I'm looking at a 2005 Mini Cooper currently in the dope purple haze colour. It's automatic so others in the family could occasionally drive it as well. I've heard the horror stories about the CVT but this vehicle has a 6 speed auto with paddle shifting. That would indicate it has a more reliable Aisin transmission. But it's a non-S Cooper and it's 2005. Was there a special model introduced around that time?

I've never heard of an R50 auto that wasn't a CVT. There were paddle shifters available for the CVT:

http://www.motoringfile.com/2003/09/...ShifterReview/

any chance the previous owner replaced a broken CVT trans with the Aisin?

Okay, I was under the impression that the CVT never had paddle shifters. I guess it was a Canadian Market thing like the link suggests.

Is it worth it to go with the CVT?

There were CVTs that came w/ paddles. R53s had the AISIN auto.