Having had my R56 MCS for over 1800 miles now and being my first MINI I can add my thoughts on the new design.

I had test driven an '03 and an '05 on the same day and 2 different times. I was drawn to the fun drivability of the MINI but would always hit a wall with the interior layout and just plan design choices. The pre-R56 MINI's were nice but far from my R56. When I finally went in at the beginning of March the dealer had the '07's in stock. I went for a test drive wit the MA and my wife in the car. The MA races professionally and he demonstrated what the MINI really can do. I had a hard time not wanting the MINI after that. I went to another dealer that had a big selection of '07's and did not have the markup the first dealer had and sat in the car I now own for the first time.

I instantly felt the interior was way better. The center stack is hugely more refined as I did not like the vertical bars that were there in the older models. The lines of the dash in the center around the vents and speedo are a huge improvement. The speedo being more of the "Flava Flav" clock look was a laughable first impression but I like it a lot with no issues to the size. The radio is different but the same screen and interface as the new BMW Coupe's use if you don't have nav. The new key is very cool. I don't have the convenience package and I really don't want to leave my key in my pocket (personal preference). The one key hole on the outside driver door handle is useful for closing the windows/moon roof if left open without getting in to put it in accessory and if the battery dies you can still get in. The newer steering wheel is so much better than the older steering wheel as well. I really got turned off each time I would test drive an older MINI. It's comfortable and the function buttons are positioned well for easy use and the telescoping steering column is a welcome feature for those that can't sit close to the dash but want to drive in a comfortable seating position.

The lounge leather is just so damn nice. The seats are very comfortable and supportive. The seat release on the back of the seat shoulder is nice for both a front passenger and a rear seat passenger. The extra seat lock position for the rear seats is a nice feature if you need to fit an odd size box in the back without putting the seat(s) down. The design of the doors is very nice and the arm rest is just right for cruising and easily utilized for closing the door (I really didn't like the older door designs much at all). The ability to have anthracite headliner is a very nice option. It's a feature I had wanted in my previous BMW's like the M's come as standard. Even though I have an all black interior it really is not too dark and quite comfortable.

The drive of the R56 is top notch and not hearing a whine of the SC is no big deal for me. In honesty it may get on my nerves to hear that all the time.

The R56 is a great quality MINI now and even slightly larger. When I test drove with the MA the first time (we were all 6 foot including my wife) my wife fit quite nicely behind my seat and I didn't feel cramped in the front seat at all, a huge improvement over the older MINI's even if just a subtle improvement in terms of inches. Some have had issue with the way the headlights look on the new MINI but if you look a than R53 and R56 side by side, I have noticed that the headlights now wrap around to the side a little where as the R53 is flat and can't be seen except from the front. I see this as a way to let some of the light from the headlight to bleed over to the sides for some improved visibility. The Xenon lights are wonderful as these are also my first Xenon lights.

The side mirrors are slightly larger now but are easily utilized and if adjusted correctly gives the driver an ample view. When an R53 owner sees the moon roof of my MINI vented they always have the same "I wish mine did that" statement. It is nice to have the rear glass open and especially nice to have the sun visors for the moon roof open and stay wherever you want instead of spring loaded like before.

The power is very nice especially being my first turbo. I have not had an SC'd car either but I know the differences in the two and can say the turbo will have mod potential for sure. The R56 is a nice daily driver and have no issues with traffic here in OC. The shifting of the manual is smooth and very easy to find the right gear and when really punching it can up shift easily as though the stick is being drawn into the next gear for you.

I like it so much that I always want to be in the car driving now and my wife liked it so much that she got her R56 Cooper 1 week after I got mine and just can't stop having fun with it.

