Double post, please delete.


I drove the ‘70 today. It was nice, I must comment.

The turn signal selector… Is a lever that pushes a button. It is electronic, and the noise that the car makes to give an audible is loud and annoying. When stopped at a light I noticed that when you move the gear selector left to right and back it cancels the signal.

The ride was ok, a bit too smooth for me, I mean this IS a MINI, right?

The seats were un-eventful.

The “key” is a bit clumsy, you must make sure you click it in.

I REALLY miss the supercharger!!! The turbo had the power, but not having the car screaming at you when you get on the gas is something that I am not too sure I could live without.

This new car makes me glad that I got my ‘05 and that I can still order an ‘07 and ‘08 vert.

 

I have to say that would probably be the biggest thing to miss. The SC whine is what makes the car that much more unique. Although there are obvious advantages to a turbo (ECU changes that can give big power) the SC whine is really part of what the 'S' is all about.

 

There is a whole forum about 07's somehow i doubt you were the "only" one seeing how others have already test drove these cars a few days ago

 

I went on a long test drive yesterday in the new '07.......
I then sat down and signed the papers on an '06!!!!



Robert

 

Guess I can figure out which one you liked more. Tell us about your new car. A Cooper or an S ??

Congrats on your new car.

 

Thanks Chuck. It's a Chili Red Cooper S. I'll start a new introductory thread soon as we get the pictures downloaded.

Robert

 

Moved my original post to 07 forum.

 

It sucks that i went to Patrick MINI on sat. and they didnt have one ready to drive yet!

 

Checked them out today. It just doesn't talk to me with the same character, kind of bland. If I had to buy one today and get rid of my 06' think I'd probably go look at a GTI. Bigger, softer, more for the masses. Time might change my mind though.

 

I was one of the MAs that auto crossed the new MINI and the GTI, the new GTI had tons of body roll and the loose steering of a Caddy. I hated it.

 

Is there an 07 car made by anyone that is more 1st gen MINI-like than the new MINI?
I keep hearing so many disappointed 1st gen owners --- (that's okay Everyone has their likes and dislikes) but if the new MINI misses the mark what hits it? Is the only acceptable car being sold today the 1st gen MINi?

 

No. Unbelievable as it may seem, many people actually find MINI to be unacceptable.

 

Well.... MINIs are not for everybody. It is not a mainstream car and possibly it never will (Thankfully!) But BMW clearly wants to put more MINIs on every driveway and hence has "polished"the car more to make it appealing to a greater audience for better or worse.

I think the R56 has exceptional potential like its predecessor. I will find out more on a test drive I have scheduled for tonight after work.

 

They really do need to start a "I test drove an R56" thread on NAM so everybody can post in it & there won't be a zillion different threads about the same thing

 

I'll gladly comply!! I just test drove both Cooper and MCS!! Yes the car can be perhaps more mainstream/better-mannered/broader-appealed than the previous model....that is, until you hit the "sport mode" button!! Then the car gets seriously wicked, ready to pounce, and has more attitude than my lightweight R50 certainly. This car should be liked by fans of both old and new MINIs...I think BMW deserves credit for handing us a very nice car that is updated/refined/tweaked but still does not obsolete what we love about the previous model.

I honestly think I'll use both "sport" and "sport-off" mode alot....similar to how one might choose to use DSC or not, depending on driving conditions/mood. How awesome is it to get in your MINI and dial-in/set-up your driving mode. I love it!!!

 

I test drove a 07 MCa today. My husband (roadodendron on here) has an 04 MCS and I am starting to think about what car I want next, even though 08 is the earliest I can get one. I have an Outback which I'd miss, but want something smaller & sportier with better gas mileage. Though I fall in to "the masses" category more than most MINI owners, I would rather have an 05 or 06 overall. But it just isn't an option for many reasons.

I did not care for that ginormous key fob and start/stop button ignition, it felt clumsy because it is too different from a normal key. A few unneccesary wierd things to get used to, but I'm still considering making us a 2-MINI family :-) The sport seats were much less comfortable to me than our 04's sport seats. At least I'd save money by getting standard seats. I liked the handling & visibility, and loved the gas mileage, if its indeed as good as its rating.