I think the R53 is a very pretty car and its size, shape and proportions are perfect. Even 20 odd years later it still looks fresh. It’s one of those cars like the Corvette or the Ferrari 355 where the designers got it absolutely spot on first go and every version since then has been a backward step, especially aesthetically.
it was designed by Frank Stevenson (think that’s his name) he’s got a pretty long list of pretty and well judged designs to his name including a couple of Ferraris and I ‘think’ one of the cosworth fords
Thank for that info. It explains a lot. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stephenson Not a bad portfolio (and that doesn’t even include the Escort RS Cosworth)!
if that’s your CV you’ve had a pretty decent career haven’t you! He’s the road car version of Adrian Newey!!
I saw a brand new “MINI” on the motorway, no idea which type but it was as big as a Range Rover Evoque. And absolutely hideous!
Should’ve called it the MAXI. They’ve lost their way since the first new Mini. (Which was designed by Rover, hence the R designation)
Depends on your age/taste I’d take a GR Yaris over a R53 Mini. My lad wants a GR once he can afford to insure it without losing a Kidney.
The performance version also has a 315bhp twin turbo engine, which is ridiculous. That was supercar spec in the 90s. Minis are supposed to be small, light and lively, not bloated behemoths that need loads of power in order to overcome their bulk. Unfortunately that seems to be a trend and car designers have forgotten that sometimes less is more.
I used to own an SUV but I’ll never buy another. Big fekin bloaters. In fact I think I’ll attach some blond dreadlocks and go round slashing their tyres
I woke up to find that one of these larger -but not the largest- JCW thingymabobs had rolled onto my drive & joined my household. Its getting some workshop revision and a little TLC from the paint guys right now, but by the end of the month we will see what its got...
Big effort today! Took out the interior again and did a load of anti vibration matting, and fitted all the interior back in, seats etc. I just need to recover the roof lining and that will go in at some point! still waiting on the V5 before I can drive it! actually todays weather has reminded me I need to get the aircon gassed! the interior probably looks fairly uninteresting, but there’s quite a lot of change, the seats are park lane seats which are lovely, the steering wheel is a facelift multi function one, the dash is the nicer ‘brushed metal look’, and it has facelift door cards.
Why did nobody tell me there’s a mini series in the British touring car championship? Been watching a bit in the absence of proper racing this weekend and what an absolute hoot it looks to take part in.
Sorry for the late replies! It’s on the road! Finally got the V5 through and taxed it, a big push to do silly little jobs at the end, and tbh it still has a list of jobs to do but I think that will be life owning a r53! biggest immediate job is replacing the exhaust, it’s horrendous, chavvy and drones all the time!
