The MotoringFile has a post today that says production of the F56 is delayed "until Spring" according to a dude they interviewed recently (which is available there too). Looking like we won't see the car for maybe 4 months. Nothing kills a launch like a delay (Blackberry anyone?). The JCW Coupe is looking better and better all the time!

http://www.motoringfile.com/2014/01/...aunch-delayed/

 

and the f56 is not looking better at all...

 

I would probably hold off if you can for the test drive of the f56 MCS. Drive it so you have a little bit of idea what the F56 JCW will drive like. I don't like the F56 MCS, the exterior, it looks hideous. But the F56 JCW looks pretty nice. I'm curious how it will drive. But I do agree, the JCW Coupe sounds very enticing! Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

The article says the launch is delayed until spring. Given that it was supposed to 16th March, that could be just a delay of a week. However, it also says production has been delayed "likely until at least March" they're much less certain about that. March production would probably mean an April or May launch to give time to get to the west coast.

 

Who knows, maybe all the negative comments are forcing a little last minute tweak to that front end.

 

Ha ha I was thinking the same.. Maybe they are tweaking the front end.. but we could only be so lucky if that happened..lol. I really wish they would change that front end!

 

The Europeans were supposed to be able to order last year and hopefully take delivery maybe in February I think. Now they aren't even making the cars yet. Nothing kill the buzz of a new release like a delay. Just do the thing.

 

Maybe they realized it was terrible and shredded the whole design. One can only hope.

 

I work at a bunch of dealerships and I find that when I see a car that I think is ugly, I look at it more and more and start to acutely like it. I feel this will be the case for the F56, not to mention all the pics of the F56 are in that ugly yellow color.

 

I saw the car at the LA autoshow. I love it! I the interior is beautiful. It exudes a quality feel that is very impressive. I love the headlights with the led rings. Overall, it's a very nice car. The photos don't do it justice.

 

Dealers are saying if you order now the 14 will be delivered end of April

 

CRAP! The MF has driven the car in Puerto Rico and initial impression if very very good. They say it's more like the R53 than the R56, and the performance is nearly R56 JCW. They love the turn in and steering. Now I'm going to have to wait and drive the darn thing before deciding on it or the JCW Coupe. I was afraid that would happen. CRAP!

 

I'll order mine now and add JCW options later.

 

Lets not forget about the massive tail ilghts.......

 

I hate to be the party killer, but you may want to wait on the F56. I bought an early R56 and it has been nothing but trouble. Over $10K in repairs the first 4 years, about 1/3 of it out of my pocket. I know it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new generation launch -- heck, I was all over the R56 -- but MINI does not have a very good track record out of the box. The early R53s were trouble, too. I'm just sayin'.

 

I have 2 Minis and feel that they have been good cars. Both are base models though. They have a better track record than the "s".

 

i drove a JCW Coupe yesterday, with an AT and the Recaro seats. I'm thinking this over carefully. I know car reviewers tend to gush (esp the MF fanboys), but the 2 reviews on the F56 are pretty good.

 

Excellent



T.

 

And that is what the MINI really needed IMO. I compared the '13 (which I could get now from my dealer) to the '14 and after seeing the improvements and upgrades (especially that awesome all-new interior) I was more than willing to wait until mid to late April for delivery. As I've said before, it isn't a perfect car. No car is. I think those who don't already have a MINI are more apt to favor the new F-56 because of all the improvements vs. those who already are driving a second gen MINI.

As far as the delay, I just read the article and had to grab this quote. "According to sources MINI will be launching the F56 in Europe, the UK and the US in March and April respectively. Extrapolating a bit, we’d expect that’s mid/late March for the UK, early April for Europe and mid to late April for the US".

That is the delivery time-frame I was given by my dealer yesterday. There WILL be a hold on MINIs delivered initially to the U.S. while they undergo federal tests and get certified. That delay could be days or weeks. No way to tell. But based on my dealer input and this article I am anticipating taking delivery at the end of April. I surely hope it won't be longer.

 

perhaps they're waiting for dealers to clear their lots a little.. the local dealership still has sooooo many r56s

 

Hmmm. Well, this reported delay actually goes back to a report in late January. So the news doesn't appear to be anything really new. Also according to this January report, the delay is to allow for additional production options that are scheduled to be available in March.
http://www.norcalminis.com/2014/01/2...de-launch.html

 

My dealership here also has a lot of R56s. But they loaded up on them a lot because they weren't totally sure when the F56 would arrive. Talked to my MA yesterday and she said that there still selling the R56s well and the F56 is finally starting to gain some ground. She was a bit worried with the outside changes if it would sell or not.

 

I just bought an R56 JCW while I could. That F56 just does not do it for me. It's a BMW, it's not a Mini anymore. They are going to build scads of BMW's on that chassis which is part of the reason the F56 proportions just don't look right.

And the BMW interior is just more than I can take

For the OP.......while I was waiting for my R56 to get prepped at the dealer, they suggested I take out the JCW coupe to check it out...wow, that is a very cool ride...powerful, and it handles really well.

 

Eh, people have been saying this since 2001.

 

chrunck, you are correct in that....I guess I am seeing hard evidence that the dilution of the Mini identity is really here....

getting rid of my beloved dinner plate speedo......installing i-drive........window switches on the doors (what are they trying to do, be ergonomic or something?).....generic BMW a/c vents.....no more a/c controls in the shape of the Mini logo-sure they are a pain to operate, but it's a Mini ny gosh, things are not supposed to be easy !

On the up side, i am very excited about 2.0L engines and what they could do, if they really let the engineers loose, with the JCW in 2015.

I am anxious to see them on the street-sometimes your opinion changes when you see something up close and in it's natural habitat(i.e. on the road and not at a car show, mag photos, etc)

I'm sure everyone with orders in are living a dying with these delay announcements...I can relate....