I have a 2006 Cooper S that I rushed out to buy when I heard the turbo was coming. My Mini was in the shop recently for its 30K check and I was given a 2007 Mini S loaner to drive for a couple of days. I'm not trying to start "Gen Wars" but I would like to toss in my two cents now that I've had the chance to drive the new Mini.

First off, I was very disappointed with the turbo. It wasn't as responsive as the Supercharger and I didn't like waiting for power while the turbo spooled up. I feel the new Mini S has really taken a performance hit with the turbo. I also missed the sound of the supercharger and its power on demand when you mash on the gas. Aside from performance, I think there are inherently fewer maintenance issues with a supercharger.

Interior wise, I think they tried to market to the "Scion" crowd, da kids, with the mood changing interior lights. The dash layout was not thought out very well either and lacked purpose or the sports car feel of the previous Mini. All the electronics are now located in the Speedo pod and every bit as complicated as BMW's IDrive. Bimmer should be proud.

Finally, on the way home buzzers went off! Apparently the sensors in the passenger seats are so sensitive that the book I placed on the passenger seat triggered the warning.

I know I'm probably a minority opinion but I'd like to hear your views. I've driven classic Minis and love my Cooper S but think BMW is taking the car down the wrong road. Shades of the T-Bird, I think BMW is gonna make it bigger and ruin the Brand altogether.

Scrubbly.

 

I am not sure where you experienced the turbo lag. The torque on the R56 comes on a good bit lower than the R53. My local dealer let us drive the R56 around the track all day long and I can definitely say it does not feel like it has turbo lag. Its throttle response was super smooth compared to my 03 MCS and it really had some low end grunt. I did not like its low redline though. I really wanted to go a lot higher on the top end.

As far as the interior goes, I could not agree more. It is quite fugly. The R53 has a nice clean look to it and the R56 looks cheap on the inside. I do plan on getting a future year R56 to go along with my 03 MCS however.

Oh, and it just was not the same without the supercharger whine. The exhaust on the R56 though sounds VERY good.

 

 

exactly....

 

It wasn't really turbo lag, he had is other foot on the brake!

 

I haven't yet driven the R56 but from what I can tell, although it's a faster car, because it's lost a lot of it's edge and become more civilized and calmer car, it doesn't feel as fast as the previous generation. The disappointment people feel is just misplaced expectations.

 

I can understand that view. In my opinion the civilized part is better for daily driving. On the track with sport mode on when you are pushing it hard (thats when it counts right?) it is far from civilized.

 

Quote:

...I'm not trying to start "Gen Wars"...but I'd like to hear your views...

 

People experience this on all kinds of levels, but enough overall info has been compiled to pretty well establish that R56 is darn good. Opinions, though welcome, are becoming pretty irrelevant except for the individual in question.

 

Is there any way to verify that this is actually a new member and not someone just trying to stir the pot?

 

Well, there is the aural aspect of the R53 with the M45. Perhaps a BOV to atmosphere will make the R56 "faster". +1 on the R56 turbo back zorst. And the R56 justacooper sounds marvelous like the R50.

 

Can this be the default answer to any thread comparing R50/R53s and R56s?

 

Aw man, your popcorn is bigger than mine!

 

 

*sigh* Regrettably, it's only a matter of time...

PPTP (please pass the popcorn)

 

WTF What turbo lag? Are you sure you wern't drivin a just a cooper?
The turbo on ours spools righ off idle and in my opinion comes in a little too soon.

 

You should have plenty -- I don't expect this thread to remain open very long (these discussions tend to rapidly deteriorate). IBTL

 

Dude why you so insecure? You can't express an educated opinion. This is the best you can come up with?

 

Yes, I'm an illegal! I snuck in under the border. If I wait long enough, think Barack will let me stay? Hasta La Vista Baby. Sorry you can't muster up a literate response to a legitimate post.

 

It is so comical to me the way some people view the world. Yes, this person's opinions were only started to get a reaction, sort of like the ones above, from the internet community. Or no, he drove the car and had honest opinions. From your perspective, either way, he's irrelevant and wrong.

Why is there a pot to be stirred? Why do you and others react? Why take it so personally? Why do you care, even if he IS only here to stir the pot? What is it that you don't like about your car that causes you to try to defend it at every opportunity? Do you honestly think there's such thing as "better" in this argument, either way? Why are you probably angry that I'm asking these questions?

These are just some questions I'm curious about when it comes to these topics and the arguments that ensue.

I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say that while the aggressive defensive attitude annoys me, I have the utmost respect for the reasons why people like the R56. I respect it myself for some reasons, even though I'm a card-carrying R53 fanatic. But I was one of those before the R56 came along; maybe that's why I don't get ticked when someone drives the R53 and doesn't like it. Hmm. Imagine that.

mb

 

Thanks for your feed back. I've driven the Classic Mini and currently have a Chili Red 06 Cooper S. I think the lag was most noticeable from a stand still whereas the power of the supercharger was instant, on demand. Seems like you really have to rev the turbo and pop the clutch in order to get the same sort of performance out of the new Mini.

I'd agree with the fugly interior too. I purchased the Park Lane package on my Mini. So I've got leather "Tuck & Roll" seats in my Cooper S. I think they went backwards when they designed this new interior. It just does not scream or even suggest Classic Mini.

 

That's right, it spools right off idle. Turbo-spool is often confused with the term turbo-lag. Turbo-lag refers to how long it takes to spool the turbo up when there is sufficient engine speed to create boost. And yes, it was an 2007 Cooper S.

 

.... right back at ya!

 

Still, having seen the turbo on the R56, I can't imagine it taking that long to reach peak boost. Turbo lag is the reason I have no problem keeping up with my friends well built '98 Eclipse GST on all but the longest straights, he doesn't come into any meaningful boost until around 3500rpms, that's lag.

 

Dude, do you even know what Turbo Lag is? Please review and get back to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger#Lag