Let's do something vastly more constructive than re-hashing this for the eleventy-billionth time, complete with the same tired comments from the same trolling posters.
http://www.miniusa.com/?eid=157&tid=...toringHearts-m

 

I won't

To say universally panned is quite a stretch. Most of the reviews of the R56 have been very positive. (I know I read everyone before ordering. I ordered last year and could have taken delivery of the first gen, but chose to wait for the second based on many of those reviews and I'm glad I did). Yes there have been the standard complaints of the extra large speedo, some ergonomic complaints of the center stack (which I gladly accept for the trade off of better leg room available with the narrower center stack). Yes it didn't finish first in every comparison performed, but in many of those the qualifier was bad ergonomics, or poor rear seat leg room, and the comments even then were very positive about the drive of the car. It has also won some hot hatch of the year awards as well, engine of the year, and other awards. Motoring file just recently posted some recently recieved awards that are still on its first page .

Even the Automobile magazine sited has positive reviews of the R56 on line. Although one review again had a real complaint about some ergonomic features, both were positive about driveability.

quote: "When you boil it all down, there's only one thing to say about the new Mini: it looks a lot like the old Mini. Yes, it's better; yes, it's faster; yes, the engineers continually emphasize the number of parts that aren't shared with the outgoing car. But the point remains: underneath it all, the design seems to say, the new Mini is still a Mini.'

And to compare laying off temporary workers and cutting production by 3000 vehicles in the face of yearly sales figures recently reported to have gone up globally by 18% and 7-8% in the US, to the end of civilization is a stretch as well. There were also 2006 models languishing last year on the lots as R56 was coming out.

Has the true enthusiast lost something, maybe to some. As cct1 put it hopefully the stage II JCW can scratch your itch, maybe not, so be it. To others they've embraced change and moved on.

 

according to this thread here at NAM they had production cutbacks in 2002 on MINIs as well.

 

only problem is the puny treadwidth. I defy you to drive a car with a properly setup suspension and wide, stiff non-runflats. I think you'll be a believer, minus the peace of mind. Super responsive turn-in, grip as deep as you want to push it....you can try mine at the next meet if you want. The antithesis to yours.

I got stock size A/S for my winter set. Bad move. The front end will slide through turns...the suspension on my car controls the car to a point the tires were teh weak spot. I swapped for the 215/45/17 XL of the same tire. More grip, better turn in (extra load = stiffer sidewalls).

 

that's an awesome program. my wife signed up way back and is still involved helping the non-profit she was matched with (she's a graphic designer). it takes her maybe 2-3 hours per month and worth a million times that to the group.

 

Automobile February 2008 issue:
"The combination of torque steer and poor throttle calibration saps a large portion of the driving joy... Plus the nature of this car, look-at-me stripes, giant speedometer, and audio controls spread about - is entertaining for a short spell but would be tiring during real ownership..."

Doesn't sound very positive to me... and stabs at the heart of the issue many of us have with the R56...

 

Yikes...they sure got that one wrong!!!!!!

 

I take issue with every one of those criticisms.

• Torque steer is a fact of life with any kind of performance and FWD; get used to it, or get RWD. You'd think these people (writers, that is) never drove a FWD car before.
• Throttle calibration? Not a problem here - feels just fine to me.
• Don't like the look-at-me stripes? It's real easy to order the car without 'em.
• Controls, I found them very intuitive from the get-go, and I got used to the pie-plate speedo after about 15 minutes.

Plus, aside from the larger speedo, is anything here that much different from the R53? This guy's whining about things that were prevalent in the car since its introduction. This says nothing about R56 vs. R53; this guy just doesn't seem to like Mini's.

I'm a real owner, and I'm still thoroughly entertained.

 

I imagine the R56 is a better car, similar to how the second generations of the GTI and Si were better cars.

 

Yeah... kinda like the Mustang II was a better car than the original classic Mustang...

 

the introduction of the Mustang II more than doubled sales....

Makes you think...

