I've never driven one of the 2nd get turbo cars...and I was wondering if any other R53 owners have. It looks like the rated HP is about the same...just wondering about how the turbo cars "feel" compared the SC cars. Do the turbo cars have lots of lag before they make boost? Smoother or harsher power delivery?

Just wondering what your thoughts are....

Thanks!

 

I love the way the turbo feels on our r56, not laggy at all but thats because its a small turbo. And its also very smooth. Keep in mind your still talking low horsepower either way so its not going to feel harsh. Its been a long time since I drove a supercharged one, but from what I remember I prefer the turbo version. I was actually a little impressed when I test drove the turbo car, with the supercharged one I remember that not being the case.

 

I traded a car like yours, a blue 2003 JCW, for a 2009 JCW. The turbo car just is way faster. Its lost some of that "go cart feel" though . There are tons of comparsions and opinions threads here .

 

Driven both, have an R53 which I stuck with.

Steering is better on the R53--more direct, a little heavier.

Down low, the R56 pulls much better. Up high, it's the reverse.

IMHO, the R56 makes for a better daily driver, the R53 is a better platform to rev high and mod.

 

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R56 suffers from heat issues at the track. If engine is modded, is not as reliable as R53.

R56 works from 2500 to 6000 rpm
R53 works from 3500 to 7000 rpm

 

We went from an 05 R53 to an 08 R56 S. The R56 is a much more flexible engine, its got a very wide power band, its very happy between 3500 and 5500. As noted it tails off at the high end, the R56 JCWs don't have that tail off, they pull all the way to the redline.

The R56 steering varies by year, I prefer the R56. Its lighter at parking lot speeds and heavier at freeway speeds (with the sport button on). It got a bit too light on the 10s and up. The clutch on the R53 feels very heavy after driving an R56. The clutches on 10s and up are almost ridiculously light.

The R56 is faster and more refined. The R53 is rawer. Its a personal choice. The R56 is a lot more fuel efficient if you care about that sort of thing, like 25-30% better with our lead feet.

 

I test drove both before I ended up buying one. The extra torque from the R56 makes the gas pedal much more fun to drive stock vs. stock with the R53. I had a budget which limited my options, but after driving the R53, as stated earlier, it just feels more raw, you feel a little more connected with the car.

Now that I've done the basic mods to my R53 and will be getting it tuned, I love it to death. But lately, I've been seeing some of the R56 JCW's for sale and they are extrememly tempting. So I figure in another year or two, I will part ways with the R53 (possibly) and search for a fully equipped R56 JCW package.

But I love my R53 for the time being!

 

Comparing stock vs. stock (no JCW's or anything): the low end punch of the R56 turbo makes that car feel much faster than an R53 around town. Stoplight to stoplight, without really wringing the thing out, the R56 is going to be faster. High RPM pull, the R53 has the advantage when the R56 starts to run out of breath. Line them on a 1/4 mile, it's going to be a close race.

Jason

 

The difference between SC & turbo cars also extends to sound effects. The first time I drove my R53 & heard the SC whine I was in love. The whine is even better with the DDMWorks CAI. Add in the burble & pop from the R53 exhaust - which was just reintroduced to the R56 in '11 or '12 I believe - and the first gen auditory experience is superior. Just my $0.02 of course

 

i drove both a jcw R53 and R56. IMO, i DID feel about 1/2 to 1/4 second turbo lag, not bad really. seemed close to the same speed (my butt dyno still felt like the R53 was faster). as fridayxiii exclaims, there is a huge difference in Sound Effects. The JCW r56 was QUIET. i could NOT hear the turbo, or the exhaust, or the engine. i also felt i had less "input" from the car = steering, brakes, throttle.

ask me, i think they made the R56's "softer", less sporty, much more even power band, and again, quieter.

i personally love the SC noise, and the feel of the road. I also believe the SC versions are "easier" to upgrade (who can argue with a pulley for $120?!), have more instant torque (and actual power band "bumps"), and they do have heartier engines (R53s have cast iron blocks, R56 is all aluminium!)

 

I'm an r56 owner who has driven both...I've seen a few threads on this before but the general thoughts are:

R53: more "go kart" feel, better top end, more reliable when modded , bigger aftermarket (so far)

R56: loads of torque(especially with a tune), weighs slightly less than r53, faster stock vs stock compared to r53, more refined ride, better MPG

can't go wrong with either one imo

 

Go to a dealer and drive an R56, then you'll see the difference.

Dave

 

+1

 

Hmmmm thats interesting.... My GF picked up an 06 MCS JWC (28K miles) about 8 weeks ago.... I just got my 12 MCS JCW about 3 weeks ago ... so so I get to drive the old and the new on a regular basis.... I'd have to say that they are pretty comparable in terms of power - and handling- clutch is stiffer on her 06 and the gearbox seems a little smoother on mine- even though her 06 has the full JWC upgrade it is surprisingly quiet, where mine is just now getting a nice little growl .... but I do like the SC whine

 

This is a myth that keeps getting recycled by several people. Look the numbers up in the car magazines and you will see that 0-60 and 1/4 mile times are virtually identical. The R56 feels faster on the street because of the low end torque.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...38-post16.html

 

Torque... dictionary definition: YEEE HAW! That's the seat of the pants feeling everyone loves. Two questions... what rpm is peak torque between the two, and does the addition of the valvetronic in the 2011+ make it hit at a lower rpm?

 

Not sure where my tq peaked when stock, but post tune, my peak is 200 ft lbs at 3100 rpm which then stays flat until 5200 rpm where it starts a gradual decent to 170 ft lbs at redline.

 

Well i certainly don't want to misinform anybody.

That being said, I wasn't just speaking from my experience driving both cars,I have seen an r56 pull pretty hard on an r53 (both stock). But by all means don't take my word alone for it...there are a lot of variables that go in to a race.

 

Down low, that's true, it will, off the line, an R56 is going to pull away off the line. But as you spool it out, the R56 loses steam, and the R53 catches up. They're both great cars, but it depends on what your goal is with each. Do you drive down lower on the RPM band (admittedly the majority do, R56 wins here), or are you driving closer to the redline (that's where I live, and the R53 is a better platform for this)?

 

I have both R53s and R55 JCW.

For daily driving the r55 JCW is fun.. alot more torque. especially with mods.
the r53 feel right at the tracks. steering is heavier. the supercharge makes it going into turn smoother. I have not time my lap times. but I do feel the R53 is faster on the track. only on the straight thats when the r55 pulls.

end of the day I still own both. but enjoy the turbo more on the street and supercharger on the track.

 

I'm gonna have to slam you with that post, lighter MAYBE all depends on options...
Where are you getting your info from?
I'm slamming everyone here, IMO I don't like R56's!

They are soooo much more muted than the R53, you want a real MINI for performance stay clear of an R56!

I would rather have a R50, Cooper non S than the R56 I just don't like them!

Oh and who ever thinks there R56 is faster stock for stock your wrong!
Have personally raced over 10 R56's and they all lost, maybe they forgot to hit their sport button!

 

For what its worth, the R56's are lighter thanks to aluminum instead of steel used in a number of spots.


http://www.motoringfile.com/2006/07/...o-drop-180lbs/

http://www.motoringfile.com/2006/08/...pecifications/

 

I prefer 1st gen cars as well, but your ******** attitude and slagging other model years is the kind of garbage more suited to VWVortex or 4chan /o/ than NAM.

 

Nice link Icekid, I took out my rear seats so the what 21 pound difference or so. my rear seats alone weighed in at 55 pounds, so again I'm lighter...

 

broke rules 1 and 2