to some of the F56 views expressed elsewhere on this forum :


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...56-vs-f56.html

 

I found this to be an interesting read. People are really passionate about what they think about cars that is for sure. I of course love my F56 but everyone is allowed their own thoughts/likes.

 

Everyone is different. The F56 is the first Mini I seriously considered owning (mine finishes production 7/19!). I liked the older versions but never for me.

I'm old enough to not care what others think about what I drive. When they pay for it then their opinion will matter. I also think Jukes look cool, so there!

 

do we really need another thread to argue about this??

buy and drive what you like.

 

It is interesting and I've done quite a few focus groups. I once did one for a certain Ducati before it was released. I told them I hated it, in a nutshell. It was all wrong and would be a disaster if they built it.

Well, at some point the bike was launched, produced and quite successful. That's not the kicker though...I ended up actually buying one!

My point here is that perceptions change. A Pepper White justa may not look that great to that group of people. You can bet that whoever was responsible for the focus group searched out the most bland example of the car they are essentially putting down. No offense PW owners, I like the color. Even though that's fundamentally against what a focus group is about. Why not include a base justa and a loaded S and then gauge reactions? Or a clapped our R53 along with a nice R53?

Focus groups are tricky and the participants can be easily swayed.

 

It seems on an average people are reluctant to accept change. I'm not crazy about the increase in size but at the same time understand that federal regulations, along with other design features, dictates that sometimes more room is needed to make these improvements. As it stands now, when the warranty on my '13 Justa Hardtop nears it's end I will be buying another MINI no matter what changes have been made in the next several years.

 

I guess the F56 is polarising! So was the R56, and before that the R53. So is the Fiat 500. What else is new?

 

Anytime you make a change to a vehicle that has a very strong following, you're going to see push-back. I saw it amongst Saturn owners (talk about passionate!), A3 owners, GTI owners and MINI owners. People love what they bought and resist change because it's change.

I'll admit to liking the front end of the R56 over the F56. That said, I still love my F56 and in the end, that's all that matters. Anyone who thinks otherwise can go soak his head.

-Matt

 

It's not that radically different from the R56. Looks very similar, similar power but slightly improved. Similar weight and length. Similar interior layout. The interior and particularly the front seats are improved. The driving modes and light ring are different but mostly fluff. The options are different but they have been doing that for years. It's still very much a Mini.

 

I love the interior of the F56.
I don't love the longer nose.

For 3 years I've wanted a chili red MINI and now that my time has come there's no chili red and the nose is not what it was. I was adamant about wanting a hatch so I looked at other hatches just for the heck of it and each time came away shaking my head at how cheap, econobox, and so totally lacking personality they all seemed compared to the MINI. So MINI it is, I can hardly wait until it gets here, and I know I'll love it - blazing red, longer nose and all.

 

Had my car for a couple of weeks now. Everybody I have come across loves the car.. Even the local club.
Some People just don't like change, they want the R53 regardless of anything. Same thing is going on with the new mustang right now.

 

...

 

I don't think there are any arguments here, just interesting differences of opinion. And being a forum discussions are what we like to do.


I personally think that auto focus groups should involve a one week period of living with the car. I had a 2010 MCS for a few months prior to getting my F56 Cooper. The F56 is like a new car - improved in almost every way!
It's fantastic to live with. I wish I could sleep in it some nights hehe

 

I would have chosen the chilli red also if it was offered - BUT let me tell you..... the Blazing Red looks stunning and the first thing dropping from numerous friends lips is how much they like the color! Hope you do too!

 

Thanks. That's good to hear. It took me a couple months - and "trying on" every other color - to come around, but I've made my peace with it and have told myself that I might even come to like it better.

 

Same with the 1 Series vs 2 Series owners on BMW forums. Gets tiring.

 

The length is 2" more front overhand, 2" more rear legroom. I think the weight is only up 60 lbs (gotta compare with AT because that adds about 70 lbs itself). It's rare for a redesign not to get a little bigger. My 2014 JCW Coupe weighs about 150 lbs more than my 2007 MCS (half is stiffer chassis, half is the AT). I was ready to put a deposit on a F56 but backed out at the last minute.

 

I love the look of the F56, I never would have considered the previous generations, the car looked too cutesy for me, much more like a toy car. But I still like the MINI "look" per se of them. The new car, keeps that "look" of a MINI, but it just looks more grown up to me. Something I could see myself driving. But honestly the better interior is even more important to me than the exterior, as that's what I myself will be experiencing 90% of the time. Was not a fan of the R56 interior design or material quality.

 

What we need is an RF563:
Exterior dimensions of the R53, but interior dimensions of F56.
Styling as an evolution of R53: clean, simple lines, but not tending towards too much cartoonishness.
Steering of R53 (no torque steer, immediacy), period. Don't mess with perfection.
Throttle response of R53, but fuel economy and specific power of R56.
Keep the visceral power delivery of the R56 N18, though I always loved the lack of forced induction lag that came with the compressor.
Handling of R56 (a bit more compliant than R53, but not as soft as F56).
Interior design a blend of the best of R53, R56, F56 (keep center speedo and large tach on steering column, but add HUD. Definitely the F56 seat awesomeness and quality of materials).
Build quality of F56 (though reliability still an open book).
Anything I missed?
Oh, weight of R53, or even less: more carbon fiber, etc.. Less weight means better performance and/or better fuel economy!
And quietness (interior noise levels) of F56...
HK sound system of F56.

 

Not really sure why the hp/liter thing is even a tool of comparison since the f56 gets better mpg, puts out more overall power, and has a faster 0-60. Ive wanted a mini for quite a long time, and went in with the intention of grabbing a low mileage or leftover r56s because ive always liked its look and capabilities. I test drove a 2013 and the new f56. Both the cars were similar, yet different in many small ways. The f56 felt like a car worth its price tag, it was a no brainer for me

 

I guess this depends a bit on what is being compared: S or Justa, auto or manual. For example, in terms of MPG, the F56s auto is better than the manual, so comparing an F56s to an R56s will yield a better MPG for the F in auto and the R in manual.


Power and torque: for the 56s, the F has 189 and the R 181hp. The big gains for the F is in the torque: 207 vs 191.


In terms of weight: the F56/s is a bit porkier than the R, which eats up some of the hp advantage the F56s has over the R. This difference is a bit larger for the S than Justa.


0-60 times: here too, it makes a difference what we are comparing. For the 1st time, the auto has better 0-60 times than the manual, with the F56s. So as with MPG, when comparing autos the F comes out on top, but when comparing manuals they are even.



I love manuals and would never get an auto for myself. I have an R56s manual, so for my preferences the R gets better MPG than a newer F would, and has the same 0-60 time.

 

Ok this makes sense. I think the 0-60 is slightly quicker in the F however. Maybe knowing this going in to drive both altered my perception, but the F felt noticably quicker and more responsive. And as far as comparing interiors..

 

Might be to you, but BMS did a run between the F56 MCS and R56 MCS, and the R56 was slightly quicker. I'd love to see more tests on it stock to stock.

As for test driving the f56 MCS, it felt nothing different than when my r56 was stock. It didn't seem faster. But the trans was better for sure when shift points were exact in the auto. The manual was nice too since the clutch didn't seem like it needed to be pushed so far like in the Rxx models.

 

Interesting. Did they do any other tests? Id definitely like to check that out if you have a link

 

Interesting write up and read...

I had an R56, loved it, and I love the F56.

The only difference, I guess, is that I was a away from Mini for about 18 months, when I had an A3 instead.

I was blown away by the improvements to the interior especially. I understand the criticism of the exterior but I like it in S f