Just as the title suggests, wait for our ordered car that's imprisoned at port or save a few bucks and buy a uber low mile Goodwood gen 2 car?

 

You already have the F56 on the way, even with the delay. The Goodwood is a very nice MINI, very classy. If you find Goodwood with a manual and a JCW Tuning kit / JCW brakes, I would get that. But its up to you. Good luck.

 

I'm never a fan of buying the first year of a new model.

 

If he is waiting its a 2015 which is not the first year

 

Technically you are correct but realistically I still consider them the "first" year since the 2014 were out for a whole 2 months before switching to the 2015.

My point was to let the bugs get worked out.

 

They're completely different animals. Choose which one you like (sounds like it was the F56 since you've already ordered it) and stick with it. Timing should be irrelevant unless you absolutely need it right now.

 

OMG - I had previous generation MCS and Countryman loaner and if I had to keep them I would have been INCONSOLABLE over trading in my GTI! Fit, finish, refinement, auto gearbox - the F56 is worth double the price in my books! Get the car you WANT not the car that you MIGHT want.

 

Wait for F56 or get 2014 for discounted price if you can negotiate with dealer.
I got F56 last week and it's totally different car. F56 has much more power and better car than R56. When my wife and I was in the dealer lot, my wife saw R58 (coupe) and told me "I like this car" and told her "it looks good but new F56 has new engine." At that time, I have not test drive F56. That's all I can say to her.
For a week of ownership, my wife really like power of new F56 and never miss R56.

 

Get either a JCW R56 or the F56. The Goodwood is an MCS with mink carpeting. It's kind of a barcolounger chumpmobile of a Mini.

 

Me too but My wife's 2007 R56 ran so strongly for 7 years with only one problem which was thermostat failure about four months ago. Probably it's unusual case for Mini hahaha. Thought about waiting for 2015 but I got a very nice deal for 2014 so we bought second first year Mini model ^_^
Hope new F56 will have same strong years like R56 did it.

 

To me that's old school thinking:
Case In Point(my experiences) -
VW Toureg - 1st Yr, not one problem
LR 3 - 1st Yr, not one problem
2011 Countryman - 1st Yr, not one problem
2011 Durango - 1st Yr, not one problem
2014 F56 - 1st Yr, so far so good.....


Just my opinion/experience....

 

Tough one that, we have both and completely different cars. The F56 feels more high tech, fresher and obviously more "up to date", cause it is... However, the GW is such a special place to be in because it's fully loaded which makes a big difference. I like the F56 a lot but tbh prefer driving my GW as it's limited and unique and still "feels" like a MINI. The F56 has grown up and has a "big hatch" aka GTI feel to it which isn't a bad thing but ultimately it depends on your needs. Put it this way: if I had to choose between a normal R56 and a F56 I'll otp for the new car for sure but between the GW it's not a clear choice...goodluck and either way you'll be happy that I can guarantee!