This is long, but all this is going on in my head. I've had the car only about 70 miles and a day and half, so some of this will fade as I get used to the car. Good photos later after the weekend, I'll update my R50/R56 comparison photos if I can manage the time.

First the specs: MCS, Thunder Gray, Black Top/Mirrors, Cross Punch Carbon Black, Fully Loaded, Wired Upgrade, Mini Yours Dark Cottonwoord/Satellite Gray, Dynamic Damper, Auto w/Paddles, Auto-dim Mirror, Park Distance Control, Rear Fog Lights, LED w/Cornering, 17” Tenatacle Spoke. No stripes, no chrome. Anthracite headliner.


That’s lacking sport suspension, comfort access, storage pack, cold weather pack, park assist, and probably something else I forgot about. I did opt for maintenance and this time warranty since it's offered by MINI and not a third-party dealer thing.

• Damn, this car is quiet. I came from an ’07 MCS manual which had wind and road noise like you wouldn’t believe. This car is quiet as a Hyundai Elantra. (Or BMW 3-series, take your pick of comparison) Creepily quiet almost, but I’ll get used to it.
• Dunlop SportMaxx tires. Would have preferred Contis but they’ll be fine. I'd complain about having "Maxx" in the name as it's stupid but my previous tires had the word "Extreme" in the name.
• The standard floormats are thin and won’t last long. Not that I care, I’m glad it came with mats and the dealer didn't cannibalize them.
• Body roll. Without the sport suspension, the ride is more small-sedan-like than hot-hatch-like. I got the dynamic dampers, which help with that a bit in sport mode, but I didn’t get the sport suspension. I almost thing I should have, but my kidneys will thank me later.
• Body roll in Green Mode and the dynamic dampers. Wow. I get motion sick pretty quicky, and wiggling the steering wheel in that mode is like being in a rowboat. So now maybe I am wishing I had the sport suspension, but I’ll get used to it. And I’m staying out of Green mode. .
• It’s a BMW now for sure. Of course I spec’d mine with a color scheme that screams BMW – Thunder Gray, black top and mirrors, black Punch leather, MINI Yours with Dark Cottonwood and Satellite Gray color line (which also gives you piano black surrounds on the vents and such). I have mixed feelings about that, because it’s my wife’s 2004 R50 that drew me to wanting one myself, though mine was an R56.
• The Darkness. I thought the Satellite Gray was going to be a bit lighter. If Shadow Gray is darker, and Carbon Black is darker still, we’re talking 98% black, 99% black, and 100% black. I was kinda hoping for the look I had in my R56 which was piano black and whatever the white color line was. So now I may be looking for lighter floor mats to bring it up a bit. Bonus though: the disco and mood lighting really stand out. Of course maybe they made a mistake and built it with Shadow Gray. The order confirmation says Satellite though, and I like it so I’m good.
• It isn’t *that* much bigger than the R56 but it feels much bigger as the interior dimensions are a bit bigger. It’s quieter and smoother, too and that contributes to the feeling that it’s bigger. I found that I don’t need to be all the way back and I don’t have to have the seat all the way down. Raising it up a bit helped with this “sinking in a cavern feeling” I had initially, which was compounded by the darkness. Before I couldn’t see the hood.
• The interior bulges. In the R56 the headliner tapered into the windshield closer. Things are thicker here, same with the A pillars, making the interior feel more plush, which also makes the car feel bigger. And if it’s as dark as mine on the inside, it contrbutes to that cavern feeling. Proof – on my R56 I had my Light In Sight (http://www.lightinsight.com/) at the top of the windshield. On this car, I have to have it about an inch down so it’s not hidden by the headliner. (If you’re tall, get one of these and quit craning your neck to see stoplights.)
• I don’t feel as “up front” in this car as I did in the R56, I feel more sheltered and away from the road. That’s OK though.
• The armrest. Love having it, but it makes me glad I got the auto. I’m a big guy so I sit way back, and the arm rest would be in my way but it will adjust down. Discovered that today.
