I bought a 2005 R50 the other day, somewhat by chance, and it´s lovely! Impressed by how well it has kept after 15 winters on salty roads here in Norway. Looking forward to get to know it better. But - a classic? I have been around a lot of classic classics throughout the years, and most of them started out being just normal cars. I think I´ll hold on to my R50. It´s got all it takes to earn the classic status in a few more years.
Growing up, I never hated it, just didn't think it stuck to what the badge said it was when you compared it with the tiny classic, it was also rather pricey. Now though I think it's a great car and can appreciate it for what it is. The styling is incredibly well done and you can see the inspiration from the classic in the newer design. Arguably the BMW Minis are better every day cars for the 21st century, quicker, more efficient, safer etc but that's just it, the classic and the R50 were built for different times. The new Mini also has its own scene now like the classic had in it's heyday. It's a classic now, maybe not in the same way as the original Austin/Morris/Leyland/Rover etc Minis are seen to be but it's a classic in its own right.
This chap is by far my favourite CW presenter; his intonation/deliverance is nice to listen to and that, combined with his wit and pure love for cars makes for very enjoyable videos. Well done!
For me as mini cooper classic rider the only bmw mini who i like till now. Model 2001_2006 The only problem this type, is the cooling system= the plastic thermostat house, interieur radiator and front. I have bought the same with overheating engine. New thermostat house, New radiators, and hé is riding as new.
I always despiced the new Mini But now, I'm getting older, and I witness the 20 year mark of the "new" mini becoming a classic. So, I guess I start to appreciate it for what it is: a modern turn on an iternal classic
I absolutely ADORED my Clubman Cooper S and was gutted when I had to sell it. Absolutely want another one eventually. Look past the retro styling and the nay-sayers and this is truly a fun pocket-rocket that you can't help but fall in love with.
The mini from my era! Mad to think the earliest ones are now 20 years old, I think the design has aged well! Any car made post 2000 I consider modern so in my opinion I think these arent old enough to be a classic yet.
I blacked out all the chrome and the wheels on my r50 and what a difference it has made. From a nice hatch to an actually sporty and very attractive car imo.
I’ve bought 5 R50s now and they’re fantastic little things, I still have a very early example and also had a November 2006 build R50 which my brother now has and the later post June 04 is the car to have. Saying that though I’ve never had a problem with any R50 and my 2001 £300 example I bought years back still looks as good as the day it came out the factory. I wouldn’t touch a petrol R56 with a barge pole though as those timing chain eating Peugeot engines are complete merde.
Happy birthday new MINI! My girlfriends 2010 R56 Diesel manual (yea, yawn) just clocked 500,000 Km (310,000 mi) and still on the original clutch, pump, injectors, turbo. Blows my mind. A CEL came on at 400,000km and BMW Au had to email Germany to find out what the code meant. Ended up being some service thing. When they asked BMW why this code isn't listed they said no one ever expected anyone to actually go that far. 🤣 We're thinking it might just be the highest mileage R56 on the planet now. 🤗
Did better than my R55 Cooper S then, that started to die at around 60k and last I saw of it was limping along on eBay at a rock bottom price because the engine was still dieing. Definitely pays to get the newer N18 engine rather than the old N14!
First Off... These are Fantastic Cars... Sporty, Comfortable and Really Stylish...Secondly. it's called a Mini... you can never "Go Back"... don't give an inch to the Doubters. They don't really get it. Do they???
I don't think the original model of the R50 is that bad, but the newer versions are just too big. The Mini badge on them seems totally ironic since these cars are just fat.
Yes of course the BMW Mini is also a classic just like the original Mini. To me more than the R50 and R53, it is my little R56 Turbocharged 1.6 litre second Gen 2012 model Mini Cooper S with its N18 engine, which is the real modern classic.
Gen 1 BMW MINI is a 'classic'. Especially the R53 supercharged Cooper S and JCW versions. Later Generations started to get too big. The R55 Clubman looks like an Aga from the rear. We can only be thankful it wasn't a direct replacement for the original Mini, they were/are horrible things.
