Older MINIs - how are they holding up?

[Martyn76]

Hi All,

Thinking of chopping in our 2nd car (Mazda 3 used for school run and around town) for something else a bit more fun, as I'm looking to spend no more than £5k this limits me to older and mainly leggier models (2002 onwards ?), how are these models holding up, any major problems I should be aware?

I'm looking at Cooper and Cooper S models (preferably the S).

Thanks in Advance