So we've had a Clubman, Countryman and now a Paceman.....my daughter will be taking the PM to college, which leaves me with my Jeep. I'm thinking of selling Jeep and Getting another MINI....I like the R56 a lot, and there's a good deal on one locally, but the new interior of the F56 is sweet! So R56/F56 folks, chime in and tell me which I should get....as a caveat, the 2013 is a S, while the 2014 would have to be a Non S(want bells and whistles, but can't on the 2014)........thoughts????

 

You should go to the F56 forum and ask your question

If you like the interior of the F56, you'll love the entire car, since you'll be spending time behind the wheel of it mostly anyway. It is such a nice place to be. And you'll be surprised with the 3cyl engine. Maybe you'll be swayed with the S that you'll forego some of the bells and whistles you'd have ordered with the Justa.

Good Luck with your decision

 

Personally, I prefer the R56 for many reasons. I just couldn't find an R56 that had what I wanted, so passed this time around.

While many things in the F56 are better in terms of space and quality, I just couldn't get over the removal of the central speedo, the 'tacked on' look of the window controls and the difficulty using the media controller with the armrest (think hand claw). I also disliked the tiny tach and that whole instrument cluster. My biggest peeve however is the tiny gas tank so that even with the higher mpg, the range on a tank is less. Gone are the days of 600 miles on a tank in a justa. It has also lost some of the handling and the clutch is much lighter.

Add to this the general exterior design (mainly front grill and huge taillights) and the negatives outweighed the positives for me.

On a minor picky note, it irked me that the fuel tank is now on the passenger side and they flipped the audio/cruise controls on the steering wheel. I also disliked the standard flimsy rear-view mirror, new door handles and the little plastic triangle pieces added to the front window frames. You also can't get a full bank of toggles without adding expensive options.

 

R56 owner here and I love it, I'm going to keep it forever!!!, but once again if you like the F56 go for it and let us now, like you said the interior is really nice, is missing the big speedometer and all but like I saw it BMW is trying to get the “New MINI” a new fresh start, we like it or not that's done, and after all a new car is a new car Mr. Tacoman03...wish you good luck choosing.

 

Just sold my R50 and currently waiting for my F56 S. Sounds like you know what most of the R series is all about. Make sure you go for a ride in the F56 and I think that will help make a decision.

Once I rode in the F series, my decision was easy. The interior, feel, and overall ride are SO improved (for my driving) that I couldn't imagine going back.

 

Hasn't lost any of it's handling. It has however changed the configuration and options on such. You can get it or configure it light or you can get it or configure it sporty. You can go with a rigid sport suspension from the factory. Your choice.

 

For myself I went with the 2013 R56 as well. While I do like the interior of the F56 I also have to like the appearance of the outside as well and that's where it was easy for me. Plus the F56 pretty much has lost all the quorky things that made a MINI stand out for me. I too loved the giant dinner plate speedo in the middle. Evidently all good things come to an end though. So it really comes down to which one you want. What things stand out for you to pick the model that suits your needs and likes! Good luck and enjoy!

 

It didn't feel the same to me on any of the modes. Sport mode was close to the old handling I guess, but prefer sport mode in R56 over any of the modes in F56. To each his own...

 

R56 all the way. Wait until they change a few things down the road on the F56. If it's go kart handling that you want, R56. If it's the new design of the interior(which I like), F56 then.

Curious to see what choose in the end.

 

I have a '13 R56 (base model) and am grateful I do. At my point in life I'm not looking for high performance and the car I bought is the last 'non turbo' that MINI made. From all the comments I've read on this forum the odds are I'll be in for less problems (on average) than our friends with turbos. All the F's are turbos.

 

Funny the talk of the big speedo, I NEVER ever use mine, I just read the digital output on my tach. Heck my triumph MC has no analog speedo, just the tach, so I guess I've outgrown looking at a speedo guage.

 

thanks all for the input! The Interior is where you spend most time so I'm leaning towards F56, BUT, I have yet to test drive the 2013 S, or the 2014 Justa.....I'm a big guy so hoping that I'll fit(remember I am coming from experience with a Countryman - awesome car, and a Paceman - just as awesome.)

 

It's more the fact it is a MINI staple. It's one if the things that makes a MINI, well, a MINI...

 

Did you drive one with the option sport suspension? Night and day difference.

 

+1.. That's exactly my point. The roots of the car and things that made it a MINI are just about if not all gone!

 

Countryman is awesome, that's why I bought an r53 last year and it's the awesomest. If I was going to buy new, I'd opt for the f56, even though I'd miss the center speedo and the bonnet is a little longer, the new motor makes it for me. But it definitely would come down to a test drive for me. That being said, after buying the r53, I can't see myself buying new again.
If you fit in a clubman, should be no problem in f56.

 

Give both a try. I find that I fit a little better in my '12 Hardtop than the loaner Paceman I got a while back. My personal choice would be the R56 non-S--but then, that was exactly what I got... :D

 

No, but I shouldn't have to. I didn't get the same feeling with the same spec'd car, which to me is a more direct comparison between the R56 and F56. You shouldn't have to add an option in order to get the previous gens handling back.

 

if you do a lot of freeway miles, go for F56, if you want more fun, go for R56. Drive a loaner F56Sa recently and its very quiet and very snug fit seat, but it feels a bit heavy in the corners. Somehow it feels like an electric car in green mode( quiet and effortless altho it shift at 1.8k all the time lol . Still way more fun than a normal car. Own a 09 R56Sa, a bit more nimble in the twisty roads and I can see better in R56 (easier to park if you care abt this) coz its got bigger windows, F56 is a bit claustrophobic inside (Feels like living in a helmet).

 

I think the way to get away the flimsy mirror is to either get an alarm or the autodip, I think I've seen they use the mirror with clown nose in F56 (quite rare).

 

Well, I ended up opting for a 2014 F56 in the end. Base, White Silver.......I was very impressed with pick up(due to torque increase of base turbo engine.....that and the interior was the deal maker.
I'll post a pic soon......

 

R56 if you love a solid go-kart feel going into curves, F56 if you like gadgets and a smooth ride, and don't mind body roll going into curves.

 

Lot of these comments seem biased, as I expected they would. I drove a 20k mileage '11 , a 13 and a 14 before deciding, hopefully you did something similar

 

Good choice