R56 R56 Looks Bloated
#51
I don't know if you are referring to my original post. If you are, I can only suggest you go back an reread it. If you can't make it through the whole post, I'll point out the pertinent section for you:
"I love my car"
I post on this forum for several reasons. Sometimes I have questions about the R56. Sometimes I feel that I can answer other people's questions. Sometimes I will comment on features I like or feel are unique to the R56. And yes, sometimes I will comment on features that bother me, or feel could be improved on.
Apparently some members here are unable to tolerate hearing things that they either disagree with or think that the R56 has reached perfection and there is no room for improvement. I find this rather unusual, since most of those people are searching for the next mod or alteration. If the car is so perfect why the need for further modification?
I was making an observation. That sitting next to a Gen I MINI, the R56 appears rather bulky or 'bloated' in comparison. Apparently the changes in design were to satisfy new safety regulations that mostly center around pedestrians getting hit by a MINI. How many pedestrians do you know that have been hit by MINIs?
Add to that a $1,900 option (Lounge Leather) in the US version of the car pales in comparison to the Euro version of the seats. Also due to some regulation that apparently only the US is concerned with. Good thing I didn't mention my ire that the diesel is not available in the US.
And although many tall people don't find an issue with the mirror, I do. I live on a road with a sharp downhill S curve, so it becomes evident to me on a daily basis. If I attempt to replace the mirror, and am not successful in relocating the chip molded into it, it will cost me over $400 for a replacement rearview mirror. The chip/circuit cannot be purchased separately, and the mirror cannot be disassembled to reach the chip ; it has to be cut open, and thus cannot be restored to stock condition when I sell the car in the future.
Maybe some of you can afford to shop for a different vehicle if they don't like a particular feature, but I am of the opinion that such a perfect vehicle does not exist, and I am willing to accept certain shortcomings in order to get those things I want in a vehicle. In the case of the R56, I wanted the torque and efficiency of the redesigned engine. If expressing my displeasure in those items I'm not happy with bother you feel free to ignore my posts. My ID is 'jascooper' not because I drive a Cooper, but because my name is Cooper. It won't change so it should be easy to remember.
But the typical response of "If you don't like it, sell it and buy a Honda" is getting kind of worn out. I have every right to express my opinion, just as you do. I am not attacking anyone for their opinion, and would appreciate if others would reciprocate, and not attack me for mine.
End of lecture, stepping off soapbox...
"I love my car"
I post on this forum for several reasons. Sometimes I have questions about the R56. Sometimes I feel that I can answer other people's questions. Sometimes I will comment on features I like or feel are unique to the R56. And yes, sometimes I will comment on features that bother me, or feel could be improved on.
Apparently some members here are unable to tolerate hearing things that they either disagree with or think that the R56 has reached perfection and there is no room for improvement. I find this rather unusual, since most of those people are searching for the next mod or alteration. If the car is so perfect why the need for further modification?
I was making an observation. That sitting next to a Gen I MINI, the R56 appears rather bulky or 'bloated' in comparison. Apparently the changes in design were to satisfy new safety regulations that mostly center around pedestrians getting hit by a MINI. How many pedestrians do you know that have been hit by MINIs?
Add to that a $1,900 option (Lounge Leather) in the US version of the car pales in comparison to the Euro version of the seats. Also due to some regulation that apparently only the US is concerned with. Good thing I didn't mention my ire that the diesel is not available in the US.
And although many tall people don't find an issue with the mirror, I do. I live on a road with a sharp downhill S curve, so it becomes evident to me on a daily basis. If I attempt to replace the mirror, and am not successful in relocating the chip molded into it, it will cost me over $400 for a replacement rearview mirror. The chip/circuit cannot be purchased separately, and the mirror cannot be disassembled to reach the chip ; it has to be cut open, and thus cannot be restored to stock condition when I sell the car in the future.
Maybe some of you can afford to shop for a different vehicle if they don't like a particular feature, but I am of the opinion that such a perfect vehicle does not exist, and I am willing to accept certain shortcomings in order to get those things I want in a vehicle. In the case of the R56, I wanted the torque and efficiency of the redesigned engine. If expressing my displeasure in those items I'm not happy with bother you feel free to ignore my posts. My ID is 'jascooper' not because I drive a Cooper, but because my name is Cooper. It won't change so it should be easy to remember.
But the typical response of "If you don't like it, sell it and buy a Honda" is getting kind of worn out. I have every right to express my opinion, just as you do. I am not attacking anyone for their opinion, and would appreciate if others would reciprocate, and not attack me for mine.
End of lecture, stepping off soapbox...
Last edited by jascooper; 10-17-2007 at 07:43 PM.
#52
#53
I love my R56 but I envy the previous generation MINI's stance.
