Made a quick trip to the dealer on Friday for a couple of (covered) cosmetic items. They had a couple of new F56es on the lot.

I didn't have time to go for a drive, but I did walk around them and sit in one. Here are my impressions:

The car looks better in person than in the sneak-preview photos we've all seen. When the new bumper element is painted black, it is fairly unobtrusive. Which is a Very Good Thing, I think. The taillights are, of course, more noticeable, but they actually worked reasonably well for me as part of the design.

The new scuttles are larger, and one had an optional panel around the scuttle which was larger--and it worked, too! It was a "dark checker" type pattern, and matched with the mirrors and roof.

I still dislike the interior. The column-mounted speedometer has shoved the tach over to the side, which I hate. I still feel the tach is the more important instrument, and should be right in front of the driver. The seat did not seem to have as much lateral support as the Sport Seats in my R56. Again, I felt I was perched on them rather than sitting down in them. There was also about 4" less headroom than in my car. Even with the seat all the way down, I was still very close to the headliner. I'm sure some of that is due to the sunroof in the F56, but I don't know if all of it was.

The interior did have a more upscale feel than mine. That was nice. I was pretty neutral about the revised switches and such (window switches now are on the doors, which I think is a better location but is less quirky). The radio and cruise buttons are swapped left-for-right on the steering wheel, which now feels odd.

The nav control is more beefy than the little pencil stick on the R-series loaners I've gotten, and that's a Very Good Thing. Hopefully the rest of the control setup for that is better as well.

The one I looked at was a Justa, and I had to check the engine. Boy, that thing is really hidden! There's a big plastic cover over everything which you have to remove in order to even see the top of the motor. No dipstick at all, so you have to check the oil with the on-board computer. I don't think I care for that...


Anyway, in sum:
The car looks better in person than in photos. I don't mind it, and could grow to like it.
I still, however, dislike a number of elements of the interior. I'm not sure I would look forward to spending much time in there.

 

I went on Friday @ Mini of Baltimore. They were showing it off too.
I think the 3 cylindar engine will improve the milage compared to my 2002 @ 33mpg.
I couldn't believe that they still don't have an armrest! Other than that is just OK.

 

I gave the F56 a look-over during my last trip to the dealer and have seen it previously at the Houston Auto Show in January and neither time seeing it in person improved my opinion of the styling over the pictures I'd seen before. Both cars were Coopers (not S's), so did lack the front lower outcropping that looks so out of place on the S, which was good. Still not an attractive front end by any stretch of the imagination. I could probably learn to live with (though not love) the front end if it weren't for the rear. The tail lights are just awful. Overall the car just gives the impression of being "overstuffed" - like everything's a little bloated and out of proportion.

I haven't bothered sitting in one since I can't get past the exterior.

Hoping for good things for the next-gen Clubman and there's always the chance they'll change their minds on doing a smaller car. As it stands I think I'm good for awhile.