dankspeed wrote: Wow! Thanks. It was actually an 02 S model that caught my eye. It did have the 6spd.
All S models (R53) for '02 to '04 are 6 speeds. The automatic didn't come around until '05.
All 02 to 06 Justa Coopers (R50) are 5 speeds. With the R56 model, they went to a 6 speed.
The R52 (convertible) is the same as an R50 or R53 and was produced through mid-'08.
I personally wouldn't shy away from an '02, but I know these cars better than most and have invested some amount of money in tools to work on them. Now having experience working on both, I think I'd rather have an MCS than an E30. I just find them easier to work on. They're more 'modular'. Would I want to rely on an '02 as a daily driver? Hard to say... but I've also owned an '03 VW MkIV since new for 232K miles that has needed little more than regular maintenance.
A very good source for general info about the MINI is motoringfile.com.
