My buddy is down in Cali getting schooled on the new F56!

Can't wait til he gets back to hear all about it!

 

Must be one of the MA's?

 

Im curious as well! Are there some running around already to private owners?

 

Yes, MINI is doing a 3 week or so training program for MAs to learn and drive the new F56.

All early reports are positive so this is a good thing, both base cooper and MCS are worth the wait.

Each Motoring Assistant gets about 2-3 days of classroom and hands on driving exposure. This happens with new models unfamiliar with the sales staff.

In my area we are hoping for a real F56 in about 3 weeks or less to show at our local International Car Show. If that doesn't happen then about April is when the first units will arrive.

 

That's all good news!

 

I see Mini of Des Moines has '14's on their website inventory with pricing and VIN numbers...

 

Not only is he my friend, he's also my Motoring Advisor.

 

A customer's order is coming across the pond. It shouldn't be long before some new owner reviews start showing up.

 

MY Dealer's people will also be going through that and I think leaving this weekend.



T.

 

I got to drive them this week....

Don't feel like writing a full review, but the new car is fantastic. BMW finally seems to have got it right. As a die hard R53 fan I didn't want or expect to like it....but they've done such a good job with it, its hard to even find anything with it that I don't like.

It truly feels like a small BMW now, but don't let that fool you into thinking that MINI has lost its soul. Yes its gotten comfy, yes its gained weight, but still handles like a dream (best so far out of all of the generations I'd say). The new motors are fantastic...the 3 cyl in the Cooper has lovely torque (the Cooper is now faster than an R53 S). The 2.0 feels strong, not too dramatically more than the current S...but much broader power band, less peaky than the R56 S. Tons of torque as expected (221 ft lbs during overboost!).

The transmissions all feel great, the autobox's in the S feel as good as any dual-clutch tanny out there (even sounds like DSG). The manuals are precise and smooth.

The biggest improvement seems to be the overall quality. It truly feels like a premium car. For the first time the MINI feels more expensive than it actually is, rather than feeling cheaper than its sticker price suggested. Getting into an R56 after an F56 the difference is SO apparent. Everything from the materials used to the ergonomics are vastly improved. Everything has a great feel to the touch, and the sport seats in the S are very similar to the Recaros in the GP.

Like I said, I don't feel like writing a full review, so those are just some thoughts that come to mind. If anyone has any questions though I'd be happy to answer!

 

Were you able to sample a base car with the 1.5 liter turbo and the manual 6 speed? How is the throttle programming? One on-line review said it was easy to stall that combo at intersections due to how throttle tip in felt.

How is ride quality on the base car?

 

Yes I drove a base Cooper with manual. Throttle felt fine to me....it was the easiest to drive manual MINI I've ever felt. The difference between Sport mode, mid mode (normal), and Green Mode are pretty substantial though. Really changes the throttle response...among other things.

Ride quality on the base car felt softer and more compliant than the R56 over bumps, but it still manages to corner really flat and direct.

 

did you drive the S in manual?? if so how'd it feel?

 

Thank you for this current update. Looking forward to a test drive here in northern CA.

 

ThumperMCS,

Thanks so much for the review.

I take it that the S model had the New Revised 6-Sp. Tranny with improved shift points ???

My understanding is it shifts Firmer, quicker etc. ???

Did you by chance get to view the new LED lights with corning lights option ???

Also the LED fog lights ???

Just wondering what you thought if you happen to have seen them in person.


T.

 

Thanks for the write-up. Makes me all the more happy that I decided to forgo a new Paceman (I like the exterior styling) and wait 2 months for the '14 MINI S Hardtop. Sounds like the initial reviews in Puerto Rico were not exaggerated in the least.

Did you get to drive a MINI S 6-speed manual? If so, how did it feel compared to last year's?
Did you get to hear a HK audio? If so, how did it sound?
Can you completely turn on the colored ring around the MINI Connected LCD Screen?

 

From the reviews Ive read, it seems like the new MINI's interior quality is now appropriate to its average price point. I always felt that with the R56, no matter how much you paid for the car, you still got a $22,000 car interior. Sure, you could add leather seats, and in later years, leather on the dash, but the basics were still there- lots of hard plastics. Since the MINI is one of the only a la carte brands out there, it was easy to get the price point into the mid to upper $30k range. Now it seems like they have designed an interior that actually competes with cars that normally sell in that range. If MINI/BMW has worked as hard on the reliability of this new car, it could be a game changer from the sound of it.

 

Let's hope that it DOES become a game changer. I, for one, believe it will be. We'll see.

 

The cars are beautiful...I too was able to do the MA training (maybe at the same time as ThumperMCS).

I can verify everything he said...also the LED lights are beautiful and worth it.

My direct feedback is that the regular 1.5L 3 cylinder is about the same as the R56 S model and the Cooper S almost like the R56 JCW.

 

Thanks for your input.

I'm very interested in those LED lights as I ordered them along with cornering option and the LED fog lights.

So what is your take on the Auto Tranny when it is in the (Sport Mode) ???

That we all would enjoy reading your input on for sure.


T.

 

Glad to hear your input on the LED lights. I went with them (and cornering lights) and the LED fog lights.

 

Great to get real persons feedback. I'm curious about the new electonics features and the HUD, especially because MAs have to be very aware of those features in helping customers outfit their cars. Some other reviewed said the new seats are like the Racaros ($2700 option) and the new S motor was like the R56 JCW motor. That's good to hear. I'm gonna not get the JCW Coupe after all I think.

 

The new transmissions are very good and seamless. I really did not have many issues driving the Cooper or Cooper S in sport mode. Each shifted quickly and smoothly.

If you have driven an 8 speed BMW, then the shifting would be close to that for feel.

I currently drive an R56 JCW, but am seriously considering a base Cooper as the power and fuel efficiency is amazing. On a test car that was being driven at WOT all day, it was reading 28mpg

 

That is all GREAT news!

 

Yea the LED headlights are a must...they look great. I believe my store is actually ordering almost every car with LED's....

And no, I didn't get to drive an S manual...they did not have any that I was aware of. The Auto in the S shifts perfectly as e46jb mentioned...even though its not a dual clutch auto (DSG, PDK, DCT, etc), it feels just as good as one.

The HK sounds good as expected, but there seemed to be an even bigger improvement in the standard system. It now sounds more like the current HK...we had it up LOUD on the drive too

Oh and as far as colors go....Thunder Grey looks awesome. I feel bad for GP2 owners that they have to share it with the masses....but gosh it looks good! And although I probably wouldn't order it, Volcanic Orange really fits the car well.