I don't mind the overall increase in exterior size but to make it proportional the designers had to cut the wheel wells deeper which also resulted in a SUV stance. The rear skirt is too short as it doesn't wrap around the exhaust tips like it should. I blame Bangle for it. I am sure he had something to do with that short rear skirt. @#%#^$#W$^!!
I don't mind the overall increase in exterior size but to make it proportional the designers had to cut the wheel wells deeper which also resulted in a SUV stance. The rear skirt is too short as it doesn't wrap around the exhaust tips like it should. I blame Bangle for it. I am sure he had something to do with that short rear skirt. @#%#^$#W$^!!
#54
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![tongue](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![Sly](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/sly.gif)
#55
#56
I don't think the direction of this discussion should surprise anybody because the OPs observations about R56 are not universally held and so there is a natural point and counter-point to the issues presented, especially given the level of dialogue already on the books about styling/design changes found on R56.
#57
I like my seats better than r53 seats too.
![Thumbs Up](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/thumb-up.gif)
#58
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![No](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/no.gif)
I don't think anybody would argue that the new design is better than the old.
#59
6th Gear
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I don't think the direction of this discussion should surprise anybody because the OPs observations about R56 are not universally held and so there is a natural point and counter-point to the issues presented, especially given the level of dialogue already on the books about styling/design changes found on R56.
*For those of you that are quite young and not conversant in the best ever years of SNL please search the term using the quotes on Google.
#60
A natural point coutner point is great, but these things usually fall apart soon. The OP made a statement and backed up with his reasons, never insulting anyone. Now how many of you can state you have backed your argument with reasoning and didn't fall in the "Jane you ignorant ****"* defense.
*For those of you that are quite young and not conversant in the best ever years of SNL please search the term using the quotes on Google.
*For those of you that are quite young and not conversant in the best ever years of SNL please search the term using the quotes on Google.
Or for those of us that are old enough, we just turn away really quickly before dousing our laptop with a mouthful of water!
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
#61
Uhhh, you do realize that this is in the 2007 forum and this thread seemed to bring in a bunch of 53 owners in just to talk up their cars. Again I say, great, hooray, good for you!!!
#63
What's the obsession with the original poster? I never said anything about him. I simply made the observation that suddenly the pre-2007 owners are all over this thread expressing their love for 53s and hate for 56s. Um, great, thanks, if I wanted 53 talk I'd visit that forum.
#64
However, I fail to see the need for sarcasm.
#65
Speaking strictly for myself, I didn't come here to talk up my car (or R53s in general). I was making observations (or agreeing with those of the OP) on the R56. Since I don't own an R56 should I stay out of this forum? I was contemplating getting a clubman as a work vehicle, but I just can't get over the interior. A shame too, as I may be able to alter the appearance of the exterior enough to make it passable in my view.
#66
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
nice attitude.
#67
I'm glad you said "seemed," because I reviewed the thread and did not see "a bunch of 53 owners" talking up their cars. Maybe one or two R53 owners rationally discussing their opinion. So, strictly speaking, I can't dispute your perception of the thread.
However, I fail to see the need for sarcasm.
However, I fail to see the need for sarcasm.
yes, your Gen2 Minis are fat.
R56's do look bloated and the interior is comical.
I can't speak to the R56 interior quality, but my interior has no fit, feel or rattle issues.
My tach displays the RPM's, what else is a tach supposed to display?
Full panel of toggles (which are fine where they are) and full instrumentation (from the factory, MC40). As far as styling goes, it is light years better than the R56. All the R56 needs is mickey ears on the center column and it will be finished. The dash looks ridiculously chopped up with the disconnected vent pods and the serving platter in the center. It's like a geek that tried too hard to look cool for the prom. Lighting and storage? Maybe you should be looking at SUV's
![No](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/no.gif)
![Confused](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
#68
#69
![Nod](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/nod.gif)
#70
#71
DOPAMINE's post-- he went on to make a joke about the American influence of everything getting fat, so I took it as tongue-in-cheek.
mini_d's post-- I agree, I counted him in the "one or two" R53 owners and the first quote might not be "rational" ("bloated" and "comical" are loaded words, after all). Your third quote is also from mini_d--but in the second quote he was responding to an assertion that R53s have interior quality issues.
I would still say that such posts are the minority in this thread and that I am more surprised by the reaction to jascooper's original post--namely, that if he's unhappy he should have bought something else, especially when he is, by his own admission, a happy R56 owner but still has complaints.
#72
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
![Nod](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/nod.gif)
![Grin](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/grin.gif)
![LOL](https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/images/smilies/lol.gif)
#73
#75
...I am willing to accept certain shortcomings in order to get those things I want in a vehicle. In the case of the R56, I wanted the torque and efficiency of the redesigned engine. My ID is 'jascooper' not because I drive a Cooper, but because my name is Cooper. It won't change so it should be easy to remember.
So, Cooper... drives a MINI Cooper... AND lives in Coopersburg? What are the chances!?!
Last edited by msh441; 10-18-2007 at 12:09 AM.