I've got an '06 R53 (my 2nd), and my wife also has an '06 R53. She runs the biggest MINI event in the Northeast,
MINIsOnTop, and we met through the MINIs.
I've put 85,000 miles on mine. We drove from Boston to California and back on our honeymoon. Took it to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and tried to break into the 130 club. We're going back with her car this year. Both broke 130 at the Loring Land Speed Races in Maine last year. I've done the occasional autocross and a bunch of track days with mine. I've taken it to Northern Quebec in the middle of February. Twice. It's a hoot to drive. The only problems I've had with it have been a couple of motor mounts, a bum slave cylinder, and now the flywheel is getting noisy. It's been basically gas-n-go for six years. We love our MINIs and after some hemming and hawing decided to keep mine as the "dog car" instead of something practical like a Cherokee or Volvo wagon; we're rather attached to the little bugger.
I've been racing in the 24 Hours of LeMons for about 5 years in an '87 325is. I really enjoyed the RWD aspect of that car, so I bought a '91 318is in 2010. It proved to be more upkeep than I wanted, so I plotted the move to something newer. I'm still waiting for my dealer to get their act together on my BRZ (so I can test drive it), but based on the power and torque numbers, it should be pretty similar to my R53 (168hp, 162 lb-ft), and I've never felt the need for more power on the street. I do love the whine and shove from the supercharger, however, and if one comes along for the BRZ that's not absurdly expensive, I may consider it…