Sorry for making this sorta long but I wanted to comment on the features and changes that I have noticed between the models and everyone will have their opinion of everything on a new model car which is fine. Everything goes through an evolutionary change as things are refined or otherwise "fixed" from an early design. Even if you look at say the RAV4, when that was first introduced it was very small (and ugly). Now the RAV4 is just like every other SUV on the road and just as big as all but the mobile zip codes (Excursion, Expedition, H2...). The R56 MINI is by no means evolving to be way bigger than the R50/R53 but it is a logical evolution to introduce more size where you can to get every little bit more out of such a small form factored car. Everyone was so up in arms over the design of the new BMW 7, 5 and even 3 series but you will see the new models everywhere (and I do see then every day everywhere I go). As people study the changes and even get to drive and actually use the new features they get used to them (after all change is good ). One happy R56 owner here!

Any other R56 owners out there that feels similarly to these observations?

 

I have an r56 now for 3 weeks and I agree with all comments. I love the vehicle - it will put a smile on my face everytime I start it up and makes going out to store a pleasure. I have taken the long route just to enjoy the great handling. The fit and finish has been top notch. I previously owned a audi a4 avante wagaon and do not miss it at all - and that was a pretty tight vehicle.

The radio and center console are unique and get alot of oohs and aahs from those who see the car. Frankly all who have seen it with they had one.

 

Its funny everything you hate about the R53 I love and everything you love about the R56 I hate.

 

Nice write up. I test drove an 07 last week while my car was in for its first oil change. First, a couple of technical things. Other than the telescope feature, the steering wheel is virtually identical to my 06. Anthricite headliner was available on the R53 as well (I have it). To each his own, and in no way am I flaming you for your opinion, but I hated the the center stack design on the new car, especially the overly large speedo and the HVAC controls. I do, however, undertand that the cup holders are actually usable, and that there is more leg room, but I think the R53 design looks better (just MY opinion).
I did feel that the car had more pickup at lower revs, and you can feel that flat torque curve from about 2000 rpm. Just a slight bit of turbo lag when going WOT, but undetectable while driving normal. The car I drove had the standard suspension, not the sport, so while the ride was much smoother than an R53's, there was a lot of wallow to go with it. It didn't feel as tight. I am sure that the sport suspension fixes that, but I havn't driven it. I did like the black cloth seats. They offered better support than the seats in my car. I think the car has a nice growl when getting on it, and the engine is smoother and quieter. The shift action is lighter, but I didn't care for the new shift ****. It is oddly shaped and not comfortable. I also didn't think that the clutch takeup was as natural, but I was used to it by the end of the test drive. I don't care for the stance from behind. It looks jacked up, like it has 4WD. All in all, I thought it was pleasant. When I got back in my car, it felt better to ME. I like the unique engine sounds, and really like my dash a lot better. As I told my MA, if somehow my car were totalled, I could see buying a new Mini, but I'd have to figure out how to install my old dash!

 

Guess our taste in cars runs opposite. By all means enjoy your sideways head lights, quiet ride, and jumbo speedo. But I will stick with my classic R53, whine and all, thank you very much

 

I just want to jump in and remind everyone (EARLY!) to keep this thread polite... since we've had some heated problems over comparisons in the past. Honest opinions welcome. Just don't put down other people's opinions when they differ from yours!

 

I've liked the R50 and R53 from the first time I saw them. I would've bought either one if my financial situation was better. When the time came that I could finally get one the R56 was right around the corner and with the better milage I decided on that. There are some things I will miss; love the old head lamps and wiper area, and would rather have a smaller speedo (although with the SAT/NAV that's not going to be an issue). I really like the front grill on the R56 much better even if it's not as "pretty" as the R50/R53. I also think the interior is much improved on the R56; better materials, better center console (OK, maybe not the stereo control part) and better seats. To me the rear ends are a toss up and I personally wouldn't miss the supercharger whine. These are just my opinions for what that's worth, after all, a MINI's a MINI, it's all good.

 

It is great to love your car! I wish I had an R56 to love along with my '05 Cabrio but then, polyamory never did work out well for me. Still . . . perhaps . . . treating cars like objects wouldn't be so bad . . . . One whines but only when really putting out! The other simply gets it on! Hey Baby!

