Most of these are subjective and some are compared with my R53 S:


Plaudits:

anthracite roof: well worth the $200. It's adds a lot more class to the overall feel of the interior
legibility of information from tachometer
wipers are quieter. (important in Seattle)
general fit and finish of inside
rear seat cover (if you own dogs this is a great accessory)
dead pedal seems a little wider and more comfortable
three net bags in boot keep things from moving about
steering feels lighter
roof rack is much improved in terms of looks and installation is easier, but still a little difficult
comfort access: pricey but has a wow factor about it
feels more solid when driving
solid feel of the toggles. They are a bit shorter, but wider
three heat settings for the seats
improved daily driving mileage: 32.4 mpg R56 vs 28.4 R53
smooth gear change
fit and finish of the boot area, but still too small
quality almost everywhere when compared to R53
seats are more comfortable and provide more comfort under the lower thighs
backup lights actually light your way

Niggles:

drivers side vent with chrome insert reflects badly off of the drivers side outside mirror
seems like longer throws when changing gears
wood dash/its nice but Piano Black looks better with Redwood Lounge Leather
programing functions not very intuitive and down right frustrating
some accessories are wildly expensive especially if you need someone to install them
real parcel shelf is far too flimsy/feels and looks like from the former Soviet Union


Still in Question:

Sport button and all of those other goodies that make driving a MINI fun. (I'm still in the break -in- faze)

Radio, IPod, CD functions are not intuitive and will take some getting used to. However, after 20 minutes or so, I was able to use the IPod.

 

We're less than 400 miles away from the sport button!! Break in phase here, too...

...may have to make a 3 Casino run this weekend to rack up those last miles The Oregon Coast is peppered with one-armed bandit casinos and hotels, each one 50 to 100 miles apart...

Wish us luck!

 

no need to wait for break in to use the sport button! just make judicious use of the go fast pedal.

 

Yes, use the sport button! Your MINI will thank you for it. The throttle response in heavy stop and go traffic is much better. Just don't go over 100mph or 4500 rpm...

 

What's a "real parcel shelf"?

 

It's where you put real parcels, as opposed to imaginary parcels. To my mind, the real parcel shelf is the back seat.

 

A goof "rear parcel shelf."

 

Is that the think in the back that conceals the boot contents and flips up when the boot hatch is open?

 

Yes, very flimsy. I'm not sure it that is the correct name? It seems smaller on the R56, probably because MINI has reconfigured the angle of the back seat to make it a bit more comfortable to sit in the back seat. When you open the hatch and look in the boot you can tell that the angle is much different from R53s.

 

It's rather dangerous to place things on the imaginary parcel shelf. They tend to turn into unwanted missiles in the event of accidents. The practice is especially dangerous of the imaginary parcels are heavy or have sharp projections. You would not want to get a brain injury, real or imagined.

As suggested, use the back seat or the boot for those parcels--real or imagined.

Joe

 

What I prefer and don't prefer on my R56 over my R53:

-I love the round gas gauge in the speedo. I know some people have said it's distracting, but I think it looks cool and easier to read as far as how low you're getting on gas.

-I like the "put your seatbelt on NOW!" tone.

-I like that you can program functions yourself (but I don't like that you have to do it for each key...I'd like it better if you programmed the car, not the key). But I can see how that works for two drivers of the same car.

-I like the automatic transmission a lot more than the CVT, which I found jerky at slow speeds.

-I like the way the glove box opens.

-I like that you can see the clock and your trip odometer readout at the same time instead of one or the other.

-I like that you can view the OBC readout in your radio.

-I like the larger cup holders.

-I like the three settings on the heated seats.

-I don't like that you can program the car to lock at 12 mph, but you can't program it to unlock when you turn off the car. Ideally, I would love it if the car locked automatically as soon as you put it into gear and unlocked when you put it into PARK (like my Mom's Corolla).

-I don't like the smaller door pockets. And the smaller storage area on the center console.

-I don't like that the DRL's are not a dimmer version of the headlights like they were on my R53.

-I don't like the tiny illustrations on the dial for air flow direction. I don't drive with glasses but I do need reading glasses and I need them to read the illustrations (until I learn them). Plus, I believe on the R53 (if I remember correctly), you could direct the air to feet and face only, but you can't do that on the R56. If you want the air on your feet and face, you also have to have it directed towards the top.

-I don't like the dial for putting on the air flow. If I want it on very very low, I'm not sure it's on unless I have the air coming out of the front vents so I can put my hand out and feel it.

-I don't like the shallower (is that a word?) cutouts where you place you hand to close the boot.

-I don't like that it's harder to lock the rear seats back into place.

I guess that's it off the top of my head.

 

I thought I was the only one with that issue...kinda glad it's the car and not me.

 

I dunt(tm) like the fact that I do not have mine yet. But it's coming!!! WOOT!

 

From my experience in Grand Theft Auto(video game), locking your car is very important, to prevent the car jackers from stealing your car.
Seriously tho~ I personally think it's better to keep the car locked all the time. It's not like we have to press the "unlock" button to unlock the cars, just pull the door handle twice~

 

Yes, but I'm tired of telling people, "Pull it twice!" while they're trying to break the handle off. It's no big deal; I was just comparing that feature to my R53 which did unlock when you turned off the car.

 

Like Rennie, I would not mind the auto-lock (the Lexus does it), as long as it unlocks when you shut off the engine.

Can the auto-lock be disabled? I would rather do that than have people trying to rip apart my car.

Now that I am scheduled for production, I need to keep my notes up to date when I finally pick up mine. Yes, that was a cheap way to annouce, yet again, MY CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR PRODUCTION!!

 

Yes, you can disable the autolock. Can't wait to see your nightfire red, Skuzzy.

 

ME TOO!

Is it here yet? Is it here yet?!?!?

 

I hate it when my friends try to pull the handle off too, but I find it amusing~ lol~ Maybe someone should make a sticker that says "PULL TWICE" that we can put near the door handle? LOL

 

How's this: "Be nice, pull twice."

 

Spent and hour programming the car like blinkers and the like. Now for the radio/IPod.

 

...

 

I can't figure out the 3 blink option for the turn signal, can someone drop me a PM, PLEASE

 

You can use the sport button during break in. Just keep it below 4500 rpm and 100 mph.

 

What? Another R56 in Seattle? Impossible! I've only seen ONE aside from mine...