Well they had it ready a day early.


Will do photos later. I have really only driven at night and only 14kms but here are my thoughts so far:


1- Pretty overwhelming going over the car so familiar yet so different.


2- Closing the hood is deadly and has to be dropped closed because of the new double latch system. If you try to push it closed with the first latch engaged it will bend the hood as I was shown on another cars. This happened in Puerto Rico to 6 cars!


3 - Have no idea how to just turn the radio on but will figure that out!


4- I have a loaded car but shut down the HUD because there is already too much going on for my first drive.


5 - Quiet inside but there is a ticking sound coming from the engine.


6 - Don't like the clutch it engages too early


7 - Switched to sport mode and was very aware of the noise generator (or some sound device making fake sounding engine noise (came from the back). Hard to tell what the car really sounds like.


8 - Too early to tell but did not notice much between the DDC when switching modes...it could be turned off for all I know at this point.


9 - I thought my R56 felt cheaper than my first mini (more tinny) I feel in some ways this car is too. The gearbox feels more like a Honda than the R56. ..and the clutch...I'm sure i'll get used to it.


10 - Back trunk is a huge improvement. Loads more room but don't like the way the rear door slams shut.


11 - HK stereo is OK but no where near as good as the $600 upgrade I did on my R56. Then again I have only Bluetooth streamed so far I'm sure it will sound better with better source material. Hopefully.


12 - Headlamps didn't seem as good as I expected. The turning thing is great really works.


13 - Rear camera and park distance are nice but seem gimmicky.


14 - Hate the light circle got it mainly turned off.


15 - Sunroof is way better than I thought and not as noisy as my R56.


16 - I got black leather seats and they are really, really great. Hold you firm.


17 -Handling right out of the box is way superior to my R56 with the 22mm rear sway bar. That pain in the neck hood really adds to the stiffness of the front end. This car is a limpet and flat and stable!


18 - Brakes - really can't remember Seem fine though.


19 - Mood lights - why don't they change the dash lighting too? Having half the car orange and the rest blue is not great for me.


More to come...

 

Really, really good to know about the hood. Hadn't heard that.

I like the b/u camera, but the one in my wife's Mazda puts a red line on the screen that allows you to back up w/in an inch of a curb, wall, line on the pavement, etc.


CORRECTION: the MINI b/u camera puts a curved red line at the bottom of the screen, and that line is w/in an inch or two being below the back bumper -- just as good as the Mazda's just different.

 

Congratulations on getting your MINI. Reading everyone's comments/reviews is interesting because we're all different. Our expectations differ. Our likes/dislikes differ. But one thing seems to be common. We pretty much all find our new MINIs to be a blast to drive.

I didn't get the backup camera (seems unnecessary on such a small car with such great all around visibility) but I did go with the backup assist.

I find the clutch perfect. But everyone will have their own personal preference as to when they like it to engage.

IMO the HK upgrade is exceptional. As good as the fantastic system in my old '11 Buick LaCrosse. I'm glad I spent the extra money for it.

Funny, but I do not notice any "fake" exhaust sound when in Sport mode. I only hear a real more throaty growl in the exhaust. Just doesn't sound simulated at all.

I totally agree with your experience with handling. I have found it to be exceptional. Excellent in Mid mode and even better in Sport mode. And that's without DDC or the Sport Suspension options. I just cannot imagine driving this car with anything stiffer than the regular Sport mode.

I disliked the light arc on the center gauge as well. The constant changing of light just seems to be so gimmicky. I ended up removing the ambiance mode for that light and using the overhead toggle switch to set the constant color I liked best. So far I've used the orange/red and orange/yellow colors. But it's nice that I can easily change the constant light with the toggle switch.

I so love my MINI S!

 

Hey Bob. Thanks. Much better today. Night is tough on you in a digital car.


Turned the disco light off completely.


Still trying to figure out haw to not have the mood lights on during the day!


My sport suspension was not switched on in the settings menu. Now it is and it definitely makes a difference. Software issue not hardware! Stupid really!


Love the handling in Sport mode! The extra width makes a huge difference. Wide and stiff. Excellent.

 

Congrats!! Good feedback!

 

Does it still roll down the windows when you hold down the unlock button on the key? They have changed everything else so wondering if it's gone also.

 

Thanks for the write up Greg

Mrdi

 

Yes, it still does that.

 

Thanks!!

 

Congrats Dude

Strange your DDM was disabled, mine was not when I took delivery? Maybe this occurred during PDI or at the VDC?

 

Motor. In the Settings menu under "Configure Sports". There are a couple of options. Mine only had one of the sub menu buttons checked. Will look again and report back.

 

I checked mine today and both were checked. I bet this is just something that could be set differently during prep work before we get them.

 

Think that's what must of happened. Good now though. :-)

 

Pics please

 

2- Closing the hood is deadly and has to be dropped closed because of the new double latch system. If you try to push it closed with the first latch engaged it will bend the hood as I was shown on another cars. This happened in Puerto Rico to 6 cars!

Think of the pedestrians, when you hit one, your hood will deform cushioning the impact. Must really be a serious problem in Europe to force this, reminds me of the 5 mph bumper stuff in the 70s.

 

Zwazoo. Yes I agree. Hope I don't hit a pedestrian the hood will never close!

 

My worry is that someone will try a "jackass" type stunt in a parking lot and leave me with a crushed hood. Did I say that.

 

Drop from 16" according to the manual.

Before this thread, wasn't aware of the risk of hood damage.

 

That's the good thing about Forums. You learn from other people. I did see that in the manual!

 

Interesting thing to try. Open the hood, apply very slight pressure with your hand in the area between the windshield washer and the outer edge. To me it feels very light, reminds me of an aluminum hood on a race car. Nothing wrong, just a really strange feeling. I've had previous cars with aluminum hoods, but our MINI's hood feels to me anyway, like it would easily deform.

 

Main thing to remember is that if the hood does not close completely. Unlock it and start again. Do not try to push it down with both hands!

 

My MA and I tried this several times before we were both comfortable with it.

 

Just gave it it's first wash!

 

Looks good. I need wash mine soon, covered with pollen.

 

Looks good! Can't wait to get mine, it's on a boat.