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MINI2.com - MINI Forum > MINI2 Forums > R55, R56 - Second Generation MINI
> 2nd Gen MINI Cooper S
> "The Good" Forget The Bad & Ugly
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Apr 5th, 2007, 08:35 AM
| #1 |
| MINI2 Senior  Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline |  "The Good" Forget The Bad & Ugly  OK my car is 5 weeks young today and 1100 trouble free bonding miles under the bonnet now. So having owned 3 x R53's and still have one 55 plate example my personal "good way forward" observations to date are as follows:-Fantastically smooth and torquey power delivery from tick over to 4K max revs (so far)  Turbo whistle and flutter sounds on overun as good as the super charger whine  Very powerfull and reassuring brakes  Car still has a definite character all of its own well done BMW  Excellent and drastically improved MPG 30 around town and 40 on a run  Improved ride comfort especially over our fabulous pot holed speed hump infested tarmac  Even greater choice of options to make each MINI different to the next  Improved front seat design very noticeable when hopping from R56 back into the R53  Longer service intervals so in theory far less time off the road  Rear window stays cleaner for longer and new body panels and shut lines make so much more sense ...thats hindsight for ya  Front seat release catch now in the correct position next to head rests  Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. Last edited by daro911 : May 26th, 2007 at 09:04 PM. |
 
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Apr 5th, 2007, 04:07 PM
| #3 (permalink) |
| I'm Back!  Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kernow, near England Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 4,573
Offline | daro911, Very pleased to hear it's been good to you, but what do you mean by the following?: Tigger.  Unintimated and I'm back!!  For sunshine, fun and Cornish Pasties: New MINI Kernow Cornish Oggy Run 2009! |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 08:47 PM
| #5 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline | New bonnet elimates the scuttle panel on the original where the wipers and heating vents sat. New one piece wheel arches elimante the cut lines in the original design New rear side window design makes more sense than the previous curved and very expensive effort Minor things but when you have old and new side by side the new panels make more sense IMO. Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 08:50 PM
| #6 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline | Thats the plan now I am sensibly run in  Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 09:01 PM
| #7 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Master  Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Florida Local Time: 03:14 AM
Posts: 947
Offline | Daro, glad you enjoy your car but totally disagree with your comments about the perceived better design details in the R56 body work. I lament the loss of the brilliant looking sheetmetal piece at the base of the windshield and the air vents. Now you have a cheap looking plastic tray, like every other car has. The bonnet shutlines around the arches are lousy. I have been able to stick my fingers inside the gaps left by the bonnet closures. And don't get me started on the headlight openings in the bonnet! The rear c-pillar exterior black plastic cover looks cheap. How can you tell me this looks better than the full wrap around glass treatment??? I guess you have to justify your love for the R56 design, and I respect that. But most people would agree that while the R56 seems to have a better powertrain, the R53 looks can not be touched by the cost cutting efforts of the R56. Disclaimer: This post is not meant to attack or bash the R56, but rather to open a clear communication channel to debate and discuss in a civilized and respectful manner those aspects of the car that we both like and dislike on either generation. If you feel offended, send me a PM and I will gladly respond to your concerns. Hate mail will not be replied to and will be reported accordingly. '02 Cooper CVT PW/B '05 MCS CR/W |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 10:00 PM
| #8 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline | [quote=CooperS4us;2974530]Daro, glad you enjoy your car but totally disagree with your comments about the perceived better design details in the R56 body work. The rear c-pillar exterior black plastic cover looks cheap. How can you tell me this looks better than the full wrap around glass treatment??? IT DOESN'T LOOK BETTER BUT IT'S A SMARTER SOLUTION THAN EXPENSIVE CURVED GLASS THATS BLACKED OUT ANYWAY AND HELPS CONSIDERABLY TO KEEP THE REAR GLASS CLEANER IN DRY AND WET WEATHER CONDITIONS I guess you have to justify your love for the R56 design, NOT AT ALL I STILL OWN A LATE R53 WHICH IS THE BEST EXAMPLE I HAVE OWNED TO DATE. But most people would agree that while the R56 seems to have a better powertrain, the R53 looks can not be touched by the cost cutting efforts of the R56. YOU ARE MISSING OFF THE SLIGHTLY BETTER SUSPENSION: SLIGHTLY BETTER SEATS: BETTER OPTIONS LIST: TO NAME JUST 3 OBVIOUSLY IMPROVED AREAS If you feel offended, send me a PM and I will gladly respond to your concerns. Hate mail will not be replied to and will be reported accordingly. NONE TAKEN Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 10:02 PM
| #9 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Master  Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 5,105
Offline | Although the R50 was a great looking car in 2001, things move on. I feel the R56 is a better looking car overall. The beefier look suits the sporting image of the MINI. I also feel the interior is miles better in terms of quality - at least in comparison to 2002 MINI ONE. Even more important, the engine and ride quality are miles better than the R50. Red/Black R56 Cooper |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 10:23 PM
| #10 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline | Here here and don't forget the running costs have fallen substantially Very much like Porsche the R56 is an evolution and not a revolution. BMW were never impressed with the original engine and have quite rightly moved the game on 10 years and smack bang up to date with the very best technology available today. IMO this single change easily justifies my 100% enthusiasm for the latest MINI adventures Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 11:14 PM
| #11 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Florida Local Time: 03:14 AM
Posts: 947
Offline | I appreciate your response, but you don't need to yell at me, It looks childish to post using caps and bolded font.[ QUOTE=daro911;2974589] '02 Cooper CVT PW/B '05 MCS CR/W |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 11:16 PM
| #12 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Florida Local Time: 03:14 AM
Posts: 947
Offline | I think no one has any issues with the new powertrain, Daro. I think the R56 feels more like a baby BMW, whereas the outgoing car felt more like a MINI. If I want a BMW, I buy a BMW. '02 Cooper CVT PW/B '05 MCS CR/W |
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Apr 5th, 2007, 11:18 PM