 

I was completly unbiased when I went to buy our mini last month. We first drove an R56. We were not sure if we wanted a convertabe or not, so we then drove a new '06 convertable. I liked R53 much better. I hated the turn signal on he new modle, how it does not really click into place, and I hated the key that huge and not a key. Overall, the rest was ok, but i just perferd the older modle. Or maybe it was just the convertabl that did it. Or the $1800 below sticker since it was an '06. But the bottom line is I definalty perfer the older modle.

 

I prefer the look of the older car.

I particularly dislike the side repeaters on the R56 and all the switchgear below the speedo on the center console. The headliner is also fairly cheap feeling, but I have a sunroof, so there's not much of it and I rarly plan on fondling my headliner for extended periods of time.

Spec'd correctly, though... the R56 is a hoot to drive (as a MINI should be). The combination of the sport suspention and limited slip differential allow the power to be put to the ground and the car to corner as flat as ever. The addition of H&R lowering springs on mine eliminated some bump steer and the slight negative camber in the rear now has the car balanced just about perfectly. The thing tucks easily with a controllable overstear to follow. Such a crazy trait for a front-wheel-drive car. Amazing. There's some noticable turbo howl there when you get on it... but it could be a little lounder (so, I see an intake and pipe in my future). Getting on the gas at the apex there's just enough tug and front end bouce to remind me of the rally cars I had the privlidge to drive last year. All business and ready to fly. Once I get rid of the run flats, I expect the ride and grip to improve that much more.

Then again, slow the pace down, enjoy the supple lounge leather sport seats, turn on the bun-warmer and listen to some tunes and it's a great daily commuter as well.

The ONLY driving negative I can find with the turbo car: With a quiter passenger compartment and no SC whine and such stable mannaerisms, the R56 has a way of egging you on. It begs to be pushed harder and harder. It so balanced and composed, that I can easily see where the car could encourage a few to push it beyond their limits right-quick. There's just nothing there telling you to "slow it down".

I'm personnaly loving it so far.

 

H&R springs? How do they look? Pictures please! I am seriously considering the springs, but I am not sure the car will have enough suspension travel.

As to a comparisson, I drove a 2002 Cooper for five years. It was loads of fun, but I was looking for a little refinement. My new R56 provides that, and more. It is certainly one of the fastest cars I have ever owned, brakes and corners like a BMW, and is unique. Sure,the speedo is too big, the gas guage isn't, and I never know if the engine is warmed up or what my boost pressure and oil pressure are. But the large speedo face provides a mounting spot for my NUVI, and I am sure someone will design a nice guage pod soon. I still think my purchase was a good one.

 

I really appreciate everyone's opinions so far. My comments are purely for informational purposes from an actual R56 owner.

I have seen posts before on BMW boards where people complain about a car that they either had never driven or seen in person. I think if one is to really formulate an opinion they should have an opportunity to really drive the car, not in a 'round the block drive but drive for a while in a demo car and maybe try some different roads and situations before ending the drive. I know test drives are so hard to get ideas on how the car felt without really driving it.

I do really like the R50/53's as they are in most ways. The points I made about the steering wheel for example were for the original 2 spoke design. I personally did not like the look of that version but I could have ended up enjoying it just the same if I were to have purchased one of those models. The anthrecite headliner being an option on some of the R53's is something I did not realize and it is quite a nice option.

Car design is subjective to the person that is looking at or touching it. An R56 MINI is still a MINI if only slightly more refined and updated for pedestrian laws (something else could possibly have been done but I guess the redesign was the less costly of all other options). I like some of the R50/53 looks such as the painted panels under the wiper blades instead of the nubbed plastic trays on the R56 now. I even feel the headlights of old are very nice as they face forward and flat. As I mentioned I can see possibly why the headlights were brought along the side a bit. It may have even been a decision to lessen the larger look of the new body.

