Probably not Matt, but I think I'm enjoying my MINI's burbles more because of the intake, exhaust & pulley. Yep it's a software deal. My old race car burbled very nicely, but that was because of the exhaust leaks at the joints. Loosen up those clamps for more burbles. You need more sound rather more performance? Contrary to popular belief, sound does not = horsepower. Oh, if it was only that easy.

 

That's definitely something to take into consideration, and my local courses are the same. Without typical dynos of both cars in front of me, I still think the R56 is the better car as I believe it has better low-end grunt. (I of course might be wrong.)

This isn't to say the R53 is totally obsolete, or that it's not a better fit for some people in some cases (local, tighter courses).

ImagoX, any car with a turbo will have some lag as it's an innate problem. The turbo is not spooling when you're off boost, so when you get on it, it takes a second to spool up. Twin-scroll turbos like in the R56 are much better than, say, my old 1986 Saab, but the lag is still present.

 

That's what *I've* read as well, but turbo fans insist that if the car is set up properly that there's no appreciable lag... I've never tracked or raced a turbo car though, so I'm going purely on the reports of others.

HA! that's the first time I ever heard someone say to LOOSEN the exhaust. As for me, I just want to SOUND faster - I don't drive nearly insane enough to warrant a multi-thousand $ performance upgrade, I don't track and I only Auto-X a few times a year at best. but I wouldn't mind a BIT more noise, within reason - I've always thought guys driving around with screamingly-loud exhausts are like ((holds up extended pinky))

Honestly, I'd never go louder than, say, Mark's car, which I think has a good tone to it but is not stupidly noisy.

 

Even if the lag is a mere one second, that can be all the difference in the world on a tight course. Some consideration is given to the better torque of the R56 engine of course, and of course the blower on my R53 is always at work. Possibly evens out a little.

Nature of the beast. That's the things that really gripes me about SCCA, they make all their Solo rules according to what happens at Nationals, not caring a whit that 80% of the Solo competing membership doesn't go to, or desire to compete at the Nationals. And then just about every other autocross organization copies SCCA's regs.

 

Miltec is your exhaust then. I've see some go cheap in the marketplace. Keep an eye out & you'll find a deal.

 

::Nods:: I've heard this is the way to go - haven't yet found one I can afford though. One day...

 

I gotta agre with most folks on here. i own an R53 and wouldnt upgrade to the R56 for three main reasons. 1)I love the supercharger whine through the CAI sound. sounds like im driving a formula one car!
2) burble burble pop pop burble.
3) I went for a test drive in the R56 and grabbed the speedo instead of the steering wheel
sorry, couldn't resist that last one! I do like the interior of the 1st gen much better, its more race inspired. the 2nd gen is more production car looking.

 

I really do NOT like the huuuuge speedo that MINI went to with the latest generation... my R53 speedo is tastefully done and with the chrome lining just looks classy. Love the supercharger aircraft whine and the gurgling exhaust. The R56 is slightly longer and a bit higher off the ground as well which I don't like the look of so much either. That said, they're all MINIs so you've got to love them if you are a MINI person in general. I just think mine is the best looking of the two. Maybe I'm biased. ;-)

 

R53!!!!