My MCS is in for brakes (Knauz) and they gave me a 07 MINI loaner, 2600mi.

I must say it is like night and day compared to the earlier MINI's. Much more power which translates into much better acceleration.

Even with the automatic, is zips along quite nicely, and I like the ergonomics as well. I really don't find the speedo too large, but the radio LED is a bit hard to read with reflections off the face.

Best of all, I got 35.6 MPG!

I still would get an S, but it seems the gap has been narrowed considerably.

Good job MINI!

 

It is indeed a great car!

 

Heck yes it is! I <3 the R56!

 

That's why I ordered one

 

my car was in for a new supercharger under warranty, and i disagree i didnt like the new R56 at all. It felt bubbly and huuge.

 

Its too bad they couldnt do the improvements, and maintain the same body. Oh, did I just say that out loud. Sorry.
I am thinking that one day (hopefully a billion years from now) my car will be worn out. I do like the new ones, but am not completely sold on them yet. Is it an instant love for new R56 owners?
If so, is the older body not as attractive to you? What parts?
Just curiuous...

 

No offense... but listing out all the pros and cons of the 1st gen vs. the 2nd gen cars... it's been played out. Most of those threads get locked pretty quickley nowdays and some have resulted in banning of NAM members.

I bought the car I preferred. Its as simple as that. I no longer feel the need to convince anyone to like my car or justify my choise in any way. I've owned an R56 for 5 months now and wouldn't consider going back.

If you like the 1st Gen car better: Good on you. You made the right choise for YOU. Simple as that. No amount of words on some internet forum should convince you otherwise.

Life's too short not to motor in the MINI you like the best.

 

I dunt(tm) mind answering. I test drove both an 06 MC and 07 MC before deciding. I could have gotten the 06 for a lot less as the dealer was discouonting the 06's they had quite a bit.

It was no contest. The 07 rode better, handled better, and was easier to drive due to the engine pulling well at all speeds in any gear. The interior fit and finish seemed better as well.

This is my first Mini and I am enjoying the hexk out of it. She is a lot of fun and is the preferred ride in our house now. The 06 Lexus IS 250 has been relegated to secondary ride now.

 

While not a MINI owner, yet, I will be an R56 owner in the next year. I want to get a MINI new, so that the car will be mine from the beginning (plus used MINIs cost as much as new). I have definitely been drawn to the new car, and I'm at the point where I like the look of the R56 more than the previous generation.

There are still many times when I see R50s and R53s on the road, and still marvel at how great looking the car is. They truely will be timeless classics like the "true" classics, and we'll see if the R56 enjoys the same timelessness.

 

Speaking for Coopers only, it's not that I dislike parts of R50 so much as I see the next evolution of the car as a logical, sound, and very well executed. Nevermind that new requirements mandated much of the change. A lot of the Cooper's styling has been simplified/cleaned up and I like that. Similarly, I began to see many core design elements of R50 as "open to interpretation," especially when modifying these was either required or offered an actual practical benefit. Some of the design tweaks are derived less from R50 than from the classic Mini and therefore (in my mind) are perfectly appropriate.

However, I believe the OP's comments most likely refer to the Cooper engine, which is undeniably a big step forward. The "gap" he refers to likely has to do with the way the car pulls (in relation to R53) and that factor has been improved on the Cooper. That, and a myriad of other tweaks great and small (including improved mpg and 6-speed tranny) make the car highly desirable.

That MINI produced a new model that improves upon the former (as is logical), yet does not make that former model obsolete/out-dated is brilliant. I'd be very proud to still be driving my R50, and I would rightly key into all the nice features I find in the car (and there are plenty) but since I now drive an R56, I rightly key into it's clear benefits (of which there also are plenty).

It seems the OP might feel that many R53 owners could find the R56 Cooper more to their liking in a way that the R50 Cooper was not, simply because of improved torque.