R56 That darn R53...
Thread Starter
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OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,010
Likes: 11
From: Ridgefield, CT
Yes, I am still here. It was a slow drive home on icy roads and when I got home I was greeted by a foot of snow in the driveway, which I have now cleared. 
The MA confirmed that my offer has been accepted. Now all I have to do is inspect the car, drive it, have them add some options and pay for it.
The spec is:
MCS (November '06 build)
DS
DS roof
Black mirrors
Black driving lights
Black Panther leatherette
Anthracite interior
h/k sound system
Cold weather package
Premium package
Sport package with 17" S-Lites
Mats
I am so excited I could plotz.
dean.
The MA confirmed that my offer has been accepted. Now all I have to do is inspect the car, drive it, have them add some options and pay for it.
The spec is:
MCS (November '06 build)
DS
DS roof
Black mirrors
Black driving lights
Black Panther leatherette
Anthracite interior
h/k sound system
Cold weather package
Premium package
Sport package with 17" S-Lites
Mats
I am so excited I could plotz.
dean.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
Yes, I am still here. It was a slow drive home on icy roads and when I got home I was greeted by a foot of snow in the driveway, which I have now cleared.
The MA confirmed that my offer has been accepted. Now all I have to do is inspect the car, drive it, have them add some options and pay for it.
The spec is:
MCS (November '06 build)
DS
DS roof
Black mirrors
Black driving lights
Black Panther leatherette
Anthracite interior
h/k sound system
Cold weather package
Premium package
Sport package with 17" S-Lites
Mats
I am so excited I could plotz.
dean.
The MA confirmed that my offer has been accepted. Now all I have to do is inspect the car, drive it, have them add some options and pay for it.
The spec is:
MCS (November '06 build)
DS
DS roof
Black mirrors
Black driving lights
Black Panther leatherette
Anthracite interior
h/k sound system
Cold weather package
Premium package
Sport package with 17" S-Lites
Mats
I am so excited I could plotz.
dean.
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Well, I just went through the same thing and I know how you feel -- I was torn between the two models and ended up getting an '06 R53 MCS (auto) -- Here is what drove my decision -- hopefully this can help
1. Looks -- Like you, I valued the looks over performance. When I was at the dealership, they had my R53 right next to an R56 -- The difference between the two machines are both subtle and drastic at the same time. At first glance, and especially if you're not a mini maniac (as I'm now becoming) and know every curve by heart, they look pretty similiar.
But as you look at them more and more, the differences become quite pronounced. The R53, at least in my opinion, is the hands down winner, especially when looking at the front end. Cleaner lines, nicers curves, better proportions -- And above all, the R56 looks MUCH bigger to me. I think if you go with the 07, make sure to get at least 17" wheels, if not 18's, as the 16's just look tiny on the 07's.
2. Cost -- I actually got a break of about $1100.00 off MSRP on my 06 -- I don't think anyones discounting any of the 07's. Perhaps you can try to get a break if go with an 06. This was a major seeling point for me. Many dealers also had the 07's in my area marked up by as much as 3K!!!
3. Performance -- This is a close call -- I test drove both -- here is what I noticed -- The 07 is probably a bit faster, or so it seemed -- not that big a difference, maybe a bit quicker. No turbo lab that I felt. Did have some torque steer when flooring it....The ride in the '07 is more refined, as others have noted. Seemed somewhat smoother to me. The 06 felt more tossable and felt smaller to me, more like a go cart. I'd say the performance factor is a close call. For people like us, where performance is not the top priority, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference...and really, the performance of either car is not what sold them to me.
4. Interior -- The interior is where I thought the two cars differed quite noticably -- I sat in both and tried to compare each -- As others have noted, the materials seem to be better overall in the 07 -- however, I thought the 06 interior was plenty fine, and it did in no way feel cheap. The speedo in the 07 was just huge, I personally didn't like it as I throught it was a bit big (my fiance loved the giant speedo however) To me, the interior of the '07 felt more serious, more grown up, or more BMW than the 06. The 06' felt more "mini" to me -- I also liked the center stack in the 06 more than the 07 -- just a personal preferance.
