I actually like the Cooper better than the S

 

Driver assist, and the 10.5 gallon fuel tank def. sucks

 

They had a big bash of a Mini coming out party at a theater in LA last night. I didn't notice, but the Cooper grille is chrome, whereas the MCS is black plastic honeycomb. I really like the Cooper look. It's got quite a boost in torque (at much lower RPM) as well as HP over the prior model. I wonder if I'd like it as well as my R56. I'm anxious to see the MPG figures. The video is cool too. Stay tuned!

 

I'm with you. I wonder if the F56 JCW version will have the weird lower extension featured below the S grill.

 

I think the design of the current R56 is much more cohesive.

The more the angled back the front gets, the less it looks like a MINI, and those big, rectangular taillights look like an afterthought.

IMHO, it's a mistake to put the fuel filler on the right side of the car as the photos show, at least in the American models. I've owned a couple vehicles like that, and it was always a pain to try to pull up to the fuel pump going the "wrong" way when most other vehicles had their gas caps on the left side.

The interior seemed mostly OK until I noticed the odd mixture of both round and rectangular vents in the dashboard. It just doesn't work for me.

 

I very recently traded my 07 Base in for a new 13 MCS. I must say I am really glad I did not wait for the 14 to come out (saw the pre-release spy shots). I am not liking the new front end or its larger overall size. I actually like the R56 interior better as well. I like the big speedo, whenever someone asks me why it is in the middle and so big I simply say it is because it is a MINI. I also wonder what the standard radio will look like all alone in the big circle? And the changing lights would drive me nuts as well, then again it would be red most of the time!
I realize they need to make updates but I am very happy to have my new 13.
Gregg

 

There are photos of the JCW body parts at MF in red. It looks pretty good in front, so so in rear IMO. The color matching side pieces are gorgeous. I'm anxious to see this car in person, and drive it. It's been 7 years since the R56 (I never drove an R53). The Cooper engine now has a turbocharger which could be huge. I heard it gets way over 40mpg too. You'll have to wait awhile for the JCW version. I think there's a timeline on it but I don't remember what it is. (there's a pic of the base radio today too)

 

R-53 resale value going up again

 

Oh, no! I LOVE my 14+ gallon gas tank!!

I always tell my wife, "I hope we don't get into an accident, because this car is mostly gas, and us."

 

So they don't all come with the screen in the middle then? I thought they might since all the new BMW's come standard with them. All the pics of the new interior I have seen have it.

 

Shifting by satellite? You've got to be kidding. The Germans need to get a life.

 

From what I've read, these cars will be available here in the US in the late spring.

What thinks the forum: will they be sold as 2014's or '15's?

 

2014. Why would it be a 2015? They're not going to sell the exact same car in the US as one year and the UK as another.

 

We took the factory tour in Oxford last month, and three 2014 models were sitting at the end of the production line. We weren't able to look them over that closely, but we were within 2 or 3 feet of them-they look much better in person than they did in the spy shots. The curve of the bonnet didn't look so different.

That said, when I found out that my 2013 Cooper S (October 2013 build) was ordered incorrectly...I had the option of accepting it, or waiting for a 2014. I decided to take the 2013. I'm just not loving the changes.

 

Because dealers are currently selling R models as 2014's. The F model? Well, who knows?

 

I know. It's a 2014. I don't think you've thought this through...

 

Only the hatchback is the new F model, and I don't think you can buy a 2014 hatchback now. But you can buy 2014 R56 models of all the other cars (Countryman, Coupe, Cab, etc) now.

 

Be careful with your terminology. The R56 is JUST the hatchback. The other models have their own designator.

R55 Clubman
R57 convertible
R58 coupe
R59 roadster
R60 countryman
R61 paceman

 

2014 http://www.motoringfile.com/2013/11/...qa/#more-31839

2015 http://jalopnik.com/2015-mini-cooper...-it-1466618899

Go figure

 

I stand corrected. My understanding is that all the other R models except the R56 are being sold now as 2014 models. The post above this quotes some other site as saying the F56 being shown in LA is a 2015 model. I'm not sure that's right.

 

It would be very uncommon for a new/heavily-revised car selling in the spring of year X not to be branded with a model year of X+1. The mfgs are allowed to sell a 2015 anytime after Jan 1, 2014 and if any intro is occurring in early 2014, they typically wouldn't miss the chance to go to the next year so consumers feel like they're getting the latest and maximum resale a few years later.

MY's for the same car can vary in different countries. This is of no consequence.

- Mark

 

Well I suppose they could change convention, but previous MINI models that launched in spring of year X in the US launched as X model years (Clubman, coupe). The exact same car (minus some small changes for north America) is launching in the UK soon as a 2014. I'm sure they will make changes and fix bugs in summer of 2014 and the second model year will be the 2015 shipping in fall of 2014, just like they've been doing business for the past 10 years.

 

That's exactly what they did when they introduced the R56. The R56 arrived in March or so of 07 and was called an 07 until the summer shutdown as usual.

 

I would bet heavily you are correct. The Clubman did launch spring 2008 and was a 2008 model. No dipstick in the F56, I guess like the Beemers. Saves weight!

 

Overall it's ok, but what's up with that goofy gas gauge to the right of the speedometer?