The probablity of being hit by an expensive, exotic sports car is much less than that of being hit by a car that the masses can affort...so they get an exemption from the rules. Actually, I suspect that get exemptions from many rules, and I'm glad they do. I'll never be able to afford one, but I like the fact that they are allowed to exist, even if all I ever do is look at them and dream of owning one.

 

shokk, didn't mean it quite the way it sounded. I'm more than willing to gather groceries in my MINI, in fact, if my bride sends me for a dozen eggs I'll make 12 trips! She doesn't send me for a bag of rice anymore...

 

We both had "Love at First Sight" with our "S's",she has a Cabrio,we both have '05s.Not ANY car made (yet) will change our minds.Oh,I do know someone who's going to sell his R56 to buy an R53!

 

You mean I screwed up again by buying an R56? I thought I learned my lesson by driving (in order) a Dodge Dart, AMC Gremlin, Datsun 200SX, Dodge MiniVan, Plymouth Neon and Dodge Neon! I thought I finally beat my life long string of bad cars when I bought my 2007 MCS PW/B a few weeks ago. Now I am reading in this thread that I have ANOTHER dog. I guess I'll never learn. Excuse me while I go back to having the time of my life Motoring in my white rocket!

 

I think there will be a time when our beloved MCS R53's will need to be replaced, and at that time I hope someone has saved me another ,with very little miles

 

Hehehe, so I can say that my 12/02 build 03 MCS is the last of its kind?!?!?!? I went in trying to replace my daily driver, and came out an enthusiast with a collector's item! Though classic Mini enthusiasts might take issue for obvious reasons...

Though I think the REAL reason why the suspension had to be "watered down" for the US market is because our infrastructure is falling apart, especially when compared to much of western Europe, including England. I visited an English friend and fellow early build MINI owner over the summer and couldn't believe how much better their roads are. I LOVE my suspension on good roads. Unfortunately, there are very few of those here in south Louisiana. I don't mind it when I'm by myself, but am very conscious of how uncomfortable if not just downright brain-jarring it is when I carry passengers. Hmm, do you think that if we as a nation weren't driving these big behemoths with cushy suspensions we would demand that our roads be fixed? Or do we have to wait for a few more major bridges to fall in the drink?

I think I might have you beat in the "dog" department... my MCS replaced a pre-Hyundai 1998 Kia Sephia. The moment I pulled out of the dealer's lot that thing dropped to a third of its value. I hated that car even worse than an old Ford Pinto I had back in the day. The difference was I paid about $200 for the Pinto so wasn't expecting much. I prefer the 02-06 to the 07s but given a choice between a late model MINI to going back to what I had before... NO CONTEST!!!!! Yes, my car rattles on occasion, probably more than an 07 but I'll take that over the Kia dash which warped so bad you could see the insulation underneath, lol.

Though once upon a time I had a Dodge Dart Sport. That actually wasn't a half bad car. Definitely couldn't kill the engine!!!!

I've decided though that I prefer viscerality over speed. Even though I know the R56 is a better performer, I like the R53's feedback. My very very first car was a 1963 VW Beetle and even though it obviously wasn't much of a performer, I really liked feeling one with the road. Probably because I pretty much was one with the road. That car also didn't have power steering, which was fine when I was 18 but wouldn't be so fine now in my mid-40s. At least in my current vehicle I get a similar feeling without all the safety issues, and my power steering hasn't cut out on me... yet.

The cool thing is... we have all these options! There is nothing wrong with preferring one over the other. It doesn't necessarily mean that one car is inherently better or worse than the other. I know there are people who stay away from the early builds for the exact same reasons why I prefer mine... and that's totally OK!!!!

While I don't expect it to stay my daily driver indefinitely, I hope to be able to keep the car after its "retirement." One of the biggest "mistakes" my stepmother made was getting rid of her cool little MG Midget after she married my dad and she started having kids. Well, maybe it wasn't a mistake to her I guess, but I really loved that car too...

 

*yawn* Another uninformed internet troll who likes to pass judgment on a car he's never driven. Nothing to see here, move along.

 

I feel the same way, just hit 60,000 miles on my R53 , and I want to keep her for a long time. When I say a long time, I mean like at least 10 years. Not hating on the R56, it just doesn't excite me like the R53. Although I just heard today that Lotus is now offering the Elise with a supercharger, instead of just the Exige.

 

I am SOOOOOO glad I got an '06 R53 MINI!!!!!

I like the body style way better than the next gen MINIs...

'02 - '06

 

As for the R56 taking on new markets with the clubman.......
Know your roots (Classic Mini Clubman & Classic Mini pickup. In the days when the term "SUV" didn't exist)
I think a pickup version would be cool. Something more than the red bull Mini.

 

Wow, this topic really gets old.

