Since the original Are you loving your 07? was closed, I am reviving the original topic!

Tell us your story about your first impression behind the wheel, how the handling knocked your socks off, how the torque made your knuckles white, how your R56's good looks made you the envy of the road. Feel free to indulge in liberal use of "Holy Crap!" and OMFG as you see fit.

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Edit: I thought I should add that the original thread was posted to refute a comment made at MotoringFile by someone who felt that the R56 Mini's did not solicit the excitement and enthusiasm of the first new Mini intro.

 

Own a 2004 Cooper CVT( auto to accomadate my wife's request so she could "share" it). Test drove an Auto S when they became available. Better but not enough to take the big $$ hit.
Test drove the R56 auto S...ordered 3 days later. On the boat as we speak.
Nuf said??? OFMG..absolutely.

 

sure am love minis if its an 07 or older.. i just like the uniquness in those cars its just diff than any other car!!

 

In order to make such a comparison, I assume the owners must have owned both cars? Otherwise the comparison is moot? No?

Are you referring to Gabes comments in http://motoringfile.com/2007/06/04/d...aws/#more-5844

Or another comment?

Is this just fueling sibling rivalry?

 

The R56 certainly has not solicited the excitement and enthusiasm of the motoring press.... and there are quite a few R53 owners who are not thrilled with the direction BMW has taken the MINI either...

Newbies seem to be enamored with them however... they seem drawn to the gizmos and gimmicks of the R56, and the "refined" ride and interior changes...

 

I think a lot of the issues that the R56 has not been getting that much attention is due to the fact that it is SO simular to the R53. I know allot of R53 owners disagree ,but its the truth. Call it what you want but the R56 is just as fun as the R53 with a few minor differences. Having owned both I think they are both special in their own way.

 

No, I'm not referring to Gabes comments. I am referring to the specific comment made on one of the posts there. It was quoted on the original thread and the person who made the comment actually posted there - if you go back to it you can read it.

Basically it was about enthusiastic reactions to the R56 and had nothing to do with comparisons. This is not about any rivalry - if you look at the original it was just a place for R56 owners to say, He-- yeah, my car blew me away! And it pretty much carried on like that for pages before it went astray. I know we won't do that again.

 

Got it. But realize you are going to get sibling rivalry because its human nature. Out with the old, in with new ... some ppl dont like change

Best of luck with your new car. Turbo is the way to go

 

I said it in the last thread. I like my car. Alot even. While my car was at the shop I drove an '06 and came away loving it too. I'd like to have both.

 

I love my new R56!!! Several things continue to amuse me. They are small but I like them.....the hill assist (I forget I have it get a giggle every time my car doesn't roll on a hill), the turn signals (the three-click is very cool and useful), the added legroom (huge difference), and the mood lighting (can't explain why...just cool). I also like the reposition/resized radio power/volume ****, the overall dash layout, the seats, and the solidness of the car interior. Then there's the engine/tranny...feels great!!!! Speaking only of the Cooper side of things, I think R56 is superb in a way that takes nothing away from R50. Virtually everything about the R56 Cooper seems more dialed-in and I do appreciate that.

It is hard....no, impossible......no, unnecessary....to say one is better, so I won't. I'm just loving the car alot!!!

 

What he said...

 

just out of curiousity, how tall are you? I'm 6'7" 260lbs and while yes, the new center is more tapered, I did not notice anything drastic over the R53.

 

Lurch. . . I get it now. You my friend have a great sense of humor!

I think the legroom is in width because the center stack is narrower.

 

hahaha ... yeah, you can thank my old HS friends for that one (the nickname that is)

 

Oh, I'm of "normal" height!!! Seriously, I used to rest my leg on the downtube of my '03...even installed a pad there. On R56 I can't even find it. For someone my size the difference is huge!!!

 

haha ... ok. I rest my leg on my downtube as well as you can imagine.
but why would there be a big issue for normal size people to have more legroom? yet for the taller folk it still feels the same?

was there an issue with legroom I did not know about before? as even at my height I was not complaining. By far one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven.

 

You got me. My brother is 6'-4" tall and I've told him that a lot of tall people gravitate towards this car because of the interior room. I don't think he believes me.

 

Given the overall joy of MINI motoring, you're right, this was not an "issue" per se. Seems tall motorers find the added space a revelation, though (Gabe at MotoringFile made a point of this), especially on long trips.

Keep in mind...this is not a reason to dislike R50/53, but a reason to love R56. Much to love about both, fer sure!!

 

slag, I don't know what you are reading, but everything I read has described the R56 as much improved. The only negatives have been the exact same things said against the previous generation, bu people who just don't get the MINI. Again, just what is your point in coming into R56 threads and trash them?

 

^^+1

 

I love my R56. I think I'll be loving it even more once I get some suspension/wheel mods done and the tuners start having their way with the new motor.
I love R50/52/53 MINIS.
I particularly love classic Minis.

I'll just grab the popcorn and wait for the usual suspects to show up...

 

Did you read the R&T write up? How about C&D, where the R56 finished 4th out of 5, besting only the Sentra? Did you read the lastest article in Autoweek?

And I'm not "trashing" anything pointing this out... the simple fact is the R56 has not solicited the excitement and enthusiasm of the R53 MINI intro in the press. Sure the newbies are excited... but not the auto press.

 

I saw a beautiful R56 MCS, Dark Silver, Black Roof motoring through Moorestown NJ last night (Friday) - a few miles from my home town! That's my first sighting in the wild of an MCS this far from the dealer. I've seen a number of MC R56s from Philly Car share.

I got a visceral thrill from it, like seeing the R56 for the first time.

 

Surprisingly, there IS a time the added legroom isn't helpful--autocrossing. I find I have a hard time bracing my right leg against the center stack. My son-in-law, with an '06, uses a knee pad, and I think he has an easier time of it. At least that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

 

Every time I get in the car and drive away it elicits a resounding "WEEEEEE!" in my head.

For those of you who feel you must use this subject as a vehicle for R53/R56 comparisons:

There are two reasons why I bought an R56 instead of an R53: Timing (which I think is the case for most; didn't have the funds before they were discontinued) and the outrageous markup dealers were charging on the used R53s on the lot. A used, overpriced, R53 with virtually no options or a customized, spec'd to my liking R56? No contest.

Now, if I'd had the money two years ago you can bet your bottom dollar a chili red R53 would be parked in the garage right now.