5. Other things -- fuel economy -- better in the 07, but was not big enough to make or break the deal for me. Reliability -- In the 06, the relaibility has known to be very good -- the 07 -- unknow at this time (new engine and all)--
Untimately, follow your gut instinct. I don't think you can go wrong between the two, both are great cars, but do know that they are quite different animals now. If I was a performance maniac, I would go for the 07 (or maybe an '06 JCW), but I'm not, and am very, very pleased in 06 I ended up with.
Happy motoring!!!
1. Looks -- Like you, I valued the looks over performance. When I was at the dealership, they had my R53 right next to an R56 -- The difference between the two machines are both subtle and drastic at the same time. At first glance, and especially if you're not a mini maniac (as I'm now becoming) and know every curve by heart, they look pretty similiar.
But as you look at them more and more, the differences become quite pronounced. The R53, at least in my opinion, is the hands down winner, especially when looking at the front end. Cleaner lines, nicers curves, better proportions -- And above all, the R56 looks MUCH bigger to me. I think if you go with the 07, make sure to get at least 17" wheels, if not 18's, as the 16's just look tiny on the 07's.
2. Cost -- I actually got a break of about $1100.00 off MSRP on my 06 -- I don't think anyones discounting any of the 07's. Perhaps you can try to get a break if go with an 06. This was a major seeling point for me. Many dealers also had the 07's in my area marked up by as much as 3K!!!
3. Performance -- This is a close call -- I test drove both -- here is what I noticed -- The 07 is probably a bit faster, or so it seemed -- not that big a difference, maybe a bit quicker. No turbo lab that I felt. Did have some torque steer when flooring it....The ride in the '07 is more refined, as others have noted. Seemed somewhat smoother to me. The 06 felt more tossable and felt smaller to me, more like a go cart. I'd say the performance factor is a close call. For people like us, where performance is not the top priority, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference...and really, the performance of either car is not what sold them to me.
4. Interior -- The interior is where I thought the two cars differed quite noticably -- I sat in both and tried to compare each -- As others have noted, the materials seem to be better overall in the 07 -- however, I thought the 06 interior was plenty fine, and it did in no way feel cheap. The speedo in the 07 was just huge, I personally didn't like it as I throught it was a bit big (my fiance loved the giant speedo however) To me, the interior of the '07 felt more serious, more grown up, or more BMW than the 06. The 06' felt more "mini" to me -- I also liked the center stack in the 06 more than the 07 -- just a personal preferance.
5. Other things -- fuel economy -- better in the 07, but was not big enough to make or break the deal for me. Reliability -- In the 06, the relaibility has known to be very good -- the 07 -- unknow at this time (new engine and all)--
Untimately, follow your gut instinct. I don't think you can go wrong between the two, both are great cars, but do know that they are quite different animals now. If I was a performance maniac, I would go for the 07 (or maybe an '06 JCW), but I'm not, and am very, very pleased in 06 I ended up with.
Happy motoring!!!
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,559
Likes: 0
From: Orange County NY
Very nice post.....
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
Sounds like a GORGEOUS car, Dean ! Not that every MINI isn't beautiful, this one sounds like it was well thought out. The DS with black mirrors, driving lights, etc, and black leather interior... very classy combo !
I'm almost as excited to see the pics as you are about owning it. ALMOST.
Congratulations. I think you made a very good choice.
I'm almost as excited to see the pics as you are about owning it. ALMOST.
Congratulations. I think you made a very good choice.
congrats Dean. 
Thread Starter
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OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,010
Likes: 11
From: Ridgefield, CT
Thank you all for your kind words.
I'll have pictures as soon as I put her new shoes on, which I will order as soon as I inspect the car.
dean.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,362
Likes: 1
From: Winston-Salem, NC
My R56 is due to hit NY next week ...and I am pretty excited about that. So, excited that while passing a MINI dealer yesterday I stopped in to look over the new cars again.
While I was there I found a zero-mileage '06 MCS that is very similar to my spec (all DS instead of DS/B). It has all of the options my R56 will have and adds the premium package and the cold weather package. It's $2,000 less than my car ...it even has the h/k sound system.
