I'm hearing the same thing from my dealer as well...

 

I wouldn't trust the dealer. They may be clueless, or they may know better but not want to admit that there are changes in the pipeline, hoping that you buy from stock or order immediately. Or, they may be right, though I doubt it. Wouldn't make sense to only make mid-cycle changes for Europe and not for us at the same time. The cars all roll off the same line at the same plant.

 

Makes sense I e-mailed miniusa.com and asked the same thing, lets see what they say. I don't think the dealers care to give people info, they just want to sell what they already have, so if they give you info that will make you wait to purchase one then they are losing.

 

I've driven all the MINI models except the R56 Turbo and never found any of the engines to have "soul". They are ok and do a great job and get great gas mileage but they don't make wonderful noises approaching redline or have anything special that makes me swoon.

I've got a Toyota Matrix with a 2ZZ, some folks might know this engine as the one that powers the Lotus Elise....now this is an engine with "soul", 8200 rpm redline, valve lift (intake and exahust) happens at 6200, the engine emits this ungodly shriek and forward progress at a rapid fashion ensues....I love to rev the thing a lot just to experience the sounds and push.

I've also got an Integra (Gen III, non VTEC), it might not have VTEC but it sill revs quickly and with mods (four into one, full catback DC Sports exhaust) sounds and feels like an 1800cc sport bike.

OTOH I also have a Mazdaspeed (factory turbo) Miata and while it's a great car I don't consider the engine to have soul, well beyond the various turbo artifacts and aftermarket mod artifacts, a stock Miata engine tends to be kind of thrashy and not all that great sounding, I don't consider the Mazda BP engine to have "soul", very reliable and very effective in a Miata but it's not the exhaust note or revability of the 2ZZ or the Honda motors.

Sounds like these new MINI engines are incremental improvements to what are pretty good engines, but I'd certainly not wait on them to get another 4 hp or whatever....

Analogeezer

 

I've driven all manner of modern and not-so-modern cars and find the JCW motor to be one of the most characterful engines I've ever owned. It's loud, backfires, burbles, makes lots of torque off idle and fits the character of this car perfectly.

I think too many owners over romanticize the older cars and while I agree that the number of electronic nuisances have distilled the traditional driving experience, the modern Mini is still a hoot to drive.

 

"...I think too many owners over romanticize the older cars and while I agree that the number of electronic nuisances have distilled the traditional driving experience, the modern Mini is still a hoot to drive."

My '76 AlfaRomeo has so much character, it leaks it all over the garage floor. It does make all the right noises, and it handles as only a rwd w/ a 50/50 weight distribution can. I think the reliability is somewhere on the garage, along with all of that character.

My first Mini ('06 MCS) always put a smile on my face, even when I wasn't driving it. My current Mini ('10 MCSa) also makes me smile. If your car does that for you (who ever "you" are) then it has enough character, for you. If not, then, well......

 

Hahahahahahaha

 

well miniusa didn't give me any useful information and basically told me to contact the dealer. I contacted a couple and they had no idea about the new engines, or at least that's what they told me.

 

they do, but there is much better fix this time. All you need to do is take the car out for a good spirited drive

well that what they told me to do with my moms X3... while she were out of state

btw does the new engines include Stop start? or is that still on idle because EPA can't get any CO2 readings when the engine turns off while idling

 

It's too late, I'm smitten and I can't give up the brand. But my faith is severely shaken by these Prince motor woes. And by the way BMW is handling the chatter issue, right now I have little faith in this engine or any refresh based on this engine.

Thus, lately I've been looking at the low mileage R53s.

 

I will be attending the Chicago Auto Show sometime within the next week. I'll ask the clowns over in the MINI section and see what they have to say about the engine upgrades.

 

No news at the Chicago Auto show regarding this engine change...

geezer did you just use the words 'soul' and 'Matrix' in the same sentence??

You have driven all the models except the turbo... well there is your problem! haha

 

I recently changed my oil from castrol 10w-30 to mobil 0w-30 and i've not experienced a "diesel" sound since. Went from every other day to nonexistent. I'm in Spain btw. so its not toooo cold. So may not have the same affect in the colder states.

 

Same for me with the omaha dealer. When I told him of the hp changes, he knew nothing about it. But in saying that, it wouldn't make sense to talk about all the neat changes that are taking place either in March, or for the 2011 model year ahead. They work on commission and want the sale, NOW, rather than six months from now.

