i know but i cant figure out what else they would, i mean there is no z3, but if your talking about the facelifted z4, well thats been out for months so to intro that would be redundant, all they really have is the new X5 (that hasnt even had a world debut, and i dont think theyd choose miami for that) the 3 convertible (same to the new x5, except i guess that has a slightly more chance of getting debuted in miami since convertibles are pretty sinonomis with florida), the rest of their lineup has been out long enough where itd be redundant and time waisting to hold a press conference for, with the exception being maybe the new 3 coupe, which itd still be pretty redundant to hold a conference for since its been on the streets for about a month now (but im betting its probably going to be the 3 coupe that they are holding the conference for)

basically if its not the 3 coupe itd be the NA debut for the MINI, which wouldnt be to odd since miami is pretty known for NA debuts, and plus miami is one of the top 5 selling cities for MINI's if i remember

i feel the miami show is not quite the show where BMW will give the NA debut of the MINI and i have a feeling its a redundant 3 coupe press conference, but i wouldnt be completely surprised to find its a conference for the MINI

 

Yuck!! That's definetly the ugliest cooper i've ever seen with out a doubt. A bigger cooper? Looking at this car makes me love my 06' even more, they made it softer and less agressive- real nice, just the thing the cooper needs to look any softer than it already does, so intimidating! The weight might be the same but adding to the dimensions won't help the driving experience at all. I've read that the new cooper has lost its point and shoot kick *** handling for something less entertaining. Softening the suspension can do that. Looking at this new model reminds me of volkswagons evolution of the gti, it started off as a hot hatch with an emphasis on driving pleasure, a drivers car for drivers with no money. Then for the next 3 generations it got fatter and slightly quicker. Look at the fourth gen gti, basically a golf with a turbo engine or a heavier v6- real nice. That car got pooped on by just about every one in the motoring press. Now they're getting tons of praise for going back to their roots with a more driver oriented car. Now look at the first gen bmw cooper vs. the second gen. The current is definetly geared towards drivers with the exception of a slight lack of power, which doesn't matter so much because it handles like a dream, you can really get yourself a ticket trying to take it to its limits. Now look at the second gen. bigger, cuter, and has softer suspension and more of an emphasis of creature comforts instead of driving pleasure, seems like just what the current cooper is all about! My guess is the first gen will continue to shine as a fun entry level sports car while the second gen will mark the beginning of the big fat softer cars that lost focus of what the cooper is all about. Hopefully bmw will be quicker to attend to this problem than volkswagon was with their gti. The second gen is neat-o if you don't care about driving and want your car softly sprung, hey it's almost like a gen 4 gti, big, fat, a turbo and soft springs as icing on the cake, just the thing that volkswagon ran away from to start selling cars, smart move bmw, smart move indeed. The best thing about this new cooper is it makes me love my 06' even more. Nice!!!

 

I'm happy that you like it. These are just our personal opinions.

Like I said before, I wish I did like it - then I could get excited like the rest of you...

 

I'm always ready to help.

 

Let's hope the clouds of doom and gloom do not prevail in the case of R56... for the good of the MINI marque. I happen to believe...based on what I've read and seen...that they will not.

Anybody remember when all MINIs were fitted w/ softer dampers in mid-'03? OMG, you'd have thought that was the end of the world!!! Of course, it wasn't. In fact, it's all forgotten.

Trust me, some of the most die-hard MINI enthusiasts on the planet are finding plenty to love in R56. It will definitely very much remain an enthusiast's/driver's car...but it will be different, won't it? We will all just have to adjust because the present MINI enthusiast community as we know it is about to change.

 

I'm beginning to think more people are just trolling.

Actually it's lighter by about 20 pounds, only about 2.4 inches longer and wider. If that hurts your driving experience significantly, I'd be stunned.

-W-

 

The hood scoop isn't the only thing that's non-functional...

THE SIDE VENTS AREN'T EVEN VENTS ANYMORE!!!

THEY'RE JUST DECORATIVE BADGES AROUND THE SIDE TURN INDICATORS!!!

EVERYBODY PANIC!!!

