the R56 is the reason I moved away from Mini's. BMW began to show its influence. If I want a Beamer, Ill buy a Beamer. I have no regrets canceling my R56 order and buying a Gti.

 

Haven't driven an R56 but I own an R50 and have driven an R53 a few times. I like the looks of both as I prefer the first gen. Although, I do kinda like the new quirky interior of the 2nd gen - the speedo/cd player. I don't like the overhead controls though, seems like a bad spot.
Overall, I agree. I'd prefer the 1st gen cooper. to each his/her own
Motor on

 

With my Integra, I would usually drive with the passenger window partially down. So, often. The control for it is on the driver's door (with another on the passenger door, of course). I suspect the central location for the window controls is just BMW being cheap.

 

I seem to be in the minority here, but I love the styling of the R56. Maybe I'm just used to since I've never owned a first generation.. Either way, I absolutely love the exterior (front bumper in particular) and its interior quirks (the bigger center stack, toggles, etc.) are one more reason I love my MINI.

 

I'm mixed on this. I love the telescoping wheel, better seats, and no downtubes on my 09, while I liked the smaller speedo and real gauges on my 2005, along with the bigger side windows. But I sure didnt like all the buzzes and rattles and all the other annoyances my 2005 seemed to eminate, including one dash rattle so bad the dealership spent 4 shop days disassembling and reassembling the dash.

And those downtubes? Gawdawful to say the least. always in the way.

 

If you want a Beamer, you'll buy a motorcycle. If you want a car, its a Bimmer.

 

As my Daddy always said, "Each man to his own taste, said the farmer as he kissed his cow".

 

downtubes?

I'm with ya on the rattles. The vent in the center of my dash always rattles along with the tach. It's not aweful though but noticable.

 

Thanks for the correction, beautiful.

 

A set of lowering springs eliminated a lot of the torque steer on my car.

I added additional padding to the bolster of the sport seats to fit my skinny frame and it made the seats much more comfortable and supportive.

By only using my I-Pod and multi function control steering wheels keeps me away from the hard to use radio buttons.

 

Oh, that's RIGHT!!!! Upon further reading (coupla days after I posted this), I discovered I have the Aisin thingamabob (I think that's right)! Thanks 4 the correction ... Woo-hoo!

 

We have both a 2005 R53 and a 2008 R56 and my wife likes her EB R53 and I like my CR R56. Fit and finish is better on the R53, interior is more appealing and her $1000 stereo I installed with amp kills my Hi FI system. However, my R56 rides nicer, it is faster and more powerful, shifts smoother, has hill assist when taking off and has more comfortable seats (this goes both way as neither have an adjustable lumbar). All a matter of personal preference really.

 

Yeah, the R56 human interface is "quirky" not "worky." I've owned mine for over a year and still make mistakes with the controls. There's so much there that just could be done better. I accept it as part of the car's personality, and it definitely has lots of that. Most of it's good. But, man, those controls...