So... do you have a MINI or just here to bash?

 

I love how anyone who says anything remotely negative or dislikes something is instantly classified as a troll. Really? I get some are more harsh than others, but calling it 'ugly' is just an opinion - although maybe a bit harsh. 'Not as pretty' might be what I would use?

It's a forum people. It's made for discussion - good and bad. I don't like the F56 and moved on from MINI after a long time, but I'm still an enthusiast, love the brand and the community. I hope to own another MINI someday once I find a model I like again.

Back off dude.

 

You have to tell the aftermarket vendors the same thing. The folks that sent me an R56 dash cover and windshield cover for my F56 still insist they sent me the correct product (but you ordered for a 2014 Mini Cooper S) even with the pictures I sent them of how wrong the fit of these items were.

 

My apologies, my winky face was to help carry a playful tone. No intention of offense here. Motor On.

 

No problem, it's just a common thing in all forums and just because you might not be all enthusiastic about everything MINI does doesn't mean you don't belong here! Of course, if that's ALL you do then maybe you don't lol.

 

Edit: Meh, not worth discussing it.

 

As others have said, the short-term month-to-month decline is an aberration due to supply constraints associated with the new model.

That being said, I don't think Mini is on a good long-term trajectory. The car has developed a well-deserved reputation for unreliability and ridiculously high service costs, the styling direction is not being particularly well-received, and Mini has been unable to establish a new beachhead with a volume model apart from the hardtops. I love my R53 but each successive interation since has moved the car further and further from what I'm interested in with my next car.

- Mark

 

Agreed. I sucked it up and dealt with the R56 changes since I wanted another MINI, but just couldn't do that for the F56 lol.

 

..

 

If I had never seen pictures, specs, read and viewed road tests on the upcoming F56, I would never have even visited a MINI dealer. I would still have my beautiful VW CC sitting in the garage instead of my red MCS.

Different strolks for different fokes.

 

I think the biggest disparity is between those very familiar with MINI and those who are recent converts and the F56 is their first MINI. I've noticed a lot of the folks with lots of praise for the F56 are the latter group. Not to say some previous MINI owners aren't praising it too, it just seems that is where the biggest difference in opinion seems to lie.

 

That's actually a good point. The F56 may be the entry point for a lot of us that didn't consider Minis before. The nicer interior is a huge incentive for me. Part of me really prefers the style of the Clubman to the F55, but when I look for used ones, the interior is a real turn off.

I'm willing to deal with aftermarket suspension and tuning to address some of the shortfalls of the F5x, and the bigger size and minimal weight gain are actually positives for me. Looking at an R53, it appears the F56 is less than 80 pounds heavier, while quite a bit larger inside. Now if only the F55 S stays right around or under 2,800 pounds, I'll be happy.

 

We own a 2005 Cooper, and a 2010 Cooper. I think the new 5 door model will bring in more customers, as it's much more family friendly.

MINI could help itself, in the US, with some spending on advertising. I can't recall seeing any in well over a year. They need to get more people to think of them. The last round of advertising was far too much aimed at hipster/ ironic types. They aren't the ones who actually buy these cars.

Just my tuppence.

 

This debate between the R53/R56 owners, and new to Mini owners of the F56 is the same as the BMW forum debates between 1 Series owners, and new to BMW 2 Series owners. Since it's all just personal preference, it is just as inane over there as it is here.

 

As a matter of fact Ive not spotted any F56's on road as yet bearing in mind our launch date was only about 3 months ago. Sales seems to be a bit slow but in our market the F56 is very well positioned in comparison with the Golf gti. Better so than with the previous generations. In terms of the entire R56 vs F56 debate i don't understand what the fuss is about as the F56 is still very MINI like. Yes, it feels bigger cause it is but only marginally so and the drive is still entertaining. I like it a lot...