Both cars have so much going for them ...they are so similar, yet they are so different. I'd like to put them both into a big blender and create my own version of the MCS.
I didn't sleep much last night ...I am truly torn.
I'd imagine that everyone that prefers the R56 will tell me to get the R56 and everyone that prefers the R53 will tell me to get an R53 ...problem is, I'm not sure which one I prefer.
I like different aspects of them both and styling is more important to me than performance ...here I give the edge to the R53, which is a reversal of my previous position. I spent a lot of time looking at them both yesterday and came away with a renewed respect for the styling of the R53. Since they both go faster and handle better than anything I've ever owned, performance is a non-issue. I like that the R56 gets better gas mileage and the interior seems more comfortable.
Reliability will be of major importance as the car will be my daily driver and I will put about 18K miles on it a year. Any issues the R53 has are all known at this point, whereas issues with the R56 are yet to be discovered ...but it could very well turn out to be the more reliable of the two.
Isn't it funny how much emphasis we place on the looks of our cars? Think about the heated debates we have had over which one looks better. Of course, neither one unequivocally looks better, its all a matter of personal opinion ...and it is that opinion that's gotten me into this mess.
My wife thinks I'm crazy not to get the newer model and my daughter thinks I'd be nuts not to get the one that I think looks better. I asked two of my car-guy pals and they were a split-decision as well.
In the end, I am going to follow my heart ...and at the moment I'm not sure where its taking me.
Please don't post anything like "buy the R5X, the R5Y sucks" ...I prefer to think they are both wonderful cars, hence the difficulty with the decision.
Thanks for reading.
dean.
While I was there I found a zero-mileage '06 MCS that is very similar to my spec (all DS instead of DS/B). It has all of the options my R56 will have and adds the premium package and the cold weather package. It's $2,000 less than my car ...it even has the h/k sound system.
Both cars have so much going for them ...they are so similar, yet they are so different. I'd like to put them both into a big blender and create my own version of the MCS.
I didn't sleep much last night ...I am truly torn.
I'd imagine that everyone that prefers the R56 will tell me to get the R56 and everyone that prefers the R53 will tell me to get an R53 ...problem is, I'm not sure which one I prefer.
I like different aspects of them both and styling is more important to me than performance ...here I give the edge to the R53, which is a reversal of my previous position. I spent a lot of time looking at them both yesterday and came away with a renewed respect for the styling of the R53. Since they both go faster and handle better than anything I've ever owned, performance is a non-issue. I like that the R56 gets better gas mileage and the interior seems more comfortable.
Reliability will be of major importance as the car will be my daily driver and I will put about 18K miles on it a year. Any issues the R53 has are all known at this point, whereas issues with the R56 are yet to be discovered ...but it could very well turn out to be the more reliable of the two.
Isn't it funny how much emphasis we place on the looks of our cars? Think about the heated debates we have had over which one looks better. Of course, neither one unequivocally looks better, its all a matter of personal opinion ...and it is that opinion that's gotten me into this mess.
My wife thinks I'm crazy not to get the newer model and my daughter thinks I'd be nuts not to get the one that I think looks better. I asked two of my car-guy pals and they were a split-decision as well.
In the end, I am going to follow my heart ...and at the moment I'm not sure where its taking me.
Please don't post anything like "buy the R5X, the R5Y sucks" ...I prefer to think they are both wonderful cars, hence the difficulty with the decision.
Thanks for reading.
dean.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
*sigh* Dean, Im happy for you that you have arrived at a decision but Im sorry that you wont be posting as much over here in R56 land. Stop in and see us newbies with the bug eyed, big boot cars every once in a while ok? 
Amy
Amy
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 3
From: Your Worst Nightmare :)
Dean-O U da man! congratz! U got one of the last 06 models built, so it has to be the best, right?
(wow. I am in awe of any thread that can generate 119 posts in less than 12 hours.)
U got one of the last 06 models built, so it has to be the best, right? (wow. I am in awe of any thread that can generate 119 posts in less than 12 hours.)
