How are these little guys? Mostly the S model, but base models I guess too.

>>28452288
>muh gay

>>28452286 (OP)
Relatively expensive to maintain, considering its segment. Fun though.

>>28452286 (OP)
I don't get the hype. I recently drove one and my hatchback is just as fun and is lighter.

Total ass. I know people that have spent like 4 or 5k in one go just to keep them leak free. Really to solve most of the long term problems on them it's an engine pull which involves pulling the whole front clip off.

>weak clutches
>oil leaks (all over, but most importantly it leaks all over motor mounts and wiring)
>minor electrical issues (but still more than you would imagine)
>something something strut towers suffer damage from lack of travel
>chrysler/bmw motor (which is actually decent but requires genuine maintenance or more shit breaks)

They genuinely do look very nice and handle about as good as a FWD car can, but that's not enough considering the cost to maintain. Also Mini owners are a weird breed of autistic.

>>28452286 (OP)
Junk. Also surprisingly heavy. You look at one and think "oh cool I'm getting a lightweight hot hatch" but nah, it's almost 2800lbs.

Guy I sometimes run into at the track has a k-swapped one.

>>28452286 (OP)
Terrible if you live in a warm climate. The cas module sits directly under the windshield and gets baked if you park it anywhere where its warm.

How does it compare to a RSX Type-S?

>>28452624
1st gen minis are a hoot to drive, they're lighter on their feet than you would imagine a 2800 pound coupe would be. RSX was kinda poopoo

That said don't buy a mini because everything is true, they're absolute garbage to own with the only redeeming quality being their tastefully done retro styling and well done handling.

>>28452286 (OP)
just get a Suzuki Swift Sport for a similar type of car that doesn't suck absolute balls for ownership

>>28452286 (OP)
Engine swap and they are basically the perfect car. It remains to be seen how good the B48 ends up being but it might be the first good engine they have ever put in one.

>>28452883
>Monster Sport
Based. Love Suzuki.

>>28452624
Type-S with a Hondata reflash are absolutely hilarious
Minis are a lot of fun when not broken but they are literally the least reliable brand in the world and every component on them is low-volume BMW, aka despite every corner having been cut on its design and manufacture, it's still priced like they're made of solid gold that was polished by unicorns
Type-S all the way

>>28452394
>chrysler/bmw motor
Not even, the r53 mini had an engine made by a third party in brazil.
>>28452286 (OP)
Stay the fuck away from the auto's, there's a class action suit against bmw for the absurb failure rate.

MOGGED

>>28452286 (OP)
Here in Russia these are considered THE pidor car. If youre female and own one youre fine, but if somebody sees a man driving one of these hell get weird looks and he night even be made to sit on a bottle

>>28453002
>Here in Russia these are considered THE pidor car.
Same can be said about lots of stuff, like RWD BMWs for example.

>>28453002
Back to the front, Igor.

>>28453032
BMWs are some of the most respected cars here you dumb westoid
>>28453054
jewkraine lost, seethe and cope

>>28453063
>BMWs are some of the most respected cars here you dumb westoid
БHBшникy пpипeклo? Seethe, faggot. You will always drive and park like a peedor, you will be a subject of the jokes about it to no end and you will be the reason rear wheel drive is associated with rear end sex. That's how it always has been, that's how it always will be.

I mean if I were a Boomer driver I would have accepted all that. But lots of Eastern European BMW drivers lack irony whatsoever, and especially the ability to laugh at themselves.
But I won't be caught in a trannyverse BMW like the one this thread is about, God forbid.

>>28453002
kek is he really trying to imply there are russian men that are not faggots
>>28452883
decent comparison. Much more conventional than a MINI when it comes to things like taller body, higher more upright seating position and steering feel.
But a few extra hp and shorter gears go a long way in this segment
Twingo GT and RS are also worth considering at this point, only drove one for a little bit and the light controls are really not for me but people really like them

>>28452286 (OP)
>American company
>German engine
>British car

Unholy trinity

>>28453106
>you will be the reason rear wheel drive is associated with rear end sex
What impoverished shithole are you from where anyone has anything good to say about FWD holy shit

>>28453002
>the russian mind is only capable of seeing other men either as a potential butthole to use or as a threat to their butthole

>>28452401
I was shocked to find how heavy the thing was when I drove it. I was ready to buy it and it felt so heavy I was so disappointed in the car after all the hype I read.

