1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Buying the perfect R53 - what would you look for?

Piston · May 23, 2015

I had a feeling it might go to someone at the dealership. Sales manager drives an R53. Parts manager drives an R53. Some of the finance guys were curious

Kenny kustom · May 23, 2015

Mines up for sale.
Checks most of your " wants"
But also a few of your " don't wants"

It's also a fair bit above your 10k budget.

Green Flash · May 24, 2015

Tata Steva said: ↑

My idea when looking for R53 was going for "bone stock" as well.
The fact that I was sooooooo lucky with finding CHARLOTTE on local Kijiji one morning was a "sign from above"... I have seen a dozen of other 05/06s over last six months and most of them had first the rear rust issue (still fixable under warranty), far more kilometers, and some were really beaten up.

Being a fully factory loaded JCW, with SUCH LOW KMs meant the price was a bit higher than I planned (but far less that I expected for such a rare car in this day and age). The car was a trade in and this small luxury car dealer in a town 200km away from Toronto wanted to move it fast, not even advertising properly the specs of the car in Kijiji ad (Aero kit and factory bonnet stripes on the lousy photos were "tell all" for me to step on it...).

After getting the car, driving it for a while I came to conclusion that THIS R53 is closest to the brand new stock 2006 I have ever seen in a few years! I mean, just one look on interior and under the bonnet and proof is right there. I turned over 26000km (not miles) on the way home!

After many years of having R50, two R55s and lastly R61 I came "full circle" to a perfect (for me) MINI. Being MINT is understatement, trust me. Being stock is a plus. I am planning to keep it as is. I tried modding. I tried all (with R55s, awards to prove), I tried "little" (with R61). Now, this one is 99.99% staying as limited edition Canadian car (one of 64), the way it came off the boat. I will be adding a front jcw strut bar, few stickers to "personalize" and getting RF tires to garbage. That's it!

Oh yes: I LOVE BONNET STRIPES on this car. And I was the first to trash them before. But, somehow on this car it works for me. And I don't really care that paint can't breath under the stripes and that vinyl is 9 years old. The car is so mint that paint and vinyl is excellent. Everything is staying "on" the car. It's the total package that I really appreciate. I could never afford this car new, 9 years ago. Now, it's mine!

I even love the stock rims! MINI 17" web spokes. Yeah, and this from the guy who waited 3 months to get special ordered WORK wheels 18s from Japan. Go figure!

That's it. I gotta go and change a scent tree in my car. The vanilla smell is getting low...
Click to expand...

Great find. We are envious. Good to see that the car has found an owner who appreciates its history and uniqueness. Thanks for sharing the story with us.

MCS02 · May 24, 2015

AAONMS said: ↑

Or, The Flat Earth Society as I like to call it
Click to expand...

Heretic! :lol:

_iD · May 26, 2015

****, Dave doesn't like the F56? Who knew?

Crashton · May 26, 2015

So I guess Dave O's F56 intervention at the dragon didn't go well??? :confused5:

MCS02 · May 26, 2015

No we couldn't catch him!

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