r32's are super nice! Don't know if I could live without a proper manual but to each their own. mk6 gti would be super nice as well. However, with that being said, for the price of either one of those, you could get a pretty stellar r56 which will likely have some warranty left.

Good luck!

 

I've had my share of problems since I got my '02 MCS. New axle, wheels, transmission, clutch, flywheel, and some other fun things replaced. Spent way more than I planned to. I actually could have ordered a new one for what I have spent on this one. Only thing is this car has all the Mods on it I would have put on. I had a lot of buyer's remorse after the first few times she was in the shop. But, with all the new parts on this MINI, she should be go to go for a while to come. I Love my MINI, I just wish she didn't cost so much to maintain.
Almost makes me want to become a mechanic just so I can work on my own car!
I understand there comes a point where you don't have any choice but to give up, but that would be a hard thing for me to do. I don't want any other car anymore!

 

I have a 2002 MC. If I had to pay a shop to do all the work I've done since owning it, i would of sold the car a long time ago. However, because this car is so much fun to drive (drives like a go cart) and relatively easy to work on myself, I put up with it because i choose to. My daily driver is a BMW 740i and it is just as finicky and more expensive. My Mazda 3 SP however is a saint and extremely reliable but nowhere as much fun to drive even though its sport. I would tend to agree that japanese cars are more reliable by far when compared to the mini but then again, all cars require O&M. Some, way more than others. It all depends on your wants and needs, DIY abilities and most importantly, the depth of your bank account.
This topic can be debated forever because there is no right answer. At least I havn't found one after 35 years of owning my fair share of domestic, import and exotic cars.

 

My 2 week long freak out is officially over. My mechanic tightened a couple nuts on the shocks they replaced last month. Thank god that's all it was because the noise was getting worse. Drives like a champ now.

 

Ahhh that's good.. Although G37s are quite nice!

 

i have a 03 cooper s... im the second owner on the car got it at 30,000 km and now i just popped my cherry at 100,000km and iv had the car for about 5 years now and still love it never once had any problems with it... there arnt any bad cars just bad mechanics... if you had this don rite the frist time your shockes shouldnt be going out.. lil wird to me... stick out the good fight its worth it

 

I was third owner of my 02 at 13.5K miles. First owner had it for almost a year, 2nd owner bought it and drove across the country, then traded it to me for $ to go to school.

I've had it up on jack stands plenty of times, but most all related to routine maintenance or installing mods. (and all the lessons that come with learning to turn the wretch). Paid for new (upgraded ) clutch, 15%pulley, radiator flush, transmission oil change, power steering hoses, and left door handle cable repair. The rest has been a labor of love.

I do love driving this car. But there's so many little irritations recently that I have been looking around Getting tired of the rattles. Over 90K and since I got my tint replaced the passenger window seal is leaking so its noisy with any speed (so all the time). The headliner isn't doing so well since the sunroof surround kept falling off (down into my lap). My remote key doesn't lock it anymore--do you know that you can only manually lock the car at the driver's door. All the squeaks from the plastic bits rattling. The little noise in the dashboard that sounds like a loose marble in the vent system.
Etc Etc....
BUT it is still a kick in the butt to drive. I still grin when I look at it.
I've been collecting spare parts like crazy (and yes, it is crazy. Im buying stuff from people who just like me planned to keep it forever). guess I'll be selling all the spares when the time comes.

Besides,its been paid off for 4 years now so I really can't imagine another car payment...makes it worth paying for repairs if I can stop the rattles!

 

04s with 129,200 on the clock, i still have the original struts and shocks on it from 04. The only thing that i have had to replace are the strut mounts.