R56 MCS 07 vs MCS 06
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 625
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From: San Francisco, CA
i'll most likely be going to a GP in all actuality. the reason i mention the GTI and the mazdaspeed3 is because they are the current cars on the market that i believe actually compete with the r56. they too have more roll and more lag because of the turbo; not SC. i don't think there is any way that in autocross the VW or the MS3 will compete with MINI r53/56 bone stock because of weight. in a straight line sure we'll get beat pretty often when we're bone stock.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1
It's very easy to get a 6 MPG difference based on driving habits.
I'll add another factor to Bilbo's list - highway cruising speeds. The Mini is hardly aerodynamic so there is a huge drag penalty when you drive faster. For example, you'll get much better mileage if you cruise at 60 than 85.
I'll add another factor to Bilbo's list - highway cruising speeds. The Mini is hardly aerodynamic so there is a huge drag penalty when you drive faster. For example, you'll get much better mileage if you cruise at 60 than 85.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA
i drove the r56S BRG/W with cordoba interior and anthracite headliner for 2 weeks while my car was being worked on and between 2300 and 2750 it lagged a little bit. this is my driving habit and i'll admit i'm not an expert driver. i'm not here to offend anyone just my .02! the GTI def has more lag as my best friend has one and i was not impressed. the r32 is hot tho - handling the thing is pig.
also i didn't mention the lag on the r56 bc i was referring to the other competitors.
my def of lag for our r56 is more because i'm used to the pick up throughout the range with the SC
also i didn't mention the lag on the r56 bc i was referring to the other competitors.
my def of lag for our r56 is more because i'm used to the pick up throughout the range with the SC
Last edited by greengobln; Feb 20, 2008 at 11:31 AM.
Auto on Sport Button guy
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
It's very easy to get a 6 MPG difference based on driving habits.
I'll add another factor to Bilbo's list - highway cruising speeds. The Mini is hardly aerodynamic so there is a huge drag penalty when you drive faster. For example, you'll get much better mileage if you cruise at 60 than 85.
I'll add another factor to Bilbo's list - highway cruising speeds. The Mini is hardly aerodynamic so there is a huge drag penalty when you drive faster. For example, you'll get much better mileage if you cruise at 60 than 85.
R56mini are you getting 34 around the city, mixed, or mostly hwy? Both being in Portland, I'm just naturally curious.
Last edited by amazingrando; Feb 20, 2008 at 11:51 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 5
From: Hot Springs Village, AR
Quirkiness is probably what caused one owner (as reported on a board--NAM?) to crawl in and out through the boot when both doors malfunctioned...
...for a week.
...for a week.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 0
From: home
You are right, and that is a good point. My 28mpg is based on about 90% city driving. If I keep it at 60 on the hwy I can easily get around 32-34, and in the summer I was getting 38-40 at that speed. I can't really complain too much about 28mpg being the worse case for me right now
R56mini are you getting 34 around the city, mixed, or mostly hwy? Both being in Portland, I'm just naturally curious.
R56mini are you getting 34 around the city, mixed, or mostly hwy? Both being in Portland, I'm just naturally curious.
I finally filled her up after getting 380 miles on the tank with three lights left and it took 11.4xx gal. The manual calculation came out to 33.16 mpg while the OBC said 34.7 mpg.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 0
From: home
Theoretically, the swaybar should cut down on the body roll but IMO, a set of stiffer springs will do more for the roll than a swaybar. A stiffer front bar, a stiffer rear bar and stiffer springs will be the best but because of the fear of something going wrong and not willing to deal with the excessive neg. camber I have been hesitant about getting the stiffer springs.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 720
Likes: 13
From: Bedford, NY
I drove to and from Palm Beach Florida from NY last month.
I was driving my car and my buddy was in his 06 model.
Every time we got gas he was about empty and I had about a third of a tank left.
Overall I got 34mpg at an average of 83mph. That 83mph includes getting off the highway for food and grabbing gas. Yeah...we were flying.
I was driving my car and my buddy was in his 06 model.
Every time we got gas he was about empty and I had about a third of a tank left.
Overall I got 34mpg at an average of 83mph. That 83mph includes getting off the highway for food and grabbing gas. Yeah...we were flying.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, IN
It's very easy to get a 6 MPG difference based on driving habits.
I'll add another factor to Bilbo's list - highway cruising speeds. The Mini is hardly aerodynamic so there is a huge drag penalty when you drive faster. For example, you'll get much better mileage if you cruise at 60 than 85.
