R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) Archives

The Ultimate R50 and R53 MINI Cooper Buyer’s Guide (2001-2007)

Nov 24, 25Nov 24, 25

What to inspect, what fails, and how to spot the gems Few modern cars have aged into cult-classic status as quickly as the first-generation MINI. The R50 and R53 brought the brand...

Every MINI JCW GP Driven and Ranked

It’s rare to get all three generations of the MINI JCW GP back-to-back, but over the last 30 days we’ve had that chance to get reacquainted with these legendary MINIs. First came...

Aug 19, 25Aug 19, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 2nd Gen MINI Cooper | 2006-2014 2nd Gen MINIs | 2006-2014 3rd Gen MINI Cooper | 2014-2024 3rd Gen MINIs | 2014-2024 4th Gen MINI Cooper | 2024 - 2031 4th Gen MINIs | 2024-2031 F54 Clubman | 2015 - 2024 F55 Four-Door Hardtop F56 Two-Door Hardtop F57 Convertible F60 Countryman | 2016 - 2024 F61 Paceman F65 MINI Cooper 5 Door F66 MINI Cooper (ICE) F67 Cooper Convertible (ICE) MINI Clubman MINI Cooper MINI Quality R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) R56 Two-Door Hardtop R57 Convertible R58 Coupe R59 Roadster R60 Countryman | 2010-2016 U25 MINI Countryman

MINI Cooper Quality: How the Brand Went From Dead Last to Top 5 in Reliability

For years MINI carried a reputation that was equal parts thrill and headache. On one hand, the cars topped “fun-to-drive” lists with their go kart handling and cheeky style. On the other,...

Aug 18, 25Aug 19, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 JCW JCW GP MINI Cooper R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) Reviews

Revisiting the Original 2006 MINI GP: Raw, Rare and Still Remarkable

Back in the seat of a 2006 MINI GP is like time travel. Everything is simple, almost crude compared to what we’re used to today. And that is what makes it feel...

Aug 2, 25Aug 11, 25

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 MINI Cooper R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

How MINI Conquered the U.S. 23 years Ago With a Small Team, Small Budgets and Small Cars

When BMW of North America agreed to import the newly reimagined MINI Cooper in the early 2000s, most assumed it would be an unmitigated disaster. Small cars have never had it easy...

Jul 29, 25Jul 29, 25

2nd Gen MINI Cooper | 2006-2014 3rd Gen MINI Cooper | 2014-2024 4th Gen MINI Cooper | 2024 - 2031 Accessories MINI Clubman MINI Cooper MINI Countryman R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

Our Favorite MINI Mods That Actually Make a Difference

Skip the mirror caps—these are the upgrades that count. Whether you drive an R53 with a supercharger whine that sounds like a swarm of angry bees or a brand-new U25 Countryman that’s...

Jul 18, 25Jul 18, 25

MINI Cooper Opinion R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

Why the 2006 MINI Cooper S Might Be the Best Modern MINI Ever Built

There are MINIs that are good. There are MINIs that are fast. And then there’s the R53 MINI Cooper S— so immediate, so brutally charismatic, and so Mini, it might just be...

Apr 10, 25Apr 10, 25

Classic Mini | 1959 - 2000 JCW MINI Cooper R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) Video

Video: The Origin of John Cooper Works & A Look at the First JCW MINIs

The name John Cooper has been intertwined with the MINI story since the early 1960s, leaving an indelible mark on the brand’s DNA. However, the story of how the brand was created...

Jan 19, 25Jan 19, 25

MINI Cooper R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

Why the R53 MINI Cooper S Is Becoming Both A Collectible Icon & Disposable Used Car

Don’t look now, but the original new MINI—the R50 and R53—is starting to catch the eye of collectors. However, it’s not as simple as prices steadily climbing. Instead, two distinct markets are...

Jan 13, 25Jan 12, 25

1st Gen | R52 Convertible MINI Cooper R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S) Special Editions

A Guide to the R50, R52 & R53 MINI Cooper Special Editions

The R50, R53, and R52 generations of MINI are celebrated for their classic styling, perfect proportions, and visceral dynamics. But if you’re looking for the perfect used example, you’ll want to get...

Dec 24, 24Dec 24, 24

1st Gen MINIs | 2001-2007 1st Gen | R52 Convertible MINI Concept Cars MINI Design R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)

MINI’s Secret Concepts From the 90s That Almost Changed the MINI Cooper Forever

If you think the new J01 MINI Cooper EV is a radical departure, wait until you see what MINI was cooking up in the 1990s. As MINI ushers in an entirely new...

Jan 23, 24Apr 17, 24