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$10K out the door to move from '07 MCS to '14 Base
Killer offer from the dealer. My '07 MCS has 92,000 miles, the base '14 has only 27,000 miles.
The F56 is more refined but boring to drive. I could have been in Camry or VW CC. The '14 still has the BMW warranty. The F56 3 cylinder is fine. Boring and Ugly for $10,000, but much better warranty and no more costs for another 2 years. Would you do it?? I have the cash, just don't like the F56 car. I couldn't wait for the test drive to be over it was so boring, refined yes, but Camry boring too.
You've had your MINI experience; now move on to something a little better. I like my R56 but I won't be a repeat customer, think GTI or maybe a 2 series BMW.
Whats are the options on the F56 Cooper ? If its mostly loaded, or fully loaded, I would take it. I dont think it boring. Now stock and no options that's boring
You seem to have a very strong opinion of it being boring to you. Why spend 10k on something you feel is so boring? Good deal or not boring is boring and 10k is well 10k
Whats are the options on the F56 Cooper ? If its mostly loaded, or fully loaded, I would take it. I dont think it boring. Now stock and no options that's boring
Stock. No real options.
Hankook tires after just 27k. Pretty sure Hankook is not OEM or is it?
Drives like my VW CC and just as quiet. Steering in sport mode is like my '07 in normal mode. 3 cylinder turbo is not bad, but not too fast either. Good turbo torque.
$10k for the better reliability and capped costs and warranty. My '07 drives great so I may pass. It's a close call. I'm still thinking about it.
On the F56 MINIs Hankook Optimas are amongst the OEM tires. They are designed for relaxed touring, not driving. The F56 suspension is also softer than the R56. Still, I think you could run away from the Camry or CC. See Charlie Thompson's inspiring tale of fun with a base F56:
I've never driven an F56 and have no opinion on it but how happy are you going to be with a car that bores you on the test drive?
I'm still thinking hard about it. The thing about my '07 MCS is I could be faced with a $5,000 repair at anytime, so then I would be better off having spent the $10,000.
The front over hang on the F56 is just hideous, the rear is not great either and so is the empty space on the base central display without the speedometer. Seats look great. Plenty of space. Excellent built quality. The new tachometer is just stupid. Lots of pros and cons. 3-cylinder is just enough power, but enough. Hard decision.
I don't think my opinion matters, since you've already stated that you find the F56 boring to drive, but...
I had the timing chain and all related parts replaced on my S a couple of months ago, all covered by Mini USA, and they gave me a loaner. A brand new base automatic F56 with only 50 miles on the odometer. I must say I was pleasantly surprised, so much so that when I returned to pick up my R56, I asked them to let me test drive a 6 speed one.
I could never say the 3 cylinder powered Mini was underpowered, especially in Sport Mode, and depending on where one lives, one could easily do without the Sport Suspension, when equipped with 17 or 18 inch wheels and tires.
A month ago I went back to have my sunroof replaced, but this time, sadly, not covered by Mini USA, and I ended up driving another base automatic F56 for 3 days.
I must say I liked it, quite a bit. I can't say I like the way it looks, but then again, I felt the same way about the R56 when I was still an R53 owner, but it grew on me. I could probably get used to the F56, but in my heart and in my mind, the R56 would still be a better looking Mini, just I as I still feel about the R53 after all these years. The best looking BMW designed Mini.
I would say these new Minis are much better built than my old R56, but then again, anything is.
I couldn't pull the trigger on the 2014 Cooper Base. I just didn't like it. The F56 S is better looking, but also another $4,000 and more than what I wanted to spend ($14,000 more with my trade).
Faced with at least $3,000 in needed repairs for my '07 MCS 92,000 miles, I just traded it in this weekend for a '10 Base Mini Convertible (Hot Chocolate with brown top) with 67,000 miles. It was $5,500 out the door with my '07 MCS in trade. Not as good a deal as the F56, but R57 is certainly not boring and I actually like driving it (still not as much fun as my S of course).
The '10 base cabrio is very clean and well maintained. Top is perfect. I was sold because it was structurally stiffer than my '07 and rides better. Handling is still not bad. Brakes are noticeably worst than my S, but I can live with it. Interior was in perfect shape. The base engine really needs to be flogged to move the heavy convertible, but I'm getting use to that and the gas mileage is 6 mpg better. Hopefully the Justa engine will be reliable and not leak.
Eh, I love my 2012 MCS but if I had to live with all the problems of the n14 I'd be dying on the inside... you should be better off with the justa's n12 as I hear they're more reliable without the turbo... personally I would have put that $10k + your trade toward the new 2016 Focus RS... now that looks like a non-boring car! ^^
Now, I'd never go from my S's mediocre factory bixenon's to the base's horrendous halogens again. That's way more noticeable than the loss of the turbo.
So far so good. My kids really like the drop top so that's a big plus. It drives like an old Mercedes, heavy but solid feeling. The only I don't like so far are the halogen headlights, but I will try LED bulbs this weekend.
On the headlights, I would not do the halogen w/ led bulbs ( it blinds on coming drivers ).
I would do the halogen spyder projectors or the halogen spyder projectors with a Xenon retrofit or led retro fit ( we dont carry the xenon aftermarket retrofit or those leds ). Some options:
Maybe do the factory Xenon Headlight retrofit : 63102347698 ( Then they needed coded by MINI dealership.