The stereo incorporated into the speedo I feel is nice even if it is very different from a DIN style unit. I just put something on from time to time to mostly create something for background noise so I am not constantly adjusting the settings and changing stations etc. Listening to high volume music I think has hurt my hearing a bit anyway. The center stack is of course going to be a controversy for a while but with it being narrower makes for more front foot well room which is very good. The separate CD slot and volume **** and climate controls along the stack face are interesting and simple. I can see that design migrating to something even further free flowing similar to that of the Clubman concept interior maybe (hopefully not). I enjoy it on a day to day use basis and can find things without looking easy enough now.

Having heard the SC whine on a couple of R53's over last weekend I can see why most like the sound. It's quite demanding and says it has power for sure. Having not had any forced induction car before I am quite happy with the turbo but either would have been fine for power. Subtle and very fast indeed. With some upgrades like an intake and maybe a turbo upgrade and anything else that can be manufactured for the R56 engine, I can see the turbo having a lot of the same sounds the SC people enjoy. Hearing my first GP this last weekend I mean wow that SC was LOUD and may have been audible from over a block lol.

As a proud new owner of a MINI I definitely enjoy the looks of the older models and enjoy the new model and of course can't wait to see where BMW engineers take MINI to next. As long as it doesn't look like every other ho hum car on the road it will keep me happy. MINI having the unique interior design and exterior looks is what brought me to come from BMW or any other car to MINI. Get out of the blah and into the wow!

 

I would love the R56 in an R53 body. Since that isn't the way it is, I'll take the R56 in an R56 body.

 

Wow all this is just making me more "impatient".. hence the name lol. I gonna wait till after the summer. still saving for my down payment. Hopefully they will not get rid of the color and options i want by that time cause they are going to be getting into the groove of the "08's"

 

Sigh ... a RAV4 comment. Just to clarify this statement a bit. This is the third generation of RAV4s ... formally called a "cute ute" ... now its "compact size". With a wheelbase of less than 105", its actually classified as "compact car" size ... if it were a car.

Compact cars usually have wheelbases between 2.54 metersinches) and 2.67 metres (105 inches)

The first two generations would be subcompact car size.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_car

At a length a bit longer than 180", its about 8" SHORTER than a current Mustang. But I understand your point. Its no longer a "cute ute" but small SUV and your analogy is a good one.

 

The main reason I didn't wait to try an R56 is that I wanted a full JCW S and didn't want to wait 2 or 3 years for a new version. Having previously owned an '03 MC, I knew what to expect w/ the interior, and like very much the small upgrades since '03. With the R56, I don't like the new bonnet opening around the fixed lights at all. The gap around the front wheels is more than I want to see. The center stack is both good and bad- but I wouldn't want to give up the R53's for the new design. I still think the R53 auto climate layout and lighting are as nice as anything out there, expecially lit up at night. The most objectionable thing to me has been mentioned already: the side repeater light design. I much prefer the R53 there, though the R56 S look is a bit easier to tolerate than the MC's. As far as performance and speed, w/ a JCW model, the turbo of the R56 isn't going to tempt me, and the SC whine is incredibly addictive. In addition, I prefer a tight ride, and the 'O6 full JCW package is, IMO, the pinnacle of what can be done to a factory MINI's handling up to this point, though I have added very light aftermarket 17" performance tires and wheels. That being said, when the new JCW engine and suspension upgrades come on line and make the R56 a little fire breather w/ tens of horsepower more, perhaps I'll rethink my level of satisfaction. One thing is for sure, buying an R56 certainly isn't going to disappoint anyone who hasn't yet owned a MINI.

 

I do have to agree with this on the side grill/repeater on the R56. They are a bit too big as compared to the R53. I can only hope that some aftermarket option comes out that changes that shape to something real sweet and possibly carbon fiber to go along with the JCW cf stuff I am getting soon. Maybe a backlit "S" logo too .

My wife's R56 MC side marker things are interesting to put them in a nice word but they are alright for the time being. After she got the bonnet stripes installed it really made her car a bit more sporty since she has CR/W. Looks real sharp.