Saw the new R56s today. Here are a few observations regarding earlier concerns:

. The sparkling silver with black roof looks really, really good (I was a little worried having ordered SS/B sight unseen).

. I didn’t see anything, inside or out, that I felt had a cheap look or feel to it (other posts I’ve read had me worried about this).

. The stock radio with standard speakers sounds very good (saw several posts on the international forum that were negative). I have no problem with the **** layout - We'll get used to it - I'll be using the steering wheel controls anyway (as I do on my current car).

. The telescoping steering wheel has a long throw, quite a bit longer than on telescoping steering wheel cars I’ve owned before (being tall and having to tilt my seat back, this feature is really important to me).

. The one and ONLY negative from my perspective is that very tight back seat and the hassle of getting in and out of it (I won’t hear the last of it from my elderly friend’s wife – IF she’ll be willing to sit back there at all).

The line for test drives was long today so I’ll take care of that part on Monday. Then I’ll write some more.

 

I find it interesting that while the R56 is a bit larger than the R50/53 before it, rear passenger room doesn't seem to have changed substantially over the outgoing car.

Oh well, the 2008 Clubman will certainly address any complaints regarding rear seat room and access, thanks to the 3rd rear "suicide" door in the passenger side of the vehicle.

Glad you like the R56 otherwise. I am also looking forward to spend sometime behind the wheel.

 

I'll second that! Our dealer had one in back exactly like the one that Dave posted pics of from the press launch. SS/B with the Redwood Lounge Leather interior and Web-spokes. Really stunning.

 

I'm guessing that all the gain in length is in that big new bulgy schnozz.

 

I see R56s every single day now...I drive right by the local dealer and there they are, all sitting out plain view!! I must say the overall look of the car is great. It's when I get up close that I wonder more about the body changes...some of these will take some getting used to. Then I drive down the street again and overall R56 looks 100% awesome again. Weird effect.

Anybody see the red light on the top of the tach? That's where the new alarm (once it's available) will flash. Very cool. I gotta say I really like the interior...those volume ***** seem a bit wobbly...but over all it's super.

 

I stopped by Baron today and checked out the R56...I must say that EVERY concern I've had about the car since ordering it site unseen 4 months ago is a non issue...

1) There's more space in the footwell...I couldn't touch both the brake and the gas with my right foot anymore. My knee's aren't knocking!

2) The center console really flows...pictures don't do it justice! Less than 5 inches between the speedometer and the volume control...not a problem.

3) The interior doesn't feel cheap at all...it feels tight and compact.

4) At a glance, the car has lost some of it's refined character but it's picked up a chip on it's shoulder type character....it just seems more aggressive when seen side by side to a R53. Fraternal twins rather than identical twins.



My only two complaints..

1) Yellow is gorgeous... very deep very wet looking yellow. I'm almost regretting getting the Chili Red!

2) The headliner material would look great if it was much darker...even anthracite isn't dark enough

 

I gotta remember to ask if the dealer can do an after-the-sale alarm install.

I don't mind the factory-like alarms, but the alarms out on the market today bug me. Especially the one that cycles through 5-6 different alarm sounds when it goes off.

 

Doesnt the alarm light still pulse though.. wonder if they can make it pulse just for the sake of it looking like your car had an alarm.

 

I think the dealer-installed alarm can be done after the sale just like any other dealer-installed option.

 

I'm interested in this as well. If someone hasn't already figured this one out in the UK, I'm sure someone here will. I would not expect that the dealer would do it though, could cut down on alarm sales.

 

Picked up the 2007 manual which shows a smokers package (with one cupholder and a circular ashtray) as standard. Does anyone know if the two cup holder option (i.e., non smoker option) can be ordered prior to production and whether it still has a cigarette lighter adapter?

 

One thing I noticed on my test drive today is the amount of noise coming from the sunroof at freeway speeds. Wonder if its adjustable? The dealer had only received his shipment yesterday and it was the first Cooper S available for test drives.