Too big because of safety rules but the weight for a 3 door manual Mini Cooper still low (1065kg) and still one of the most fun FWD cars, even in its cooper form. You don't need the Cooper S or the JCW to have fun.
Its a fun car. From the R50 to the current F56, they are all fun. Even the Electric Mini is fun. 3 door Minis still one of the most fun FWD cars you can drive.
@@shaydevlin5557 that is true,they aint small tho,except on the inside.the mini was famous for being small outside and spacious on the inside,so they got that wrong with this one.
@freepieanchipsgarage ehem. Seriously? Yes I know it was designed by rover in house. Im not that thick. If rover had survived I would still hate the vile monstrosity.
Have you or are you going to make a buyers guide to purchasing a new mini?
Is an R50 MINI Buying Guide something you'd like to see? 👀
@@ClassicsWorldUK most definitely 👍
I bought a 2005 R50 the other day, somewhat by chance, and it´s lovely! Impressed by how well it has kept after 15 winters on salty roads here in Norway. Looking forward to get to know it better.
But - a classic? I have been around a lot of classic classics throughout the years, and most of them started out being just normal cars. I think I´ll hold on to my R50. It´s got all it takes to earn the classic status in a few more years.
Growing up, I never hated it, just didn't think it stuck to what the badge said it was when you compared it with the tiny classic, it was also rather pricey. Now though I think it's a great car and can appreciate it for what it is. The styling is incredibly well done and you can see the inspiration from the classic in the newer design. Arguably the BMW Minis are better every day cars for the 21st century, quicker, more efficient, safer etc but that's just it, the classic and the R50 were built for different times. The new Mini also has its own scene now like the classic had in it's heyday. It's a classic now, maybe not in the same way as the original Austin/Morris/Leyland/Rover etc Minis are seen to be but it's a classic in its own right.
This chap is by far my favourite CW presenter; his intonation/deliverance is nice to listen to and that, combined with his wit and pure love for cars makes for very enjoyable videos. Well done!
Thanks very much, really appreciate that! 😁 -Joe
I own a 2001 Mini Cooper and love it. I think they are great. This is my 5th Mini. So much fun to drive
For me as mini cooper classic rider the only bmw mini who i like till now.
Model 2001_2006
The only problem this type, is the cooling system= the plastic thermostat house, interieur radiator and front. I have bought the same with overheating engine. New thermostat house, New radiators, and hé is riding as new.
I always despiced the new Mini
But now, I'm getting older, and I witness the 20 year mark of the "new" mini becoming a classic.
So, I guess I start to appreciate it for what it is: a modern turn on an iternal classic
Only seems like they came out yesterday, mad to think the first ones are now 20 years old but it still looks very modern .
got a r53 Cooper 2005 done 33.000 miles love this and handles a dream new ones more tech but no soul
I absolutely ADORED my Clubman Cooper S and was gutted when I had to sell it. Absolutely want another one eventually. Look past the retro styling and the nay-sayers and this is truly a fun pocket-rocket that you can't help but fall in love with.
Just bought a 2005 R50 for my wife yesterday, what a hoot! Handling is sublime and the engine is fun without being rapid
Enjoy it, Sean!
The mini from my era! Mad to think the earliest ones are now 20 years old, I think the design has aged well! Any car made post 2000 I consider modern so in my opinion I think these arent old enough to be a classic yet.
I blacked out all the chrome and the wheels on my r50 and what a difference it has made. From a nice hatch to an actually sporty and very attractive car imo.
I’ve bought 5 R50s now and they’re fantastic little things, I still have a very early example and also had a November 2006 build R50 which my brother now has and the later post June 04 is the car to have.
Saying that though I’ve never had a problem with any R50 and my 2001 £300 example I bought years back still looks as good as the day it came out the factory.
