Mini Cooper S (R53) | Spotted

A quarter of a century ago, this was the overweight, overwrought Mini - now look...

By Matt Bird / Sunday, 1 February 2026 / Loading comments

Yes, you read that right - 2026 marks 25 years since the first ‘new’ Minis made it onto British roads. You may well still see the odd ‘Y’ and ‘51’ plate car around and think little of them, given how ubiquitous Minis are and how well designed that first generation was. It looks an awful lot more modern than you’d credit a 25-year-old car with being.

Really, there ought to be a special edition to mark the occasion, maybe even something twee and Silver Jubilee themed because Mini can get away with that sort of thing. There’s still chance for that to happen, of course, given it’s only still February. But fun Minis seem less of a priority now. We should be grateful that a petrol-engined JCW still exists, complete with more torque than any Mini really needs and a snappy DCT. It just feels a bit much, even by Mini standards, like it’s trying to convince you it’s something it’s not with hyperactive responses and overwrought features. Beyond the initial sheen of silliness, it’s not very much fun. And the less said about the electric equivalent, the better.

There’s still time for improvement, of course, and continued N24 involvement would suggest that motorsport does matter. Yet with so many great 21st-century Minis having existed, it’s really noticeable when a Cooper S or JCW doesn’t necessarily hit the right note. On the other hand, maybe we’ll look back fondly on the current car in 20 years time, a final throw of the combustion dice before Minis with engines were entirely consigned to the history books.

We say that because, in 2026, it’s those first R5x Minis - the Binis, the not proper Minis, the assortment of names directed their way in the early '00s - that look absolutely brilliant. Obviously far more accommodating and faster than the originals, still probably the prettiest of the bunch, and with the kind of old-school charm that a new one could only dream of. Plus, in the grand scheme of Minis and modern classic hot hatches, still a bit of a bargain as well.

Take this one, for example. It’s one of the last supercharged Cooper S Minis, a facelifted car from 2006, with just one owner and less than 40,000 miles from new. Yes, really. As a later car with the Chili pack, it’ll have a limited-slip diff, to take full advantage of that famously chuckable handling. Without the nav screen, it retains the giant central speedo that caused such a stir at the time. And the thing looks barely used, without a scratch to those toggle switches or much more than a crease on the half leather seats. While the spec might be sombre by Mini standards, the spotlights look cool, and the paint seems good bar a couple of parking scratches. You’d want an inspection in the dry to be sure, though the signs are good.

And it’s £8,000. Imagine what a sub-40k-mile Clio of the same era might cost, or even Civic Type R, for that matter. In fact, you don’t need to imagine: a 25k-mile Clio is up at £17,995, and a Civic with almost 60,000 miles is £12,495. Maybe the not-a-proper-hot-hatch stigma still applies. Definitely some concerns still linger about maintenance - the supercharger service and a clutch change are labour-intensive - remain. You’ll go through a lot of oil and super unleaded, too. Whatever the reality, the Mini Cooper S hasn’t quite skyrocketed like some of its contemporaries. Great news for those after something fast, fun, affordable and stylish. Best get in before everyone else wakes up to the big birthday…

SPECIFICATION | R53 MINI COOPER S

Engine: 1,598cc, inline four, supercharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 170@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@4,000rpm
MPG (official combined): 32.8
CO2: 207g/km
Year registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 37,765
Price new: c. £15,000
Yours for: £7,989