 

I actually think the F56 will be more popular than the R56 in the long-run. It finally hits the sweet spot between being fun to drive, high quality, and with great gas mileage but yet still not as expensive as most European cars. I could definitely see it drawing in the younger BMW crowd. The R56 was great fun to drive and the price was decent, but the quality never really felt like it was where it needed to be to fetch that price.

That plus it really is a next generation car as far as the tech used in it. I can see it appealing to a much wider audience than previous generations.

 

The MSRP for a Fiat 500 Abarth with NO options is $22,195. Add $5,900 for sport seats, comfort package, 17" wheels, navigator, and black mirror caps.

There is a current California promotion of $2,500 off.

All I want is some truth.

 

Be wary of what you wish for - those mid engine babies have hellish maintenance costs. A friend of a friend has over $ 60,000 in receipts for his Boxster - more than he bought his used car for. Put me completely off the CPO Cayman I was wanting to buy.


As for Mini sales slumping - this is just the transition period as others have stated. My salesperson said that only 18 F56s/month are allocated across four dealerships within 50 km of my home.

 

You just nailed it for me. I've always been an admirer of Mini's but never seriously considered one until reading reviews for the new F56. Now I'm in the process of selling my GTI for one. Fuel efficiency and interior refinement were the big factors in my sudden F56 interest. For me the increase in size isn't a deal breaker. It's still a small car and a total hoot to drive.

Looking forward to joining the Mini family, hopefully in a few short weeks!

 

Why yes. I had a first off the boat 2002 Cooper, and I now have a 2011 Cooper S. The style change is, as a lot of professional car journalists I know have noted, not an improvement. The car got bulkier in the process. I test drove a new S just a couple of months back, and while it's still got the handling, the size and pricing keep going up working against its "entry level BMW" marketing. And having bought two of them used (both having had low mileage and multiple owners), having to go to a body shop to read the phone book sized "Notice to dealers" glitch pages on the earliest ones (the dealer in Orlando replaced the battery on the 2002 four times, rather than telling me there was a radio failure--would not go to sleep), I wonder, too, how rare I am as a repeat Mini customer. People buy them, don't like the get in/get out nature of the earlier models, or run into these quality control or engineering issues. Or perhaps the seats are uncomfortable to them (they seem to lose their spring by 80,000 miles, and I am skinny). I wonder, too, if raising the car wasn't a response to realizing older drivers were buying them and bailing out because they used to be low. So yeah, I've given it a little thought even though I'm new to this forum.

 

This is exactly me. The F56's looks and specs drove me away from VW. I have not regretted that decision. I love the F56 MCS design. I am glad I am not a "purist", otherwise I would have not even given this awesome machine a chance. Btw, the size and the feel (too rough). of prior MINIs were a turn off for me. I'm glad they went the F56's direction.

 

All the reasons you like the F56 is totally why I don't! lol.. Lets not even call it a MINI.. Its a new BMW!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmeryllman

This is exactly me. The F56's looks and specs drove me away from VW. I have not regretted that decision. I love the F56 MCS design. I am glad I am not a "purist", otherwise I would have not even given this awesome machine a chance. Btw, the size and the feel (too rough). of prior MINIs were a turn off for me. I'm glad they went the F56's direction.

Right, not a Mini "purist" myself, and having had a number of BMWs, this new F56 felt "just right" to me. I looked at the previous R56 gen, but didn't go for it.


Lets not even call it a MINI.. Its a new BMW!


I agree. It feels very BMWish, except, of course, it's FWD.

 

Would not hurt my feelings. That's what I tell my friends when they ask me why I decided to go with a MINI. I get the BMW engine and refinement.

 

Same here. The BMW engine and interior upgrades sold me on the car. I always liked the exterior of past generation MINIs, but was never impressed elsewhere. With the F56, I got the MINI exterior with the BMW interior and engine. I think this is a great direction for the brand to move.

I think over time the F56 will be a strong seller. Brand perception needs to catch up to the new model, as does supply. Once the other variations sport their full redesigns, I think the brand will be much better positioned.