I was wondering too, whether there will be changes in the JCW motors, as the changes in the regular S engines. Also, have you noticed that hardly any of the dealers have any JCW's in stock? Yes, it's winter, but so what, doesn't anyone ever think about putting Blizzaks on their cars? These cars aren't 400+ engines, with 450 lbs of torque. Even those can be driven in snow with the proper foot pedal and tires.

 

My wife ordered her car with a March production week 10. We should get it by 1st week of April. Will let you know if there are any chages!

 

Something else from the old days, why do they, and that's most all manufacturers, have the throttle one wire instead of direct throttle linkage? I wondered where the throttle response went and then someone told me about the new system. I always enjoyed the throttle response of the 60's cars and wish, beings as we finally are having cars with performance again, why can't we have throttle response again? Why do you have to put your foot thru the floor for 5 seconds before something happens? Just my opinion, and a slight exaggeration.

 

"...why can't we have throttle response again? Why do you have to put your foot thru the floor for 5 seconds before something happens?


+1

 

If you ever drove a car with the Toyota (technically a Yamaha design) 2ZZ engine you would understand, the rest of the car is well a practical wagon but the engine makes the car (the XRS version with the 2ZZ). They only offered the 2ZZ in the Matrix for a few years, back when they sold 50,000+ units per year they sold 1500 XRS models a year with the 2ZZ, it's a pretty rare package (it was also available in the Pontiac Vibe, as the Vibe GT, but again like less than 2,000 per year)

You might know this engine better from it being in the Lotus Elise.....

180 HP in the Matrix (190 in the Elise naturally aspirated) from 1.8 liters no turbo, no supercharger.

It actually has a tad more HP than my Miata, which is the same displacement with a turbo (factory turbo).

Probably the closest engine in terms of feel and sound to the 2ZZ is the engine in the S2000.... (redline on the 2ZZ in my car is 8200 rpm )

Analogeezer

 

Drive-by-wire throttles are everywhere nowadays, including runaway Toyotas. Some are well-executed and feel like "old" direct mechanical systems, some are not so good, some really suck. My first experience with the technology was on a '99 VW with 12v VR6 motor. Wow, what a HORRIBLE implementation. Felt completely disconnected from the motor.

My other car currently is an '07 Z4 M Coupe, with the S54 motor from the E46 M3. Best throttle tip-in and general "feel" of any car I've ever owned.

A big problem in the MCS is the silly "Sport" button. What a waste! There's no need for a default "non-sport" setting whatsoever. All it does is lessen steering effort (hell it's already overboosted in sport mode) and increase lock-to-lock steering wheel travel to turn the car, and deaden the throttle so that you have to boot the thing to get the car to move. It's like adding a ton of turbo lag that isn't there in Sport mode. Ridiculous. Some marketing genius now doubt came up with this exciting feature. Oughta be hung!

 

Not including the "stop start" engine feature was a MINI decision, and had nothing to do with the EPA. There are quite a few "stop start" vehicles on the road today, and they all have EPA ratings.

 

I prefer the "standard" throttle and steering setting on my base Clubman to the "sport" setting.

MINI is giving drivers a choice, which is a good thing. I do agree with some who've posted here that there should be an option to have the "sport" setting as a default whenever you start the car for those who use it all the time.

 

I would like to wait for the new engine if it is really going to be replaced in March. Anyone hear more on the new engines? Is the US market getting them in March or are they European only for now? How far out is production if I were to place my order now? How long should I wait before ordering to be sure my car is built in or after the March production?

 

KevC, you've probably noticed over at the 'Fest that I've now added an '07 Z4 M Coupe to my garage as well. Took a roadtrip this past weekend in it which included some Texas Hill Country roads and some laps around a closed course leading a bicycle race where I buzzed a few tight corners. I'd forgotten how much I love the S54 from when I had my E46 M3, I always tell people it sounds like God's own chorus at full song. I've had it now for about 3 weeks and my JCW has only gotten out for about five days, but I'm sure it'll get more time once the honeymoon is over with the new car. Both cars offer a fun drive albeit very different.

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/01/...pdated-models/
http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/01/...art-1-engines/
http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/02/...e-development/
Well here is some of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the engine. So once again it is not a new block or motor it is just some additions. To furthur that PSA and BMW are renewing together for a new motor that wil debute in 2015.
This is a step in the right direction. It will make the motor better euiped to handle more power, and yes as usual with the current motor will be difficult to get power out of it because of the ECU. But with some r&d it will be possible to crack it and run more power.

 

Porthos - The first link you have is to the same article I referenced in my post (#7) in this thread.

I'm still waiting to hear from my dealer when they're able to place orders for March builds. Seems a bit strange that March is less than a week away and MINI hasn't dolled out the allotment numbers yet.