• The accelerator lag – yes, it’s real. You step on the gas, your foot travels a bit before the car reacts. I’ll get used to it, and part of that for me is the experience of coming off of a manual to an auto, so it feels a bit more push-wait-react and not as direct. (Honestly if I wanted driving fun and not a daily driver I might opt for a non-S Cooper with sport suspension and manual.)
• There is an experience of non- acceleration as well, because it’s quieter and smoother. A louder car with a manual transmission and a tighter suspension will always /feel/ like it’s accelerating better. Of course I’m trying to stick to the < 4000 RPM break in rule too, and as I don’t have a feel for the steering yet, and I can see objectively that I’m accelerating faster than I would have in my R56 manual, but it feels effortless.
• This goes to the main mixed-feeling – it’s not a zippy-feeling car like the Gen 1, but it is what the Gen 2 aimed at. The Gen 1 was pure point-and-shoot, and this car has more in common with the characteristics of good sport coupe than a Gen 1 MINI. Even with the POS CVT on my wife’s 2004, it’s a fun car to drive as it’s very responsive to steering and the harsh ride makes you feel like you’re going faster than you are. Hers doesn’t have the sport suspension, so I can’t imagine how harsh a Gen 1 would ride with that.
• I hate the fuel gauge. It’s huge.
• Dual zone climate control? Really?
• They swapped cruise and radio on the steering wheel and they made volume left and right. Grrr.
• I’m a big guy (read: fat and tall) so yeah, the sport seats are a bit pinchy, but not bad, they’ll wear in well. Thigh bolster is a great thing. Much better than the crappy implementation on my old ’85 Mustang GT.
• Torque steer is indeed greatly reduced, which is confusing me. I’d learned to compensate.
• I do like the two-pull hood release. No more reaching around a greasy underhood trying to remember where the latch is.
• I originally didn’t have the HUD spec’d but my MA put it in and I left it. I like it.
• No garage door opener, so no compass. (I don’t care but for my wife’s car this will be a make-or-break feature.)
• No storage pack so no cargo net on the passenger footwell, and no 12V outlet in the boot.
• There is more effective driver legroom than in the R56 even though the specs are similar.
• Because it’s an unfamiliar car, I feel sorta like I’m driving a rental.
• The boot closing is loud and firm. The door closing is soft. The locking doesn’t have the loud CLACK that I’m used to with the R56.
• Running lights come on if you’re in a parking garage and unlock the car and have the headlights on auto. Different. Also the little light that reminds you the headlights are on auto is weird.
• They could have made the start/stop switch a little bit smaller.
• I wish I’d gotten the park assist so I would have a full complement of switches. (Not really, but yeah, really.)
• So glad the instrument cluster isn’t BMW orange.
• Fuel cap cover feels cheap, would love to replace it with something not chrome.
• Rear bumper – very flexible. Interesting.
• Rear-view camera is as good or better than any I’ve seen.
• LED headlights – purple fringe at the top will take getting used to, I keep worrying I’m annoying people as these are f’ing BRIGHT. Cornering lights are not bad, but I might not opt for them again.
• Miss having comfort access when opening the back. I’ll get used to it. Wasn’t worth $250 for me.
• HK audio – very pleased, but wish the volume curve was a bit louder sooner. It’s as good as the HK audio in the Gen 1. My R56 had the non-HK audio, and I never really liked it.
• The OMG-I’m-Gonna-Die handle on the passenger side is not nearly as sturdy as it was on my R56. Same goes for the visor clips that folks have had issues with.
• My wife’s R50: aggressively playful like a puppy but toothless. Fun. My R56: aggressive but uncoordinated like a teenager learning to skate. My F56: James Bond. It’s that much of a shift, and if what drew you to MINI was the unrefined playfulness, you might not find that in the F56. (Unless you go with the manual Cooper, sport suspension.)

