Knock on wood, but I have had it a few weeks now, and it is everything I'd hoped it would be, and more.

I guess you should keep in mind that I have never owned a Mini previously, just admired them, and test drove a 2006.

My 2007 car looks, great, inside and out. I've got all black, with chrome, black lounge leather, anthracite headliner, wood, cream colorline, 17 inch alloys, etc, and I've seen a lot of very cool R53's, but nothing looks as quality as this. I also tend to like the more aggressive masculine look of the R56, to the sleeker look of the R53, but that's just me. Each to their own.

It is rocket fast with power to blow by anything around me, in every gear. I've mentioned here before that I have several cars now and have owned a number of pretty respectible sports cars in my 40 years, though I'm not a real motorhead. It truly grips the road and handles better than any car I have ever had, and all but 2 I have ever driven. I don't know the tested comparative numbers, but I absolutely swear to you that it feels significantly quicker and sportier than the BMW Z4 and and Porche Boxter.

I can report a very quiet interior space, with no rattles or whistles or anything (and I have the sunroof). There is not one ill-fitted panel, or anything, and I cannot report a single mechanical defect of any kind - Very much BMW quality. The gearing is smooth, keyless entry is cool, controls are all weird but make good sense when you get used to them, even the wipers are particularly good. It has more driver space than my wife's Cadillac STS (without leaving much room in the back though, of course). I do not feel like I am scary low to the ground either, as I was afraid I might (I drive a large SUV most of the time). The gas mileage has been exceptional - I am actually averaging about 35 mph, and I am not afraid of the gas pedal.

My only real disapointment has been that the wood steering wheel did not make it to the US. (My agreement states that they owe it to me when it becomes available). Also the upgraded stereo really isn't any worse than one should expect for this type of car, but I will be willing to pay for better, when someone comes up with something that improves it to A+ quality, without disturbing the look (in the speedo).

Most people who buy a Mini it seems want to make a statement. My statement is a little different than most, I beleive. It is that I am smart, confident, stylish, but not trying to impress anyone, or draw special attention to myself. That statement isn't easy to make when you enjoy performance, and the feel and dependability of quality like I do. You can probably guess the cars I looked at for my new commuter car. It was short list, but nothing compared to the Mini.

Anyway I'm very pleased, and when looking at this board tonight (after my basketball team lost), it was bothering me that it seems to be overrun with jealous owners of the older models. (I guess the R56 owners are too busy enjoying their cars to post here.) So, for what it's worth, there you go.

-R

 

sounds like a great looking car! you should post some pics. i was pretty set on Lightning Blue/White, but those initial pics of the Astro Black at the EU launch are making me waver! i know it'll always look dirty, but that just give more chances to wash it!

 

Jealous owners? Uh?

 

"My only real disapointment has been that the wood steering wheel did not make it to the US. (My agreement states that they owe it to me when it becomes available)."

I have the oak trim as well with carbon punch leather. Picking up the car this week. I am disappointed wood wheel is not yet available, was debating on living with the leather wheel. What do you think of the leather version?

I was contemplating a JCW shift **** to make up for the convential leather shift **** as well.

 

Yeah, that was a pretty dumb and arrogant statement. You almost seemed like an objective reviewer until then. In any case, I'm glad you enjoy your "more masculine" car.

Can you see how easy it would have been to have this thread be the positive one that you so obviously crave? Why the defensive thread title and the pointless jab at R50/53 owners?

 

Please get over your uncontrollable urge to make inflamatory comments like that. I own an R52 & I am soooo not jealous of you if I really wanted an R56 I would just go buy one So for what it's worth

 

You bet I'm jealous... with that pedestrian safety derived front end styling, fully functional decorative hood scoop, and refined toyota ride characteristics, its eveything I'm looking for in my next economy car

 

Sounds like a nice car. We have a cpl '02s and we would love to drive a R56 "just to see".

I love my car, Only 19K miles, pretty damn fast, and looks like new. I'm comtemplating a twin charge set up just for fun . Wife's R53 has < 15K miles, looks new too, and neither one of us are jealous btw

Have fun w/ your car and post some pics already Show us what you got.

 

 

Im sure everyone in the R56 forum is happy to hear you love your car, we all love our cars too! BUT I dont think you are on target with your comment above at all. I highly doubt any of the R53 owners are jealous of the R56's. In fact, thats almost laughable. We are all going through some growing pains and once the posturing stops it will boil down to the fact that we all love Mini's and thats that.

 

Gimme a break

 

Comments aside, the R56 MCS is quite impressive indeed (in stock form) and I'm very glad you are enjoying it.

The comments are probably aimed at overall sense of frustration over our (sometimes) friendly sparring. It gets excessive on both "sides" so I suggest we move on wherever possible.

