I hope they fix the gear shift issue that could be extremely dangerous.

 

Lol... yea, that.. all BMWs do that.. why people feel the need to shift a car like they are arm wrestling is beyond me. Go ahead pull up hard, they pop off.. You don't shift "UP" you push the stick back and fourth.

 

wow that mini looks weird without the black bonnet stripes!

 

Best view of the HUD I have seen in any review. Glad I opted for it now

 

I'm getting the paddle shifting automatic (1st automatic in my own car in decades), but the manual lever problem wouldn't worry me.

This is one of the best MINI road test videos.

 

Very good review. As far as the issue with the shifter handle coming loose, I'm not concerned. It is very likely a fluke. It is needs to be addressed by BMW, I'm sure there will be a fix provided.

 

Who is this yahoo? .....he needs to view the video of Senna doing laps at Suzuka when he was helping to set up the chassis and suspension of the Acura NSX (heck, everybody should)

Hands and feet are very quiet, no jerking or man-handling the wheel, pedals, or shifter. It's a master class in how to properly get speed out of a car.

I can't speak for the F56, but the R60 and R53 have the most direct, easy shifters I have ever used. The only time the synchros get fussy is when you start jamming and stabbing at the gears. you can almost shift these cars with two fingers, and he pulled the shifter and boot off...

And BMW said it was the first time this had ever happened during all of the testing done by BMW and the press at launch-uh, take a hint dude...

And I'm sure I'm old school but an automatic throttle blip on downshifting? One of the best feelings in the world is hammering toward a corner at speed on one of my favorite twisty roads, big throttle blip, and nailing the downshift with no sensation that the shift even occurred, and blasting through the apex with mucho momentum...IMO, it's one of the most important and satisfying human interactions with the machine.

 

Iv tried to pull the gear **** off on my F56 and cant do it !

 

+1

Just another thing electronics is taking away from the driver.

 

+2 (long live the R53)

Incidentally - my shift **** has come off of my R53 a few times after working on my interior. Once was when my wife drove it for the first time (I"m not going to live that one down) she was understandably freaked out. I probably didn't hammer it down hard enough - but I still don't understand why it can't be threaded or have a setscrew.

Good review though.

Even after seeing it in person, I can't say that I like the flat (not a compound curve extending past the car) wheel arches

 

I can tell you from experience that the shift *** on my R56 was an absolute bear to get off (even when trying to get it off).

 

when I picked up my MCS JCW a month or so ago, I wanted to put in the red shift **** and boot from the GP2. I had the service guys do it because I knew I would knock myself unconscious if I started yanking on it and bang the center of my forehead !

 

Yes I'm sure BMW wasn't lying and it is fact the first time. It's a fair and honest review in my opinion

 

Mine wasn't easy either. My wood **** screws on now with the adapter that came with it (I think). Nice review, good view of the HUD. I'm not sure I want to see the radio station numbers though. I'm loving the interior, the back seats actually look like somebody can sit there.

 

I can remember my grandfather making a similar complaint about cars with automatic ignition timing - real drivers controlled the timing by a **** on the steering wheel.

 

Now that sounds hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I wouldn't mind it if it's easy to toggle on and off. I wouldn't want it in the city when I'm downshifting to slow the car, but I would like it in the canyons as I'm not good at heel-toe to revmatch...

 

Sure you would in the city, definitely. The less wear and tear on the synchronizers, the longer they'll perform well.

Generally, brakes are better if you need to quickly slow down, not the transmission. Brake pads are cheaper than clutches and transmission repairs.

 

You don't need to do heel / toe to rev match. You just blip the throttle and shift at the "right" time and voila...

 

The first few posts remind me of the time I test drove a used Porsche 968 for possible purchase. I reached for the lever, pulled back toward me to shift and the whole lever came out of the console and boot. This was in traffic. Luckily, I was able to drop it right back into place, but it sure scared the hell out of me, especially since it wasn't my car. When I got back, I told the owner that I wasn't interested. He said, "What did you want for $6000?" Maybe he was right.

 

Wow, so he did this while upshifting from second at over 60mph...

Maybe it was the MINI's new style of Rev Limiter....

 

all looks good... but if i wanted a bigger car I would have bought a GTI