 

Drove one yesterday in Florida at highway speed with moon roof, didnt hear any thing out of the ordinary.!!

 

That was the only problem noise I heard also, but at 40mph.

 

All US spec MINIs have the smokers package. No big deal. toss the ashtray if you don't want it. I'll use it for a coin holder. Toss the cigartette lighter too if you don't want it. It'll just leave a hole there.

 

for ones that had experiences with a R56 moonroof, did it have one-touch open and close?

for some reason the R56 I tested did not have the one-touch open and close. faulty car? or thats the way it is for 07?

 

R53 will close to the tilted position, but still requires a second touch to close completely.

 

I think it would make a really cool shift light!

 

Moved this to it's own post - Mountain Driving Test Drive

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Drove an S today. Took it up on the mountain foothill twisties. Some observations:

. This car stays very flat on curves. Driving the twisties is one heck of a lot of fun.

. Before my current Prius, I drove sport oriented turbo driven Saabs and Audis for years. This Getrag transmission and very smooth MCS clutch are by far the best combination I've experienced .. and no notchiness whatsoever.

. I appreciate the graduated steering sensitivity on this car. On some of my previous cars the steering was excellent at some speeds but unnecessarily twitchy and sensitive at others. I didn't notice any of this on this R56 S.

. I love a car that allows me to stay in the highest gear when driving up the mountains (turbo benefit). With this car, even accelerating on those hills brought immediately noticeable speed increase, even at elevation (~6,000 feet). Also, this is the first turbo driven car I've ever owned where there was no noticeable turbo lag. And .. I detected no torque steer.

. Wow! It will take some discipline to leave the sports button alone. I want good mileage though and I suspect I won't get it with that button pressed.

. This is a small car, smaller than anything I've ever owned. But when on the road, to me it feels like I'm driving a BMW. It simply does not feel like a small car, and certainly not like a reasonably decked out BMW like car that can be purchased for under $24,000.

. Immediately on stopping at a forest service parking area I was approached by one of the rangers. I thought he was going to tell me to slow down on those curves leading up to this place. All he wanted to do though was look at and talk about the car. He said he had read about the 2007 Mini Cooper in the Sunday paper and on seeing the car in person he was even more impressed than expected. Nice guy. This car is a real head-turner.

. Again I checked out entering and exiting the rear seat. The back seat will be alright for those with young kids or for riding with a fairly agile adult or two for very short trips, but for the most part the Mini Cooper, in my opinion, should be considered a two seater coupe having 24 cubic feet of luggage area (I'll probably just keep the back seats folded down).

A couple of other points:

. My car won't have a sunroof (don't want one). This one had some wind noise at freeway speeds (not a lot, but some). If I was buying the car I would insist that that be addressed. When I drove Audi's that was often a problem. One solution that worked in most cases was to put silicone grease on the seals. You might try that if you end up with a little wind noise up there.

Some of the controls are different than on other cars (radio, AC, etc). Like, tuning the radio or setting the air conditioning weren't as intuitive as I had expected. No big deal though. In no time at all adjustment of these controls will be second nature

 

Thanks Ken.

That was the most encouraging thing I've read all day.

Sounds like you had one helluva' good time !

dean.

 

Wonder if the factory alarm can be ordered (3/07 availability) for pre-production R56 and if it's cheaper to get it factory installed (if the factory even installs the alarm) vs. purchasing it from the dealership after delivery due to labor charges.

 

And this is a good thing? So then they took the car for a great track car you could drive on the street and made it a nice street car that you can't take to the track. Thanks BMW for killing the car.

 

 

Yeah, but then the R56 does not even do that.
I had to hold the button for it to close completely.

 

Ditto to PezRadar. I suggest ChrisW read Dave Bunting's and Gabe's track experiences again. Maybe I misunderstood their enthusiasm for the track-a-bility of this MINI as they gushed in 2 seperate reviews and several podcasts...

But I don't think so.