Matt

 

so you take out one line from a whole review that's negative so that makes the whole review negative.

we all know you don't like the R56 MINIs, so why do you keep coming back in here stating it? it's almost like you feel the need to defend the R53 and you view of the R56. if the R53 is so much better then why do you feel the need to defend it?

for me the R53 MINI has the biggest flaw of all the MINIs..............it has a engine that was built by chrysler and i was so glad that i decided to wait on a 07 when i found that out. i won't ever own a chrysler product again or anything made by chrysler

 

Yep... broader audience... different market segment... exactly my point on the R56... no longer geared at the enthusiast, but at the masses... ala' Mustang II

 

I just bought a vehicle this weekend that was made by DCX. 135k miles on it no less. I'm 100x more comfortable with this purchase than a used BMW with 50k miles on it.

 

E30 M3 vs. E36 M3
I know there are plenty of folks who prefer the original.

I think the same will hold true for MINIs. Those who became attached to their R53s will always feel connected to the original. Even if it is a better car, the R56 will not be able to overcome this attachment. The greatest MINI you can have is the one that makes you happy.

I'm too young to remember the old Mini, but I know that there are people who feel betrayed by the BMW Mini.

 

That is the review... It's the 6500 mile "update" on their long term R56 tester... and they kept the update short and not so sweet...

As for the Tritec... there is nothing negative that can be said about it... a proven engineering masterpiece. The Peugeot prince... already dropped by BMW in the 1st year... that is telling... with a serious piston slap problem... the jury is out... but it is not off to a great start... thats for sure!

 

so the review is only 2-3 sentence long? not much of a review then.

for you there is nothing negative to say about it but for me the fact that it's made by chrysler is a very huge negative. one so big i will not ever own a R53..........yes it's a deal breaker for me

if you're happy with it that's fine, but from working at a jeep dealership, to friends owning a dodge product, to my mom owning a chrysler product and seeing the problems that they had with it way before 100,000 miles. i won't buy anything that has something made by chrysler in it.

that's my opinion, just like its your opinion that you trust them.

 

I'm no Chrysler fan, but sorry, it's hard to fault the 4.0L straight six (or the Tritec). of all the cars I've owned (German, Japanese, American...), the one that gave me the least grief was my '02 TJ.

 

The Automobile magazine 6500 mile update summarized their thoughts... those few sentences speak volumes.

 

Nothing can compared to the TJ's straight six. That thing is, for all purposes, invincible. I seriously imagine it would run several miles with no oil nor coolant. Doesn't make a ton of power or torque...but damn I loved that engine.

The transfer case on the other hand...

- Matt

 

Wow this thread is getting ugly! Why can't we all get along? Say you have three kids, are you going to love the first one more than the second? Are you going to love the second more than the third? They're all different and unique in their own way but they all bring something worthwhile to your family and hopefully to the world. See what I'm I getting at... Aloha

 

i'm not knocking the engine i'm just not going to send any of my money to chrysler. from my personal view of chrysler they are a company of shady business people. friend had a dodge caravan and within the 6 months it had to be sent in to be work on for the same problem 11-12 times. the dealership they bought it from wouldn't work with them and chysler themselves told them they would work with them either. so from there on i decided i would give my money to them.

just my personal dealing with chrysler.

 

Soooooooo..............when did an engine built by Peugeot count as a positive?

 

Welcome to BMW - perhaps the only car brand with a crappier repair record than Chrysler.

Regardless of whether it's and R53 or R56, Minis are plagued by more than their fair share of mechanical and electrical gremlins.

Your experiences with Chrysler mirror mine - except mine were experienced after owning several BMWs and a Mini - rattling, poorly built, badly backed vehicles whose only saving grace is the fact that the are a blast to drive.

Guess what? The faulty DMF assembly from the R53 tranny made its way to the R56. Surprise! The electrical gremlins have also migrated from iteration to iteration. About the only thing that changed was the fact that the old iron lump of a Tritec was bullet-proof. The Prince can't make that claim.

It's perfectly fine to defend your choice, just as Slag or any other person who prefers the R53 can defend theirs. Just don't take offense if someone doesn't like your car. Save that indignation for all the trips to your local "Motoring Advisor".

Yeah - I fully expect to see a smattering of posts about how PolyaktheHemorrhoid's R53 or MiniCannibalMattoo's R56 have gone a gazillion miles without incident. Bah - I've seen to many threads, here and elsewhere describing the same tired old transmission and electrical bugaboos to ever believe that any Mini product is reliable.

 

Not true.

Yes. This is what it's all about