 

Some day hopefully it will get old. Until then we will have to endure these kinds of threads until enough mud is slung that they get locked and drift off to the depths of the NAM archives titled; Old boring blah blah blah

Mark

 

Hey all you R53 lovers. If you want to put your money where your mouth is, I have a buddy that is getting ready to sell a 2004 electric blue MCSm with only 25K miles. This thing is in mint condition. It has Sports Package, Cold Package, Performance Package and HK audio. What do you think it's worth? His lease is up and he bought it for the residual and now wants to sell (he has four cars). Most of his driving was back and forth to St. Louis from Cape Girardeau (approx 180 miles roundtrip interstate highway).

poyzin

 

I would suggest going to the marketplace here on NAM and seeing what similar MINIs are selling for.

Mark

 

My sentiment exactly !

If the R56 and whatever the next generation is continues down the same path I'll be looking at something different when it comes time to replace mine ...which hopefully won't be for a looooooong time.

All I can say is I sure am glad I drove an R53 after my R56 came in.

dean.

 

For everyone who thinks this topic is stale, imagine what it would have been like had there been internet forums for the past forty years during the production of the real "1st gen" mini and its variants. I can only imagine endless decades of anger and sorrow as Morris Minor "competed" with Austin, and or how they morphed into Bristish Leyland and later overcame another financial hardship and passed onto Rover, etc.

If you guys think R56's are ugly, horrible, etc., image how the classic mini enthusiasts feel about the MINI?

Fortunately (and selfishly) I love them all, except for the classic clubman. Wish I had room and means to have one of each!

 

The OP pointed out completely valid observations based on his perspectives. And your response? ... a personal attack. I'm not sure what has fouled up the MINI community more... the R56... or R56 owners like yourself.

 

Your right Lets keep this thread about the cars, and respect each others observations. If someone says there is no way they would ever sit in a R56, let alone own one, so be it.

For me, I plan on owning my 03 MC with 95k miles for a long time to come. My wifes 05 Cabrio is probably going to have to go to make room for a New Clubman.

Mark

 

This is starting to look like several of the other threads that I had to lock in the last couple of days. Leave the personal attacks out of your posts, realize that people may have different views relative to different models, and if you can't deal with different points of view unsubscribe from the thread, add them to your ignore list, etc. but don't continue to attack each other. Any additional activity like this will get the thread closed and everyone instigating the issues back on moderated posting.

Now go watch some football, spend some time with friends and family, and relax for at least a day.

Mark

 

I think these threads are very valuable because the "squeaky wheel" will get the grease eventually. BMW and MINI reads these threads on a daily basis and it is very important for the manufacturer to understand what makes these cars "tick"among the enthusiast community. Conformity and ignoring customer feedback are among 2 of the deadliest traps a car manufacturer can possibly fall on. If MINI truly starts to believe their own mantra and ignore what their loyal customers are telling them.... Is the kind of arrogance that will put them down the sharp knife. Note to MINI: Listen to the feedback your customers are telling you here. Use that data to determine how the next MINI will be. Remember that the MINI is a car that has to be cooked to perfection and has a very distinctive flavor. This is not a BMW 3 series. This is a car that has to look and feel like a MINI, otherwise it becomes a caricature of its own self. Listen, BMW, listen!

 

^ Regardless of how I feel about the R56, I should point out that BMW is unlikely to take much advice from the 1st gen forum -- keep in mind there are many R56 owners happy with their car. And it's hard to argue with the pocketbook: we can gripe about losing the essence of MINI all we want on NAM 1st gen forums, but new buyers are increasing sales numbers for MINI . . . so I think BMW will be listening to that as well.
In fact I think some people already have the R55 on order and on its way.

 

Let's just enjoy what we have. The Mini will continue to evolve and I think that the design is timeless & has its own identity. With all the HP race taking place, who knows it will someday come in 2.0 L twincharge in the 275+ stock HP and lightweight materials...giant killer?

 

Bingo... let us hope that BMW returns the next generation back to the enthusiasts.

 

I believe MINI is/was listening precisely to customers...and many of the changes in R56 reflect that. The so-called "enthusiasts" should relax a wee bit....the MINI is not and should not be solely a race car!! I think BMW did the right thing and will make the MINI brand stronger in spite of us.

That said, yes, do enjoy R50/53...I have nothing against either model, but I definitely do value what has been created in R56. There is little reason to bash. Just because R50/53 was first out of the chute does not make it the sole, definitive MINI and there is no real reason to not find lots to like in each model.

 

Well... one thing is for sure... them BMW bean counters must be crapping kittens with the direction that R56 sales has taken the marque...

The current January sales for MINI is: 2,460 units
As compared to January 2006 sales from the R53 era: 2944 units

That is a huge drop in sales for the MINI, which does not deal in large volumes... Looks like the R56 has done the unthinkable... sink a sure thing!