I'm looking at two different MCS's. One is an '06 with 14K the '07 has 21K. All options are about the same. The 06 has a few months left on the 4 yr warranty. The 07 has 1 month on maintenance and one year on the warranty. The 06 is a thousand less. The condition is about the same. I can't decide . Any thoughts? ( kind of a stupid question, I know)

 

The real question is, do you want a Supercharger, or a Turbo?

Personally I'd choose the '06.

 

you want to get blown

buy the 2006

 

To some the cars are similar and they like both. To others they are worlds apart. Which camp are you in?

The board had quite some fun when I had to make up my mind.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-darn-r53.html

Having since driven a few R56s I am confident I made the right choice for me. So, go drive them both as much as you can and choose the one you like best.

Good luck.

Dean.

 

Buy the 06 and spend the extra $1k on an extended warranty

 

Haven't driven the 2nd gen, but I bought an '05 MCS with 18k on it last Oct and LOVE it. From what I've heard it has more character and is rawer (in a good way) than the post-facelift, but I'm somewhat biased. :-) You can drop the $1k diff on a set of non runflats, a smaller supercharger pulley, new plugs and CAI.

 

An old saying goes "never buy the first year model of..........."

I'm on my second Mini now. The first was a '03 and my current is a '06.
The '03 was a good car but the '06 is better.

So buy the 06 and do as 'MLPearson' says and "buy an extended warranty".

Hope this helps...

 

What are you using it for? The R56 is more refined, more comfortable, better on the low end, and subsequently better for around town. The R53 is more visceral, better on the high end, and more mod friendly. Depends on your usage...

 

I'd go with the 06... just my 2 cents

 

Love the BMW engine in the '07 and up. First Gens do not have the BMW engine. The second Gen interior is better thought out. Love the aerodynamic front end too. The first Gen looks fun but more like a toy to me.

 

The second gen interior looks cheaper than the first gen and the volume control and whatnot is in an awkward spot. The materials used on the dials and switches are cheapy plastic. That's why they're improving the interior materials for 2011, big complaints there.

The only thing I like about the R56 over the R53 that I own is the REAR of the car. Engine, front end and interior are superior on the R53s. Which is why I haven't changed to the R56. Maybe the 2011 will lure me in with the interior quality improvements.

 

I think 06 is much better looking car, the 2nd gen seems gain a little bit weight no as lean as the 1st gen. The 2nd might be a little bit faster but 1st gen is much more fun (my 2cents). Drive the car and see which one you like it more.

 

buy the new and improved 07.

 

On the first gen. forum you are going to get a biased view, same reversed if you post on the second gen. forum. The answer is up to you, good luck.

 

The problem with the 07 is that it is the going to be the most problematic. Since it is the first year that the R56 came out MINI hasn't worked out all the bugs. However with the 06 MINI has worked out most of the problems by this time. Again just my .02 cents.

 

I was sold on the supercharger whine, that is all.

 

Well that BMW engine that you speak of is a Peugeot engine, not a BMW one. They started using that engine in 2007 & now in the 2010 model year they are still having issues with it. Although after the 3rd of 4th fix they may finally have it.

I have driven both & to my mind MINI lost their way with the R56. Both are nice cars to drive, but are very different in terms of feel. The biggest reason I won't buy one is that Pug engine.

Drive both & see what suits you. I'd buy the 06.

 

I loved all of my MINIs(listed on my signature). I don't think I would have sold my '05 MC if I didn't have to move up to a Clubman for more room. It felt more like a gokart, I liked the speedo/dash way better, and I liked the smaller size overall. As you may/may not know, MINI's front end had to get bigger for 2nd gen due to European pedestrian crash standards so the rest of the vehicle had to follow. To me, the 1st gen was MINI and the 2nd gen, BMW. Take your pick!

 

Double post, sorry

 

In all fairness, that Peugeot engine is a joint BMW/Peugeot project--with the emphasis on BMW. That's where it was primarily developed.

Vanos will take care of the "death rattle", but that doesn't cover the issue on a 2007, if the car suffers from it. Not all cars suffer from the death rattle--in fact the vast majority don't...

I prefer the R53, but I'm trying to be balanced here...

 

In all fairness, that Peugeot engine is a joint BMW/Peugeot project--with the emphasis on BMW. That's where it was primarily developed.

Vanos will take care of the "death rattle", but that doesn't cover the issue on a 2007, if the car suffers from it. Not all cars suffer from the death rattle...

I prefer the R53, but I'm trying to be balanced here...

 

Hey, that sounds logical. We'll have none of that here!

Dean.

 

1st gen! Love that supercharger whine and to me, the car is just more fun to drive. More visceral but still with plenty of refinement.

 

Having had a first year of both generations

I think the GEN 1 was more sporty

but that also is limited to the GEN 1 FIRST YEAR cuz immediately, due to customer feedback, they started to down tune the car. Softer springs, different gearing

My GEN1 02S reminded me of my 95 Miata in terms of fun and road feel

my 07S reminds me of my 79 Olds Cutlass ... power but lots of room and kind of soft

 

That makes me want to go out and find the lowest mileage '06 I can get my hands on and store it until I run mine into the ground.