This thread is for those people who have made a transition from the first generation MINI to the second generation MINI. i will be doing this in the next couple of years and i am worried about not liking the newer MINIS. since my first MINI (2002 first generation) is a blast to drive and i love all of the equipment that is has... im just not sure if i will like the new MINIS as much as my MINI i have right now?????
p.s. An early thanks for the help and the advise!!

 

We made the transition. We really liked the MK1 Cooper, but always wanted a six speed. We got a MK2 Cooper (that'd be Tristan), I was quite surprised to find it was even better than the MK1. I see no reason to be hesitant about transitioning from MC to MC.

We also changed the MCS (that'd be from Quentin to Tristan), that was because the R56 feels a lot different to an R53, I couldn't get used to swapping between the two. There's not much any compelling reason to change an R53 for an R56, a lot of R53 owners don't like the R56. I like both.

 

I have both ('05 MCS and '08 Clubman S).

Any specific questions?

Look up some of my recent previous posts where I put general impressions about both.

 

I made this post earlier this week in another thread:

Well, as a 3 time 1st gen MINI owner I would say that I still prefer the looks, character and driving demeanor of the first generation over the new 2nd gen MINIs. I also own a Clubman S and I love it. But to me 1st and 2nd gen cars are completely different beasts.

BMW nailed the 1st gen cars to perfection. They are a very worthy successor to the original 1959-2000 Issigonis Mini. BMW managed to capture the quirky spirit of the original on a 21st century package. The design details are exquisite (Both inside and out) and the noises the car makes are the right ones. The supercharger whine, the exhaust burble, the firm/tight steering, the go-kart reflexes, the firm suspension, the new MINIs look bloated, no more clamshell hood with the headlights attached, etc.

The second generation MINI is a car with a different underlying philosophy. MINI wanted to reduce manufacturing costs, increase profits and make the car more palatable to a much bigger market audience. If you drive a 1st gen MINI Cooper S, the car is "brutal", noisy and rides harsh. For people coming from SUVs, Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys that was a huge turn off. The first gen was more of an enthusiast car and not a car really aimed at the everyday driver looking for comfort and road noise insulation.

So MINI, for the second generation, decided to make the car more refined and easier to live with on a daily basis. Not a bad thing per se, but in the process they did sacrifice some of the quirkiness, visceral feeling and the character that had made the first car such a success. When I drive my Clubman (And I emphasize the point that I love driving it) I feel more like behind the wheel of a BMW than a MINI. In my 2005 R53 S I feel more like driving a Rover MINI than a BMW. Totally opposite feel.

So if you look at the second gen cars from a "purist" perspective, you will say that the new MINIs and contrived and compromised cars. They are damn fine cars, but they are more akin to a BMW 3 series than to a classic Mini. Some of the "original flavor" has been lost in name of refinement and increased sales/market share.

Conversely, if you look at the R53 from the perspective of the R56 owner, he or she would say that the first BMW MINIs don't have much low end torque, have noisy/low tech Brazilian made Chrysler powerplants, ride harsher, don't have as many toys/gizmos, the seats are uncomfortable, fuel economy is not as good, etc, etc. Its all a matter of perspective.

If you have not driven a 2002-2006 MINI hardtop (Especially an S model), I encourage you to do so. Find out for yourself. You may or may not love the car. Some folks have comeback from the R56 into the R53 and viceversa. Some folks prefer the newer cars due to better fuel mileage and more refined manners.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. I love both cars but my favorite is still my R53 S.
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I made the switch, but it was from an R50 to an R56, so the difference was night and day. I really like the R56 a lot better. It's much more responsive, the build quality feels much more solid, obviously it's way faster, and handles even better (waaaaay less understeer). I would definitely make the switch again, if I had to, but I would have preferred to keep my R50 in addition to my R56.

 

The Gen 1 is better suited to me (more positive road feel and sharper handling) and the Gen 2 better suited to my wife (smoother more refined ride).

 

Thinking about a transition to a 1st GEN Coop.

 

Depends.

The MINI feel is there in older and newer models whether hardtop or cabrio or clubman.

Most base coopers are similar while most Cooper S variants offer more kick.

If you want a smoother ride then a base cooper or a newer R56 would be likely better.

If you want good mpg and good handling with lower cost then a manual base cooper would be best.

If you move from older to newer there is some adjustment but it's usually fine.

If you move from new to older you will likely notice a bit more noise and maybe a rougher ride depending on which tires and what suspension.

Older MINIs will have more miles on them and more wear to the suspension which will affect the ride quality.

If you drive a Cooper S and you switch to a base cooper then you just have to make use of what power you have. A good suspension and tires will help a lot.

If you drive a base cooper and switch to a Cooper S you will likely be happy with the extra power but you'll get a slightly harsher ride and lower mpg.

The R56 Cooper S has quite a bit more torque steer than the older Cooper S with supercharger. Under full throttle you can feel it but if you are smooth on throttle you will be fine. You might also wear out your front tires faster with the R56 if you are not careful.

Good luck either way it's nice to try another MINI variant out.

 

Nice way to put it

 

Justa or S?

Why? (Just curious)

 

I believe Moxie is referring to 'upgrading' to the MCS from a MC. Just to clarify, the title R56 now refers to BOTH the MC and the MCS... a bit confusing, but never-the-less.