Hi, im new to NAM and im going through a slight dilemma. I wondering if i should get a 2006 or 2007 MCS. The price range is very similar because of the great re-sale value of Mini's. Im only hesitating with the 2007 because of entry-model problems that are sure to arise. What do you guys think

 

well...i have a 06 mini cooper that i got used and absolutely love it!
if you are willing to afford the 07 MCS...id get it...little more power...better MPG...

 

07 = More power, more 'refinement', more money, more ugly.

If you like the look of the R56, go get it. Any teething problems the car has will eventually be dealt with by BMW/MINI, at worst they're only short-term issues.

 

I drove an 07 MCS on Thursday just to check it out. I have an 06 MCS and love it!

I think they are very different cars. You should drive both and see what feels best to you. Both are fun cars to drive but, we each have our own preferences when it comes to all things MINI.

 

Go drive them both and if aesthetics are important to you, spend a lot of time looking at them both, inside and out. They are as similar as they are different.

I ordered my R56 in January and it was on the boat half way to port in NY when I changed my mind and bought an '06. I made the change for a bunch of reasons that were important to me, none of which should influence you. Its a decision you must make on your own and you need to make an informed decision. Spend plenty of time with both cars.

As for pricing, there are some deep deals out there on new '06 cars. So, if money is an issue or you prefer the '06, shop around.

Best of luck.

dean.

 

I picked the '07, partly because of the potential depreciation as the new models become more established. Also, in our case the dealer wasn't giving any discount on the '06 models.

As for problems in the first year, I'm still waiting. I've had mine 6 weeks and have 2600+ miles on it now. The only glitch I've had is with the cruise control "dropping out" and it's infrequent enough that I couldn't get it to do it for the dealer. The warranty is good enough that I wouldn't worry about problems, especially if you have a dealer that gives you loaners. I haven't needed that yet.

The virtues of the '07 are that there's more power, much more efficiency, ie., gas mileage in the 30's, it's quieter and rides better, and it's just as much fun as the earlier models, but more civilized, if that makes sense. I like the styling in general, although I realize some don't. But that's a personal opinion.

Oh, and the cupholders are better...

 

What kind of driving experience do you seek? Both models are ridiculously fun. But I think most would agree that the R53(2002-2006) could be defined as 'visceral' while the R56 is 'refined'.

I love my R53 something fierce. But the new model has so much more power, potential, that its most certainly tempting.

 

i have an '06 MCS. and i absolutely LOVE IT.
i bought my car about almost 2 months ago. that's before the R56's came out
i wasn't patient enough to wait to get the 07 ones cause i needed(wanted) a car asap
many people say to go with the 07 but many will also say to go with the 06
no matter wat. a car will have problems. some more than others of course. but even my 06 has tiny little problems. but car's arent PERFECT. well most at least. =]
but just take your time looking up both. test drive them both. take the time to enjoy the inside of each car.

but GOODLUCK buying!!!
oh and also..when i bought my mini..it was about a week before 07's came out to the floor. and i got $2k knocked off my price. my car has many options. came up to 27k

 

Thanks for your reponses, i will definately think about what all you said

 

Don't just think about it!

Go for another test drive... or two.

Both the old R53 and the new R56 are great choices.

You can't really go wrong. 2006 MINIs should be fine for reliability.

A few problems will surface with the 2007s but it'll be OK and probably worth the risk.

Performance goes to the R56 MCS. Classic styling goes to any R53.

Now go for another test drive.

 

am i the only one who just thinks the 07 is just plain old bloated?

 

Yes.

 

They are both great autos. However, in March 2006 I decided to get a 2006 rather than a 2007. I needed a car for work that involves lots of regional travel for meetings. Proven relability was important to me. The reasons I opted for the 2006 are:

1) many years of manufacture using the supercharger and several with the particular body & parts for 2006
2) no years of manufacture using the turbocharger and particular body & parts for 2007
3) real world speeds in the US favor supercharger (if I were in Germany were we can drive higher speeds longer, I would have opted for the turbo)

 

I noticed that too in the R56's nose area...like the nose is being pushed out like blowing up a balloon. The R53's more pronounced catamaran styled fender lines (similar to 80's Porsche) with the headlight detail facing straight forward is very pleasing aesthetically.

There's also a weird uneven hood gap that arches over the side of the black-plastic wheel arch that seems fixed due to the spot-on headlight to outer trim piece alignment of the R56.

 

No. Even my wife and kids saw it (with no prompting from me) when we picked up my '06 and it was parked next to an '07.

dean.

 

No.

Zip

 

why not go drive both and make up your own mind? i did one of these "polls" some time ago and got nothing out of it other than I had to make my own decisions based on what i wanted. In the end you are paying for your choice.

 

I just went through this exercise. Held off buying a MINI until I had a chance to drive the 2007 MCS. The new car rides better, is more powerful and ergonomically is a step up. In the end, I bought an 06 because I didn't care for the size of the center speedo and had concerns about future rust issues around the headlight trim bezels (I live in an area near saltwater).

In the end, choose what will make you the happiest. You will wear a smile every day you drive it!!

Smoothy58

 

Just one month ago I was in the same boat.

One look at the R56 (inside and out) and my mind was pretty much made up. Plus the first-year run of a German car (turbo no less) is something I just won't take a gamble on. The R53 has years of refinement and perfecting behind it so it has less chance of issues.

Besides my Lexus is turbocharged so the supercharger whine was more up my alley anyway.

The final push was the SMOKING deal I got on it. It was literally one of the last on the lot and I got several thousand off the MSRP. It would have been silly to not ****** the deal up.

When I went back for my tag last week, they were all gone.

 

I think you would be very happy with either one...That said, I would go with the R53 now, and maybe get the R56 in a couple years when the bugs have been worked out and there are plenty of time tested mods available.. My 2 pennies... PS: On the resale ?. The R56 is not a knockout punch to the R53 and once the supply of new R53s is exhausted the depreciation rate of the R53 could even be slower... Supply and demand.

 

Test drive both of them. I drove the '07 S when my '05 S was in for routine service. I love the new S's turbo motor - but that's the only thing I like about it. If money, time, and not special ordering a car matter to, you should be able to get a deal on an '06.