| #13 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Master Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: South Florida Local Time: 03:14 AM
Posts: 947
Offline | You mean that the R56 looks more masculine and less cute? I don't understand the design language that wants to make the car more appealing to members of a particular gender. The outgoing car was equally appealing to both sexes and di not have to recur to testosterone to prove it. '02 Cooper CVT PW/B '05 MCS CR/W |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 01:53 AM
| #14 (permalink) |
| What's the speed of dark?  Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nottinghamshire Local Time: 08:14 AM
Posts: 132
Offline | I hear what you say but not all females want a girlie (or better known in this country as 'hairdressers'!) cars. I personally hate hairdressers cars and prefer more masculine cars. Why? Because a lot of people expect females to have girlie cars so I tend to shy away from them as they are 'the norm' for females and I like to be different. Hey, that's why I drive a MINI (R56) - totally unique compared to the majority of cars on the road  Oh yes, and a more masculine car gets all the boys jealous |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 05:30 AM
| #15 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 12:14 AM
Posts: 42
Offline | I totally agree with the part about moving "the game on 10 years and smack bang up to date with the very best technology available today". I like the R53 design but exterior is only half of the equation. The old Chrysler steel engine block was inefficient and dirty to the environment which prompted me to wait until the release of R56. And cutting the labor/manufacturing cost while putting the saving in new engine development and aluminum chassis should not be considered cheap. |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 07:57 AM
| #16 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior  Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pacific NW Local Time: 12:14 AM
Posts: 439
Offline | At risk of offending ALL MINI owners... I think they all look like "hairdressors cars". I think those who are not "in the know" and have not truely experience the car for themselves generally think the same. I only began my lust for a MINI after driving one. The little package was as close to motorcycling as I could get while still having the wife and two sprats along for the ride. I liked the old car a lot. I LOVE the new car. The suspention is both more compliant yet still manages to improve road holding from the previous generation... and the torque coming from the new engine is a blast. The two cars are totally different beasts. Coming from a bike background, my best analogy is comparing a 1000cc in-line 4 Honda to a 1098 V-twin Ducati (or a Triumph triple). Both are very capable. They just put power to the ground in totally different ways. Bottom line, I've allways been a Ducati fan, since is fun to ride that massive torque curve. I found the same to be true in the new MINI. I wound even cite the the comfort improvements, but I'm terribly afraid I'll get the usual comparisons to other comfy (yet bland) cars, or suggestions that I should have bought a BMW, instead. Why can'y I have comfort and performance in one package? Do I think either is design perfection? No. Do I like the look of older car over the newer one? Probably, a little at least. But there are only two things that I can say I truly dislike about the new car vs. the old: 1) Silly chrome side repeators and 2) the center console below the speedo. There are other changes that I notice, but neither like or dislike more or less than the older car. Two small stylistic faux-pas in exchange for a very long list of appealing improvements? OK, I'm in. But I digress: daro911 didn't ask for a discussion to debate the pros and cons of each of these terrific vehicles... it appears the intention was to reaffirm daro911's choise to purchase the R56. Hence the original topic title: "The Good - Forget The Bad & Ugly" ...and who am I to lead this off topic by pointing out the "Bad & Ugly" when there are allready so many other threads out there that are dedicated to just that. So my apologies. daro911 - If you made the right choice for you, good on 'ya. I believe I've done the same.  Founding member of R56 Anonymous: "Hello. My name is Mike. I'm a driving enthusiast... and I still like the R56" |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 08:21 AM
| #17 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline | CooperS4us I wasn't meant to be yelling or child like I tried to set my reply in Bold Type for ease of seeing but it didn't work! I then tried to enlarge by one font but unfortunately it came out LARGE and as I couldn't be ar$ed to start all over again I left the posting as was. As it' seems to have ******ed you off Apologies now can we keep on topic please Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 08:24 AM
| #18 (permalink) |
| I'm Back! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kernow, near England Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 4,573
Offline | An interesting view; I'll agree to disagree on that one  However, you're happy with your choice, I'm happy with mine, so I guess that's what matters Tigger. Unintimated and I'm back!! For sunshine, fun and Cornish Pasties: New MINI Kernow Cornish Oggy Run 2009! |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 08:33 AM
| #19 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Senior Join Date: May 2002 Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 497
Offline | msh441 Thank you for your very accurate summary refs the R53 & 56 and also why I posted this post. A wise fellow petrol head for sure I wanted to hear what R56 owners like about there new cars as you say we know the bad & ugly stuff and as far as your comments go reference the centre console you are 100% on the money there, but it did give extra leg space for the taller people. Aesthetically BMW definitely made some changes for changes sake and not for any significant improvement over the original but WE all know this as owners As I said at the start of this post I currently own a 18 month old R53 & R56 in my family home so I would stress whilst I know the major improvements to be found in the R56 my desire to jump into the R53 has not been diminished one bit but when push comes to shove the newer MINI is the better all rounder .... Too many freaks not enough circuses Tell a man that there are 400 billion stars and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it. |
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Apr 6th, 2007, 07:10 PM
| #20 (permalink) |
| MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 07:14 AM
Posts: 5,105
Offline | I've had a few BMWs (3-series) as a courtesy cars when my 2002 MINI was in the dealership to fix many faults and quality issues. Although the new MINI is quite refined (especially when you want it to be) it does not feel like a BMW to me. All BMWs are RWD for a start - something that makes a big difference to the feel and driving dynamics of a car. Red/Black R56 Cooper |
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