I own both. Both are great cars. The R55 Clubman S is very quick (As far as I can tell still in the break in period) and handles great for being longer and 150 pounds heavier than its R56 brother. The car is generally more grown up and mature and it has a decidedly "BMW" feeling to it.

The R53 is frentic. It is the eager child wanting to please everyone. It is hyperactive. You feel DAMN WELL CONNECTED TO THE ROAD ON THAT CAR. You feel the road, the steering is surgical scalp perfect, the engine, supercharger and exhaust are all music to the ears.

Face it, the R53 was/is a very special car. It was over engineered and it is the best evolution of the classic MINI to date.

The fun you have behind the wheel of a R56/R55 is different from the visceral experience you get in the R53. The new car is fast, smooth and handles like the best German steel. It is a refined MINI and more in tune with what most people like in a fun to drive daily driver.

Both generations are great cars, but BMW, simply put, outdid themselves with the R53.

It is amazing how a 13 year old design (The R50 and R53 were first conceived in 1995) still measures up very well with a 5 year old design (The R56 design/development began in early 2003).

I hope I can keep my '05 R53 S for the next 20 years!

 

I also would like to add that while the R55 S exhaust sounds nice, I miss the burble that came with my '05 R53 S. And the Supercharger whine from the Eaton M45 unit bolted to the bullet proof cast iron Brazilian made Tritec....Its ear candy!