I'll add another factor to Bilbo's list - highway cruising speeds. The Mini is hardly aerodynamic so there is a huge drag penalty when you drive faster. For example, you'll get much better mileage if you cruise at 60 than 85.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 720
Likes: 13
From: Bedford, NY
Got from Daytona to Long Island in 13 hours.
Georgia and South Carolina I don't think I went under 100 other than going over hill crests.
Then of course Virgina..V1 down and max of 79 or come back for the court date.
Georgia and South Carolina I don't think I went under 100 other than going over hill crests.
Then of course Virgina..V1 down and max of 79 or come back for the court date.
Auto on Sport Button guy
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: Portland, OR
Sorry to have derailed this thread...proceed.
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Bilbo-Baggins - are you saying that the S mode in R56 is the default mode in R53. So to replicate the driving experience of the R53, I need to switch on the S mode in my R56?
Nothing mysterious really. No sudden rapid accelerations. Don't rev it to the redline for each shift. Slow down well before you know you are going to have to stop instead of staying on the gas until the last second and then slamming on the brakes. Just typical good road driving habits.
Shift into higher gears sooner(short shifting) instead of driving at a higher rpm. Around town you could stay between 2,000 and 3,000 rpms for most of it. Shift between 3,000 and 4,000 rpms. This will allow you to move with traffic or slightly faster and not suck down the fuel.
Also, do not let your car sit for any length of time idling to warm up. Even on cold days it is best to start it, and once you have full oil pressure, drive away slowly. No hard full throttle accelerations, or high rpms, until the temp gauge is in it's normal range.
fullymooned said; "I feel the roll quite a bit as well when making turns. I didnt feel it drivign the R53 loaner car. How much does the sway bar and springs cost? I like radio much better than the R53."
Does your R56 have the "Sport Suspension" option? All of the R53 MCS come stock with "Sport Suspension Plus". I do not think that the sport suspension is a dealer installable item, but you could have them install the JCW suspension modifications and that might help a little with the roll.
The "Sport" button in the R56 modifies the throttle response and steering feel. It sharpens the throttle application. Some had complained that the throttle was too sensitive, too jerky, in the R53 so for the R56 they made it less sensitive but added the option of getting some of the throttle feel back with the "Sport" button.
The steering in the R53 also had some complaining about the feel, the quickness, so that was also addressed in the R56 with the option of almost getting back to the feel of the R53 with the "Sport" button.
I hope that this was helpful
Shift into higher gears sooner(short shifting) instead of driving at a higher rpm. Around town you could stay between 2,000 and 3,000 rpms for most of it. Shift between 3,000 and 4,000 rpms. This will allow you to move with traffic or slightly faster and not suck down the fuel.
Also, do not let your car sit for any length of time idling to warm up. Even on cold days it is best to start it, and once you have full oil pressure, drive away slowly. No hard full throttle accelerations, or high rpms, until the temp gauge is in it's normal range.
fullymooned said; "I feel the roll quite a bit as well when making turns. I didnt feel it drivign the R53 loaner car. How much does the sway bar and springs cost? I like radio much better than the R53."
Does your R56 have the "Sport Suspension" option? All of the R53 MCS come stock with "Sport Suspension Plus". I do not think that the sport suspension is a dealer installable item, but you could have them install the JCW suspension modifications and that might help a little with the roll.
The "Sport" button in the R56 modifies the throttle response and steering feel. It sharpens the throttle application. Some had complained that the throttle was too sensitive, too jerky, in the R53 so for the R56 they made it less sensitive but added the option of getting some of the throttle feel back with the "Sport" button.
The steering in the R53 also had some complaining about the feel, the quickness, so that was also addressed in the R56 with the option of almost getting back to the feel of the R53 with the "Sport" button.
I hope that this was helpful
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
That's interesting. I have not got anything better than 24-25 mpg while driving at around 90 to 100 mph on the highway.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 5
From: Hot Springs Village, AR
I ran from Houston to Clearwater, FL, on I-10. It's boring and flat, so most of us were runing pretty fast. At 85 I averaged 33 mpg. Ironically, that's the same mpg I normally run on mixed city/highway/spirited driving.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
Those of you getting good mileage at high speeds, are you using run-flat or non-run-flat tires? What tire pressures are you running? Mines are the stock Dunlop run-flats and I am running 41 psi all around. I have not achieved anything better than 24-25 mpg so far.
R56 owners should stop by motoringfile and check out the nice videos posted there in regards to "cold start issues". Sounds lovely!!! 
http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/02/...issue-exposed/
http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/02/...issue-exposed/