sorry if I already linked to you earlier someplace... just covering all my bases!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../market/351913

 

I was literally just looking at your post. The car looks so clean. I wish it had the aero kit or wasn’t red. The anthracite headliner is rare too. Definitely thinking about it. Maybe I’m just being too picky, it’s not like clean JCWs are everywhere. Lol

 

Hold out for a color you can live with. Aero kit is icing on the cake, and can be added, but even that market is getting crazy. CL and FB tend to get scarce with JCWs for months at at time, but then a few pop up, gotta be ready, they’re gone in a flash. Searchtempest.com

 

I probably should just buy a GP1 and get it over with lol. I feel like it’s harder to find a JCW than a GP1 though. I want a really nice drivers car. I don’t want something with super low miles that I feel bad driving.

 

I know, it feels like you scored a GP1 when you find a JCW...kinda reversed. When I was looking, seems I stumbled on way more GP1s than JCWs. I ended up really preferring a JCW, maybe that’s why, plus I just like the look of the aero r53 over the GP bumpers/ skirts. Unfortunately, I ended up with a low mile, you know, like a sleeping baby...lol

 

Want to sell yours? 😉

 

I was tempted to flip it, but it would be too painful...🥺 like giving up a puppy.

 

Yea I can understand that. Hopefully I can find something soon.

 

May I ask why a gp ??? They're soooooo over priced for what little they offer...you could get a wayyyy lower mileage cleaner S and mod it with that extra $$$ and have a better car.
But if you want a gp for the sake of owning a gp i don't see them go for imo a reasonable price... the jcw have been dropping too lately I've knowticed maybe gp will follow..and funny thing is, since I aquired my S a year and half ago prices have gone UP on them everywhere I see..I can't even find running ones going for what I got mine for and were going for it seems just under 2 years ago...little hot hatches seem to be making a comeback and these minis are a great platform.

 

I definitely agree with you that GP prices are ridiculous right now. I also would feel bad driving a low mileage one as a part time daily. I’m really just looking for a super clean 04-06 R53. A JCW would obviously be amazing but they are so hard to find. I’m not opposed to getting a S, I just want something super clean and well cared for, and the right color.

 

I wish I could have been more picky with mine but when I got mine ,at the time it was out of need more than want, though I did want it obv more than all my other options. But ive fallen in love with it and customized it to my liking. I'm literally doing something different to it atleast every other week.. lol,the sc went out and the cars been filling up with aftermarket parts waiting on the engine to run again.
I see ALOT of clean r53s come up in the Chicago area , I don't know if your opposed to a little travel but if not check in that area and near me here in milwaukee..just look for a lowmile non daily driver or the salt belt can get to them fast.
mines a cali car with 210k on the body and cleaner than ANY I've seen even with half those miles.
I even found out my car had an 06 or newer engine in it as the #s didn't match and my sc was the upgraded coated style.

 

If the S goes up, its because it’s harder to find a JCW (I don’t see the nice ones going down at all). Other than maybe stealing one because of the pandemic, I don’t see the prices changing, if they do it’s over a long period of time.

 

Agreed, I’m not seeing prices on JCW’s coming down at all but I’m not seeing any come up for sale either. Using a 1 - 2 month window to establish current values is disingenuous because it is very much inventory dependent. At the moment ALL cars from the 80’s - early 2000’s that are coveted are going up in value. Perhaps we will see a break in values this winter due to job market but one thing is for certain, they aren’t making any more and the newer cars are all far less engaging than the older ones.

I got very lucky within mine, it popped up at the end of winter last year at a Subaru dealer and I pounced on it. 16k miles and I love the color combo.

 

Are your requirement s a 5 speed ?

I have a loaded 06 MCS with 46,000 with paddle shifting. . . . . .

Please let me know

 

You sure you don’t want to sell it? Exactly what I’m looking for.

 

Thanks but it does have to be a manual.

 

if you can live with an '04...

Mine is an S with many JCW parts and several facelift updates. Electric Blue/white roof with aero kit side skirts. Tu-tone blue and dark grey leather. R90 2-piece wheels. Very well taken care of and ~99,000 miles.

 

thanks but I’m trying to avoid blue, red and yellow. I would prefer black, silver, pepper white or brg.

 

Imo i would find the most suitable best priced cooper and then take the left over money I have and turn it into the cooper I want...any factory option can easily be found and put on pretty much with either oem or aftermarket parts then a wrap or paint job can fix the color.. its weird with me , on coopers the colors I usually don't like on other cars I find lots best on these r53s and colors I like I don't like.. blacks ALWAYS been my FAVORITE and I don't like white at all but I don't like black minis one bit but like white ones.
thankfully darksilver ( my car color ) is a very neutral color I would say and imo next to the electric blue is the best mini color , #3 is brg.
heres my mini , I got it for 2200 with a few mods and have put like 2000 into it now and this is where its at...I still plan on another 3-4000 going into it over the next year or 2 to completely finish it
and lol I've done more mods n got coilovers since the video

https://youtu.be/OdehDzoCORE

 

I just prefer more neutral colors. I also prefer black headliner which is almost impossible to find.

 

funny thing you said that as I was juuuuust in my buddies r56 and saying how much nicer a black head liner looks , I have the archtite interior option and I'd have preferred a black interior but o well, I been covering it in carbon fiber and carbon fiber wrap

 

I really have a hard time justifying selling it, it’s not costing us much to keep it and it’s incredibly fun to drive. I guess if the offer was right I would consider it but even then I’m hesitant. Having said that, not sure this one is right for you, it’s actually Astro Black (dark metallic blue) and it has a grey headliner.

 

With that mileage, it’s worth holding for sure, especially if you can keep it low. Not too hard to do if it’s not a DD. Of course its not as much fun keeping the miles down, but makes every minute in the car a little more exhilarating.

 

Agreed. It’s not a DD and we put maybe 1200 miles a year on it. I like to run errands in it around town, it’s easy to move through traffic and parking is a breeze! I have some other fun cars that also need exercise so the miles get spread out between them.