
Fancy a road trip??

 

I think once the 2011s and 2012s come out those are going to be the best out of the R56s in the MCS trim.