...maybe its a bit early but I was just wondering.


The R53 (from what I can tell) has many defining characteristics, the best known being its thrill educing supercharged whine.


In your opinions, what are some of the R56's defining characteristics?

I'd name a few to start off, but I'm not really in any position to name any (Only one I can think of off the top of my head is it's 4x4 stance )

I've looked around but no dice.

Stupid question? Perhaps...but an interesting one none the less.

at least I think so

 

The main characteristic to me would have to be the sudden rush of power from boost.

 

BOV FTW

 

Awesome!
I've been waiting hours for another thread thinly veiled as something other than a discussion of what is better/worse about the R56 over the R53.

Prepare yourself to hear about (stance and SC whine already pointed out) seats, mpg, burble, speedo size, gaps, headlights, driving "feel/experience" . . . . .

 

Here we go again.

 

Does anyone own both to give an objective comparison?

 

gokartride either has both or has had both, has given some very lengthy comparisons in the past and is a big fan of both.

 

Do you have a link?

 

 

Only serially. In general I like the MC R56 over the R50, six speeds was the deciding point, then I found I liked the R56 handling better. My wife prefers the R50/R53 interior over the R56. Fuel economy is not significantly different between the R50 and R56 MC.

We swapped the R53 for the R56 MCS because the controls are just too different to live with a mismatched pair. The R56 has much better fuel economy (like 20% better), and I like the handling better. I don't like the rumble you get from the R56 engine. I never was worried too much about the supercharger whine one way or the other.

All the various MINIs are great, I prefer the R56s, I think the R56 MC is most fun of them all. Though the MC's fuel economy has gone to hell now he has to compete with the R56 MCS. Currently the R56 MCS is the most economical of them all.

(Sorry, I wouldn't usually post opinions like this on the MKI board, but you asked.)

Edit: I could have sworn this was in the MKI forum, I feel better about posting this in General talk.

Edit 2: I like the steering on the R56 MCS better (in sport mode), its light at low speed and just right at high speed. The R53 sterring was just too heavy at parking speeds and too light on the freeway. The R56 MC steering is overall a bit too light, even in sport mode.

 

I really like the new exhaust note over my R53. Not much else yet though...

 

I can add one positive defining thing too: fantastic brake feel.

 

R56 def has better brakes. The turbo BOV is nice. The ride is less punishing. When lowered the wheel gap is gone. The ability to get more power out of the engine cheaply should soon be here. R56 gets better MPG. Alot of the components are lighter on the R56.

All that being said my R52 S will eat my wife's R56 in a drag race

 

I just picked up my new R56 S yesterday. Traded my R53.

Although I'm still in the break-in period, there are a couple differences I've already noticed.

The power delivery is completely different. Not saying one is better than the other, the R56 seems more immediate, while the R53 had that great build-up as you accelerated.

What I personally prefer in the R56:
The stereo and how it displays the ID info from MP3 CDs.
The seats
The extra lateral knee room
The steering wheel
the interior lighting
the on board computer and the ability to change programming options
3 stage heated seats (hopefully will be better, anyway)
the sunroof is less noisy at speed when open

what I prefer in the R53:
supercharger whine
the exterior styling - but I'm slowly changing on that
the stance
the shift ****

that's all I can really compare until I get the JCW suspension installed and sticky tires put on, which will be next spring. Overall I am 100% satisfied with my new car, though, and I've owned a total of 3 first gen cars.

 

Bah...gokartride is an idiot!!!!

Yes, I do have both, but they are Coopers.

 

I own both also. A 2008 Clubman S auto and a 2005 MCS hardtop manual. They are both VASTLY different cars. I don't think neither is better over the other. To me the R53 S is a fantastic little car and a much more accurate snapshot of what the Classic Mini used to be in a safer, more reliable and substantial package. On the other hand, the second gen MINI is a FWD BMW wrapped up in a MINI body with MINI badges. Nothing wrong with that, simply a different product philosophy altogether. The second generation MINI was clearly designed and built for folks that were turned off by the hardcore driving characteristics of the R53 and to bring a wider customer audience to the MINI brand (And also to lower manufacturing costs at the assembly line while maximizing profits for BMW). The R56 and R55 are more in tune with American mainstream car buyer tastes than the 1st gen MINI ever was (At least for the non-enthusiast set)

The R53 is a more raw and visceral experience handsdown. This car may be a little too hardcore for the average American driver, hence some of the criticism levied agaisnt it in this forum. Yes the steering is heavier but it is fantastic and much more communicative, the rider is firmer, the supercharger sound is intoxicating, the stock exhaust burbles beautifully, the Chrysler TRITEC engine is a rock solid, bulletproof powerhouse and pulls like a freight train all the way to redline, the 6-speed manual Getrag imparts feel and it is fun to row your gears, and the design details (Interior/exterior) and overall looks leave the new cars in the dust Clearly, the R53 S was not an economy car and its mission was not to provide you with the ultimate MPG numbers. This car's main mission was to be a small, fun to drive and affordable performance car, period.

Simply put, the R53 was an enthusiast car and some folks grew too tired of its exuberant personality. The R53 is a car that requires 100% attention and involvement to drive and enjoy. May be a little too much to ask on daily street driving. It is not a relaxed machine to drive.

Having said all this about the R53, I love my Clubman S. The car is a fantastic MINI in its own right. It is more grown up/refined, the suspension calibration is what you would expect to find in a BMW product, the car handles and corners beautifully even with the stock S non-sport suspension, the steering is 100% electric (versus the electro-hydraulic setup found in the older cars), the ride is much better due to better damping and longer wheelbase, the torque is more prevalent at lower RPMs (hence giving the impression of being "faster"), the fuel economy and carbon footprint is definitely better than before, the onboard electronics and prompts are 100% BMW and more features can be easily customized to your taste, better legroom and cargo room out in the back, the AISIN automatic transmission is sensational (Plus the paddle shifters) and generally the car has a very Germanic feel and road demeanor to it. The turbo has virtually no lag and like I said the car is an all around pleasing package for both the enthusiast and daily driver. The seats are more comfortable too, hands down and better built.

However, the Clubman is a little too quiet and refined compared to my r53. No supercharger whine, the exhaust is on the quiet side and the car is generally more relaxed to drive and not a emotional as my 2005.

Hopefully this should give you more or less a clear idea of what makes both generations special and what traits makes them distinctive. Neither car is a hands down winner over the other, just different concepts and philosophies.

One thing I can tell you, is that MINI really spent more money on the R53 at the assembly line. To me the build quality and feel of some components is a little more substantial in the R53, including the interior. Probably I am in the minority here, but I Still prefer the classic look and feel of the R53 interior. The R53 imparts this feel that this car was expensive the build and it shows. In the new cars you can tell that some details and materials used are more budget oriented, and features such as the front adjustable seatbelts and rear map lights are missing from the new cars.

But in the end I love both cars and I consider myself lucky to have the ability to enjoy the best of both worlds.

 

I Like the bulldog stance and look the best in the R53 over the R56, also the supercharger whine.

 

R53 for me too. The dash on the newer MINI is cool, but overall, I like my 2002 better. I also prefer the stance and the ride of my sport suspension and the supercharger is the kicker for me.

BUT, I do have a 325i that I will drive if I need something a little more peaceful. The R53 can be a challenging only car for many reasons.