So why cant we? I was under the impression that demos would not be available before i order in March. Should this give me hope that I might get to drive one before ordering?

 

It was at a press event with pre-production examples.

 

So were there any R56s with Navigation?

 

well, i knew that!
I guess the question should be changed to "will there be any dealers with pre-production examples after the 17th?"

I thought i read over on Mini2 that there was a way the dealer could call in a demo car for a customer.....(across the pond of course)

thanks

 

No

The U.S. dealers have to wait for U.S. spec cars.

 

Go drive a manual 2007 MCS on the 17th. Then go drive an automatic R53. Combine the two and you've basically driven the 2007 auto MCS. The auto is identical and while the software is new, it's just as mediocre as before.

 

medicore. That's alright then - at least it's not mediocre

[GBMINI with MCSa is fun to drive normally - I don't drive tracks in GBMINI or GPMINI so track performance doesn't matter so much. I still think that driving to drive an auto as a manual is bound to give you negative impressions; instead, slap it in SD and don't touch the paddles!
However, GBMINI takes loads longer than GPMINI to warm up, these cold mornings - due to the much lower revs I'm guessing]

 

I would have agreed with you before I drove VW's DSG in the new GTI. The DSG proves that thinking wrong. Even BMW's new 6 Speed auto in the 335i is excellent in manual mode.

However in this particular instance, you'll be much less frustrated by using SD and letting the transmission dictate to you what gear you should be in (as backwards as that may sound). It's still frustrating mind you for aggressive driving. But at least you aren't hitting paddles that don't do anything.

 

I have to agree that DSG is fricken awesome. We just got a DSG GTI for my wife, and I love driving it. The only thing is that I just find myself leaving the car in D more often than not. It's fun to flog in the hills or on some curvy roads, but in day to day driving paddle shifting just seems unnecessary.

My R56 is coming with a 6mt. I'd get bored of an auto after a while.

 

Strange with BMW's DSG that they'd not thought to provide it as an option for MINIs as well. I guess, once again, they worry that MINI is going to cannibalize 3-series sales. Or perhaps there are technical (e.g. space) issues?

I'm so frustrated with present implementation of a "normal" auto trans. It just won't shift the way I want it to. Strange I had far better experience in older cars, e.g. '89 BMW 525i or '91 Saab 9000S -- they seem to shift more consistently with my will.

But, like everyone else had said before me, auto trans are good for cruising, but not so much for enthusiast driving.

 

My understanding is that it's a totally different gearbox than the R53 models so this approach may not give you the correct impression.

 

No it's the same - I specifically asked MINI execs about it. It's got updated software however.

 

BMW has something called SMG - a very different design than a dual clutch gearbox. And yes, space is an issue with the MINI. So is cost.