I have no doubt that the 2007 MCS will be lots of fun to drive. That being said......I'm disappointed that it apparently does have some turbo lag. It also appears that it has lost a leg to the precise handling of the 02-06 models. It was destiny rather than choice that appointed me to be motoring in an '06 rather than an '02 and if the early reports pan out......as time passes I'm liking where I have landed more and more.

 

You don't?

I guess I'm reading somthing extra into your post just like you're reading into mine.

My apologies.

The one down-side of the printed word, I guess.

 

Wrong. It wasnt a joint BMW-Mercedes venture on the Brazilian-made R53 engine, it was a BMW-Chrysler joint venture (the same engine is also used in european-sold PT Cruisers and Neons). This agreement was penned before the Daimler-Chrysler merger, and is one reason for the new joint BMW-PSA engine.

Munich and Stuttgart dont exactly like each other.

 

Like so many things in life, this will end up being a case where the changes won't be as good, or as bad as people hope/fear. Usually things fall somewhere in between. I bet there will be good improvements and bad ones. Only time and a test drive will answer the questions.

 

remember the new '07 mini was supposed to have done laps on the Nurburgring was much faster than the current mini. I don't know if that really accounts for anything, but that does mean it is faster in some respect.

 

Yep, a softer ride doesn't automatically mean worse handling. It might even be so soft that the upper strut housings quit "mushrooming" from hitting bumps, especially with runflats and/or humongous tires that are so low profile they look like rubber bands.

 

More torque at a lower RPM=faster lap times.

 

I recall the "faster at Nerenburgring" info as well... supposed to be roughly 15-seconds faster than the previous JCW cars (which were also 10-15 seconds faster than the S).

Having driven the ring, I can say first hand that a 15 seconds difference (though worth mentioning) is less than you would imagine on that track. It's a Loooonnng track!!! 5-10 second differences driving the SAME car with the SAME driver are not unheard of... especially if you're not some hotfoot pro racer.

Also, I would recommend reading the whole Automobile article. I saw it tonight. There was a lot more positive in it than negative. Smith specifically states that the newer car is faster... or at least easier to drive fast... than the previous generation. He also comments on the huge torque gain when compared to the Tritec engine... but no mention of turbo lag anywhere. The only article I've seen so far mentioning any lag was by EVO Magazine...

All in all, I can't wait to drive a demo and decide for myself. Absolute worst case scenario... it blows, I take my deposit back and begin shopping for a used 2002-2006.

 

Yes...indeed...no offense taken

I hope my predictions are wrong but I definitely wish the 07 full successs regardless of my design opinions...we all want MINI to succeed

Heck...I'll probably end up with one for R&D...

 

i bet new R56 owners won't even be able to tell an '86 Chateauneuf-du-Pape from an '83!

 

I'd say you're being pretty pretentious yourself by looking down on all the R53 owners. It says on your signature that you're a "not quite owner" so what makes your opinion any more valid than the others that have been shared here? You call everyone else haters, but since you are planning on buying an 07 you are naturally biased toward the R56. We will all be able to make our own judgement on the 07 soon enough. I have no doubt it will be a good car. But just because current R53 owners like the old design better doesn't make them pretentious, they are just worried that MINI will lose some of the quirks and attributes that make it unique among other cars. I think there are some legitimate concerns that the R56 will not have some of the same "edge" as the R53 and that it will appeal more to the masses, especially as the R56 becomes much more common than the R53. Some people may like the new changes but there will be those that will still prefer the feel of the "old" R53 MINIs. It seems like a lot of cars today are getting bigger and softer. Its not that they don't perform as well, but they don't allow the driver to be as connected to the road because they are too insulated with technology. Take the BMW M5 for example. From the reviews I've read, the new M5 is very fast and agile yet I've heard complaints that it is not as much of a driver's car as the previous generation. I'm going to reserve final judgement on the R56 until it comes out and I'm actually able to drive it. There are some design elements that I don't like about it, but it may end up being a great car. But msh441, just because you plan on buying an 07 doesn't give you the right to walk around with the attitude that any criticism of the R56 is just coming from disgruntled R53 owners. In that sense you are being just as pretentious...

 

I am having flashbacks to 1976-77 when the BMW 2002 became the more refined BMW 320i or when the "pagoda" Mercedes 280 sl became the new 350 sl. I am going down to the garage and give my 2005 MCS a big hug.

 

i love the pagoda mercedes. such a great looking car. one day, when i can afford to have cars i don't drive all the time, i've got to have one.

 

If I got an 07, how would I get my cat out of the tree????

 

I dunno I think that will depend on where you live. To me you have to be pretty devoted to be willing to drive 334 miles round trip for servicing (usually 668 miles since they never have the parts in stock ). I think the limited service options will keep Mini from becoming a mass owned Auto unless you happen to be fortunate enough to live in a city that actually has a Mini dealership in it

 

...or when the '88 CRX came out. I drove one and it wasn't nearly as connected as my '86. But, it was wildly successful

Change is inevitable, cars evolve, something comes along to take the place. Business as usual.

 

I bet they'll open up more dealership for the increased production/service volumn...

 

Touche'.

Point taken.

You DEFINATLEY got me there!

 

more torque overall = less shifting = faster lap times

 

If that's all it takes to get a Mini Service center near me then I say bring it on I can live with a few non-enthusiasts if that's what it takes to make a repair take less than 2 tanks of gas. Uhhohh am I a non-enthusiast now

 

Coming soon to your local BMW dealerships

 

Two words: Throttle Lag. You can't change the laws of physics, and no matter how you tune a turbo, it will always have throttle lag, however small, it is there. Not desireable on an autocross track, no matter how much torque it might produce.

 

You keep saying this. How much lag does it have? 5-10 milliseconds? How much can you feel? Even a subjective fact would be useful at this point.

 

And your point being? Had I stated BMW-Chrysler, some wag would have said, it's BMW-Daimler/Mercedes/Chrysler, semantics being what they are. The only thing that matters is that this is a cult of personality: Dr Z was the man across the table and now it looks like Carlos Ghosn will be the new man across the table with Renault/Citroen/Pugeot/Nissan or whatever we wind up calling it.



p.s. How do you pronounce Daimler-Chrysler in German?

Daimler, the Chrysler is silent.

 

How about almost a second? That's the least amount of throttle lag I've ever personally experienced when getting aggressive on the gas. I was driving a Porsche at the time.

What will the 07 Mini have. Don't know yet, and I've never claimed to know how much throttle lag there will be. But it will be there.