 

True, there'll always be something special about the originally-penned design, and there should be. I watched certain elements disappear from Coopers in '05...like the chrome bumper strips and the 4-slat grill. Cooper owners already had this go around of revisions, although they are admittedly minor compared to R56 changes. Still, w/ relatively few Cooper owners on NAM, little complaining was heard....after all, we did gain the Getrag box. I also remember seeing the first sets of spy-shots of R56 test-mules and, trust me, there was a lot to worry about in those! Fortunately, what I see and read about R56 now is fantastic when I consider those initial concerns. The car seems to have turned out quite nicely overall.

Perhaps all these things makes it easier for me personally to be optimistic.

 

Yup...those were some vents!!!

 

hey hey don't kill the messenger, i haven't driven the car but automobile magazine did. funny how these car guys say quote: " is it possible to make the mini bigger, stronger, and faster without losing the current cars tossable nature...? Unfortunatley, it doesn't seem so". And think about it dummy, If the car's bigger, taller and has a softer suspension then it goes with out saying that the new bigger car is going to have more body roll. More body roll means a less presice less enjoyable car at the limits. That is why the cooper s is endowed with a stiffer suspension than a normal cooper, because at higher limit driving these are the things that make the cooper s handle substancially better than a mk 4 gti at the same speed. Hey do you think this new softer taller car is going to go through the slalom at the same speed as the current car? no, it won't, it'll just feel more like a v dub and less like a cooper, mr smarty pants. Oh yeah, you probably drive like a ***** too if you think those things won't make a difference. Why don't you come down to miami and look for the b.r.g. cooper s with the blacked out wheels, i'll show you why those things mean everything in the world when it comes to driving and you might even learn how to use your e brake for more than parking on a hill.

 

...gettin' a bit worked up there, brg...

 

Hey they bleeped out part of my message. Well since dwdyer seems like such a knuckle head let me clue him in on what was edited out of my reply to his snippy little remark. You probably drive like the five letter word for describing a lady dog. Actually not to call anyone out but if you like the concept and idea of a bigger mini you probably drive like a lady dog too. Sorry to hate but you guys are probably the punks that drive in the left lane on the highway going the same speed as the slow *** hole on the right of you. Get some ***** or get out the fast lane or better yet sell your car and ride a bike.

 

LOOOOking GOOOOOD!

 

We'll see. The height and width are the same as the current car, only the length has increased. The weight has decreased and Gabe (MotoringFile) has said that the new engine has a lower center of gravity, partly because the current S has a heavy supercharger on top. I am cautiously optimistic that the new model will outperform in every area, yes including the slalom. The Automobile Magazine review raises concerns but there is also this from Edmunds: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...d=116748?imw=Y . I think it is too early to come to conclusions based on journalists' test drives during a press event.

BRG, welcome to NAM but what's with all the anger for your first three posts?

 

Just retuned from Paris yesterday night..... new MINI looks awesome..... check out my pictures on below sight.... especially the red interior looks great...

http://picasaweb.google.com/zodlfami...isAutoShow2006

 

Take a deep breath and relax, even kids have heart attacks.

If you come up on an old guy in an 07, "Buick like" MINI it'll probably be me trying to provoke road rage...........should be pretty easy, doncha' think?

 

yeah, no one should get that worked up over a car for sure ... You'd think he has stock in the company. I too am not enjoying the looks of the new 'stock' Mini.... but you know what, that's what tuners are for ... to differentiate me from the non-waving normal (stock) Mini owners ...oh and not that i'm getting one or anything. I like my '06 just fine. I'll let them work out the bugs and clean up that console before I begin to really look at one.

 

Aw, the old, 06 MINI values will drop like a rock doomsday scenario. I believe I've already posted this several times but I'll do it once more to dispel this myth. Because the 07 is a new car it will not impact the used market for quite some time. Most 07s won't even make it to the used market for a couple of years. In the meantime, the used market for the 02-06 MINIs will remain stable and strong. Don't expect there to see some drastic drop in depreciation. I could see it happening if the R56 was a drastically different design that was a huge improvement over the previous model but that is not the case here. There are modest design changes and slight improvements in certain areas that only discriminating buyers will recognize. In fact some will prefer the old design. This weekend when I was at home I showed my mom some pictures of the newly redesigned MINI. She wasn't even able to tell the changes until I showed here a picture of the R53 next to it. Without me saying anything about my preference for either design she said she preferred the old design. Yes, this may be anecdotal evidence, but the truth is that people who are not akin to every subtle change in the design of the MINI aren't really going to know the difference. Both are great cars and both are going to remain in high demand on the market. Try telling me that the value of 05 BMW 3 Series have dropped like a rock now that the redesigned 06 3 Series is out. It hasn't happened and like any other quality premium brand it won't happen with the MINI.

