So as a former mini owner I have waited some time on this as I wanted to give the car a chance for the newness to pass before commenting on it.

As a whole the new car is nicer but also much more mainstream then the Mini before it (r56) here is the pro / con list

Pros

1. seats are much improved and feel like actual sport seats this time around
2. steering wheel is formed much nicer and electric power assist is tuned much better too
3. one touch for sunroof
4. flat load floor (with storage package option)
5. folding rear headrest


Cons

1. smaller gas tank do not understand why they did this
2. quality quality quality have a leaking oil cap, fuel door not working correctly, rear cargo trim not assembled correctly on delivery
3. bluetooth with base HU wont work with siri or audio streaming?
4. nickel and dime to death with options some of these packages are getting to be a bit much ie storage package required to get trunk light!!!
5. still seems like there is the big question of long term durability as the recent report from Car and Driver confirms.
6. hankook Optimo tires .... fail.... suck in the dry and in the wet
7. Comfort Access system both in charging 250.00 to add a button to each of the external handles but also to functionality requiring you to push the button for both locking the doors and unlocking really should work like Lexus and Toyota.


My biggest issue is the loss of soul in the new Mini the old car R56 justa was much much more fun to drive and toss around more of a "drivers car" Where the new one is much more sterile car gone is the fun of pushing the car and getting rewarded from doing so. Feels much more like a (new) BMW loads of power but easy to drive fast.

Please chime in with what you think esp if your a former owner of a R56


Chris

 

I agree with a lot of what you said. I had a F56 loaner for 3 days while my '13 R56 S was getting audio work done. I did not like the feel of the car. It was nice inside, but the ride was bland. It felt like it was bigger than my wife's '15 Mazda3 hatch. Which is funny because I think the Mazda3 would be is a more fun daily driver. Maybe the F56 JCW with all the power and suspension differences has more soul.

 

I agree, I had a New 2016 Clubman loaner for about 3 days. Didn't like anything about the car. It now looks like a Honda Civic wagon, drives worse than one!

Sad to say, but it's not much of a MINI. The Mini sales associates now feel the mini has become a numb everyday car with stripes and not geared for the MINI enthusiast.

Love my R55 and won't be buying anything new from MINI.

 

I'm not a MINI owner yet so this thread is interesting to me. My aunt has a 2012 with about 80k miles on it. It's had quality issues from the beginning, check engine light the last 10k miles. She had a 2011 as well but it was purchased back as a lemon. So quality isn't really a surprise to me there..

I don't understand what OP means about comfort access. Ironically, I have a 2014 Lexus GS...