 

If you wanna know the blazen truth, the only people I am jealous of are the Classic Mini owners. I would kill to have one of those babies parked at my house as a weekend driver

sry gokart, but comments like that no longer get brushed aside by me. They are meant as a direct slap in the face & they have become too common by new posters/owners. I am tired of sitting back & just taking it so I now feel the need to speak out against them

 

Just for the record...it's Porsche (pronounced "Poor-Sha"). Glad you like your R56...lounge leather...mmmmmmmm!

Theo

 

Thep, is that you hiding behind those Foster Grants?

 

I will have to remember to never be around you because you can blow by me in every gear and I don't want to get embarrased since your car is "rocket fast" and can blow by anything.

What state do you live in? I want to make sure I don't get embarrassed.

 

I owned a 2002 Cooper for five years. The R56 Cooper S is faster, handles better, is safer and has alot more features for the money IMHO. I loved my Cooper, but the Cooper S is wicked fast, even though it's not fully broken in yet. 90mph in fifth is easy and you don't even realize it. I think you'll enjoy your MINI as much as I enjoyed my old one and am now enjoying my new one!

 

quit my side is hurting

 

...is that I came on here to look for something positive about my cool new car, to pick me up after my team's basketball season just ended, and the entire page was, and I'm sure still is, packed with non R56 Mini owners bashing the R56. It is really ridiculous. You people need to get over the fact that the company made changes. Your cars are great. The new car is great too. You damage Mini by bashing the new version. Not all of you who are obsessed with negatively comparing the versions are jealous, but many obviously feel threatened or slighted, or whatever. This is a 2nd generation Mini board, and I'd like to see more owners of the 2nd generation Mini, than trolls obsessed with sniping it.

-R

 

I agree lately this board has been bombarded by many people who don't own, didn't order, and have no intention of ordering an R56. For the record I've had the best 3 weeks of motoring in all my years of driving



SS/B MC R56

 

Hey, that guy started it

Seriously, I drove both Cooper and S at the debut and was seriously impressed...by the automatic Cooper. That thing is great. The S has much less a sensation of speed than the older S (too refined?), but I still love 'em all. My next one will be an auto Clubman.

 

I am not jealous. I do not troll. When you come on NAM & make a blanket accusitory "jealousy" BS statement like you did you will do nothing but encourage flamewars. Keep accusing long time NAMers of being jealous & you will keep butting heads. When I came to NAM I was welcomed with open arms BUT I didn't come in ******* current members out of the gate. I have been here for 2+ years. I am not going anywhere. I do not want an R56 & I hope when my R52 wears out MINI will make some changes but GUESS WHAT???? Even if they don't, I will probabaly buy an R56 or R57 at that time. If you don't like what I say oh well I hate when people harp on post count so I apologize in advance for doing exactly what I hate but d-a-n-g for someone to come in here on their 19th post & tell me that I should get lost.... that infuriates me These boards are mine. These boards are yours. Don't tell ME to get lost

We have actually been smoothing out the negativity lately but when people like you come in here & try to start it back up it just ticks me off to no end. There is one other R56 poster that likes to start flamewars. He is the only person out of all the other 30K+ NAM members that I have ever felt the need to add (& ultimately added) to my ignore list. Please PM me & I will direct you to him so you & he can start more of these stupid a$$ inflamatory threads

Who's the troll? I say you are.

Is anybody but me sick of this crap

 

Now behave boys and girls... sheesh!

I had the choice between R53 & R56. I chose R53 and love it. No jealousy here. I'm very happy to find that folks are loving their R56's. I also appreciate jokes, jabs and slurs against some of the foolish r56 attributes. like fake hood scoops. Good lord, how TransAm can Mini Get?

I hope that by the time I possibly get my third Mini, R56's will have evolved into AWD 250hp screamers. At that point, I could overlook the new "masculine stance, softer ride and fake hood scoops.

I just hope that beyond the R56, Mini doesn't morph into MAXI. I would not be interested in a twin turbo v-6/ 3900lbs. Maxi w/fake hood scoops.

 

This stuff must be road rage coming out sideways... let's call it virtual rage.

How about last week's thread regarding the cartoon where one of the characters whispers to his urban friend while pointing at a Mini. The cartoonist leaves it up to the viewer/reader to interpret what was whispered about the nature of the Mini driver... WOW, plenty of folks here at NAM were outraged by the cartoon. Funny thing is, it was a fill-in-the-blanks dialog. Maybe those upset NAM'ers ought to spend a couple hundred bucks on therapy, instead of the anthracite headliner option on their R56's!

Point is, I think folks might be getting a bit too anthropomorphic with their itsy bitsy cute R53's and those mean, masculine R56's.

 

This is where the excitement in the MINI world is. I suppose that's part of the reason the R53 owners are here even if they have no intent to buy one. This is currently both the R56 and "MINI Gen I, Gen II Comparisons/Debate" forum. The second function would probably better serve everyone by being someplace else but for now it's not. Try to stick around anyway and just ignore what you don't like. That's what most will do with what you say. (That is, ignore it IF we don't like it.)