2004 R53 MINI Cooper S - collecting this week
Discussion
I'm off to Surrey by train later this week to collect an R53 Cooper S, one of those cars that I've wanted for years but somehow always ended up with something else. Well, I suspect the time to enjoy one of these is now. It's a car with some provenance, owned by a family member as a second car and I'd asked for first refusal if it was ever going to be sold off. It's got 76,000 miles on it and has recently had a good bill of health following a cosmetic and mechanical refresh.
It'll be a long trip to collect with two trains, connection via tube and a drive of 300 odd miles home. It should make for an exciting but long day out.
It will be goodbye to a 2013 Astra GTC (a car that has been absolutely excellent) Vis WBAC once the MINI is home and in the drive.
It'll be a long trip to collect with two trains, connection via tube and a drive of 300 odd miles home. It should make for an exciting but long day out.
It will be goodbye to a 2013 Astra GTC (a car that has been absolutely excellent) Vis WBAC once the MINI is home and in the drive.
Mr Tidy said:
R53s definitely seem to be getting some love on here lately!
And the OPs one looks great - he must have had a great drive home.
I'm due to pick it up tomorrow evening and I'll be setting off for home after dinner. It's going to be five to six hours of driving overnight with Radio 4 on rather than a fun B road blast. Not that I wouldn't like that, but I've got some distance to cover! And the OPs one looks great - he must have had a great drive home.
President Merkin said:
Stick the mpg on & see if you can get it above 28!
I'm not expecting much to be fair, having heard plenty of Joe thirsty this car is. Probably the trade off of gearing and having a supercharger rather than a turbo. If I can just get about 315 miles out of a tank it should get me home in one go. Then, when I'm enjoying local B roads the fuel bill will be less of a concern. Not another one!
We definitely have our own little Mini community on here now. I’ve had some very kind and help comments on my R53 thread so between us we should learn a lot.
Yours looks in great condition, much better than my shed.
Enjoy and looking forward to the updates.
PS, just noticed the wheels on yours. The ride is shocking! I just replaced the same with 16” and big fat tyres. The difference is staggering.
We definitely have our own little Mini community on here now. I’ve had some very kind and help comments on my R53 thread so between us we should learn a lot.
Yours looks in great condition, much better than my shed.
Enjoy and looking forward to the updates.
PS, just noticed the wheels on yours. The ride is shocking! I just replaced the same with 16” and big fat tyres. The difference is staggering.
Edited by ballans on Monday 28th November 16:27
egor110 said:
Steering feel is crap just chuck it in and trust it'll stick
With good front lower arm rear bushes, balljoints, a non-knackered PAS pump, the correct LHM fluid and geo properly set up, this is categorically not true. Should be pointy and darty and pretty feelsome on the steering. If any or all (as is often the case) of the aforementioned have issues, it'll feel like it torque steers like a b
d, or just generally feel wrong.bgunn said:
egor110 said:
Steering feel is crap just chuck it in and trust it'll stick
With good front lower arm rear bushes, balljoints, a non-knackered PAS pump, the correct LHM fluid and geo properly set up, this is categorically not true. Should be pointy and darty and pretty feelsome on the steering. If any or all (as is often the case) of the aforementioned have issues, it'll feel like it torque steers like a bd, or just generally feel wrong.Not rubbish just handles totally differently.
egor110 said:
Nope , compared to the previous clio 172 that was darty and nimble the mini feels big and stable.
Not rubbish just handles totally differently.
Ok, in comparison to a 172, yes it'll feel a little less lively. Not 'crap' though.Not rubbish just handles totally differently.
Oh, and if it has runflats on it, get rid. They're awful. Totally different car with some sidewall flex.
bgunn said:
Ok, in comparison to a 172, yes it'll feel a little less lively. Not 'crap' though.
Oh, and if it has runflats on it, get rid. They're awful. Totally different car with some sidewall flex.
The runflats were ditched long ago, I've read nothing but bad things about them and it won't be having any back on. As it happens, I don't mind a stiff ride. I was attracted to the R53 for the thought of some relatively old-fashioned thrills, in something that feels direct and engaging. I've previously had an S2 106 Rallye that was probably the pinnacle of FWD handling thrills but the R53 will be miles faster whilst still having a good driving feel to it. The Clio 172 is a car I've considered in the past but it was mainly Clio RS200's and Mégane 265's on my list this time alongside various Cooper S or JCW models. I decided to go for this R53 since I had first refusal on it and it was the one that I remember most vividly when it was new. Oh, and if it has runflats on it, get rid. They're awful. Totally different car with some sidewall flex.
Ultimately I feel like the time has passed for plentiful, cheap 172 and 182's. I drive fast but stodgy Volvo V60 and V90 B5 and B6 models and a Superb 280 most days of the week. Something slower but more tactile and engaging will be a nice tonic to several hundred miles a week in the faster family cars.
Mr-B said:
There does seem to be a boom in R53 threads recently! Maybe there should be a mini MINI meet!
Maybe someone needs to start a thread in "New MINIs" like this one for E46 325ti Compacts:- https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff