WOW.. that's all I can say.. I turned my '05 HO convertible cooper in for service and its going to take a couple of days. What did they give me? An '07 MINI (hard top)!!! I've wanted to get in it and see all interior changes as well as the engine change, and here's my opportunity!!! So far, to be honest, I don't like it. I love the extra power I have below the pedal, but my hands are hitting the paddle shifters on the steering wheel too easily and that stereo is a piece of work. I was affraid to take my eyes off the road to fiddle with it. I mean it's a stereo, I can handle that... nope.. kinda confusing. I do have to say that my convertible has ALL the options, and this loaner has none, but still.. it feels like a very cold MINI.
I have the '07 till at least Monday, if anyone wants to ask questions

 

Hi
what do you mean by cold?
Jim

 

Meaning the interior isn't as warm and inviting as my R52

Just feels so dark... maybe because I'm so used to my HO dash that the silver dash is not as 'happy'...

 

Oh okay.
Might be different with a different mix of colorline and dash treatment? Maybe even different upholstery, headliner?
By the way, I love the Hot Orange, wish they had it for the hardtops.

 

I test drove a R56 for about an hour yesterday. the only thing i noticed different is how it would pull to the left once in awhile. i wasn't hard on the car at all. are you having the same experience with your loaner?

I'm new to this whole MINI thing but i'm loving ever bit of it. placed my order feb 5.

 

Too bad that don't give loaners out while we wait for our cars to come in.

dean.

 

Well, I drove it 48 miles home, but didn't notice any pulling. It does drive smooth and the steering felt a bit weird (I contributed to me being used to driving the cabrio)

 

Oh, that would be a good idea, too bad they don't!!! I didn't have to wait for mine when I purchased since I bought used. I don't think I would be able to wait LOL

 

I love that drawing in your sig - did you do that?

 

Have you used the "sport mode" button alot?

 

Thanks, I got it online somewhere, it's in my folder of MINI pics LOL...

 

I have yet to use it.. didn't want to on the I-5 drive home in POURING rain.. I will certainly use it today sometime (I'll make an errand I need to run )

I'll report back on it

 

Ok, more comments since I've had it for two days now

The sport button: I think its cool that I can push it and speed up farely fast (remember, I'm in an automatic) but why not use the paddle shifters and drop it down a gear to get higher rpm's?
And for people saying there shouldn't be a button, it should be on all the time... well, I left it on for about 5 minutes and the high reving actually annoyed me. (Granted I was doing a little town driving, so about 30 mph and not very fun) So I understand why there is a button, but don't understand the need.

As for the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.. gosh, they get in the way! I'm used to handling the steering wheel and by accident I shift.. what the heck? I go to turn on the turn signal and happen to shift.. grr... I think they should have taken them off the wheel.

The glovebox. Now, I have a convertible, so I'm not sure if this is the same in the R53's, but my '05 cabrio has a locking glovebox. The glovebox in the R56 seems so cheap. The button you push to open it gets LOTS of finger prints on it, plus it seems like it'll break if you push too hard. Also there is no shelf in there.

Ok, that's it for now.. more later

 

If you are coming from a R50/52 Cooper CVT automatic to a R56 Cooper automatic there is a big difference in terms of acceleration. I personally enjoyed my R56 Cooper automatic test drive and the car feels very nice overall. However, there is something about the old Cooper CVT that's fun about it in either sport mode or steptronic. The US spec CVT missed on the steering wheel paddles but these were offered in Canadian spec CVTs. Go figure...

 

Oh, don't get me wrong.. I LOVE the accelaration of the R56 MUCH better than the R52, just don't get the sport button LOL

Also, one thing I do like is that little cargo pocket they put on the passenger side Might be just me, but handy to put just regular stuff (like tissues)

 

Sport-mode theoregically involves steering and throttle responses, but yes it did seem to also affect where the car shifted. Anyway, downshifting would only get at one part of what sport-mode offers.

 

thanks for all that great information

 

Can you bring it up to Mount Vernon, so I can drive it, too?

 

Sorry, got my R52 back today...

It was fun driving an '07 around, but I really did miss mine. Ahh.. the affair is over LOL

 

Well, can I drive that one then?

I'm not pickey... pushy, maybe...