The R53 MINI Cooper S is the Next Cult Classic

When Rover and BMW were creating an all-new Mini in the late '90s, it was crucially important that the resultant car was recognisable, fashionable, and a hoot to drive. But as for a new Cooper S, they had a supercharged ace up their sleeve...

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00:00 Introduction
01:20 Rover and BMW
04:46 A New Cooper S
05:32 Advertisement
07:22 A Bee in its Bonnet
10:41 S is for Supercharged
12:34 Getrag Gearbox
14:21 BMW-Specified, Rover-Designed
15:18 Agility and Steering
17:30 Weighty Controls
18:32 Styling and Interior
21:35 Brimming with Character
25:22 Reflection and Conclusion

[ciroccomoody]

I’ve had my R53 S for 16 years and I still grin every time I get behind the wheel 👍😊❤️

[Fore-Four-Dee-Too]

I have owned my 2005 R53 since the day I ordered it new. The things you complain about are picky and sort of ridiculous. I've been driving for over 30 years and have owned 200+ cars. My R53 is the most enjoyable car I have owned. You repeatedly state the car isn't practical, but never explain that opinion. I have driven mine as my primary vehicle for years. It serves almost all pourposes well. You can even fit a barrel of beer in the boot without folding down the rear seats. Complaining for the sake of complaining doesn't make a good review. There is nothing wrong with the R53.

[moiseshdz]

mini won the 2004 car of the year award in Detroit, thats when I ordered mine. I own my R53 since then until now. Since I retired 10 years ago, Im able to perform most repairs on my mini. The last repair was a new clutch, but I have dealt with everything from car door latch to harmonic dumpler to calipers and everything in between. I love the ride so much more now. Thank you so much for sharing the history/background of legendary Mini Cooper S!

[alexfluxx]

Every friend of mine who had sold their 1st gen new MINI, was looking for another one shortly after. This thing is pure gold! Unbeatable in terms of fun/TCO ratio.

[rollstuhlmeister]

I'm actually starting to appreciate how amazing the original NEW Mini is. It's a classic in its own right

[tedecker]

To many Americans of Ed’s age this is a mini; they are blown away when they see an example of the original and how tiny they really are. I used to compete in autocross with my MG, and there were always a few minis there. With wide slicks and a few suspension mods they would lift three wheels and turn on the outside front tire! Always a blast to watch.

[paulowen-iyvm]

Great video. You captured the essence of these great cars. Your right, these seem to look better each year and are aging brilliantly.

They will be a future classic for certain. These are already going up in value. My wife bought her 2006 R52 (convertible S) as an ex factory/staff car, at 6 months old, 5000 miles. 18 years and 116, 000 miles later we still have it and its been brilliant. Most reliable car we have ever had. I serviced the supercharger last year, and gave it a good paint and tidy up underneath, and until then had only ever had normal servicing.

Sometimes we think about having a change, then we look at it, drive it, smile and change our mind again (like today a trip down lots of motorbike roads, top down, end up in a pub. Sit in the beer garden and look at it.

My wife drives there and me back, you know the rules, to a happy And she drives it harder than me. And has the points to prove it

[petervisor]

I bought my R53 new in 2004, and paid MSRP after a 10 month wait for delivery.
The handling feels neutral until you reach the limit of adhesion, when it will gently under-steer. It spins a front tyre too easily in first gear.
The seats are for XXL people. It averages 26 miles per USgal.
There are just no new small desirable hatchbacks sold here in the US. After 18 years, this is still the best car for me. I love it!

[peteglanton]

I used to think they were just style over substance, until I drove one. I bought it 10 minutes later and I’ve had it 7 years now. Perfect driver’s car.

[myoldmate]

You are a really good motoring journalist.
Top Gear, and the wonderfulness of the trio being the pinnacle of car sh*t, never to be replicated, you do a fine job.
Please keep it up.

[TheCurlyP]

I freaking love mine for all the reasons you mention, it really is a stunning achievement in aesthetic and technical design, and just try not to smile as the supercharger spins up, I bet you can't

[darrenlucas]

Enjoyed that buddy thankyou.
For anybody watching...dead throttle easily made better by an electronic controller to speed up it's opening....eBay ones work just fine for about £50, and with regards to tuning them it's fairly easy to get them to around 190 to 200 bhp with simple supercharger gearing mods, 30% larger intercooler ...plus opening up the airbox to breathe and an exhaust makes the sound truly epic, and so cheap to do as well if you look on line...these engines are bullet proof and can take 400bhp on stock internals
But be warned...when you start spending on them, it becomes addictive .

[KAToriginal]

That review deserves a like and a sub! Proud owner of an ‘04 R53. Gem of a car, and some thoughtful predictive maintenance will keep it running happily and you smiling all the way. Can absolutely see the value for good examples increasing in future.

[thenewlife]

I just bought a 2004 R53 with 15K miles and it's the most fun one can have with their clothes on.

I have owned two MR2's, two Civic SI's, and an EVO VIII. None of them put smiles on my face right from the jump like this Mini does.

IMO, the car is brilliant in every respect. I see no issues with power delivery nor shifting. It's far and away the best handling car I've ever owned. Go-kart handling isn't hype as it exceeds expectations.

[jkk]

Great video. Very well presented. I bought one of the very first R53 Cooper S models sold in the United States more than 20 years ago and I still love it. It continues to make me happy every time I drive it.

[GTFour]

Find someone to let you drive one with the John Cooper Works (JCW) engine upgrade. Was a factory option with a worked head, larger injectors, tuned ecu, supercharger pulley and I think different airbox. They absolutely fly! There was also JCW body kit and suspension. You can have any without the other. All 3 quite rare.

[Stephenb]

I owed an R50 for 3 years when the model came out. That car was a revelation. Sadly missed.

[Ambrosonic]

I plugged in a Sprint Booster throttle response unit on my 03 S. It fixes all the lag, and I run it in race mode. I put it back to stock last week just to test it out, but it`s not the same car without it. I`m sure you can add a program to tune throttle response, but an easy solution is the Sprint Booster.

[garylake]

Great video, I had a Cooper S at launch, I then had the JCW upgrade, I must have had around four R53 JCW's as I got a new one every two years.

These days, I have a GP1 in my collection, I agree that the gear changes were not smooth, however, the GP1 with the sound deadening removed to save weight, sounds like the engine is screaming when the supercharger builds up the power.

[finditfixitmechanics]

Nice video, you nailed the feeling people get when driving a R53 with the Supercharger and the six speed. One of the funnest Mini’s to own and reasonably easy to work on.