 

ZOMG!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!11

Let's not forget that BMW has made these changes not only in response to consumer demand for a comfier ride, but also to the legal regulations around pedestrian safety. The increased ride height and new front end design are a result of new regulations that all manufacturers are facing. Welcome to a new era of car design where beauty takes a back seat to safety. If you don't like the SUV-esque ride height, there is an aftermarket which does not have to comply to government regulations.

 

This is true...I also read on MotoringFile (a BMW release it seems) that the added length enables MINI to meet upcoming changes in crash standards. Not sure if this referred to the pedestrian requirements but it didn't sound like it...a whole 'nother set of requirements.

 

Seriously? Man you're way off on this one. The 2002-2006 MCS was a great car, but the suspension was way too harsh most people, except the small percentage of people who consider themselves "enthusists". None of the reviews I've read said anything about the handling being bad, they just said it was softer. And almost every review I've read said basically the same thing; that the Mini still looks like a Mini.

But I think you're partially justifying your purchase of a 2006 model. Your 2006 is a great car, but there are things about the 2007 that are just better, like the engine. Unless you like sharing your engine with a Dodge Neon (tongue in cheek, so no flaming please!).

 

You're probably right about the 02-06 values, the only reason I keep posting that the values are going to drop like a rock is for the benefit of those who, without actually seeing an R56, let alone driving one, slam the R56 to make themselves feel good about their purchase. As you said, people likely won't notice a difference in the appearance, yet the R56 is described as ugly, horrible, ugliest Cooper they have ever seen, etc. Everybody has their opinion of course, and my opinion is most of the extreme haters don't actually hate the new MINI, they just desperately want to feel that what they currently have is somehow better than the R56. This is a common reaction to something new, it's usually most acute in those who recently purchased the "old" model or who think they won't be able to purchase the new one.

I don't think we know yet if the R56 will be a huge improvement, or just an improvement.

 

So why you gotta jump all over the BRG for stating his opinion. You may disagree with his opinion but that doesn't mean he's just trying to justify his purchase of an 06. Maybe he legitimately likes the older MINIs more. What makes you think that your opinion is so much better just because you're planning on buying an 07? Not everyone likes the 07. So what? I'm just fine with it, but like I said in an earlier post, I showed my Mom pictures of the R56 and she couldn't tell the difference between it and the R53. So I showed her some pics side by side of the two and she almost immediately said she liked the old design better and she doesn't really know anything about cars. And I didn't even say anything regarding my own opinions of the car prior to showing her the pics (and by the way my opinion of the 07 is increasingly favorable).

Its not that you disagree with criticisms of the 07 its that every time someone says they don't like it they get jumped all over and accused of just trying to justify the purchase of their "inferior" piece of s*** 06. Its not fair to make those kinds of assumptions so shut up about it. If you like the 07 go buy an 07, but there will still be plenty of people that like their 02-06s just fine. And maybe they'll eventually decide they like the 07, but if they don't thats fine too, they don't have to...

 

You're right. I'm sure in years to come both cars will be liked and celebrated in the MINI community equally. Eventually I don't think there will be much distinction between owners of the two. Throw in the Clubman and it will be one big happy family

Whether the improvement is big or small, it certainly won't diminish my love for my 06. Its not going to be any less fun to drive just because there is a "new and improved" model out there. Each variation will be a great, fun to drive car in its own way. Yes people will have their own opinions of each, and they are entitled to their own opinion, so just leave it at that. If someone likes the R56 over the R53 thats cool, if they like the R53 better thats fine with me too. I can appreciate both designs and I don't necessarily see one as better than the other, they're just different (and not much different IMO) Design wise, I like the R53 slightly more, but who knows, maybe the R56 will be better to drive. I think everyone just needs to chill, stop pointing fingers and accusing critics of being haters, and lets have a civil discussion of what we like and don't like about the two models. (PS this is not directed at you personally in anyway resmini, its just a continuation of my previous rant )

 

Nor should it...I agree very much. Think about this in terms of the classic Mini...we all have our favorite engine, grill, dash, etc....no problem!

Some folks were puking over Solid Gold...now it's widely venerated. Go figure.