No. Apparently what they're saying is: “It rides better. It handles better. It’s built better and it’s more efficient".

He did mention a couple negatives... styling of the climate control... and an ever-so-slight hint of turbo lag.

But overall, as a pacakge, he said what every other reviewer has said who has actually driven the thing: It's a great car and still very much a MINI.

 

I agree...you can't chalk this all up to hype. Too many knowledgable folks have had their turn behind the wheel. True...several have said that it is a different MINI (whatever that means)...but those differences seem to have had a favorable overall impact, even if subtle.

 

If you want folks to take your expertise seriously , you need to never refer to a cast iron block as a steel block. Crosley taught us that steel is not the way to build a production engine.

http://www.ggw.org/~cac/Mighty_Tin.html

 

Sounds like the edge has been dulled, unfortunately. To be expected, I suppose. Clearly they didn't completely kill what makes the new Mini so special to drive, but sounds like they definitely muted it. "Refined" cars are easy to find these days. "Raw and rorty" ones are rare, but I've got one now in my R53 JCW. I have a feeling my R56 test drive will be wholly underwhelming, but I'll try to keep an open mind.

 

Is that really a fair comparison, though? I mean a personalized and modded JCW (of any year) vs. a stock factory spec'd no-mod MCS? A better comparison might be to drive the 2008 JCW, don't you think?

 

Agreed .. bad comparisson.. Of course a JCW will have more edge even in a more refined car.

 

LOL... it certainly would! But why let facts get in the way of an opinion!

 

You know, they're all laughing at us because they know all this is making us crazy.

 

Yah, but with no actual car to debate about after driving... and a long wait ahead... what else do we have to do but disagree?