 

Forgot --

Brakes seemed REALLY soft when I picked up the car. Lots of travel. This seems to be improving, but very different. It's not bad, but not as rapid to react.

Also I miss the silver pedals I had in the R56 with the rubber strips.

 

Nice summary for first impressions.

I like reading these and comparing as I wait...and wait...for mine to arrive.

 

[*]The standard floormats are thin and won’t last long. Not that I care, I’m glad it came with mats and the dealer didn't cannibalize them.

I have mats on order from cocomats.com

[*]The accelerator lag – yes, it’s real. You step on the gas, your foot travels a bit before the car reacts. I’ll get used to it, and part of that for me is the experience of coming off of a manual to an auto, so it feels a bit more push-wait-react and not as direct. (Honestly if I wanted driving fun and not a daily driver I might opt for a non-S Cooper with sport suspension and manual.)

I think that lag diappaers in Sport mode.

[*]I hate the fuel gauge. It’s huge.

I agree. And the tach is almost lost.

[*]Dual zone climate control? Really?

I let my wife adjust her side by turning off a vent or two.

[*]They swapped cruise and radio on the steering wheel and they made volume left and right. Grrr.

And scrolling down the menus by going counter-clockwise seems reversed to me.

[*]Fuel cap cover feels cheap, would love to replace it with something not chrome.

I suspect it's plastic like the A/C controls -- feels flimsy.

 

dwdyer,

Good write up. I agree with you on all points.

You're right, this car is quiet. There are a lot of things I like on the car like the sport seats, the auto A/C, and. . . um. let me think. Oh yeah, the LED lights and halo DRL. Also the light ring is cool. The engine has a moderate moan under hard acceleration and the turbo whistle is more evident on the F56 than on my Coupe. The HK sound is good, not stellar, but a very worthy option.

Green mode is worthless to me, regardless, the car is drinking more gas everyday on the way to work vs. the Coupe. I'm getting 28 mpg in the F56 vs 31.x mpg I got in the Coupe and I drove the Coupe harder on the way to work every day. The F56 doesn't scream "drive me" like the Coupe did.

Another thing I've noticed is that the auto seems to want to lurch forward and then hunt for gears after the auto/start stop kicks on at a stop sign or red light. I've also noticed the transmission lugs a bit when you're accelerating where my Coupe would buckle down and get some r's to accelerate.

 

Good write-up.

I agree that if you use Sport mode you won't notice any throttle lag. None at all!

Also, I have not experienced any steering looseness in either the Mid or Sport modes. Least, of course, in Sport mode. Handling is exceptional IMO in the Sport mode (no sport suspension or dynamic ride control on mine but I don't need either) and very good in Mid mode. Overall ride is best in Mid mode. Too soft in Green mode and a bit harsh in Sport mode. That said, Sport mode is like driving a different car. I find myself using Mid mode as the default (which it is) and then when I want to "switch cars" I go to the Sport mode. The different between Sport and Mid modes is that noticeable. At least it is to me.

I agree about the chromed plastic gas cap being a bit cheap, but I do like the chrome appearance.

I can't comment on the Auto because I chose the 6-speed manual, which I absolutely love.

Seems that we're all enjoying the heck out of our MINIs.

 

Thanks for the good write up. Curious as to why you aren't sold on the cornering lights. Can you compare them to adaptive HIDs?

 

You configure Green and Sport in Settings, but I thought you had to have DDC to firm up the suspension in Sport and to soften in Green. I could be wrong, they have been a little vague about the DDC's operation.

Anyone else think it's counter-intuitive to scroll down by going counter-clockwise?

 

I had HIDs on my R56 but not adaptive. They work well it's just the feature itself I'm not sold on.

 

Yes, I understand Sport won't adjust chassis without DDC.

The counter clockwise doesn't bother me in the menu, but it does in the manual.

 

Good write up.

• Agreed zero throttle lag in sport mode
• mixed green/sport mode driving I'm gettin 33mpg in the city
• start/stop works well if there's a smooth transition from brake to throttle in green mode
• Sport suspension makes this car carve curves like nothing else
• not a huge fan of the tires, but not bad enough to spend the money to replace..yet
• car is throaty in sport mode, whisper quiet in green mode
• car very very very easily moves to 80 and beyond, it settles into a grove at higher speeds. #ticketbait

 

JBLZ, I found the F56 wanted to wander just a bit in the "beyond and way beyond" band (don't think I was in sport mode) and it felt a little loose as compared to my Coupe. I have the 18" whls and performance runflat tires. I do not have the sport suspension. As soon as JCW suspension parts are available, they are going on!! #donttellthewifehowfastIwasgoing

 

Turn that **** the wrong way each and every time.

 

You'd almost think that - that would be one of the configurable items. Should be easy enough to have done.

 

Anyone else think it's counter-intuitive to scroll down by going counter-clockwise?

The Brits drive on the left.
That makes it intuitive?

 

Yeah, it finally occurred to me that it might be meant to be natural where the driver sits in the passenger seat. ;-)

Actually, I think that whole screen is designed for southpaws.

Wish we could change in Settings.

 

Update -- I'm reasonably sure they got the color line wrong. I like it, I'm not going to complain as honestly when I picked it up I'd forgotten what I specified. But there's no way this is satellite gray. Pics this weekend on the photo thread.