>>28453344
lol

>>28452401
>lighter than a VW GTI and Honda Civic SI hatchback of the same year
>lighter than a Neon SRT-4
>same weight as an RSX even
Where's the "surprisingly heavy" part coming from? A Focus SVT would've been the 2500lb, "lightweight" option from the same year, I suppose. I don't care however much lighter a Peugeot 106, Ford Ka or Suzuki Swift from the same year is because Americans didn't get those.
Regardless, the only remotely reliable nu-MINIs are post-2011 R56 models with the updated French motors, and the post-2014 F55 models powered by BMW motors. The only issue with that, is that both of those are subsequently more pigfat than the previous generation, so you trade off light weight for more reliability - and at the point of pushing 3000lbs you might as well just get a 1 or 2 Series BMW and have something properly RWD.
In the end, it's why I mostly just enjoy how they look though I've never owned one.

If you happen to be looking for a really cheap one, my recommendation for R50s is a Cooper facelift from 2004 and up Base models a have a detuned engine, longer gears, no sports seats and they cost about the same these days.
And you want to avoid pre-facelift cars because of the shitty "midland" 5 speed, later ones have a more solid getrag unit
The only significant option is the panoramic sunroof, wouldn't recommend because there's no built in shade

>>28453569
Same people that call an ND MX5 a "boat" I guess
I think it's about 50-80 kilos worth of extra sound deadening and a few more standart features and independent rear suspension over a regular subcompact of that era because it was marketed and priced as a "premium" car. An R50 Cooper is 1075kg, a Twingo GT about a ton for comparison
You should definitely take one for a spin some day, the driving experience is the best part

TIL 2 out of the 3 were just shitty NA coopers, only the red one was an S

>>28452401
Holy shit how, that's heavier and lower power than a miata.

>>28453106
>rear wheel drive is associated with rear end sex

>>28453924
Yeah, that's how people cope with the sad state of the car scene in their country. There are other examples of local ex-USSR memes. Did you know that it's hard to own a V8-powered vehicle, because you'll be driving around a gas station? It's implied you can't leave very far from it because the range is shit.

>>28453655
Are you saying the base Mini is better than an S?

>>28453337
We're talking ex-USSR and mostly Russia.
Lots and lots of econoboxes from Europe for decades after the fall, most of them used, but still a breath of fresh air after being subjected to Ladas for so long. Low wages. Import restrictions prohibiting JDM stuff and making everything besides the most basic econoboxes really expensive or again restricted. Progressive annual taxing based on rated engine power, 250+ hp bracket might be twice as more expensive per horsepower as 200-250, for example, and the tax for 251 is more than average monthly salary. Should I continue?

>>28453200
It's actually a Brazilian motor built for European market PT Cruisers.

>>28453946
Are you saying that post mentions the R53?

Ive dailied an r53 "S" and r56 base.
R53 is a good car but pain to work on. True they cost the same as R50 (same car but the non-s base model). So get the S. The downside is the supercharger is a pain to service. Radiator and front clip need to come off for its mandatory oil change. If you neglect the supercharger oil change, the in-line water pump will fail along with the supercharger. So the car will probably total itself.
There is a kit to install long fill and drain tubes to the supercharger's ports so the next time you do the job it takes 5 minutes with a syringe.

R53 is the only one to get. The suspension is modern and very predictable. Despite the wrong-wheel-drive and short wheelbase I was able to regularly kick the back end out on corners and never lost it. Very fun for track days and autocross if on sticky tires. The supercharger gave it at least some balls so it pulls better than a miata.

Build quality is worse than most BMWs because these were very cheap cars.

R56 is a shitter with a Peugeot engine that has top end issues and will burn oil worse than a subaru. Yes, the PT Cruiser engine in the R53 is actually better than the Peugeot shit.

Panoramic sunroof must be absolutely avoided. It has a flimsy "shade" that doesnt block any light. Bcs of the upright windshield, the pano roof extends in front of your head so the mid-afternoon sun comes thru and blinds you in the corner of your vision and there's no way to block it. The sun visors also suck and dont cover the corners of the windshield. Basically you'll be staring into the sun all the time. God I hated that thing.

Tldr an R53 is alright for $5k isk if its sorted and youre prepared to do PITA jobs every once in a while and do a preventative 10hr job changing supercharger oil.

>>28454675
kek I can't read.

>>28455071
all good
>>28453907
mostly mediocre but the opening in venice was pretty cool

>>28452286 (OP)

Why would someone buy this over a golf? Besides anglophilia

>>28455878
I have to agree. I own a Golf and drove a Mini amd it's honestly no better.

>>28453002
What is with Russian men and their obsession to think having sex with men, thinking dicks and anal with men. Their army is 90% gay, 30% muslim, wtf is wrong with Russia.