Hey all -


I have owned my 2005 MCS for over 4 years now and it has been relatively solid. The only things I have had to do were:


Front Bushings/Sway Bushings - Replaced
Valve cover - leaking before, not terrible but leaking none the less
Breaks - F/R...expected
Water Pump and a few other minor things like SC pulley, spark plugs, etc...


I bought it with 54k and now I have a little over 74k...I average about 5k per year. Mostly city driving. It is a manual.


I have the chance to pick up a 1 owner , 2012, MCS (manual) with 55k on it.


Here are a few of my questions:


1. Is the 12 that much better in terms of driving and handling then my 05? Will I notice?
2. Do the 12s have more/less issues then my 05 or are they as reliable as a MINI can be expected to be?
3. Would you trade a solid 05 for a newer 12? My 05 has been good to me and really has no issue currently.


The price on the 12 I can get a great deal from a friend for $9500....


Thoughts?

 

Do you like the way the R56 looks to the R53?
To me, I don't really care for the R56. I've had the chance to have them sideXside and the R53 is a much better looking car. The R56 is larger, I don't know what they were thinking when it came to the rear lights on the R56, why are they so large. I had to stop myself from going on a rant as to why they did the things to the R56, but I won't. They say the R56 is faster, I've not driven one, so I don't know. I've had my R53 since September, had the choice to get which ever Mini I wanted. I chose an 06 Chili Red R53....

 

I'd get the 12. That's a decent price. Keep in mind I never drove an R53 just a 2007 R56 and 2014 R58, but still I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised, and even though yours is really low mileage the 12 is 7 years newer, so less to go wrong on the average. Have you driven it? The 12 got the N18 engine too, which is better than the N14.

 

Very generally speaking the R53 will be more "raw" feeling than the R56. Is the R56 better? It's hard to say, and I haven't driven the R53 so I can't give a personal opinion. The 2nd gen is more refined in some ways and they step up the creature comforts too. I think the R56 is still plenty fun to drive on canyons and twisty roads but you'll get a little more comfort for highways and DD work. Reliability...probably what you can expect from MINI, which is hit or miss.

 

We have a '12 MCS. The only work done is a VANOS solenoid replacement under warranty, tires, brakes and battery. Have driven the car across country a couple of times, has been a rock..

 

Drive them back to back. When I dropped my R53 off at the dealership for work, they gave me a Clubman S and I thought it drove like a Camry in comparison. It wasn't the extra length or weight.. I've never driven an R56, but the Clubman's steering felt numb and the general tightness go kart handling was gone (basically the same car). Its all relative, I'm sure the R56 is a blast to drive. Like I said, drive them back to back. Thats the only way. Much of this comes down to personal preference; I'd rather have a drivers car (handling > speed).

I'm guessing the R56 is faster? I like the more classic look of the R53 over the more modern R56, but its not a bad looking car. The R56 got more overhang on the nose as a result of European pedestrian crash standards. Made it more bulbous and awkward.