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 1
From: merchantville, nj
If I had seen an R53 at the dealer that met my pared down spec when I first went back in December, I would be driving that car right now. But they didn't, and I happily ordered the R56. If one turned up in the meantime, and was a couple of thousand less? It would be a hard call, but I am a cheapskate!
7th Gear Gal
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 36,087
Likes: 3
From: Weeblegabber West (aka WLA)
Congrats, Dean! I really enjoyed reading this thread. Whichever you finally chose, I knew you'd be happy owning either MINI. I have a 2003 MCS and she's been the best car I've ever owned. I know you'll love yours, too. Happy motoring! 
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, California
NO PICS TILL THE NEW SHOES COME???? deeeeaaannn you cant tease us like that 
. We are all quite emotional involved in your decision. Myself I know i am happy that you got what you wanted. So dont make us wait too long Dean. and if I promise to visit you in 1st gen will you stop by second? three cheers for dean!
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,821
Likes: 1
From: Mililani,Hawaii
As mentioned already:
The r56 is already "a year old" It SHOULD be $2000 less than the 07 equipped the same.
Official 3 year lease depreciation rates from MINI Financial for a "brand new" MINI assuming 15k miles a year for each:
r53 - depreciates to 55% of original MSRP
r56 - depreciates to 68% of original MSRP
That is a 13% difference. Pretty darn big.
You say you put 18k a year. Comfort should be big concern. The r56 is much more comfortable and easy to drive.
The r56 is already "a year old" It SHOULD be $2000 less than the 07 equipped the same.
Official 3 year lease depreciation rates from MINI Financial for a "brand new" MINI assuming 15k miles a year for each:
r53 - depreciates to 55% of original MSRP
r56 - depreciates to 68% of original MSRP
That is a 13% difference. Pretty darn big.
You say you put 18k a year. Comfort should be big concern. The r56 is much more comfortable and easy to drive.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,756
Likes: 0
As mentioned already:
The r56 is already "a year old" It SHOULD be $2000 less than the 07 equipped the same.
Official 3 year lease depreciation rates from MINI Financial for a "brand new" MINI assuming 15k miles a year for each:
r53 - depreciates to 55% of original MSRP
r56 - depreciates to 68% of original MSRP
That is a 13% difference. Pretty darn big.
You say you put 18k a year. Comfort should be big concern. The r56 is much more comfortable and easy to drive.
The r56 is already "a year old" It SHOULD be $2000 less than the 07 equipped the same.
Official 3 year lease depreciation rates from MINI Financial for a "brand new" MINI assuming 15k miles a year for each:
r53 - depreciates to 55% of original MSRP
r56 - depreciates to 68% of original MSRP
That is a 13% difference. Pretty darn big.
You say you put 18k a year. Comfort should be big concern. The r56 is much more comfortable and easy to drive.
Interesting projections. I would say that 68% residual after 3 years is a little optimistic but still within the realm of possibility.
55% residual is still pretty good for a model that will be 3 years out of production by then. So according to this projection, his car will depreciate at a rate of 15% annually (still on the high side of reality) and at the end of 36 month it will still be worth $13,750 (based on a MSRP of $25K new)
The depriciation rate for the R56 is 11% annually which is IMHO, on the high side of reality as well
I am interested to see ALG's figures for the new R56 Dean will get to enjoy R53 ownership and in a few years re-visit the then much improved R56. It seems to me that it will be a win-win situation for him and he seemed to agree
You said the R56 is easier and more comfortable to drive. That is pretty subjective, specially coming from someone that never owned a R53 to begin with. I have owned 3 of these cars in the last 5 years (r50 and 2 R53s) and they are fantastic highway cruisers and urban road warriors, I have done 9-10 hour non-stop drives without feeling fatigued. Personally, I think the "R56 is an easier to live with type of car" idea is a little overcooked and oversold by the marketing guys. Like I said, replace the 1st gen runflats with a set of second gen runflats or put a set of regular radials and baby you are good to go!
In the end, Dean bought what he liked best and tonight he is a happy man. Congratulate him on his new R53 MINI and wish him well for many years and miles of happy motoring