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Had a opportunity to test drive these two cars consecutively, and thought I would post some observations. Note my current mini is a 2006 R52 Factory JCW.
First the F56 is a very refined Mini. I can see why most all auto journalists love it. It improves on the R56 in every measurable way. However it felt like I was driving a BMW more than a Mini. Of course it now has a BMW motor and shared platform. Also it felt big. The nose is long and the windshield seemed far away. Final verdict... An excellent refined mini with a stupid amount of ridiculous electronic gimmickry, but ultimately bloated and a bit sterile. Possibly a Manic Tune might wake it up and by "it" I mean me.
Second was the 2013 R55 S. Coming from the R52, this car seemed familiar right from the start. Dimensions both in and out made me feel at home instantly. Where the F56 was refined and genteel, the R55 was for lack of better wording... pissed off. I could feel the road, the motor, and feedback through the steering wheel. It was read to go and just waiting on me to stomp that pedal! It definitely connected to those characteristics I associate with being a Mini Cooper. As a Gen1 guy, I couldn't help but fall for this Clubman. Final Verdict... A Mini that is damn fun to drive and had me wishing the test ride was longer!
To recap the F56 S is a wonderful BMW, but the R55 S is an actual Mini Cooper. Just my ever humble (but ultimately correct) opinion. Heh heh...
To recap the recap, the F56 S is the Star Trek Enterprise with Jean Luc Picard sipping Earl Grey Tea.... hot. While the R55 S is like the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo outrunning Imperial Cruisers. (However not the A New Hope's "drifting lazily to the left" outrunning, but the Empire Strikes Back "Never Tell Me The Odds" asteroid field outrunning.)
You can get a plain F56 without most of the options. I surely feel the road in my F56, so I can't imagine I'd want more road. It's hardly a big car but compared to prior gens obviously bigger.
My F56s reminds me a lot of my 83 BMW 325is, which was my favorite car. I often think of buying an old one and then realize that I have a modern version of it with airbags and other safety features.
The good thing about opinions is that you are always right!
Well coming from a R52, the F56 felt like a Lexus. LoL. Without question the F56 is a very good car. Just seemed more BMW to me that Mini. Which is a good or bad thing depending on what you want. If I had Jay Leno money, then I would have one of each.
I did the same as you, except I drove an F55 back to back with an R55, and I drove the R55 home the next day. For me, the R55 just had more fun to provide. Love it as a daily driver.
Great little review wikdr53. I drive an R55S myself and love the heck out of the little thing. I keep looking at the new Clubman (although I haven't driven one yet) and the long hood and distant cowl are a concern to me. I also own a BMW 318ic of E36 vintage and my son has a 328i, also an E36, so I understand that comparison as well. For what I enjoy about my R55S, all of the things you pointed out seem accurate to my experience of it and I am loth to give up on it. The Millennium Falcon comparison is an apt one, especially given all of the daily repairs and tweaks I do on it, as I "rescued" it from a previous owner who had beat the heck out of it and literally glued things in where they should have been replaced for having been snapped off. I don't think I've found a part on this little bugger that doesn't have a tab snapped off of it or one screw present where three should be... And being an N14 version, it also has that same unpredictable way of deciding to drop a CEL right when I mash it for "lightspeed.'
I ended up buying the R55 S I tested. It has the N18 motor with slick top and manual. That's not an easy combo to find. Damn mini and their sunroof fixation!
That sounds like a winning combo, but I have to admit, I have always enjoyed sunroofs on cars. The mini one especially so because of where the header falls and the open glass roof feeling of openness in such a small package.
what color combo is on your new (to you) baby? I think that if my N14 goes fully kablooie on me I'll probably look for a late N18 before I consider a upshift to the F-series.
It's white silver with black top. Here is a pic. It still has a few upgrades to get done. Need some bonnet stripes of some kind. Not decided yet on which style. Plus the JCW aero front bumper and side skirts. Plus blacking out several chrome items. Haven't made a final decision yet on lowering. It's a nice companion to my 2006 R52 JCW. Between the R52 and my Victory Vision motorcycle, I get all the motoring sunshine I need.
03-12-2018, 07:20 PM