I wouldn’t touch a petrol R56 with a barge pole though as those timing chain eating Peugeot engines are complete merde.
One of the few modern-ish👍 cars I would be tempted by.
It has a cassette player not a CD player, unless it has a CD changer in addition to the cassette player?
Really enjoy ur video, didn’t bang on about hours power & all that, loved it 😍, good look round minis 😍❤️🥰👍🏻x
Happy birthday new MINI! My girlfriends 2010 R56 Diesel manual (yea, yawn) just clocked 500,000 Km (310,000 mi) and still on the original clutch, pump, injectors, turbo. Blows my mind. A CEL came on at 400,000km and BMW Au had to email Germany to find out what the code meant. Ended up being some service thing. When they asked BMW why this code isn't listed they said no one ever expected anyone to actually go that far. 🤣 We're thinking it might just be the highest mileage R56 on the planet now. 🤗
Blimey, a fantastic achievement! Do your best to keep it going!
@@ClassicsWorldUK It just keeps going by itself! 🤩🤣
That’s an amazing achievement. Best of luck to you and your motor
Did better than my R55 Cooper S then, that started to die at around 60k and last I saw of it was limping along on eBay at a rock bottom price because the engine was still dieing. Definitely pays to get the newer N18 engine rather than the old N14!
That car is one of the press relise cars
I absolutely love the whine of a supercharged R50 Cooper S.
Fyi the Cooper S is an R53
R50 was not supercharged, only R53
Fantastic car 🚗
I always liked the original "new" Mini
I don't like the countryman, clubman, etc.
The same with the Fiat 500 and the "SUV" variants
I just put down money for an 03 with 131,000 miles. Crossing fingers😊
Enjoy!
First Off... These are Fantastic Cars... Sporty, Comfortable and Really Stylish...Secondly. it's called a Mini... you can never "Go Back"... don't give an inch to the Doubters. They don't really get it. Do they???
I don't think the original model of the R50 is that bad, but the newer versions are just too big. The Mini badge on them seems totally ironic since these cars are just fat.
2001 certainly don’t seem like 20 years ago, more like 15 years or so
17 or 18
Yes of course the BMW Mini is also a classic just like the original Mini. To me more than the R50 and R53, it is my little R56 Turbocharged 1.6 litre second Gen 2012 model Mini Cooper S with its N18 engine, which is the real modern classic.
Rubbish R53, all the way, supercharged.
My wife had one of these nice car to drive never let us down but such a money pit. I will never buy another BMW product again.
R50 absolutely superb. Everything else that followed, utter crap.
R53 is the same size, and they arnt crap.
Gen 1 BMW MINI is a 'classic'. Especially the R53 supercharged Cooper S and JCW versions. Later Generations started to get too big. The R55 Clubman looks like an Aga from the rear. We can only be thankful it wasn't a direct replacement for the original Mini, they were/are horrible things.
Too big because of safety rules but the weight for a 3 door manual Mini Cooper still low (1065kg) and still one of the most fun FWD cars, even in its cooper form. You don't need the Cooper S or the JCW to have fun.
No way
I borrowed a mini when my car was being fixed. It was vile. One of the worst cars I've ever driven and I drive a Hyundai Getz!
NO Its just a BMW in Drag
Its a fun car. From the R50 to the current F56, they are all fun. Even the Electric Mini is fun. 3 door Minis still one of the most fun FWD cars you can drive.
No,not a mini and they just keep getting bigger and bigger and uglier every year.
But the R50 isn't that big now compared to the ugly things called Minis now
@@shaydevlin5557 that is true,they aint small tho,except on the inside.the mini was famous for being small outside and spacious on the inside,so they got that wrong with this one.
Should be renamed the Maxi.
@freepieanchipsgarage So you like the fat ugly German bmw that falsely wears the Union jack then? Because that's what it is.
@freepieanchipsgarage ehem. Seriously? Yes I know it was designed by rover in house. Im not that thick. If rover had survived I would still hate the vile monstrosity.