Like a hard-to-sell flat with potential, the Mini Cooper S is one of those cars whose glaring shortcomings – ridiculously cramped rear cabin, hard ride, twee interior – are best glossed over, your sights set instead on the bigger picture. Such as the fact that this supercharged, first-gen version of the reborn hatch (officially called the R53, pub quiz fans) is widely regarded as the best. Oh, and prices start at just £1750.
With quick and direct steering, a grippy chassis and a torquey, supercharged 1.6-litre engine, the model’s trick is to take its promising ingredients and, like a Great British Bake Off finalist, combine them into one mouth-watering confection.
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It was launched in 2002 with 163bhp, leaving owners of the standard 115bhp Cooper wishing they’d waited longer. With frontwheel drive, a choice of 16 or 17in wheels and run-flat tyres (the 17s gave an unacceptably harsh ride but looked better, while owners replaced the dynamically compromised run-flats with cheaper rubber), a quickfire six-speed manual gearbox and multi-link rear suspension (so budget for four-wheel alignment),the Cooper S was the real deal.
The 0-62mph sprint passed in an admittedly underwhelming 7.2sec, but a John Cooper Works tuning kit was swiftly offered that boosted power to 200bhp, bringing the 0-62mph time down to 6.4sec. From 2005 the kit’s power rose to 210bhp, snipping a further 0.2sec off the time. In 2006 the JCW GP appeared – a hardcore two-seater boosted to 218bhp and prepared by Bertone in Italy. Just 2000 were built, 459 of them for the UK, making it a sought-after rarity.
Trim-wise, the standard Cooper S was fairly basic, which was why most buyers plumped for a Chili pack, with its leather steering wheel, half-leather seats, xenon headlights and air conditioning. Personalisation is a big thing with the Mini and no two cars are the same. The only thing to note is that the factory-fit decals have been known to crack on some cars. “Peel them off and replace,” you say. It isn’t that easy; it’s actually an expensive job for a bodyshop, so give any decals a careful inspection.
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Used car prices are rocketing
Pipsyp mentioned above about future prices rising. The cars to go for are the post facelift ones with 2005 and 2006 the cars to go for. If you want a Cooper S from either of those two years with service history, in good condition and some great factory options you're now looking at between £4K - £5k. However, for a John Cooper Works they're now going for about £6k - £7k. I paid £2.8k for an 88k miles Cooper S automatic with the Chrono pack, Recaro heated seats, Harmon Kardon sound system and climate control last August. There are a pair of these seats currently on eBay for £2k as these a very rare as is the anthracite head lining which mine also has. They were a £500 factory option. I was offered £4K just three weeks ago, July 2020. The drive is such great fun as with 180bhp on these cars, the 0-60 is 6.6secs for the Cooper S and the JCW is 6.2secs. The supercharger whine is a noise to behold and the fun is absolutely fantastic. Buy one now as the prices will only rise further.
Such a great car, foresee used values rising before too long
Recently bought a very clean 2006 late facelift with Chilli Pack and LSD and have to say I dont think I have ever enjoyed a car so much.
Even by todays hot hatch standards, a stock facelift car isnt slow, are brilliant fun to drive, very tunable and just have so much character it makes pretty much any modern fast hatch feel quite boring by comparison. As of right now its still possible to get a good one for not alot of money, but I suspect in the not too distant future prices will begin to rise as they are really getting a cult following and becoming universally lauded as the best BMW Mini thats been made.
I had a 6C Polo GTI manual with Sports pack before, was a lovely daily, very rapid and had character for a VAG group car but cant compete with the R53 for entertainment.
They arent brilliantly well made (facelifts are better, but still not wonderful) and have a number of common issues/faults (some of which can be ££££) but get a good one, you'll not regret it. The only real downside is c.20mpg urban fuel economy.....they are very very thirsty when not being taken on a run.
I had an R50 Cooper facelift for a short while prior and have to say that was a great car too....nothing like as fast but the performance was in a sense more usable.......one of these even a One would make such a great first car for someone thats really into cars/a keen driver. Still quite thirsty for an NA 1.6, but nothign like as bad as an S.
If I could impart any R53 advice, it would be to buy the latest, cleanest and most genuine car you can afford for your budget. Mileage is less of an issue, so long as its history is good. A late facelift is really the one to have as BMW resolved/improved some of the minor niggles with the earlier car (mostly build quality related), they have a bit more power, shorter gearing and a tougher supercharger than the earlier cars....also as stock they pop and bang on overrun like a gooden which the earlier cars dont. If you get one from early 05 onwards, if it has the Chilli pack chances are it'll have a factory diff too.....though these cars are quite rare as it didnt become available until late in the Mk1 facelift run and bizarrely was a tick box option you had to choose despite being free with the Chilli Pack (£100 option otherwise)...surprising the numbers who didnt tick that box!
Definitely a case of get one now and enjoy it, before they end up becoming prohibitively expensive. Lots of good cars are being broken/scrapped now because their owners cant justify the maintenance cost which means whist still fairly common now, good cars will just become a rarer commodity.
Bargain!
jason_recliner wrote:
£1750 for a ropey example that is going to induce more headaches than a stag weekend.
Small car price but BMW style repair bills.
Though I have to say, if you know a good mechanic, they are an absolute hoot to drive, be worth it as a little weekend / track car.
Used to be a naysayer as they are not an Austin Mini. But then I came to the realisation that they are not really intended to be - that market has moved on, the Hyundai i10 is closer in spirit to the original Mini. This is a modern sports hatchback homage to the (almost accidental) sporting credentials of the original, and if you trace the 'BMC/AR small car' evolution via Metro, 100 and 200-25, even the size makes sense. They've made a whole range, to me this is a modern trendy sporting range of what Austin used to provide. The 5 door reminds me a bit of photos of an 1100 concept.